Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program

The Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program (WITT) focuses on the activities and capabilities of countries like China, Russia, and Iran as well as the threat and evolution of paramilitary groups and terrorist networks

Led by Dr. Daniel Byman, the Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program (formerly known as the Transnational Threats Project) conducts research and analysis on irregular and hybrid warfare, terrorism, and military operations. The program examines Chinese, Russian, and Iranian irregular and hybrid warfare activities, such as covert action, economic warfare, support to non-state partners, cyber operations, disinformation, political warfare, and espionage. It also assesses terrorist and paramilitary activities by such organizations as Lebanese Hezbollah, Shia militias, the Houthi movement (or Ansar Allah), the Islamic State, al Qaeda, and far-right and far-left extremist networks. Finally, the program researches the military capabilities of China, Russia, and other U.S. adversaries and examines how the United States and its allies can best respond.

The Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program conducts fieldwork overseas, builds and analyzes data sets, and utilizes satellite imagery and other types of qualitative and quantitative analysis. It also draws from an extensive network of policy experts from the U.S. and partner governments, Congress, academia, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector. In partnership with CSIS’s Andreas C. Dracopoulos iDeas Lab, the program translates its research into high-quality videos, podcasts, reports, visualizations, and other products designed to engage audiences and inform policy discussions through objective analysis. The Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program's work is highly valued by government officials, corporate executives, and other influential leaders seeking to understand, prevent, and counter transnational threats.

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Photo: Wojciech Grzedzinski/Anadolu via Getty Images

Photo: Wojciech Grzedzinski/Anadolu via Getty Images

Russia’s Battlefield Woes in Ukraine

Russia has performed poorly on the battlefield in Ukraine and will likely hit the 1 million casualty mark in the summer of 2025. New CSIS data details Russia's slow rate of advance, heavy losses of equipment, and significant casualties.

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Brief by Seth G. Jones and Riley McCabe — June 3, 2025

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Ideological Trends in U.S. Terrorism

The Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program examines the state of terrorism in the U.S., finding left-wing violence has risen in the last decade but from very low levels and still well below historic levels of violence by right-wing and jihadist actors.

Analysis by Daniel Byman and Riley McCabe — September 26, 2025

War and the Modern Battlefield: Insights from Ukraine and the Middle East

The United States faces one of the most dangerous international security environments in recent history. While some aspects of warfare remain perennial, the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East are showing how others are rapidly evolving on the modern battlefield.

Digital Report by The CSIS Defense and Security Department — September 16, 2025

Audio Briefs

Will, Cohesion, Resilience, and the Wars of the Future

An audio version of “⁠Will, Cohesion, Resilience, and the Wars of the Future⁠,” a new commentary by CSIS’s Daniel Byman. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs. 

Podcast Episode by Daniel Byman — September 16, 2025

Audio Briefs
Audio Briefs

The Evolution of Irregular Warfare

An audio version of “⁠⁠The Evolution of Irregular Warfare⁠⁠,” a new commentary by CSIS’s Daniel Byman, Seth G. Jones, and Sofia Triana. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs. 

Podcast Episode by Daniel Byman, Seth G. Jones, and Sofia Triana — September 16, 2025

Audio Briefs

The Wrong Way to Fight the Cartels: CSIS Experts in Foreign Affairs

Experts from the CSIS Americas Program and Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program argue in Foreign Affairs that President Trump’s approach to the cartels risks repeating the mistakes of the “War on Terror.”

Commentary by Ryan C. Berg, Daniel Byman, Iselin Brady, Riley McCabe, Alexander Palmer, and Henry Ziemer — September 15, 2025