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: Anwar Amro/AFP/Getty Images

The Coming Conflict with Hezbollah

Since October 7, 2023, there have been over 4,400 attacks by Israel and Hezbollah combined, and the risk of war is high. Hezbollah has also repeatedly violated UN Security Council Resolution 1701 by deploying forces and firing weapons against Israel.

View CSIS Brief

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All Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program Content

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War by Proxy: Iran’s Growing Footprint in the Middle East

New analysis by CSIS’s Seth Jones based in part on commercially available satellite imagery shows that the footprint of the Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force is growing in the Middle East.

Brief by Seth G. Jones — March 11, 2019

Book Launch: Small Wars, Big Data

The CSIS Transnational Threats Project has cordially invited you to a book launch event for Eli Berman, Joseph H. Felter & Jacob N. Shapiro's newly released Small Wars, Big Data: The Information Revolution in Modern Conflict (Princeton University Press). 

Event — December 13, 2018

Book Launch: Rules for Rebels

The CSIS Transnational Threats Project has cordially invited you to a book launch event for Dr. Max Abrahm's newly released Rules for Rebels: The Science of Victory in Militant History (Oxford University Press). 

Event — December 5, 2018

The Islamic State and the Persistent Threat of Extremism in Iraq

Taking advantage of ongoing instability and the presence of sectarian militias in Iraq, Islamic State militants are regrouping into an insurgent movement and refocusing their tactics and attacks against the Iraqi government.

Brief by Maxwell B. Markusen — November 30, 2018

The Evolution of the Salafi-Jihadist Threat

Despite the Islamic State’s loss of territory, our report estimates that as of 2018, there were still between 20,000-30,000 Islamic State fighters in Iraq and Syria.

Report by Seth G. Jones, Charles Vallee, Clayton Sharb, Hannah Byrne, Danika Newlee , and Nicholas Harrington — November 20, 2018

The Rise of Far-Right Extremism in the United States

The terrorist attack in New Zealand is part of a global pattern of far-right extremism. Read this November 2018 report on the rise of far-right extremism in the United States and Europe.

Brief by Seth G. Jones — November 7, 2018

Prevent to Protect: From Counter-Radicalization to Disengagement

Watch Muriel Domenach, Secretary General of the French government's Inter-ministerial Committee for the Prevention of Delinquency and Radicalization (CIPDR), as she has discussed France's ongoing efforts to counter radicalization and violent extremism.

Event — October 26, 2018

The U.S. Strategy in Afghanistan: The Perils of Withdrawal

The Trump administration should work with the Afghan government and regional powers to reach a political settlement with the Taliban. But it is unclear whether the United States will succeed, as CSIS Transnational Threats Project director Seth Jones writes in his commentary.

Commentary by Seth G. Jones — October 26, 2018

Rebuilding Strategic Thinking

A new CSIS report “Defusing the South China Sea Disputes: A Regional Blueprint” presents a workable model agreement to manage the South China Sea disputes, reached by consensus among dozens of top experts from Asia, the United States, and beyond.

Report by Robert Hutchings and Gregory F. Treverton — October 18, 2018