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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Featured Analysis

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.

Listen to Audio Brief

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

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Latest Analysis

Photo: James/Adobe Stock. Image was generated with AI.

Photo: James/Adobe Stock. Image was generated with AI.

High-Altitude Nuclear Explosions: Myths and Reality

What would happen if a nuclear weapon detonated in the sky, not on the ground? Would there be survivors? Would your iPhone work? This briefing dispels common misconceptions about high-altitude nuclear explosions and summarizes the current state of research on the subject.

Brief by Scott Pence and Adam F. Reynolds — July 14, 2025

All Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program Content

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The Truth of the Matter

Russia's Shadow War Against the West

CSIS's Seth Jones, president of the CSIS Defense and Security Department, joins the podcast to discuss his new report, "Russia's Shadow War Against the West."

Podcast Episode by H. Andrew Schwartz and Seth G. Jones — March 21, 2025

CSIS the truth of the matter

The Escalating Attacks on Tesla Facilities

Since January 2025, a series of attacks have targeted Tesla facilities and vehicles across the United States, bringing renewed attention to a long-standing debate among policymakers, scholars, and law enforcement over what qualifies as domestic terrorism.

Critical Questions by Riley McCabe — March 20, 2025

Audio Briefs

The Escalating Attacks on Tesla Facilities

An audio version of “The Escalating Attacks on Tesla Facilities,” a new Critical Questions by CSIS's Riley McCabe. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs.

Podcast Episode by Riley McCabe — March 20, 2025

Audio Briefs

Russia’s Shadow War Against the West

Russia is conducting a violent and escalating campaign of sabotage and subversion against European and U.S. targets in Europe led by Russian military intelligence, according to a new CSIS database. The number of Russian attacks nearly tripled between 2023 and 2024.

Brief by Seth G. Jones — March 18, 2025