This is the first part of a series of articles covering the IS development and innovation of SVBIEDs from the battle of Mosul to the current situation. The first part will cover the battle of Raqqah, while the second part will cover the battle of Deir ez-Zor and the concurrent loyalist and SDF …
The evolution of Suicide Car Bombs examined [AOAV]
Last August I wrote a relatively brief summary on the recent evolution of SVBIEDs for AOAV (Action On Armed Violence) up until the battle of Mosul & the start of the battle of Raqqah. It’s available to read on their website: https://aoav.org.uk/2017/evolution-suicide-car-bombs/ Or here: …
Islamic State SVBIED development & innovation in the battle of Mosul (Oct. 2016 – June 2017) [Case study for Jane’s Terrorism & Insurgency Center]
Last year I was commissioned to write a case study on the Islamic State’s SVBIED developments during the battle of Mosul. It details how IS have adapted and evolved their SVBIED tactics/design in a response to the vast urban areas and the shifting Iraqi/Coalition counter-SVBIED tactics. Production, …
The History and Adaptability of the Islamic State Car Bomb
Historically speaking, car bomb usage has been reserved for use by terrorists in civilian areas. A nondescript civilian vehicle filled with explosives would detonate at a target, causing deaths and wreaking havoc. While that statement partly stands today, there's one place where car bomb usage has …
Media is half the battle – An overview of the Islamic State’s media apparatus
Note: I finished writing this article in early January, 2016 The rapid emergence of the Islamic State in Syria & Iraq has brought with it a greater focus on the organization’s brutality. Widely circulated videos displaying extremely graphic violence, like the beheadings of American and …