Choose Your Path
Networks, plots, ideology, adaptation, and the warning signs that matter before an attack becomes a headline.
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Churches across the United States continue to face threats ranging from terrorism and targeted violence to arson, vandalism, theft, and individuals acting on personal grievances. In 2025, the FBI recorded 10,881 hate crime incidents…
Read the briefBriefing work
Current assessments and intelligence-style work connected to this subject.
Al-Qaeda held footage of Hamza bin Laden recorded as Afghanistan was falling in August 2021 and waited more than five years to release it. The timing…
Read briefAQIS is using the 25th anniversary of 9/11 to explain to a younger audience why it believes America should remain the priority and to connect September…
Read briefISIS’s global spokesman reportedly surfaced in a mud-brick house in Yemen. The bigger intelligence question may be what was recovered inside and what it reveals about…
Read briefFive years after the Abbey Gate bombing, this brief reconstructs the twelve days before the attack: the authorization, the bomber’s release and movement, the network around…
Read briefFive years after Kabul fell, Afghanistan should not be understood simply as the end of America’s longest war. It marked the beginning of another cycle in…
Read briefGrowing anti-Taliban resistance in northern Afghanistan is doing more than testing the battlefield. It is exposing tensions between the movement’s southern Pashtun leadership and influential Tajik,…
Read briefWhen people think about terrorism, they picture the moment of impact — the explosion, the gunfire, the chaos. But that moment is the final phase of…
Read briefA recent U.S. Army counterintelligence and antiterrorism awareness message reminded personnel to remain vigilant and report suspicious behavior that could threaten U.S. forces, installations, or infrastructure.…
Read briefThere is a structural gap in how we handle counterintelligence and counterterrorism in this country. We default to the federal government, the Federal Bureau of Investigation…
Read briefMost terrorist attacks in the United States and Western countries do not begin with violence. They begin quietly, inside ordinary apartment buildings and rental homes that…
Read briefThe release and transfer of ISIS-affiliated women from detention facilities in Syria by forces aligned with Abu Mohammad al-Julani represents a material and underrecognized security threat.…
Read briefIsrael’s recent recognition of Somaliland formalizes a political reality that has existed since 1991 and highlights a long-standing gap between international policy and what actually happens…
Read briefAs 2026 begins, it is necessary to acknowledge a fundamental reality: the counterterrorism recalibration called for at the start of 2025 did not occur. Despite clear…
Read briefFor groups like al-Qaeda, deception is not optional, it is a weapon of war. Their doctrine makes this clear. Under concepts such as taqiyya and kitman,…
Read briefAs the holiday season approaches, the security environment always grows more vulnerable to threat activity. Large gatherings, predictable public events, and symbolic religious observances provide both…
Read briefBetween January and October 2025, Africa has witnessed a sharp escalation in targeted killings of Christians, with concentrated violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),…
Read briefThe stereotype that terrorists are poor, uneducated, and socially marginalized is not only inaccurate—it’s dangerous. Time and again, investigations reveal that many extremist operatives are highly…
Read briefThe Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) continues to rely on controversial entrapment operations as a core component of its counterterrorism strategy—a practice increasingly criticized for targeting…
Read briefOn July 27, 2025, Abhay Nayak, a 41-year-old passenger on an EasyJet flight from London to Glasgow, caused panic when he exited the lavatory mid-flight shouting…
Read briefFor over two decades, Ayman al-Zawahiri didn’t just evade capture—he ran circles around the West. His success wasn’t rooted in hiding in caves or radio silence;…
Read briefWhile most of our attention has remained fixed on al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and the Islamic State—Khorasan Province (ISKP), there is an increasingly dangerous layer of transnational…
Read briefOn April 22, 2025, several terrorists carried out a deadly assault primarily targeting Hindu tourists in the Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam, in Jammu and Kashmir, India.…
Read briefIn a stunning example of terrorist misinformation shaping U.S. policy discussions, the head of United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM), General Michael E. Langley, testified before the…
Read briefThe Taliban has systematically covered up the survival of multiple senior Islamic State-Khorasan (ISKP) figures while staging fake operations that falsely claim to target the group.…
Read briefIslamic State—Khorasan Province (ISKP) has intensified its focus on targeting mid-tier cities within the United States, aiming to disrupt emergency services and sideline first responders. Hospitals…
Read briefThe elimination of the head of the military council of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Abdullah Maki Musleh Al-Rifai, known as Abu…
Read briefThis year marks several critical anniversaries of al-Qaeda’s past attacks and failed plots, each of which has shaped the group’s evolving strategy and remains a blueprint…
Read briefWith the federal government’s loss of extensive counterterrorism (CT) access overseas, its ability to detect and disrupt terrorist plots before they reach U.S. soil has been…
Read briefAs we continue to build upon last week’s foundational strategies, it is clear that expanding specialized capabilities is a key pillar of strengthening local counterterrorism efforts.…
Read briefTerrorist organizations like al-Qaeda and ISIS have a long history of employing deceptive tactics, including the use of disguises, to carry out attacks. Both groups have…
Read briefAl-Qaeda’s interest in undetectable bombs gained traction in the early 2000s, particularly under the guidance of explosives experts seeking to exploit gaps in Western security systems.…
Read briefThe U.S. government's acknowledgment of the Taliban's purported counterterrorism efforts against the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISKP) has become a cornerstone of its post-withdrawal policy in Afghanistan.…
Read briefAs we begin the new year, our intelligence and law enforcement communities must recalibrate their approach to counterterrorism. The fragmented and siloed methods of bucketing individual…
Read briefIslamic State leadership is interestingly making plans to relocate detainees from several detention camps in northeastern Syria, including the Al-Hol and Al-Roj camps. These plans reflect…
Read briefAl-Qaeda and its newly formed Islamic Army have declared their intent to restore the Islamic caliphate. This concept refers to a unified Islamic state governed by…
Read briefAl-Qaeda’s central leadership in Afghanistan is actively plotting attacks on embassies across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. This continues their long-standing strategy of targeting U.S.…
Read briefThe years that our enemy, the high-value Al-Qaeda detainees, spent in Guantanamo Bay provided them with a unique opportunity to study their captors. These terrorists were…
Read briefThe upcoming Paris Olympic Games, scheduled to begin on July 26th, is preparing for a host of threats. While numerous actors could potentially disrupt the Games,…
Read briefThe merging of al-Qaeda and the Taliban into a single, cohesive entity is a reality that U.S. policy and assessments have yet to fully acknowledge. From…
Read briefWho, you ask? Let's explain. On June 5, 2024, the U.S. Embassy in Awker (Beirut), Lebanon, was surprised by an armed assault carried out by terrorist…
Read briefResearch & source work
Investigations, reports, letters, source work, and earlier research that add context.
A visual target deck mapping key non-Pashtun Taliban commanders, their networks, command structures, and foreign-jihadist connections.
Read on the siteA downloadable open-source investigation examining the organization, its networks, and the threat it continues to present.
Open investigationAn investigation into Hamza bin Laden’s survival, leadership role, family network, and place inside Al-Qaeda’s evolving structure.
Open investigationAn expanded investigation into the attack at Abbey Gate, the network behind it, and the compressed plotting window that preceded it.
Open investigationAn examination of how terrorist networks converge, coordinate, and adapt across organizational lines.
Read articleA detailed examination of Islamic State Khorasan Province, its networks, and the Taliban’s public claims about fighting it.
Open investigationAn investigation into the people, relationships, and facilitation networks that sustain Al-Qaeda’s operational reach.
Open investigationAn investigation into the warnings, networks, and operational relationships surrounding the October 7 attacks.
Open investigationA look at Al-Qaeda’s endurance, adaptation, and expanded global reach more than two decades after September 11.
Read articleAn investigation identifying members of the mortar team responsible for the attack on the CIA Annex in Benghazi.
Read articleA call to remember the Benghazi victims by continuing the work of identifying and pursuing the planners responsible.
Read articleOutside publications
Magazine, journal, and outside publication work that belongs on this path.
A Daily Wire analysis by Sarah Adams examining why radicalization is reaching younger audiences and what the shift means for threat awareness and prevention.
Read the articleSarah Adams analyzes the September 2026 Taliban meetings involving Türkiye and Qatar, Hamza bin Laden, the Doha framework, and regional militant networks in this SOFREP article.
Read the articleFourteen years after Benghazi, the public still knows far more about Washington’s response than it does about the international terrorist network that assembled the attacking force.…
Read the investigationNewly declassified 9/11 files show that warnings about Osama bin Laden and attacks inside the U.S. were reaching the highest levels of government years before September…
Read articleA convicted ISIS supporter returned to Old Dominion University after federal prison. The university never knew his terrorism history until after he attacked an ROTC classroom,…
Read the investigationWhat Al-Qaeda’s public behavior can tell us about organizational confidence, strategic warning, and meaningful change.
Read articleRecent fighting suggests sustained resistance pressure is reshaping the Taliban’s military campaign and its use of allied jihadist organizations.
Read articleThe rebuilding of a historic Al-Qaeda institution offers one of the clearest indicators of the organization’s resurgence.
Read articleAn examination of the Islamic State’s effort to reposition leadership and revive its operations in Libya.
Read articleThe Commons
Practical guidance from The Commons for turning lessons into capability.
A public-safety brief on observable warning signs, avoiding stereotypes, creating distance, and reporting a concern without confronting the person yourself.
Read the briefA recognition brief on coded language, metadata, steganography, obfuscated text, and ordinary digital platforms that can be abused for clandestine communication.
Read the briefA practical Commons companion to The Gathering Storm, focused on asking the right questions about terrorism threats, readiness gaps, local responsibility, and what communities can prepare…
Ask the right questionsTerrorist threats are expected to spike this year, with groups like al-Qaeda continuing to prioritize aviation and crowded spaces. Suicide vests remain a favored method of…
Read the briefBooks & enduring work
Books, collaborations, and other enduring material that helps round out the subject.
Blaze Media’s Rufo & Lomez features an interview with Sarah Adams discussing the Muslim Brotherhood and its political and civic influence in the United States.
Watch interviewWhat happens in Afghanistan does not stay in Afghanistan. Twenty-five years after 9/11, this documentary collaboration with The Daily Wire examines what has returned to Afghanistan…
Watch the documentaryTwenty-five years after 9/11, Sarah Adams discusses the danger of counterterrorism gaps as U.S. attention shifts toward great-power competition and al-Qaida rebuilds in Afghanistan.
Read the interviewOpening Welcome to The Watch Floor. I'm Sarah Adams. Over the couple of last weeks, you've probably heard about the alleged plot against UFC Freedom 250.…
Read episode notesWelcome to The Watch Floor. I’m Sarah Adams. Today we are talking about Adam Hamawy HAM ah Wee, the Democratic nominee in New Jersey’s 12th Congressional…
Read episode notesA framework for moving beyond group-by-group disruption toward the shared ecosystems, facilitators, logistics, finance, and technical support that allow threats to regenerate.
Read on the siteI just read the bolded sections of the new ODNI Threat Assessment that can be found here starting on page 7 under the Terrorism section, then…
Read episode notesIntro When most people think about the Decision Logic Behind Terrorist Attacks they think about ideology. They think belief comes first—and that belief drives everything that…
Read episode notesThe Libya Update reports on Sarah Adams’s Benghazi research and quotes her claims about figures linked to the attack holding positions inside Libya’s Government of National…
Read the articleOver the weekend, Pakistan’s Baluchistan province experienced a coordinated wave of terrorist attacks spanning multiple cities. What is critical to understand from the outset is: These…
Read episode notesIntro When most people think about terrorism, they imagine chaos. They imagine revenge.Impulse.Irrational actors. That image is comforting. Because it suggests these groups are reckless —…
Read episode notesAn analysis featuring Sarah Adams on the actors, networks, and warning signs surrounding violence against Kurdish communities in Syria.
Read the interviewJohn Rossomando quotes Sarah Adams regarding Jaan Shah Safi, Taliban intelligence reporting to the United States, ISKP, and the danger of Taliban disinformation.
Read the articleHasht-e Subh cites Sarah Adams’s reporting that the Taliban communications shutdown could facilitate foreign fighter movements, within broader coverage of the impact on Afghan civilians.
Read the articleHasht-e Subh reports Sarah Adams’s warning about the Taliban’s communications shutdown and allegations regarding movement of foreign fighters.
Read the articleAmu TV’s MAWJ interviews Sarah Adams about Al-Qaeda, its relationship with the Taliban, and threats to regional and U.S. security.
Listen / watchKabulNow reports Sarah Adams’s criticism of a claimed Taliban operation in Kabul and her account of the site’s intelligence history.
Read the articleA Watch Floor brief examining a low-signature threat uncovered in Turkey in 2019 and the broader challenge of recognizing emerging terrorist technologies before they become familiar.
Read summaryAn assessment of how al-Qaeda and the Taliban are expanding the roles women can play in recruitment, facilitation, intelligence gathering, propaganda, and operational support.
Read summaryAmu TV covers Sarah Adams’s investigative report HKIA: Know Thy Enemy and its findings concerning the 2021 Abbey Gate attack.
Read the articleRic Prado recounts a career spanning the Cold War, the Bin Laden Task Force, and the CIA’s Special Activities Group.
View bookRyan Petty reviews Benghazi: Know Thy Enemy by Sarah Adams and Dave “Boon” Benton, highlighting their investigation of the attackers, the networks involved, and the unanswered…
Read the book reviewSarah Adams and Dave “Boon” Benton reconstruct the Benghazi attacks, the network behind them, and the lessons that remain unfinished.
View bookToby Harnden tells the story of Team Alpha, Mike Spann, and the first CIA mission sent into Afghanistan after September 11.
View bookNada Bakos recounts the analytical and targeting work behind the campaign against Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
View bookFred Burton and Samuel M. Katz examine the abduction and murder of CIA Station Chief William Buckley and the rise of Hezbollah’s war against America.
View bookRobert Baer’s memoir of CIA field work in the Middle East and the institutional choices that shaped the fight against terrorism.
View bookKeep the thread
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