Professor Mohammed Hafez, Chair of the Department of National Security Affairs, published his research on rebel-on-rebel fratricide and its consequences for jihadi movements seeking to win their civil wars. He finds that jihadis that deploy fratricidal violence against civilians and rival rebel groups often end up failing to achieve their objectives because they alienate their supporters, drive away external sponsors, and fragment the ranks of their movement. Professor Hafez uses the cases of Algeria, Iraq, and Syria to illustrate how puritanical ideologies facilitate fratricide and preclude learning from past mistakes, resulting in defeat after defeat. He also discusses the implications for fighting future iterations of the Islamic State.

To read Professor Hafez's article in the CTC Sentinel, click here.

To read Professor Hafez's article in Terrorism and Poltical Violence, click here.