DAESH’s Drone Strategy: Technology and the Rise of Innovative Terrorism

This report analyzes the extent of the use of drone technology by terror organizations, and makes recommendations regarding how to remove this new threat.

“Innovative terrorism” can be described as the introduction of a new method or the development of an existing technology by terror organizations. Considering the changing traits of terrorism and the resources owned by terror organizations today, its character and patterns of using innovative terrorism make DAESH the most dangerous organization threatening regional and international stability.

Meanwhile, DAESH’s principles of war, terror methods and radical ideology based on Messianic discourse, which is assertive enough to influence masses, transform the organization into the most dangerous actor threatening global peace. Terror organizations take advantage of the opportunities presented by new technologies, globalization and the benefits offered to society by the liberal global markets. This increases the impact of terrorism’s message and the effectiveness of terrorists’ capabilities.

In the process of innovative terrorism, DAESH and similar terror organizations are armed by using current technological platforms and gradually cause the diversification of new types of threats. One of the most striking new threats is drone (unmanned aerial vehicle, or UAV) technology.

DAESH has improved its fighting skills especially in Syria and Iraq on account of drones and this has not only caused a serious threat to the countries’ security forces but also to civilians. This report analyzes the extent of the use of drone technology by terror organizations, and makes recommendations regarding how to remove this new threat.

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