Katherine Zimmerman

The United States and its allies have severely reduced the capacity for al-Qaeda, the terrorist group behind the 9/11 attacks, to organize or carry out any large-scale terrorist attacks against the U.S. homeland. Recent U.S. intelligence assessments suggest al-Qaeda is weaker than ever in Afghanistan, while experts and international observers continue to warn that al-Qaeda is

Oct 12

A string of recent military coups toppling governments in the African Sahel, from Guinea to Sudan, poses new risks and challenges to the United States. France, formerly a key ally in African security affairs, has also massively reduced its forces on the continent, at times being chased out by pro-Moscow forces. Straight Arrow News contributor

Sep 15

On July 31, 2022, al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed during a U.S.-led airstrike in Kabul, Afghanistan. Al-Qaeda has yet to acknowledge Zawahiri’s death nor has it publicly declared a new leader to take his place. Straight Arrow News contributor Katherine Zimmerman analyzes recent shifts in leadership within al-Qaeda and explains the significance of not

Aug 11

While the threat of a terrorist attack against America and its interests abroad has decreased in recent years, the war on terror is far from over. Leaked U.S. intelligence indicates ISIS is using Afghanistan as its base of operations to plot attacks in Asia, Europe, and possibly even the United States. This comes as the

Jun 22

The fighting in Sudan between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) caused hundreds of thousands to flee their homes. The East African country is facing a humanitarian crisis and is on the brink of a civil war. With the increasing violence, the U.S. shuttered its embassy indefinitely and evacuated staff

May 12

According to the United Nations, more than 200,000 people have died during Yemen’s civil war and the country is suffering from an epic humanitarian crisis. But after eight years of the war between Iran-backed Houthi rebels and a Saudi-backed Yemeni government, a potential truce is being hammered out. On April 9, a delegation from Saudi

Apr 17

Last month U.S. special operations forces killed a senior Islamic State leader, Bilal al-Sudani, in a remote area of northern Somalia. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said al-Sudani “was responsible for fostering the growing presence of ISIS in Africa and for funding the group’s operations worldwide, including in Afghanistan.” Areas of Somalia, Afghanistan, Yemen, Africa’s

Feb 23

According to The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and the American Enterprise Institute’s Critical Threats Project (CTP), “ISIS and al-Qaeda are more than terrorist groups; they are insurgencies” who want to overthrow existing governments and spread their ideology to all of humanity. Al-Qaida is still determined to be the leader of the global

Jan 5

Russia is using Iranian-manufactured drones to bombard Ukraine’s capital city. Moscow has turned to one of its few remaining allies because its own weapons manufacturing is a shadow of what it once was. While they are not considered top-of-the-line military gear, the drones are relatively inexpensive and not hard to build. Straight Arrow News contributor

Oct 27

The White House says over-the-horizon counterterrorism is the future in America’s war on terror. President Biden singled out the assassination of al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri by drone strike last July in Afghanistan as proof that the new strategy works. But with terrorism still a top concern stateside, is waging this war from a distance the best

Oct 6

The killing of Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri in Afghanistan marked a major win for the U.S. But as we approach the first anniversary of the American withdrawal from Afghanistan, nearly 70,000 our our Afghan allies remain trapped. President Biden’s pledge to help U.S. allies in Afghanistan has gone unfulfilled. Straight Arrow News contributor Katherine Zimmerman

Aug 11

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues with the torture and killing of civilians. While the U.S. looks to hold Putin accountable for what President Biden called a “genocide,” other atrocities across the world persist. Straight Arrow News contributor Katherine Zimmerman reminds us not to forget the victims — and their perpetrators: The Chinese government is engaged

Jun 7

The core of the Islamic State may not wield the strength it did in 2014 and 2015, but its powerful network persists. ISIS branches operate independently worldwide, yet they devoutly follow their recently named global leader. Straight Arrow News contributor Katherine Zimmerman outlines the changes at the top and the current state of the organization.

May 4

Feb 16