Terrorist group(s) In 9 editions of 36.

Published as “Terrorist groups - home based”

al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM):

aim: overthrow various African regimes and replace them with one ruled by sharia; establish a regional Islamic caliphate across all of North and West Africa

area(s) of operation:

leadership headquartered in Algeria; operates in Tunisia, Libya, and northern Mali

note: al-Qa'ida's affiliate in North Africa; Tunisia-based branch known as the Uqbah bin Nafi Battalion; Mali-based cadre merged with allies to form JNIM in March 2017, which pledged allegiance to AQIM and al-Qa'ida (April 2018)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)-Algeria:

aim(s): replace the Algerian Government with an Islamic state and implement ISIS's strict interpretation of sharia

area(s) of operation:

maintains an operational and recruitment presence mostly in the northeast

note: formerly known as Jund al-Khilafa - Algeria (JAK-A) (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - home based”

Ansarul Islam:

aim(s): to end government control in parts of the north of the country and enforce sharia in the area of the ancient Fulani Empire of Djeelgodji

area(s) of operation:

targets Burkinabe security forces and civilians primarily in the country's northern Sahel Region (April 2018)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-sham networks in the Greater Sahara (ISGS):

aim(s):

replace regional governments with an Islamic state

area(s) of operation:

mostly concentrated in the Mali-Burkina Faso-Niger tri-border region; targets primarily security forces

• (December 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - foreign based”

al-Mulathamun Battalion:

aim(s): replace several African governments, including Burkina Faso's government, with an Islamic state

area(s) of operation:

engages in kidnappings for ransom and violent activities across the country, including in the capital Ouagadougou

• (November 2018)

al-Qa'ida-affiliated Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM):

aim(s):

establish an Islamic state centered in Mali

area(s) of operation:

• primarily based in northern and central Mali;
• targets Western and local interests in West Africa and Sahel;
• has claimed responsibility for attacks in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso

note: pledged allegiance to al-Qa'ida and AQIM; holds Western hostages; wages attacks against security and peacekeeping forces in Mali (April 2018)

Boko Haram:

aim(s): establish an Islamic caliphate across Africa

area(s) of operation:

• conducts lethal bombing attacks and assaults,
• displacing thousands of people,
• especially in the Far North Region

note: violently opposes any political or social activity associated with Western society, including voting, attending secular schools, and wearing Western dress (April 2018)

• Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)-West Africa: aim(s): implement ISIS's strict interpretation of Sharia;
• replace the Nigerian Government with an Islamic state

area(s) of operation:

• based primarily in Northeast Nigeria along the border with Niger, with its largest presence in northeast Nigeria and the Lake Chad region;
• targets primarily regional military installations (April 2018)

Boko Haram:

aim(s): establish an Islamic caliphate across Africa

area(s) of operation:

conducts kidnappings, bombings, and assaults, including in the capital, N'Djamena

note: violently opposes any political or social activity associated with Western society, including voting, attending secular schools, and wearing Western dress (April 2018)

• Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)-West Africa: aim(s): implement ISIS's strict interpretation of Sharia;
• replace the Nigerian Government with an Islamic state

area(s) of operation:

• based primarily in Northeast Nigeria along the border with Niger, with its largest presence in northeast Nigeria and the Lake Chad region;
• targets primarily regional military installations (April 2018)

al-Shabaab:

aim(s): punish Djibouti for participating in the African Union Mission in Somalia; compel Djibouti to withdraw troops from Somalia

area(s) of operation:

maintains minimal operational presence (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - home based”

Harakat Sawa’d Misr (HASM): aim(s): overthrow the Egyptian Government

area(s) of operation:

• Cairo,
• Nile Delta,
• Western Desert (April 2018)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)-Sinai:

aim(s): spread the ISIS caliphate by eliminating the Egyptian Government, destroying Israel, and establishing an Islamic emirate in the Sinai

area(s) of operation:

operational throughout Egypt, primarily in North Sinai

note: formerly known as Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis; core ISIS refers to Egypt as its Wilayat Sinai (April 2018)

Liwa al-Thawra:

aim(s): overthrow the Egyptian Government

area(s) of operation:

Nile Delta (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - foreign based”

al-Qa'ida (AQ):

aim(s): overthrow the Egyptian Government and, ultimately, establish a pan-Islamic caliphate under a strict Salafi Muslim interpretation of sharia

area(s) of operation:

maintains a longtime operational presence and established networks (April 2018)

Army of Islam (AOI):

aim(s): disrupt the Egyptian Government's efforts to provide security and, ultimately, establish an Islamic caliphate

area(s) of operation:

operational mainly in Cairo and the Sinai Peninsula

note: associated with ISIS Sinai Province (formerly known as Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis); targets Israeli Government interests, sometimes in collaboration with the Mujahidin Shura Council in the Environs of Jerusalem (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - home based”

al-Shabaab:

aim(s): punish Ethiopia for participating in the African Union Mission in Somalia; compel Ethiopia to withdraw troops from Somalia

area(s) of operation:

aspires to conduct attacks in Addis Ababa; no permanent presence (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - foreign based”

al-Shabaab:

• aim(s): punish Ethiopia for participating in the African Union Mission in Somalia;
• compel Ethiopia to withdraw troops from Somalia area(s) of operation: aspires to conduct attacks in Addis Ababa;
• no permanent presence (April 2018)

al-Shabaab:

• aim(s): establish Islamic rule in Kenya’s northeastern border region and coast;
• avenge Kenya's past intervention in Somalia against al-Shabaab and its ongoing participation in the African Union mission;
• compel Kenya to withdraw troops from Somalia;
• attract Kenyan recruits to support operations in Somalia

area(s) of operation:

maintains an operational and recruitment presence, mostly along the coast and the northeastern border (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - home based”

al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM):

aim(s): overthrow various African regimes and replace them with one ruled by sharia; establish a regional Islamic caliphate across all of North and West Africa

area(s) of operation:

leadership headquartered in Algeria; operates in Tunisia and Libya

note: al-Qa'ida's affiliate in North Africa; Tunisia-based branch known as the Uqbah bin Nafi Battalion; Mali-based cadre merged with allies to form JNIM in March 2017, which pledged allegiance to AQIM and al-Qa'ida (April 2018)

Ansar al-Sharia groups:

aim(s): implement sharia in Libya

area(s) of operation:

in the east, mostly in Benghazi and Darnah

note: officially disbanded in June 2017, but fighters and local elements remain; operated as a member of the Benghazi Revolutionaries Shura Council and Darnah Mujahidin Shura Council, a coalition of jihadist groups combating the Libyan House of Representatives-aligned forces (April 2018)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)-Libya:

aim(s): prevent the formation of a reunified Libyan state, secure control over the country's critical resources and, ultimately, establish an Islamic caliphate in Libya

area(s) of operation:

• based in Libya since circa 2015, with its original headquarters in Sirte;
• no longer controls territory in Libya but does maintain a low-profile presence throughout much of the country (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - foreign based”

al-Mulathamun Battalion:

aim(s): replace several African governments, including Libya's transitional government, with an Islamic state

area(s) of operation:

maintains an operational presence; engages in kidnappings for ransom (November 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - home based”

al-Mulathamun Battalion:

aim(s): implement ISIS's strict interpretation of Sharia; replace the Malian Government with an Islamic state

area(s) of operation:

headquartered in the north; targets primarily international interests, especially Westerners and Western entities

• (November 2018)

al-Qa'ida-affiliated Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM):

aim(s):

establish an Islamic state centered in Mali

area(s) of operation:

• primarily based in northern and central Mali;
• targets Western and local interests in West Africa and Sahel;
• has claimed responsibility for attacks in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso

note: pledged allegiance to al-Qa'ida and AQIM; holds Western hostages; wages attacks against security and peacekeeping forces in Mali (April 2018)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-sham networks in the Greater Sahara (ISGS):

aim(s):

replace regional governments with an Islamic state

area(s) of operation:

mostly concentrated along the Mali-Niger border region; targets primarily security forces (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - home based”

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-sham networks in the Greater Sahara (ISGS):

aim(s):

replace regional governments with an Islamic state

area(s) of operation:

mostly concentrated along the Mali-Niger border region; targets primarily security forces (April 2018)

• Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)-West Africa: aim(s): implement ISIS's strict interpretation of Sharia;
• replace the Nigerian Government with an Islamic state

area(s) of operation:

• based primarily in the southeast along the border with Nigeria, with its largest presence in northeast Nigeria and the Lake Chad region;
• targets primarily regional military installations, especially in the southeastern Diffa region (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - foreign based”

al-Mulathamun Battalion:

aim(s): replace several African governments, including Niger's government, with an Islamic state

area(s) of operation:

conducts attacks against Nigerien military and security personnel; targets Westerners for kidnappings for ransom

• (November 2018)

al-Qa'ida-affiliated Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM):

aim(s):

establish an Islamic state centered in Mali

area(s) of operation:

• primarily based in northern and central Mali;
• targets Western and local interests in West Africa and Sahel;
• has claimed responsibility for attacks in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso

note: pledged allegiance to al-Qa'ida and AQIM; holds Western hostages; wages attacks against security and peacekeeping forces in Mali (April 2018)

Boko Haram:

aim(s): establish an Islamic caliphate across Africa

area(s) of operation:

conducts kidnappings, bombings, and assaults; responsible for displacing thousands of people and contributing to food insecurity

note: violently opposes any political or social activity associated with Western society, including voting, attending secular schools, and wearing Western dress (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - home based”

Boko Haram:

• aim(s): replace the Nigerian Government with an Islamic state under strict sharia and, ultimately, establish an Islamic caliphate across Africa;
• avenge military offenses against the group and destroy any political or social activity associated with Western society;
• conducts attacks against primarily civilian and regional military targets

area(s) of operation:

headquartered in the northeast

note: since 2009, fighters have killed tens of thousands of Nigerians during hundreds of attacks and disrupted trade and farming in the northeast, causing a risk of famine and displacing millions of people; violently opposes any political or social activity associated with Western society, including voting, attending secular schools, and wearing Western dress (April 2018)

• Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)-West Africa: aim(s): implement ISIS's strict interpretation of Sharia;
• replace the Nigerian Government with an Islamic state

area(s) of operation:

• based primarily in the north along the border with Niger, with its largest presence in the northeast and the Lake Chad region;
• targets primarily regional military installations and civilians (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - home based”

al-Shabaab:

aim(s): discredit and destabilize the Federal Government of Somalia and target any countries or entities that support Somalia's fight against al-Shabaab; establish Islamic rule across Somalia

area(s) of operation:

• a core al-Qa'ida affiliate that maintains strongholds in rural areas in the south, where it controls a large swathe of the Lower and Middle Juba and Lower Shabelle regions;
• responsible for numerous high-profile bombings and shootings throughout Somalia and in the northeast in Puntland State (April 2018)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) networks in Somalia:

aim(s):

• replace the Federal Government of Somalia with an Islamic state and implement ISIS's strict interpretation of Sharia;
• replace al-Shabaab as the dominant armed opposition to federal authority in Somalia

area(s) of operation:

• directs operations, recruitment, and training from Puntland, the semiautonomous region in the northeast;
• conducts sporadic attacks against African Union and Somali Government personnel throughout the country (April 2018)

al-Shabaab:

aim(s): attract Tanzanian recruits to support terrorist operations in Kenya and Somalia

area(s) of operation:

maintains minimal clandestine footprint in key cities (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - home based”

al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM):

aim(s): overthrow various African regimes and replace them with one ruled by sharia; establish a regional Islamic caliphate across all of North and West Africa

area(s) of operation:

leadership headquartered in Algeria; operates in Tunisia and Libya

note: al-Qa'ida's affiliate in North Africa; Tunisia-based branch known as the Uqbah bin Nafi Battalion; Mali-based cadre merged with allies to form JNIM in March 2017, which pledged allegiance to AQIM and al-Qa'ida (April 2018)

Ansar al-Sharia in Tunisia (AAS-T):

aim(s): expand its influence in Tunisia and, ultimately, replace the Tunisian Government with sharia

area(s) of operation:

headquartered in Tunisia; members instigate riots and violent demonstrations and engage in attacks, targeting Tunisian military and security personnel, Tunisian politicians, religious sites, and Western interests (April 2018)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) network in Tunisia (to include pro-ISIS cells and designated Jund al-Khilafah (JAK-T)):

aim(s):

replace the Tunisian Government with an Islamic state and implement ISIS's strict interpretation of sharia

area(s) of operation:

Tunisian ISIS fighters stage attacks just across the border in Libya against government facilities and personnel and foreign tourists in Tunisia (April 2018)

al-Shabaab:

aim(s): punish Ugandan Government for participating in African Union military operations against al-Shabaab; compel Uganda to withdraw forces from Somalia

area(s) of operation:

aspires to renew attacks in Kampala; no permanent presence (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - home based”

al-Qa'ida (AQ):

aim(s): eject Western influence from the Islamic world, unite the worldwide Muslim community, overthrow governments perceived as un-Islamic, and ultimately, establish a pan-Islamic caliphate under a strict Salafi Muslim interpretation of sharia

area(s) of operation:

maintains established networks and a longtime operational presence in Afghanistan, especially in the south, northwest, and northeast near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border (April 2018)

Islamic Jihad Union (IJU):

aim(s): drive NATO forces out of Afghanistan and destabilize the country; overthrow the Government of Uzbekistan

area(s) of operation:

conducts attacks in collaboration with other extremist groups, including the Taliban, against NATO and Afghan forces across the country, especially in the northern and eastern Paktika, Paktia, and Nangarhar provinces (April 2018)

Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU):

aim(s): enhance its networks and secure territory in Afghanistan to establish a secure presence from which it can pursue its historic goal of establishing an Islamic state in the Fergana Valley, a fertile valley spread across eastern Uzbekistan, southern Kyrgyzstan, and northern Tajikistan

area(s) of operation:

• operates mostly in the north along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border,
• with its heaviest presence in Badakhshan Province,
• where IMU has operated paramilitary training camps and bases

note: the IMU is fractured and mostly supports ISIS-K although some members have continued working with the Taliban (April 2018)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham-Khorasan (ISIS-K): aim(s): establish an Islamic caliphate in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and parts of Central Asia; counter Westerners and Shia Muslims

area(s) of operation:

stronghold in Nangarhar Province near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and operating in Kunar, Laghman, Jowzjan provinces with pockets of support throughout Afghanistan

note: recruits from among the local population, Central Asian extremists in Afghanistan, and other militant groups, such as Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, the Afghan Taliban, and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (April 2018)

Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP):

• aim(s): drive foreign troops from Afghanistan;
• remove Pakistani forces from Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and, ultimately, overthrow the Pakistan Government to implement TTP's strict interpretation of sharia

area(s) of operation:

• headquartered in several eastern Afghanistan provinces near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border;
• operates primarily along the northeastern Afghanistan-Pakistan border, especially in Kunar and Paktika provinces, where TTP has established sanctuaries (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - foreign based”

al-Qa'ida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS):

aim(s): establish an Islamic caliphate in the Indian subcontinent

area(s) of operation:

• heaviest presence is in Afghanistan,
• especially in the eastern and southern regions,
• where most of the Afghan-based leaders are located

note: targets primarily Afghan military and security personnel and US interests (April 2018)

Haqqani Taliban Network (HQN):

aim(s): expel US and Coalition forces and replace the Afghan Government with an Islamic state operating according to a strict Salafi Muslim interpretation of sharia under the Afghan Taliban

area(s) of operation:

• stages attacks from Kurram and North Waziristan Agency in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) across from Afghanistan's southeastern border;
• operational throughout the country, especially in Kabul and Paktiya and Khost provinces

note: plays a leading role in planning and executing high-profile attacks against Afghan personnel, NATO's Resolute Support Mission, US and Coalition Forces, and other US and Western interests (April 2018)

Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami (HUJI):

aim(s): implement sharia in Afghanistan; enhance its networks and drive foreign troops from Afghanistan

area(s) of operation:

operations throughout Afghanistan, targeting primarily Afghan Government personnel and Coalition forces (April 2018)

Harakat ul-Mujahidin (HUM):

aim(s): enhance its networks and paramilitary training in Afghanistan and, ultimately, incorporate Kashmir into Pakistan; establish an Islamic state in Kashmir

area(s) of operation:

maintains paramilitary training camps in eastern Afghanistan (April 2018)

Jaish-e-Mohammed (JEM):

aim(s): participate in the insurgency against Afghan and international forces to support a Taliban return to power in Afghanistan and annex the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan

area(s) of operation:

historically operated in Afghanistan's eastern provinces (April 2018)

Jaysh al Adl:

aim(s): enhance its operational networks and capabilities for staging cross-border attacks into Pakistan and Iran

area(s) of operation:

operational in the greater Balochistan area, where fighters stage attacks targeting Shia Muslims in Iran and Pakistan

note: formerly known as Jundallah (April 2018)

Lashkar i Jhangvi (LJ):

aim(s): enhance its networks and paramilitary training in Afghanistan; exterminate Shia Muslims, rid the Afghanistan-Pakistan region of Western influence

area(s) of operation:

• headquartered in the east;
• operates paramilitary training camps near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border across from the central area of Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) region;
• operatives conduct operations inside Afghanistan (April 2018)

Lashkar-e Tayyiba (LT):

• aim(s): annex the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan and foment Islamic insurgency in India;
• attack Western, Indian, and Afghan interests in Afghanistan;
• support the Taliban's return to power;
• enhance its recruitment networks and paramilitary training in Afghanistan, and, ultimately, install Islamic rule throughout South Asia

area(s) of operation:

• targets Coalition forces and Western interests throughout the country;
• maintains several facilities, such as paramilitary training camps, medical clinics serving locals, and schools for youths;
• targets Pashtun youth for recruitmentAdministered Tribal Areas (FATA) region;
• operatives conduct operations inside Afghanistan (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - home based”

Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami/Bangladesh (HUJI-B):

aim(s): install an Islamic state in Bangladesh

area(s) of operation:

headquartered in Bangladesh and mostly active in the southeast; maintains a network of madrassas in Bangladesh (April 2018)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) networks in Bangladesh:

aim(s):

• replace the Bangladesh Government with an Islamic state and implement ISIS's strict interpretation of Sharia;
• ISIS operates in Bangladesh under the name Islamic State in Bangladesh (ISB)

area(s) of operation:

operates primarily in Dhaka

note: targets foreigners, foreign aid workers, university professors, students, and secular bloggers for assassination; core ISIS refers to its Bangladesh branch as Bengal (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - foreign based”

al-Qa'ida (AQ):

aim(s): overthrow the Bangladesh Government and, ultimately, establish a pan-Islamic caliphate under a strict Salafi Muslim interpretation of sharia

area(s) of operation:

operates in collaboration with its al-Qa'ida in the Indian Subcontinent affiliate (April 2018)

al-Qa'ida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS):

aim(s): protect Muslims in Bangladesh from perceived injustices and, ultimately, establish an Islamic caliphate in the Indian subcontinent

area(s) of operation:

active throughout the country, targeting primarily military and security personnel and US interests (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - home based”

Hizbul Mujahideen (HM):

aim(s): annex the state of Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan

area(s) of operation:

HM is an indigenous Kashmiri militant group that operates in Jammu and Kashmir (April 2018)

Indian Mujahedeen (IM):

• aim(s): establish Islamic rule in India and, ultimately, convert all non-Muslims to Islam;
• stated goal is to carry out terrorist attacks against Indians for perceived atrocities against Indian Muslims

area(s) of operation:

formerly based in the western state of Maharashtra, India's third-largest and second-most populous state, and now probably operates mostly outside India (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - foreign based”

al-Qa'ida (AQ):

aim(s): overthrow the Indian Government and, ultimately, establish a pan-Islamic caliphate under a strict Salafi Muslim interpretation of sharia

area(s) of operation:

maintains an operational presence as al-Qa'ida in the Indian Subcontinent (April 2018)

al-Qa'ida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS):

aim(s): establish an Islamic caliphate in the Indian subcontinent

area(s) of operation:

• targets primarily military and security personnel, especially in the states of Assam, Gujarat, and Jammu and Kashmir;
• present in large cities, including Delhi (April 2018)

Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami (HUJI):

aim(s): enhance its networks and operational capabilities in India

area(s) of operation:

• maintains an operational presence,
• especially in the south,
• including in Bangalore and Hubli (April 2018)

Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami/Bangladesh (HUJI-B):

aim(s): enhance its networks in India and, ultimately, install an Islamic state in Bangladesh

area(s) of operation:

maintains a low-profile presence (April 2018)

Harakat ul-Mujahidin (HUM):

aim(s): enhance its networks and paramilitary training in India and, ultimately, annex Kashmir into Pakistan and establish an Islamic state in Kashmir

area(s) of operation:

conducts attacks against Indian troops and civilians in Kashmir (April 2018)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham-Khorasan (ISIS-K): aim(s): spread the ISIS caliphate by eliminating the Indian Government and, ultimately, unite Kashmir with Pakistan

area(s) of operation:

maintains a recruitment presence in major cities

Jaish-e-Mohammed (JEM):

aim(s): annex Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan

area(s) of operation:

operates primarily in Jammu and Kashmir State (April 2018)

Lashkar-e Tayyiba (LT):

aim(s): annex Jammu and Kashmir State to Pakistan and, ultimately, install Islamic rule throughout South Asia

area(s) of operation:

operational throughout India, especially in the north in Jammu and Kashmir State, since at least 1993

note: continues to be one of the largest and most deadly of the anti-India-focused armed groups (April 2018)

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE):

aim(s): enhance its networks in India and, ultimately, revive the movement to establish a Tamil homeland

area(s) of operation:

maintains safe havens, transit routes, human trafficking, and an operational presence in an effort to revive the movement and conduct attacks (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - home based”

Aum Shinrikyo (AUM):

• aim(s): attract new members seeking religious guidance and exhibiting a willingness to financially support the organization;
• historically, leaders sought to overthrow the Japanese Government and to spark a nuclear war between Japan and the US to create a global Armageddon, 'cleansing' the world so its members could achieve salvation

area(s) of operation:

headquartered in the north in Hokkaido, where AUM opened the largest of its 33 buildings in July 2016

note: the majority of members reside in Russia (April 2018)

Indian Mujahedeen (IM):

aim(s): enhance networks in Nepal to carry out attacks against Indians in Nepal and India

area(s) of operation:

maintains active hubs of small, loosely connected networks (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - home based”

al-Qa'ida (AQ):

aim(s): eject Western influence from the Islamic world, unite the worldwide Muslim community, overthrow governments perceived as un-Islamic and, ultimately, establish a pan-Islamic caliphate under a strict Salafi Muslim interpretation of sharia

area(s) of operation:

presence in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border (April 2018)

al-Qa'ida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS):

aim(s): establish an Islamic caliphate in the Indian subcontinent

area(s) of operation:

• operational throughout the country, targeting military and security personnel;
• responsible for numerous attacks in Karachi;
• stages attacks in Afghanistan, India, and Bangladesh, where the group is the most active (April 2018)

Haqqani Network (HQN):

• aim(s): enhance its operational networks and capabilities for staging cross-border attacks in Afghanistan;
• replace the Afghan Government with an Islamic state operating according to a strict Salafi Muslim interpretation of sharia

area(s) of operation:

• headquartered in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) region located across from Afghanistan's southeastern border;
• fighters have staged numerous cross-border operations from Kurram and North Waziristan Agency in the FATA into Afghanistan, targeting Afghan, US, and NATO forces and other Afghan Government personnel and Westerners for attack or kidnappings for ransom (April 2018)

Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami (HUJI):

aim(s): overthrow the Pakistan Government and implement sharia throughout the country

area(s) of operation:

headquartered in Pakistan, where the group operates several camps; remains heavily active in the southern area of Azad Kashmir (April 2018)

Harakat ul-Mujahidin (HUM):

aim(s): annex Kashmir to Pakistan and establish an Islamic state in Kashmir

area(s) of operation:

• headquartered in Islamabad, with an operational presence in Muzaffarabad in Azad Kashmir, where operatives stage attacks against India;
• maintains training and paramilitary camps in the country's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) region (April 2018)

Jaish-e-Mohammed (JEM):

aim(s): unite Kashmir with Pakistan, install sharia in Pakistan, and drive foreign forces from Afghanistan

area(s) of operation:

headquartered in Punjab Province; stages attacks against Indian forces, primarily in Jammu and Kashmir State (April 2018)

Jaysh al Adl:

aim(s): seeks greater autonomy for Balochis in Pakistan and Iran

area(s) of operation:

• headquartered in Balochistan Province,
• where operatives stage attacks inside Iran against Shia Muslims,
• primarily targets Iranian soldiers and security personnel

note: formerly known as Jundallah (April 2018)

Lashkar i Jhangvi (LJ):

aim(s): exterminate Shia Muslims, rid the region of Western influence and, ultimately, establish an Islamic state in Pakistan under sharia

area(s) of operation:

• has a growing presence in Karachi, the capital of Sindh Province;
• loosely coordinated cells are spread across the country, primarily in Punjab and Balochistan provinces, Karachi, and in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) region;
• majority of attacks are against local and foreign Shia Muslims and government personnel and facilities (April 2018)

Lashkar-e Tayyiba (LT):

• aim(s): return the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan and foment Islamic insurgency in India;
• enhance its recruitment networks and paramilitary training in South Asia;
• and, ultimately, implement Islamic rule throughout South Asia

area(s) of operation:

• headquartered in Lahore, Punjab Province, with an operational presence throughout the country;
• active in both the Pakistan-administered and India-administered Kashmir regions

note: does not conduct attacks within Pakistan; often operates under the guise of its charitable affiliates, including Jamaat-ud-Dawa (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - foreign based”

Indian Mujahedeen (IM):

aim(s): stated goal is to carry out terrorist attacks against Indians for perceived atrocities against Indian Muslims following the 2002 Gujarat riots

area(s) of operation:

Punjab and Sindh Provinces and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir (April 2018)

• Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham-Khorasan (ISIS-K): aim(s): establish an Islamic caliphate in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region;
• oppose Pakistan Government and Westerners;
• oppose Shia Muslim population

area(s) of operation:

maintains an operational and recruitment presence throughout the country, primarily along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border to stage attacks inside Afghanistan and Pakistan

note: recruits from among the local population and other militant groups such as Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, the Afghan Taliban, and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (April 2018)

Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP):

• aim(s): remove Pakistani forces from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) region;
• overthrow the Pakistan Government to implement TTP's strict interpretation of sharia

area(s) of operation:

• maintains a large presence in Karachi, the capital of Sindh Province;
• trains and deploys fighters in the tribal belt in the Pashtun areas along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, especially in Kunar and Paktika provinces where TTP has established sanctuaries;
• operationally active in the North Waziristan, South Waziristan, and Balochistan regions;
• targets Pakistan Government officials and military, security, and police personnel, as well as Westerners, pro-government tribal elders, Shia Muslims, and education figures and advocates (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - home based”

The Caucasus Emirate (Imarat Kavkaz, IK):

aim(s): establish an Islamic caliphate and end Moscow's rule in the majority-Muslim North Caucasus region

area(s) of operation:

the North Caucasus, primarily Chechnya, Dagestan, Ingushetiya, Kabardino-Balkaria, and Karachay-Cherkessia

note: most IK members switched allegiance to ISIS in 2015 (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - foreign based”

Aum Shinrikyo (AUM):

aim(s): attract new members seeking religious guidance and exhibiting a willingness to financially support the organization

area(s) of operation:

between 1,500 and 30,000 AUM members live across Russia; recruitment efforts have intensified in recent years (April 2018)

• Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham-Caucasus (ISIS-Caucasus): aim(s): implement its strict interpretation of sharia in Dagestan, Chechnya, Ingushetia, and Kabardino-Balkariya;
• retaliate for Russian involvement in the Syria conflict

area(s) of operation:

• operational in the Russian North Caucasus, where the branch is known as Wilayat Kavkaz;
• recruits mainly from Central Asian migrant populations across Russia for domestic operations (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - home based”

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE):

aim(s): revive the movement to establish a Tamil homeland

area(s) of operation:

presence is primarily in the east where members occasionally plot attacks (April 2018)

Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA):

aim(s): establish an independent Basque homeland based on Marxist principles in what is now southwestern France and northern Spain

area(s) of operation:

maintains a presence in the southwest (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - home based”

Revolutionary Struggle (RS):

aim(s): disrupt the influence of globalization and international capitalism on Greek society and, ultimately, overthrow the Greek Government

area(s) of operation:

operates exclusively inside Greece, primarily in Athens

note: largely inactive in recent years, with the exception of shootouts with police officers trying to arrest members (April 2018)

Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA):

aim(s): to bring about a united Ireland

area(s) of operation:

maintains an operational presence (April 2018)

New Irish Republican Army (NIRA):

aim(s): to bring about a united Ireland

area(s) of operation:

maintains an operational presence

note: formerly known as the Real Irish Republican Army (RIRA) (April 2018)

Aum Shinrikyo (AUM):

aim(s): enhance its networks in Montenegro for recruitment and fundraising

area(s) of operation:

maintains a limited presence; membership drastically depleted in March 2016 when authorities expelled 58 foreign members (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - home based”

Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA):

aim(s): establish an independent Basque homeland in northern Spain and southwestern France based on Marxist principles

area(s) of operation:

headquartered in northern Spain, reportedly disarmed in 2017 (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - home based”

Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA):

aim(s): disrupt the Northern Ireland peace process; remove British rule in Northern Ireland and, ultimately, unify Ireland

area(s) of operation:

based and operationally active primarily in Belfast and along the Northern Ireland-Ireland border, where operatives continue to carry out bombings, assassinations, kidnappings, hijackings, extortion, and robberies (April 2018)

New Irish Republican Army (NIRA):

aim(s): use violence to remove British rule in Northern Ireland, disrupt the Northern Ireland peace process, and unify Ireland

area(s) of operation:

based and operationally active in Northern Ireland, where operatives continue to conduct occasional shootings and small-scale bombings; maintains a presence in Great Britain

note: formerly known as the Real Irish Republican Army (RIRA) (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - home based”

Army of Islam (AOI):

aim(s): stage attacks against Israel and Egypt from the Gaza Strip and, ultimately, establish an Islamic emirate in the region

area(s) of operation:

headquartered in Gaza; heaviest presence and operational activity is in the Gaza Strip

note: operatives have a history of launching low-impact rockets into Israeli and Egyptian territory; the Army of Islam (Jaish al-Islam, JAI) in Syria is unrelated to AOI (April 2018)

HAMAS:

aim(s): maintain control of the Gaza Strip to facilitate Palestinian nationalist aims

area(s) of operation:

headquartered in Gaza (April 2018)

Mujahidin Shura Council in the Environs of Jerusalem (MSC): aim(s): bolster its staging capabilities in the Gaza Strip against Israel and, ultimately, destroy the state of Israel

area(s) of operation:

headquartered in Gaza, although present in Egypt, Libya, Syria, and Israel (April 2018)

Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ):

aim(s): enhance its staging capabilities in the Gaza Strip to launch attacks against Israel

area(s) of operation:

stages rocket attacks against civilians and military personnel primarily in southern Israel (April 2018)

Palestine Liberation Front (PLF):

aim(s): bolster its staging capabilities in the Gaza Strip against Israel and, ultimately, destroy the state of Israel in order to establish a secular, Marxist Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital

area(s) of operation:

based in Gaza; maintains a recruitment and paramilitary training presence in most of the refugee camps across the Gaza Strip (April 2018)

PFLP-General Command (PFLP-GC):

• aim(s): bolster its staging capabilities to prepare fighters for deployment to Syria and to launch occasional attacks inside Israel;
• ultimately, seeks to establish a Palestinian state

area(s) of operation:

• headquartered in Gaza;
• as a longtime supporter of the Syrian Government, the group trains and deploys fighters to Syria to fight on behalf of President Bashar al-ASAD;
• stages occasional small-scale attacks inside Israel (April 2018)

Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP): aim(s): destroy the state of Israel and, ultimately, establish a secular, Marxist Palestinian state

area(s) of operation:

headquartered in Gaza, recruiting and training fighters; stages limited attacks against Israel (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - foreign based”

Abdallah Azzam Brigades (AAB):

aim(s): bolster its staging capabilities in the Gaza Strip against Israel to continue its attempts to disrupt Israel's economy and its efforts to establish security

area(s) of operation:

launches homemade rockets from the Gaza Strip into populated Israeli territory, primarily the cities of Nahariya and Ashkelon (April 2018)

al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade (AAMB):

aim(s): bolster its staging capabilities in the Gaza Strip against Israel and, ultimately, establish a Palestinian state comprising the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Jerusalem

area(s) of operation:

stages attacks from the Gaza Strip against Israeli soldiers and civilians inside Israel, including launching rockets and missiles (April 2018)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)-Sinai:

aim(s): bolster its staging capabilities in the Gaza Strip against Israel and, ultimately, establish a regional Islamic caliphate

area(s) of operation:

stages attacks against Egyptian forces along the Gaza Strip-Egypt border and launches rockets into southern Israel from the border closest to Israel

note: formerly known as Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - home based”

Jaysh al Adl:

note(s): formerly known as Jundallah (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - foreign based”

al-Qa'ida (AQ):

aim(s): unite the worldwide Muslim community, overthrow governments perceived as un-Islamic, and, ultimately, establish a pan-Islamic caliphate under a strict Salafi Muslim interpretation of sharia (April 2018)

Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK):

aim(s): advance Kurdish autonomy, political, and cultural rights in Iran, Turkey, Iraq, and Syria

area(s) of operation:

operational in the northwest; majority of members inside Iran are Iranian Kurds, along with Kurds from Iraq, Syria, and Turkey (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - home based”

Ansar al-Islam (AAI):

aim(s): expel western interests from Iraq and, ultimately, establish an independent Iraqi state operating according to its interpretation of sharia

area(s) of operation:

headquartered in northern Iraq with its largest presence in Kirkuk, Tikrit, and Mosul; active in the western and central regions of the country

note: majority of members are Iraqi Kurds or Iraqi Arabs who are Sunni Muslim (April 2018)

Jaysh Rijal al-Tariq al-Naqshabandi (JRTN):

aim(s): end external influence in Iraq and, ultimately, overthrow the Government of Iraq to install a secular Ba'athist state within the internationally recognized borders of Iraq

area(s) of operation:

attacks separatist Kurdish groups, Iraqi Government military and security forces and facilities, and foreign military personnel (April 2018)

Kata'ib Hizballah (KH):

aim(s): counter US influence and, ultimately, overthrow the Iraqi Government to install a government based on Shia Muslim laws and precepts

area(s) of operation:

headquartered in the Shia Muslim areas of Baghdad, with fighters active in Ninawa, Al Anbar, and Babil governorates (April 2018)

Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK):

aim(s): advance Kurdish autonomy and security goals in Iraq, Turkey, Iran, and Syria

area(s) of operation:

• operational in the north and east, with its stronghold in the Qandil Mountains;
• majority of members inside Iraq are Iraqi, Turkish, and Iranian Kurds, along with Kurds from Syria (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - foreign based”

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS):

• aim(s): replace the world order with a global Islamic state based in Iraq and Syria;
• expand its branches and networks in other countries;
• rule according to ISIS's strict interpretation of Islamic law

area(s) of operation:

operational in the rural and desert areas of central and northern Iraq, primarily within and near Sunni populations, with some presence in major population areas (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - home based”

Kahane Chai (Kach):

aim(s): expel Arabs from Israel's biblical lands and, ultimately, restore the biblical state of Israel

area(s) of operation:

Israel and West Bank settlements

note: considered to be operationally inactive in recent years (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - home based”

Abdallah Azzam Brigades (AAB):

• aim(s): enhance its networks in Lebanon to combat Shia Muslim influence in the country;
• seeks to disrupt Israel's economy and its efforts to establish security;
• attack Western interests in the Middle East

area(s) of operation:

headquartered in the Ayn al-Hilwah Palestinian refugee camp near Sidon in the south (April 2018)

Asbat al-Ansar (AAA):

aim(s): overthrow the Lebanese Government, rid Lebanon of Western influences, destroy the state of Israel to seize Jerusalem and, ultimately, establish an Islamic state in the Levant region

area(s) of operation:

headquartered in the Ayn al-Hilwah Palestinian refugee camp near Sidon in the south

note: essentially defunct, assessed to have a few dozen members as of 2017 (April 2018)

Hizballah:

• aim(s): accrue military resources and political power and defend its position of strength in Lebanon;
• destroy the state of Israel;
• counter the West;
• provide paramilitary support to Syrian President Bashar al-ASAD's regime

area(s) of operation:

headquartered in Beirut with a significant presence in the Bekaa Valley and Southern Lebanon

note: remains the most capable armed group in the country, enjoying support among many Lebanese Shia and some Christians; receives considerable support from Iran (April 2018)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) network in Lebanon: aim(s): replace the Lebanese Government with an Islamic state and implement ISIS's strict interpretation of sharia

area(s) of operation:

operational primarily in the east along the border with Syria; also maintains a presence in Ayn al-Hilweh refugee camp (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - foreign based”

al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade (AAMB):

aim(s): bolster its recruitment presence in Lebanon and, ultimately, establish a Palestinian state comprising the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Jerusalem

area(s) of operation:

recruits youths in Palestinian refugee camps (April 2018)

al-Nusrah Front/al-Qa'ida:

aim(s): bolster networks in Lebanon and, ultimately, establish a regional Islamic caliphate

area(s) of operation:

• in the east in the Bekaa Valley and along the Lebanon-Syria border;
• targets Lebanese Government institutions, security forces, and Lebanese civilians (April 2018)

Palestine Liberation Front (PLF):

aim(s): enhance its networks in Lebanon and, ultimately, destroy the state of Israel to establish a secular, Marxist Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital

area(s) of operation:

maintains a recruitment and training presence in many refugee camps (April 2018)

PFLP-General Command (PFLP-GC):

aim(s): enhance recruitment and operational networks in Lebanon

area(s) of operation:

recruits young men living in Palestinian refugee camps, including camps in the Bekaa Valley (April 2018)

Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP): aim(s): enhance its recruitment network in Lebanon and, ultimately, establish a secular, Marxist Palestinian state

area(s) of operation:

recruits youths residing in the country's Palestinian refugee camps (April 2018)

HAMAS:

aim(s): continue engagement with the Qatari Government

area(s) of operation:

maintains a limited office in Doha (April 2018)

al-Qa'ida (AQ):

• aim(s): oppose the Saudi Islamic monarchy due to its cooperation with the US and the West, particularly US military bases in the Kingdom;
• eradicate US and Western influence and presence from Saudi Arabia

area(s) of operation:

• maintains familial connections but lacks a persistent operational presence;
• probably retains some supporters in the country who could facilitate future operations (April 2018)

al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP):

aim(s): ultimately overthrow the Saudi Islamic monarchy; eradicate US and Western influence and presence from Yemen and the rest of the Arabian Peninsula

area(s) of operation:

maintains familial connections but lacks an operational presence inside Saudi Arabia; operates widely in neighboring Yemen (April 2018)

• Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)-Saudi Arabia: aim(s): replace the Saudi Islamic monarchy with an Islamic state applying ISIS's strict interpretation of Sharia;
• target minority Shia Muslims, Saudi security personnel, and their interests

area(s) of operation:

maintains a recruitment presence; conducts deadly strikes against Saudi security personnel and bombs Shia Muslim mosques, markets, and other places where Shia Muslims gather (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - home based”

al-Nusrah Front:

aim(s): overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-ASAD's regime, absorb like-minded Syrian rebel groups, and ultimately, establish a regional Islamic caliphate

area(s) of operation:

• headquartered in the northwestern Idlib Governorate, with a minor presence in Halab Governorate;
• operational primarily in northern, western, and southern Syria;
• installs Sharia in areas under its control;
• targets primarily Syrian regime and pro-regime forces, some minorities, other Syrian insurgent groups, and occasionally Western interests (April 2018)

Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS):

aim(s): an alias of the al-Nusrah Front; overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-ASAD's regime, absorb like-minded Syrian rebel groups, and, ultimately, establish a regional Islamic caliphate

area(s) of operation:

Northwest Syria (December 2018)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS):

• aim(s): replace the world order with a global Islamic state based in Iraq and Syria;
• expand its branches and networks in other countries;
• rule according to ISIS's strict interpretation of Islamic law

area(s) of operation:

ISIS has lost most of the territory it once controlled and now its overt territorial control is limited to pockets of land along the Syria-Iraq border and in southern Syria (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - foreign based”

Abdallah Azzam Brigades (AAB):

aim(s): disrupt and attack Shia Muslim and Western interests in Syria

area(s) of operation:

remains operational; conducts attacks against primarily Shia Muslim organizations and individuals, including Hizballah members, and Westerners and their interests (April 2018)

al-Qa'ida (AQ):

aim(s): overthrow President Bashar al-ASAD's regime; establish a regional Islamic caliphate and conduct attacks outside of Syria

area(s) of operation:

operational primarily in Idlib Governorate and southern Syria, where it has established networks and operates paramilitary training camps (April 2018)

Ansar al-Islam (AAI):

aim(s): remove Syrian President Bashar al-ASAD from power and establish a government operating according to sharia

area(s) of operation:

• operationally active in Syria since 2011;
• launches attacks on Syrian Government security forces and pro-Syrian Government militias;
• some AAI factions combat ISIS, while others are aligned with ISIS (April 2018)

Hizballah:

aim(s): preserve Syrian President Bashar al-ASAD's regime

area(s) of operation:

• operational activity throughout the country since 2012;
• centered on providing paramilitary support to President Bashar al-ASAD's regime against armed insurgents (April 2018)

Kata'ib Hizballah (KH):

aim(s): preserve Syrian President Bashar al-ASAD's regime

area(s) of operation:

deploys combatants to Syria to fight alongside Syrian Government and Lebanese Hizballah forces (April 2018)

Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK):

aim(s): advance Kurdish autonomy, political, and cultural rights in Syria, Turkey, Iraq, and Iran

area(s) of operation:

operational in the north and east; majority of members inside Syria are Syrian Kurds, along with Kurds from Iran, Iraq, and Turkey (April 2018)

Mujahidin Shura Council in the Environs of Jerusalem (MSC): aim(s): destroy the state of Israel; enhance its networks in Syria

area(s) of operation:

maintains limited networks for operational planning against Israel (April 2018)

Palestine Liberation Front (PLF):

aim(s): enhances its networks and, ultimately, destroy the state of Israel and establish a secular, Marxist Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital

area(s) of operation:

maintains a recruitment and training presence in many refugee camps (April 2018)

PFLP-General Command (PFLP-GC):

aim(s): preserve Syrian President Bashar al-ASAD's regime

area(s) of operation:

maintains a political base in Damascus; fights with President al-ASAD's forces and Hizballah in areas where anti-regime paramilitary groups are active (April 2018)

Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP): aim(s): enhance its recruitment networks in Syria

area(s) of operation:

maintains a recruitment and limited training presence in several refugee camps (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - home based”

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) networks in Turkey: aim(s): replace the Turkish Government with an Islamic state and implement ISIS's strict interpretation of sharia

area(s) of operation:

moves fighters and supplies across the Turkey-Syria border; has periodically conducted attacks against civilian and government security targets (April 2018)

Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C): aim(s): install a Marxist-Leninist government in Turkey

area(s) of operation:

• membership centered in Turkey, leadership primarily spread throughout Europe;
• in recent years has revived its attacks against Turkish Government elements, primarily in Istanbul;
• outlawed in Turkey (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - foreign based”

al-Nusrah Front:

aim(s): overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-ASAD's regime, absorb like-minded Syrian rebel groups, and ultimately, establish a regional Islamic caliphate

area(s) of operation:

some facilitation networks (April 2018)

al-Qa'ida (AQ):

aim(s): radicalize the Turkish populace and eventually overthrow the Turkish Government as part of a long-term plan to establish a pan-Islamic caliphate under a strict Salafi Muslim interpretation of sharia

area(s) of operation:

maintains facilitation networks (April 2018)

Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK):

aim(s): advance Kurdish autonomy, political, and cultural rights in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria

area(s) of operation:

• operational predominantly in the southeast;
• the group's primary targets include government, military, and security personnel and facilities;
• majority of members inside Turkey are Turkish Kurds, along with Kurds from Iran, Iraq, and Syria;
• the group is outlawed in Turkey (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - home based”

Kahane Chai (Kach):

aim(s): restore the biblical state of Israel; expel Arabs from Israel's biblical lands

area(s) of operation:

• present in West Bank Jewish settlements, especially the Qiryat Arba' settlement in Hebron, where operatives have conducted bombings and shootings against Muslim and Christian Palestinians;
• operationally inactive in recent years (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - foreign based”

HAMAS:

aim(s): grow its political and operational presence in the West Bank

area(s) of operation:

mostly political activity; small cells scattered throughout the West Bank for militant and illicit finance purposes (April 2018)

Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ):

aim(s): enhance its staging capabilities in the West Bank to launch attacks against Israel

area(s) of operation:

mostly political activity; strives to maintain an operational presence (April 2018)

Palestine Liberation Front (PLF):

• aim(s): enhance its networks in the West Bank and, ultimately, destroy the state of Israel;
• establish a secular, Marxist Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital

area(s) of operation:

maintains a recruitment and training presence in some of the West Bank's refugee camps (April 2018)

Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP): aim(s): bolster its recruitment networks in the West Bank

area(s) of operation:

mostly political activity, maintains a recruitment presence targeting youths (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - home based”

al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP):

• aim(s): overthrow the Yemen Government and Huthi forces and, ultimately, establish an Islamic caliphate;
• eradicate US and Western influence and presence from Yemen and the rest of the Arabian Peninsula

area(s) of operation:

a core al-Qa'ida affiliate; most active in southern, eastern, and central Yemen (April 2018)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham-Yemen (ISIS-Yemen): aim(s): replace the Yemen Government and Huthi forces with an Islamic state and implement ISIS's strict interpretation of sharia

area(s) of operation:

operational primarily in south and central Yemen, where operatives conduct attacks against Huthi forces, Shia Muslims, and government facilities and personnel (April 2018)

Hizballah:

aim(s): largely limited to generating political and financial support from the Lebanese diaspora

area(s) of operation:

conducted operations in the 1990s; maintains a limited presence (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - home based”

National Liberation Army (Ejercito de Liberacion Nacional, ELN):

aim(s):

represent the rural poor against the nation's wealthy and block the privatization of national resources

area(s) of operation:

the nation's largest remaining insurgent group operates mainly in the rural and mountainous areas in the northeast, especially Arauca Department, and is active in the northern and southwestern regions and along the borders with Venezuela and Ecuador

note: the group has a long history of engaging in narcotics production and trafficking, extortion, and kidnappings for ransom to fund operations (April 2018)

Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, FARC):

aim(s):

• signed a peace accord with the Colombian Government in 2016 and entered the political arena in September 2017 as the People's Alternative Revolutionary Force (also known as FARC) in order to change Colombia's economic model, push an agenda focused on social justice and development of rural areas;
• historically, FARC's aim has been to install a Marxist-Leninist regime in Colombia through a violent revolution

area(s) of operation:

NA

note: on 30 November 2016, the Colombian Congress approved a peace accord between the FARC and Colombian Government; the government allowed FARC to form an official political party and integrate former fighters into society through measures such as funding education programs (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - home based”

Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso, SL):

• aim(s): generate revenue by providing security for narcotics trafficking and growing coca to produce cocaine;
• historically, SL's goal has been to replace Peruvian institutions with a peasant revolutionary regime

area(s) of operation:

headquartered in the Valley of the Apurimac, Ene, and Mantaro River (VRAEM) region (April 2018)

National Liberation Army (Ejercito de Liberacion Nacional, ELN):

aim(s):

enhance its narcotics trafficking networks in Venezuela

area(s) of operation:

maintains a narcotics trafficking presence, facilitating the transshipment of narcotics through the country (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - home based”

ISIS-associated Jemaah Anshorut Daulah (JAD):

aim(s): establish an Islamic caliphate in Indonesia

area(s) of operation:

an ISIS-aligned coalition of cells located throughout the country (April 2018)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) network in Indonesia:

aim(s):

replace the Indonesian Government with an Islamic state and implement ISIS's strict interpretation of sharia

area(s) of operation:

maintains a covert operational presence (April 2018)

Jemaah Islamiyah (JI):

aim(s): overthrow the Indonesian Government and, ultimately, establish a pan-Islamic state across Southeast Asia

area(s) of operation:

Indonesia (April 2018)

Jemaah Islamiyah (JI):

aim(s): enhance networks in Malaysia and, ultimately, overthrow the secular Malaysian Government and establish a pan-Islamic state across Southeast Asia

area(s) of operation:

maintains a recruitment and operational presence, primarily in major cities (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - home based”

Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG):

aim(s): establish an Islamic State in the Philippines' Mindanao Island and the Sulu Archipelago, and ultimately, an Islamic caliphate across Southeast Asia

area(s) of operation:

southern Philippines in Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago region (April 2018)

Communist Party of the Philippines/New People's Army (CPP/NPA):

aim(s):

destabilize the Philippines' economy to inspire the populace to revolt against the government and, ultimately, overthrow the Philippine Government

area(s) of operation:

• operates throughout most of the country, primarily in rural regions, with its strongest presence in the Sierra Madre Mountains, rural Luzon, Visayas, and parts of northern and eastern Mindanao;
• maintains cells in Manila, Davao City, and other metropolitan areas (April 2018)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) network in Philippines:

aim(s):

replace the Philippine Government with an Islamic state and implement ISIS's strict interpretation of sharia

area(s) of operation:

Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago region (April 2018)

Published as “Terrorist groups - foreign based”

Jemaah Islamiyah (JI):

aim(s): enhance its networks in the Philippines and, ultimately, overthrow the Philippine Government and establish a pan-Islamic state across Southeast Asia

area(s) of operation:

maintains an operational and recruitment presence, especially in the south (April 2018)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) network in Singapore:

aim(s):

enhance its networks in Singapore; implement ISIS's strict interpretation of sharia

area(s) of operation:

attacks in Bangladesh are staged in Singapore; operates under the name the Islamic State in Bangladesh (April 2018)

Jemaah Islamiyah (JI):

aim(s): enhance its networks in Singapore and, ultimately, overthrow the Singapore Government and establish a pan-Islamic state across Southeast Asia

area(s) of operation:

maintains a presence (April 2018)