Should individuals convicted of terrorism run for public office?
Last year, when Israeli soccer club Maccabi Tel Aviv played Aston Villa in a Europa Conference League match, Shahid Butt used social media to call on Muslims from around the country to travel to Birmingham to show solidarity with Palestinians and to prevent the Israeli team’s supporters from, in his words, “desecrating” and “dirtying” the city.
This year he is running for public office in the UK despite being convicted in Yemen in 1999 over a terror plot targeting the British consulate in Aden, an Anglican church and a hotel.
In this article, I write about the dangers of normalising exclusivist, extremist and violent ideologies:
Did Hamas dissolve its government in Gaza to save the regime?
The transition into the next phase of the US-brokered peace plan remains gridlocked. Irrespective of the party in power, Israel will reject any long-term administrative or security model that permits a continued Hamas footprint. Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, emphasize that the true sticking point remains Hamas’ disarmament and refusal to surrender its weapons.
In this article, I write about the Hamas move to dissolve its rule of the Gaza strip and what this may entail.
The Return of the Islamic State in Syria?
The Islamic State (IS) has maintained a low-level insurgency and a terrorist campaign in Syria. Conducting frequent asymmetric operations, the most recent incident is the Damascus Cafe Bombing on July 2, 2026. At least nine people were killed and 22 wounded by an explosive device planted at a crowded cafe near the Palace of Justice. The cafe is one of the busiest in the area, frequented by lawyers, court visitors, and the general public.
In this article, I write about the series of attacks conducted by the IS in Syria after the transitional HTS government came to power
The Changing Australian Threat Landscape
Australia’s national security community is facing a critical moment in its history of countering extremism, radicalisation, and crime and terror.
In its 2026 annual threat assessment, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) Director General Mike Burgess revealed that Australia has foiled 31 major terrorism plots since 2014. He added that 14 “significant terror-related cases” have been resolved since the Bondi terror attack in December 2025.
In this article, I map the threat landscape and the challenges the Australians will have to navigate in the coming months and years…
War and Peace with Iran
The Interim Agreement reached between the US and Iran yesterday (14 June 2026) calls for a ceasefire on all fronts, Iran to “open” the Strait of Hormuz, and the United States to lift its naval blockade on Iranian ports. The United States and Iran will sign the agreement in Geneva on June 19.
However, the next few months will be a period of danger as IRGC will consolidate its power and control in Tehran. Especially, as the three core issues that led to the war remains unresolved.
Are the Waters off Sri Lanka becoming a hub for Iranian vessels to hide and operate?
Are the waters off Sri Lanka becoming a hub for Iranian vessels to hide and operate?
In this article, I write about the latest developments between Iran and the US military in the Indian ocean off the seas of Sri Lanka. Captured by the US Indo Pacific Command, MT Davina posing as “Lenore” was carrying 1.9 million barrels of oil.
Iran Strikes Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman
In the last couple of days, Iran has attacked Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman.
As Tehran cannot match the conventional military power of the U.S. or Israel, its strategy is to use asymmetric tactics to raise the political, economic, and logistical costs of ongoing conflicts. Also known as ‘deterrence by punishment’, Tehran targets critical civilian and economic infrastructure across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. By striking hubs, airports, and oil and gas facilities, Iran’s IRGC aims to leverage regional prosperity to force Gulf governments to pressure Washington to limit military operations.
I write more about Iran’s strategy in this article…
Protecting Markets from Illicit Disruption: Current Trends of Cigarette Smuggling in the Philippines
The following article is a reproduction of Prof Rohan Gunaratna’s address at The PROTECT2026 Conference held in Makati City, Philippines on the 14th of May 2026. The session was titled ‘Transnational Crime: Protecting Markets from Illicit Disruption’.
The White House releases the US Counter Terrorism Strategy 2026
To secure and advance US interests, the Trump Administration has developed three far reaching strategies – its National Security Strategy, its National Defense Strategy and its Counter Terrorism Strategy.
The US Counter Terrorism Strategy released by the White House in May 2026 highlights the renewed U.S. commitment to fight global terrorism. Without competing with each other, the west and the east should partner, collaborate and cooperate to dismantle threat entities largely located in the global south.
The New Global Wave of Terrorism
In the past, the global terrorism environment was largely influenced and shaped by propaganda disseminated by affiliates of Al Qaeda and the Islamic State. In addition to the continuing threat by Al Qaeda and the Islamic State, the threat today is shaped by another hostile actor – Iran.
In this article, I write about what this development could mean for the international security community and the safety and security of everyone.