List of terrorist groups
Groups considered by many to be terrorist and the countries where they are/were active.
Religious Terrorists
- Abu Sayyaf (1991-present; Islamist separatists; the Philippines)
- Al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya (Late 1970s-present; Islamists; Egypt)
- Seeks to establish Islamist rule in Egypt. Usually targets secular establishments, government buildings, police, the military, Coptic Christians, tourists, Jews, and ?morally offensive? buildings.
- Armed Islamic Group (1992-present; Islamists; Algeria)
- Seeks to establish Islamist rule in Algeria. Began operations in 1992 after the Algerian government ignored election results that gave victory to Islamist political parties.
- In recent years has lost influence as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat gained power.
- Ansar al-Islam (December 2001-present; Islamists; Iraq)
- In Arabic, "Supporters of Islam."
- Also known as "Partisans of Islam or Helpers of Islam."
- Al-Qaeda (1988-present; Islamists; Afganistan, Pakistan, and worldwide)
- In Arabic, "the foundation" or "the base."
- Also known as Qa?idat al-Jihad, Islamic Army for the Liberation of the Holy Places, World Islamic Front for Jihad Against Jews and Crusaders, Islamic Salvation Foundation, and the Usama bin Laden Network.
- Asbat al-Ansar (early 1990s-present; Lebanese Sunni Islamists; southern Lebanon)
- In Arabic, "the League of the Followers."
- Hamas (1987-present; Islamists and Palestinian nationalists; Israel and the Palestinian territories) *
- In Arabic, "zeal" or "courage."
- Acronym for "Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya," or Islamic Resistance Movement.
- Hizbollah (Lebanese) (1982-present; Lebanese Shiite Islamists and Palestinian nationalists; Lebanon and worldwide)
- In Arabic, "Party of God."
- Also known as Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, Islamic Jihad for the Liberation of Palestine, Organization of the Oppressed on Earth, and the Revolutionary Justice Organization.
- Abu Nidal Organization (ANO) (1974-2002; Islamists; worldwide)
- Also known as the Fatah Revolutionary Council, Arab Revolutionary Council, Arab Revolutionary Brigades, Black September, and Revolutionary Organization of Socialist Muslims.
- Has not made a large-scale terrorist attack on Western targets since the late 1980s. Its founder, Sabri al-Banna (Abu Nidal), died in 2002; the group is largly chaotic and ineffective.
- Egyptian Islamic Jihad - Egypt (active since the late 1970s)
- Harakut ul-Ansar (HUA) - Pakistan and Kashmir
- Islamic Movement of Central Asia - Central Asia
- Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan - Uzbekistan
- Jaish-e-Mohammad - Pakistan
- Jemaah Islamiyah - Southeast Asia
- Lashkar-e-Toiba - Pakistan
- Maktab al-Khadamat - Afghanistan
- Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group - Morocco and Spain
- Muslim Brotherhood - international
- Palestinian Islamic Jihad - Gaza Strip/West Bank/Israel
- People Against Gangsterism and Drugs - South Africa
- Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat - Algeria
Islamist Fronts
Other religious terrorists
Nationalistic Terrorist Organizations
Lebanese
- Lebanese Hizbollah (1982-present; Shiite Lebanese Islamists and Palestinian nationalists; Lebanon)
- In Arabic, "Party of God." Hezbollah claims that it has never committed any acts of terror, and normally restricts its operations to Israeli military targets in Lebanon and the Shebaa Farms. However, it is alleged to have been involved in the bombing of Jewish civilian targets in Argentina in 1992 - the Israeli embassy, killing 29 - and in 1994 - a Jewish community centre, killing 95. [12]
- Also known as Hezbollah, Hizbullah, Huzbollah, Hizbalah, Islamic Jihad, Islamic Jihad for the Liberation of Palestine, Organization of the Oppressed on Earth, and the Revolutionary Justice Organization.
- Palestinian Liberation Organization (June 1964-Present)
- Formed as an umbrella group of eight Palestinian nationalist organizations devoted to terrorism, headquartered in Damascus, Syria and Beirut, Lebanon.
- Used the name Black September during the 1972 Munich Olympic Massacre)
- Groups within the PLO
- Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) (1967-present)
- Left-wing Palestinian separatists
- Joined the PLO in 1968 and became the second-largest PLO faction, after Arafat's al-Fatah, but withdrew in 1974, accusing the group of moving away from the goal of destroying Israel outright.
- PFLP's splinter groups:
- Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC) (1968-present) *
- Splinter group from the PFLP, founded by Ahmed Jibril. Declared its focus would be military, not political. Was a member of the PLO, but left in 1974 for the same reasons as PFLP.
- Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) (1969-present)
- Marxist-Leninist group that believes Palestinian national goals can be achieved only through revolution of the masses. Split into two factions in 1991; Nayif Hawatmah leads the majority and more hard-line faction, which continue to dominate the group. Joined with other rejectionist groups to form the Alliance of Palestinian Forces (APF) to oppose the Declaration of Principals signed in 1993. Broke from the APF - along with the PFLP - over ideological differences. Has made limited moves toward merging with the PFLP since the mid-1990s.
- Abu Nidal organization (ANO) (1974-2002?; Islamic extremists) *
- Split from PLO but is not considered primarily a Palestinian nationalist organization. See ANO entry above.
- Fatah (early 1960s-present; Palestinian nationalist political party; sponsors terrorism)
- In Arabic, "conquest by means of jihad."
- Reverse acronym for "Harekat at-Tahrir al-Wataniyyeh al-Falastiniyyeh."
- Also known as the movement for the National Liberation of Palestine.
- Founded by Yasser Arafat in the early 1960s. Took control of the PLO in 1960, with Arafat as chairman, forming the Palestinian Authority.
- Groups associated with Fatah:
- Al Aqsa Marytrs Brigade *
- Responsible of many suicide bombings and shooting attacks against Israeli civilian.
- Responsible of executing suspected collaberators and opposition leaders to Arafat.
- Funded by Fatah and the Palestinian Authority.
- Tanzim (1995-present)
- In Arabic, "organization."
- Loosely organized Fatah militia.
- Force 17 (early 1970s-present)
- Elite unit of the PLO under Yasser Arafat's direct guidance.
- Acts as a versatile unit for terrorism, combat, and intelligence-gathering.
- Hawari (1980s-1991)
- Also known as the Fatah Special Operations Group, Martyrs of Tal Al Za'atar, and Amn Araissi.
- Has not carried out terrrorist attacks recently.
- Ahmed Abu Reish Brigade
- Extreme off-shoot of Fatah.
- Was involved in July 17, 2004 kidnappings in the Gaza Strip.
- Possible link to the Popular Resistance Committees.
- The Popular Resistance Committees - Gaza Strip
Pre-State of Israel Zionist terrorists
Pre-Independence Irish Nationalists
Irish Nationalists (Ulster)
- Irish Republican Army (IRA) (1916-present) **
- Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) (1969-present)
- Splinter group of the 'Official' IRA.
- Supporters of the PIRA split from 'Official' Sinn Féin to form Provisional Sinn Féin. Provisional Sinn Féin was later known simply as Sinn Féin (while 'Official' Sinn Féin eventually became the Workers' Party).
- Under ceasefire since the Good Friday Agreement of 1997
- Splinter groups:
- Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA) (1986-present)
- Also known as the "Continuity Army Council" and "Óglaigh na hÉireann (Gaelic for 'Volunteers of Ireland')
- Real Irish Republican Army (RIRA) (1997-present) *
- Also known as the True IRA and Óglaigh na hÉireann (Gaelic for Volunteers of Ireland).
- Does not recognize Belfast Agreement.
- Irish National Liberation Army
Protestant Supremacists (Ulster)
- Ulster Defence Association (UDA) (1971-present) **
- Also called the "Ulster Freedom Fighters," or UFF.
- On February 22, 2003, announced a "complete and utter cessation" of all acts of violence for one year. It said it will review its ceasefire every three months.
- Splinter group:
- Red Hand Defenders (1998-present) **
- UDA splinter group. Opposes ceasefire.
- Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) (May 1966-present)
- Very closely linked with the Red Hand Commandos (1972-present).
- Ulster Defense Force (UVP) **
- Loyalist Volunteer Force (disbanded)
- Orange Volunteers
Other nationalist terrorists
Non-white racist terrorists
Militant Zionist
Others
See also
