Covert Action in Irregular Wars: Unraveling the Case of Timber Sycamore in Syria (2012-2017)
Editor’s Note: this article is being republished with the permission of Small Wars Journal as part of a republishing arrangement between IWI and SWJ. The original article was published on 03.04.2025 and is available here. Abstract The Central Intelligence Agency ran a covert operation in Syria from
Waterborne Assault: A Constant in Both Irregular and Conventional War
Western militaries have a knowledge gap with major force design implications. Despite several excellent histories of individual waterborne operations in irregular warfare, there appears to be no comprehensive study of these cases. Absent holistic analysis, the frequency, scale, and impact of activities like amphibious and riverine assault in irregular wars
Covert Action in Irregular Wars
In this article, originally published by Small Wars Journal, Irregular Warfare Initiative’s Jonathan W. Hackett writes about the Central Intelligence Agency covert operation 'Timber Sycamore' that ran in Syria from 2012 to 2017. This qualitative case study employs content analysis and descriptive inference to analyze declassified documents,
Plausible Deniability: Proxy Actors and the Hybrid Threat Ecosystem
Episode 126 examines the evolution of proxy warfare and hybrid threats in the current security environment. Our guests explore how states increasingly delegate conflict to non-state actors and leverage hybrid approaches to achieve strategic objectives below the threshold of conventional war. Our guests begin by exploring the conceptual foundations of
Secret Alliances and Silent Sabotage: Q & A with Dr Tony Insall
Main Image Credit: The Norwegian Resistance Museum | Norges Hjemmefrontmuseum Editor’s note: This article is part of Project Maritime, which explores modern challenges and opportunities in the maritime dimension at the intersection of irregular warfare and strategic competition. We warmly invite your participation and engagement as we embark on this
USAID and the Erosion of U.S. Soft Power
Image: USAID Provides Ventilators to Russia by TSgt Keith James. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
Strategy Through Action: Harriet Tubman as an Underappreciated Forebearer to Special Operations
“I grew up like a neglected weed, - ignorant of liberty, having no experience of it. Then I was not happy or contented.” Harriet Tubman, 1855 Just over 160 years ago, Harriet Tubman was building intelligence relationships in a foreign territory, developing networks to provide information, and securing access to
Ukraine's Hidden Front: The Strategic Impact of Resistance Operations
Episode 125 examines the impact of Ukraine's irregular warfare and resistance operations on its broader strategic objectives. Our guests discuss how Ukrainian resistance activities have evolved throughout the conflict and evaluate their strategic importance in the war against Russia. Our guests begin by describing how Ukrainian resistance and
Harnessing AI to Understand China's Grand Strategy
The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has long concealed its strategic vision behind a great information wall. Western views of Chinese strategy often blend Sun Tzu’s antiquated platitudes with designs for revenge following the Century of Humiliation. Although these ideas are relevant to the philosophy informing the ideology
The Coming Wave of Wartime Drone Expertise
When the conflict in Ukraine inevitably ends, Russia and Ukraine will be forced to fully or partially demobilize, which will release thousands to tens of thousands of veterans back to civilian life with expertise in designing, building, and employing weaponized drones. The U.S. military, law enforcement agencies, and civilians
Bridging the gap between irregular warfare scholars, practitioners, and policymakers.
