Articles
Our articles cut through the noise on irregular warfare to connect strategic theory to operational reality and translate complexity into insight for practitioners and policymakers. No time to read? Check out our podcast, "Insider: Short of War," which transforms our articles into concise, engaging audio pieces you can listen to anywhere. Available directly in most of our articles and on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms.
Israel’s Irregular Warfare Paradox: Reconciling Precision Abroad and a “Killing Field” Next Door
On June 24, two equally striking news stories underscored the notably different approaches Israel has taken to its wars with Iran and Hamas. The first, a Washington Post front page story, detailed recorded conversations between Israeli intelligence operatives and senior military figures in Iran, wherein the Israelis warned the Iranians
Imposing Costs in the Indo-Pacific: Lessons from Operation Spider Web
In June 2025, Ukraine launched over 100 drones to strike five air bases and a number of long-range bombers deep in Russian territory. Ukraine launched the drones simultaneously using a mix of remote control and artificial intelligence (AI) targeting software to destroy several Russian strategic bombers, and covertly smuggled
Art and Irregular Warfare: Aesthetic Resistance, Symbolic Power, and the Battles for Meaning
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 09.29.2025 and is available here. Standing before Pablo Picasso’s Guernica in Gernika is more than observing
Why Regime Change in Iran Cannot be Imposed
“Our control of the skies guarantees us victory more than any other factor,” asserted David Ben Gurion in 1953, following a review of Israel’s armed forces. The June 2025 Israel-Iran War seems only to have reaffirmed Ben Gurion’s analysis. Less than 48 hours after the war’s
Tainted Catch: The Role of the Distant Water Fishing Fleet in China’s Campaign to Defeat the West
Editor’s note: This article is part of IWI's Maritime Program, which explores modern challenges and opportunities in the maritime dimension at the intersection of irregular warfare and strategic competition. As the death tolls mount in kinetic conflicts around the world – in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, and elsewhere – the
Maximizing The Indigenous Approach: Using Secondment to Enable Our Partners and Constrain Our Adversaries
Editor’s Note: This article earned first place in the Irregular Warfare Initiative’s 2025 Writing Contest, “Irregular Allies: Strengthening Regional Partnerships through Unconventional Means.” Authors were asked: How can the United States and its partners use irregular warfare to strengthen security cooperation, build trust, and enhance resilience among Indo-
Applying the Alaska Territorial Guard Concept to Modern Indo-Pacific Irregular Warfare
Editor’s Note: This article earned second place in the Irregular Warfare Initiative’s 2025 Writing Contest, “Irregular Allies: Strengthening Regional Partnerships through Unconventional Means.” Authors were asked to explore how the United States and its partners can use irregular warfare to strengthen security cooperation, build trust, and enhance resilience
Austronesian Identity as “Networked Deterrence” in the Indo-Pacific
Editor’s Note: This article earned third place in the Irregular Warfare Initiative’s 2025 Writing Contest, “Irregular Allies: Strengthening Regional Partnerships through Unconventional Means.” Authors were asked to respond, in 800 words or less: How can the United States and its partners use irregular warfare to strengthen security cooperation,
Announcing the Winners of the IWI Summer 2025 Writing Contest
In late June, IWI announced our first writing contest that focused on a tailored, real-world scenario. We were excited to follow through on a key priority for our editorial team and the impact we hoped it would have on the community of practitioners, academics, and policymakers that comprise IWI.
Irregular Solutions for Irregular Threats: Maritime Lessons from Dutch Counterpiracy Operations in Colonial Indonesia
Editor’s note: This article is part of IWI's Maritime Program, which explores modern challenges and opportunities in the maritime dimension at the intersection of irregular warfare and strategic competition. Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @proj_maritime. With the de facto closure of the vital Red Sea
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