'Disposable' Operatives for Hire Are a New Menace for Western Countries
A court case in New York has highlighted how Iran is using technology to recruit agents who may not even be regime supporters
TL;DR
- A 32-year-old Iraqi, identified as a senior commander of Kataib Hezbollah, was charged in New York for allegedly planning attacks on Jewish community sites.
- The case highlights Iran's alleged use of terrorism to create discord in Europe, the UK, and the US.
- The new recruitment tactic involves long-distance instigation of violent acts, using proxies and operatives who are 'disposable' and easier to find.
- Recruitment often occurs on social media and encrypted messaging platforms, with payments made through cryptocurrency.
- The alleged perpetrators may not be ideologically radicalized but are motivated by financial gain, leading to the concept of 'terrorism as a service'.
- Similar tactics are being observed in campaigns attributed to Russia, involving arson, strikes on infrastructure, and vandalism to foment unrest.