Hafez's Tomb, Shiraz, Iran (NPJ 2011).

Hafez's Tomb, Shiraz, Iran (NPJ 2011).

At the Combating Terrorism Center, I study various aspects of Iran’s network of proxy militias. I am currently working on projects that looks at the evolution of Iran’s relationship with its proxies in Iraq, Syria, and the African continent over time. Additionally, with funding from a Carnegie Corporation grant, I am investigating similarities and differences between international jihadist terrorism and domestic violent extremism to best understand the most relevant, successful counterterrorism practices from the former to address the growing threat of the latter.

In my broader research agenda, I focus on how states partner with violent non-state actors (VNSAs), and how VNSAs, in turn, are affected by these patron relationships. My dissertation focused on the causes and consequences of state support for rebel groups. This topic has a rich, established literature to which I contribute. My first dissertation paper sought to understand states’ decisions when choosing different forms of material support. My second dissertation paper used a predictive network analysis model to test the relationship between interstate rivalry and state support. My final dissertation paper studied state support as a predictor of Islamist rebel groups’ lethality.

Relatedly, a separate branch of my research agenda focuses on insurgent group capabilities and lethality. I also study broader trends in terrorism, including the use of female fighters. I am also a co-PI on the Minerva Initiative-funded Near Crisis Project about escalation dynamics – including the role of violent non-state actors – leading up to international crises.

  

SELECT POLICY PUBLICATIONS

  1. Sara Harmouch and Nakissa Jahanbani, “US raids in Iraq and Syria: How retaliatory airstrikes affect network of Iran-backed militias,” The Conversation, February 3, 2024, https://theconversation.com/us-raids-in-iraq-and-syria-how-retaliatory-airstrikes-affect-network-of-iran-backed-militias-222718.

  2. Sara Harmouch and Nakissa Jahanbani, “How much influence does Iran have over its proxy ‘Axis of Resistance’ - Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis?” The Conversation, January 23, 2024, https://theconversation.com/how-much-influence-does-iran-have-over-its-proxy-axis-of-resistance-hezbollah-hamas-and-the-houthis-221269.

  3. Amira Jadoon and Nakissa Jahanbani, “Iran terror blast highlights success – and growing risk – of ISIS-K regional strategy,” The Conversation, January 11, 2024, https://theconversation.com/iran-terror-blast-highlights-success-and-growing-risk-of-isis-k-regional-strategy-220586.

  4. Nakissa Jahanbani, Caleb Benjamin, Robert Fisher, Muhammad Najjar, Muhammad al-`Ubaydi, and Benjamin Johnson. “How Iranian-Backed Militias Do Political Signaling,” Lawfare, December 18, 2023, https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/how-iranian-backed-militias-do-political-signaling.

  5. Nakissa Jahanbani, Muhammad Najjar, Benjamin Johnson, Caleb Benjamin, and Muhammad al-`Ubaydi. “Iranian Drone Proliferation is Scaling Up and Turning More Lethal.” War on the Rocks, September 8, 2023. https://warontherocks.com/2023/09/iranian-drone-proliferation-is-scaling-up-and-turning-more-lethal/.

  6. Kokinos, Anyssia, Nakissa Jahanbani, Jon Lewis, and Devorah Margolin. “Hezbollah’s Operations and Networks in the United States: Two Decades in Review,” Program on Extremism/Combating Terrorism Center - Report, June 2022, https://extremism.gwu.edu/sites/g/files/zaxdzs2191/f/Hezbollah%27s_Operations_and_Networks_in_the_United_States_June30_2022.pdf.

  7. Jahanbani, Nakissa and Suzanne Weedon Levy. “Iran Entangled: Iran and Hezbollah’s Support to Proxies Operating in Syria,” Combating Terrorism Center - Report, April 2022. https://ctc.westpoint.edu/iran-entangled-iran-and-hezbollahs-support-to-proxies-operating-in-syria/.

  8. Jadoon, Amira, Nakissa Jahanbani, and Charmaine Willis, “Rising in the East: The Evolution of the Islamic States in the Philippines,” Combating Terrorism Center - Report, December 2020. https://ctc.usma.edu/rising-in-the-east-the-evolution-of-the-islamic-state-in-the-philippines/.

  9. Jadoon, Amira, Nakissa Jahanbani, and Charmaine Willis, “Rising in the East: A Regional Overview of the Islamic State’s Operations in Southeast Asia,” Combating Terrorism Center - Report, July 2020. https://ctc.usma.edu/rising-in-the-east-a-regional-overview-of-the-islamic-states-operations-in-southeast-asia.

  10. Jahanbani, Nakissa. “Reviewing Iran’s Proxies by Region: A Look Toward the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa,” CTC Sentinel 13:5, May 2020. https://ctc.usma.edu/reviewing-irans-proxies-by-region-a-look-toward-the-middle-east-south-asia-and-africa.

  11. Jahanbani, Nakissa. “Beyond Soleimani: Implications for Iran’s Proxy Network in Iraq and Syria,” Combating Terrorism Center - Perspectives, 10 January 2020. https://ctc.usma.edu/beyond-soleimani-implications-irans-proxy-network-iraq-syria.

  12. Jahanbani, Nakissa. “Iran’s Regional Influence Spreads with Militia Recruitment in Afghanistan.” The Globe Post, 22 August 2018. https://theglobepost.com/2018/08/22/iran-recruiting-afghans.

  13. Amira Jadoon, Nakissa Jahanbani & Charmaine Willis. (April 2018). “Challenging the ISK Brand in Afghanistan-Pakistan: Rivalries and Divided Loyalties”, CTC Sentinel 11:4, April 2018. https://ctc.usma.edu/challenging-isk-brand-afghanistan-pakistan-rivalries-divided-loyalties.

SELECT PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

  1. Jahanbani, Nakissa and Suzanne Weedon Levy, “Iran” in Routledge Handbook of Proxy Wars, edited by Assaf Moghadam, Vladimir Rauta, and Michel Wyss. https://www.routledge.com/Routledge-Handbook-of-Proxy-Wars/Moghadam-Rauta-Wyss/p/book/9781032004136.

  2. Jadoon, Amira, Nakissa Jahanbani, and Emma Fruchtman. 2023. "The Uninvited Guest: Understanding Islamic State’s Alliances and Rivalries in the Afghanistan-Pakistan Region.” Asian Security. https://doi.org/10.1080/14799855.2023.2173581.

  3. Chen, Chong, Jordan Roberts, Shikshya Adhikari, Victor Asal, Kyle Beardsley, Edward Gonzales, Nakissa Jahanbani, Patrick James, Steven Lobell, Norrin M. Ripsman, Scott Silverstone, and Anne van Wijk. 2022. “Tipping Points: Challenges in Analyzing International Crisis Escalation.” International Studies Review. DOI: 10.1093/isr/viac024.

  4. Asal, Victor, Joseph K. Young, Nakissa Jahanbani, and Suzanne Weedon Levy. 2021. “Tugging on Superman’s Cape: Why Some Insurgencies Are Targets of Foreign Militaries.” Studies on Conflict and Terrorism. https://doi.org/10.1080/1057610X.2021.1930863.

  5. Uzonyi, Gary, Nam Kyu Kim, Nakissa Jahanbani, and Victor Asal. 2021. “Genocide, Politicide, and the Prospects of Democratization since 1900.” Journal on Conflict Resolution. https://doi.org/10.1177/00220027211000445.

  6. Jadoon, Amira, Julia Lodoen, Charmaine Willis, and Nakissa Jahanbani. 2020. “Breaking the Glass Ceiling? Female Militancy in Islamic State Affiliates in Southeast Asia.” Terrorism and Political Violence. DOI: 10.1080/09546553.2020.1838904.

  7. Jahanbani, Nakissa and Charmaine Willis. 2019. “The Ballot or the Bomb Belt: The Roots of Female Suicide Terrorism Before and After 9/11.” Small Wars and Insurgencies 30(6-7): 1117-1150. DOI: 10.1080/09592318.2019.1649817.

  8. Asal, Victor, Nakissa Jahanbani, Donnett Lee, and Jiacheng Ren. 2018. "Mini-Games for Teaching Political Science Methodology." PS: Political Science & Politics 51(4): 838-841. DOI: 10.1017/S1049096518000902.

  9. Jahanbani, Nakissa, Charmaine Willis & Donnett Lee. 2018. “What We Wish We Knew: Reflections of Brand-New Teaching Assistants.” Journal of Political Science Education 14(3): 409-413. DOI: 10.1080/15512169.2018.1445533.

SELECT SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

  1. Social Science of War podcast, February 2023, available here.

  2. Irregular Warfare Initiative and Combating Terrorism Center, moderator, “Terrorism and International Order,” February 2023, available here.

  3. George C. Marshall Center, “Iran & Its Hybrid Threats,” January 2023.

  4. Irregular Warfare Initiative and Combating Terrorism Center, moderator, “Proxy Warfare,” October 2022, available here.

  5. Washington Institute, “Iran’s Long Game in Syria,” March 2021, available here.

  6. Modern War Institute, “Panel Discussion on the State of US-Iran Relations,” January 2020, available here.