Terrorism is a pernicious phenomenon that has severely jeopardized global security in the contemporary world. In response, extensive efforts have been made to combat this threat. To counter terrorism, various United Nations bodies, such as the Security Council, the General Assembly, the Human Rights Commission, the Economic and Social Council, as well as regional and international organizations like ASEAN, the Organization of American States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Arab League, the African Union, and others, have adopted numerous resolutions. Moreover, through concerted efforts, more than 19 international conventions have been drafted to combat terrorism.

Broadly speaking, reactions to terrorism can be categorized into two types: preventive or proactive measures and reactive measures. Preventive measures focus on understanding the root causes and factors contributing to terrorism, which are numerous and varied, with the aim of eradicating the conditions that foster terrorism. The second category involves operational counterterrorism measures. Operational counterterrorism emphasizes adherence to specific frameworks; for instance, in the fight against terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda and ISIS, there is a strong emphasis on the obligation of states to respect human rights and international humanitarian law.

Following the events of September 11, 2001, we witnessed a shift in the approach to operational counterterrorism and a broader interpretation of the right to self-defense and the use of armed force against terrorism. On October 7, the United States and the United Kingdom launched airstrikes against Al-Qaeda forces in Afghanistan. The Taliban, which controlled large parts of Afghanistan, was also targeted in these attacks. Subsequently, other countries joined this anti-terrorism operation, providing assistance in various forms, such as deploying military forces or granting access to their territory or equipment. The emphasis on a repressive and coercive approach to counterterrorism, as outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 1368, quickly became the dominant approach among powerful countries. However, not only was this approach unsuccessful, but it also contributed to the expansion and deepening of terrorism in the form of fundamentalism and complex organizational structures, facilitated by the capabilities of the new digital age. Ironically, what was initially intended as an all-out war against terrorist organizations, primarily Al-Qaeda, ultimately failed to eliminate this threat and instead gave rise to numerous other groups such as ISIS, Boko Haram, and Jabhat al-Nusra, which have emerged as the tentacles of a monstrous octopus, threatening the international community.

Statistics and indicators derived from attacks and the number of casualties further corroborate the claim that despite extensive efforts to combat terrorism, the results have not been satisfactory or as expected. Terrorist attacks worldwide in 2014 resulted in 32,685 casualties, marking an 80% increase compared to the previous year. In 2013, the death toll stood at 18,111. Additionally, the number of countries experiencing terrorist attacks rose from 88 in 2013 to 93 in 2014. Notably, two relatively new terrorist groups, ISIS and Boko Haram, were responsible for the deaths of half of these victims. Both groups emerged after the 9/11 attacks and subsequent counterterrorism measures.

This raises the question of how to more effectively combat terrorism and what framework would be most successful.

In summary, effectively combating terrorism requires addressing its root causes and underlying factors. Terrorism is a product of numerous cultural, political, religious, economic, social, and ideological factors. The suffering caused by poverty, lack of effective mechanisms for seeking justice, ethnic, religious, and racial prejudices, hate speech against minorities, the absence of adequate mechanisms for resolving political disputes, religious intolerance, extremism, human rights abuses, and so on, contribute to the rise of violence.

An examination of the origins and formation of terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda (which initially emerged with the goal of liberating Afghanistan from Soviet occupation) reveals that wherever there is oppression, foreign interference, aggression by great powers, occupation of weaker nations, gross violations of human rights, the promotion of ethnic, religious, and racial prejudices, unrest, and internal turmoil, groups will soon emerge that seek to address these problems and achieve their goals, often lofty ideals, through violence. While violence is always condemnable, as it sets in motion a vicious cycle of violence that inflicts severe damage on the international community, it is essential to note that the most effective way to combat any evil phenomenon is to address its root causes and, in a word, to engage in prevention. However, given the complexities of terrorism, this approach alone cannot be entirely successful. Consequently, even democratic societies are not immune to the emergence of terrorist entities within their borders, as history is replete with examples of violence and conflict in democratic societies. At the same time, it must be recognized that establishing appropriate mechanisms to resolve political disputes, promoting tolerance and moderation within societies, establishing democracy, adhering to arms control and arms trade conventions, and respecting human rights—all of which are sustainable and long-term solutions to combating terrorism—will yield results in the long run. Therefore, within this framework, we must not neglect operational countermeasures (as a last resort and with a strong emphasis on respecting human rights).

Consequently, within the framework of operational countermeasures, strategies such as neutralizing actions, exerting public pressure, propaganda, public awareness, utilizing the media, considering criminology and victimology, understanding the psychological factors behind the rise and fall of terrorist groups, creating conditions for the internal collapse of terrorist groups, preventing financing, and blocking recruitment channels, closely monitoring the arms trade (especially small arms and light weapons), controlling borders, travel documents, and the movement of foreign fighters, are all desirable.