A specialized session analyzing the new cycle of terrorism from the perspective of hybrid warfare was held with the participation of Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan, Head of the AJA Strategic Studies Center, Seyed Mohammad-Javad Hasheminejad, Secretary-General of Habilian Association, and a large number of commanders, professors, and strategic researchers in the field of national security.
According to Habilian, this session, held to enhance scientific and operational synergy for understanding and countering multi-dimensional threats, was hosted by the AJA Strategic Studies Center. In addition to Brigadier General Pourdastan and Seyed Mohammad-Javad Hasheminejad, Dr. Bahram Zahedi, faculty member of the Department of Political Science and International Relations at Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch; and Dr. Morteza Simiari, a regional security expert, also delivered speeches.
At the beginning of the session, the secretary, thanking Habilian as the specialized organiozation representing martyrs of terror, stated the goal of the meeting was to move beyond reactive responses and achieve proactive and intelligent security. Referring to the metamorphosis of terrorism from a purely security problem into a strategic and decisive challenge in the spheres of economy, development, and cognitive warfare, he emphasized the necessity of a deep understanding of its formation mechanisms and actions in the hybrid space.
Brigadier General Pourdastan: The Goal of Hybrid War is to Weaken the Pillars of the System Through Terrorist Groups
Brigadier General Ahmadreza Pourdastan, thanking the participants and offering special gratitude to Habilian, emphasized that the goal of this session is not merely to analyze a phenomenon, but to examine the aggressive doctrine of the enemy, which uses terrorism as an efficient and multi-purpose tool to strike at the foundations of Iran's order and development. He noted that in the new architecture of threats, terrorism has transformed from a tactical action into a strategic tool in proxy warfare. This tool allows enemies to impose the highest economic, human, and systemic costs on the country with minimal risk, while denying responsibility.
He then explained the goals and mechanism of this strategic terrorism, stating that the main objective is to weaken the main pillars of the political system through two axes: first, targeting vital infrastructure and citizens to undermine public trust in the system, and second, focusing on ethnic and religious fault lines to damage national integrity and divert the country's resources from the path of development.
Continuing, he reviewed the history of terrorism against the Islamic Republic of Iran from the 1980s to the nuclear assassinations and attacks by Takfiri groups, emphasizing that terrorism has become a stable component in the strategy of containing Iran. Referring to Netanyahu's statements, he confirmed that the enemy intends to keep Iran constantly entangled in a cycle of crises.
In the final part, the Head of the AJA Strategic Studies Center addressed the key distinction between traditional terrorism and modern hybrid terrorism, explaining that hybrid terrorism combines and coordinates physical operations with cyber, media, and cognitive warfare, and uses decentralized network structures and modern finances like cryptocurrencies. Therefore, countering it requires a comprehensive and hybrid strategy. He concluded by outlining four goals of the Strategic Studies Center in holding such sessions: exchanging knowledge to find creative solutions, raising awareness about new threats, providing strategic recommendations to decision-making institutions, and shortening the distance between theory and practice through cooperation with valued institutions like Habilian Association.
Hasheminejad: The Army is One of the Primary Targets of Terrorist Groups
Seyed Mohammad-Javad Hasheminejad, Secretary-General of Habilian Association, in his speech as a special speaker, thanked the Army for hosting and stated that the purpose of establishing Habilian was to fill the void of the presence of survivors of terrorist attacks and to document the crimes of these groups. Presenting statistics of 23,000 terrorism victims in the country registered by Habilian through 18,000 hours of research, he emphasized that Iran, despite being falsely accused of supporting terrorism, is itself one of the biggest victims of this phenomenon. Referring to the martyrdom of the first Army soldier just four days after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, he described the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran as one of the primary targets of terrorist groups, including the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK).
In another part of his speech, he addressed the role of Western powers and the Zionist regime in creating and supporting terrorism. Citing Hillary Clinton's admission about the U.S. creating ISIS and Al-Qaeda, he described this support as part of the deliberate foreign policy of these countries. Referring to the official presence of groups like the MEK in Western countries and the holding of large rallies with high-ranking officials present, he called for further exposure of these relationships and documentation of their crimes. Finally, citing statistics of 2 generals, 670 cadre, and 2,000 soldiers of the Army martyred by terrorists, he announced Habilian's readiness to cooperate in holding memorial ceremonies and joint studies with the Army to further elucidate its role in the fight against terrorism.
Zahedi: How Was ISIS-Khorasan Born?
At the beginning of the scientific panel, Dr. Bahram Zahedi, a university professor and expert on Afghanistan and Pakistan affairs, explained the origins and concept of "ISIS-Khorasan" (ISIS-K), clarifying that this name refers to a vast historical-geographical region in the East, starting from Iran and encompassing parts of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Central Asia. This group was established in January 2015 by Hafiz Saeed Khan, a splinter from the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), pledging allegiance to the leader of ISIS. He then analyzed the four contextual factors for the group's formation and growth: environmental factors (the insecure and disputed border region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), social factors (a 40-year history of war and ethnic conflicts), economic factors (poverty and displacement resulting from conflicts), and the ideological factor, which was assessed as very prominent. He explained how, over the past 20 years, Salafi schools with a specific Wahhabi interpretation gradually infiltrated universities and various areas, creating a social base for ISIS-K from defectors of groups like TTP, students, and splinters from the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.
Continuing, Dr. Zahedi referred to the group's operational and terrorist activities, which ranged from attacks on mosques and universities to the assassination of political figures and border assaults. Referring to the role of foreign countries, especially the United States and Pakistan, he stated that there is evidence of informational-security support for ISIS-K during the previous Afghan government led by Amrullah Saleh. A significant part of his speech was dedicated to analyzing ISIS-K's widespread recruitment from Tajikistan. He attributed this phenomenon to the severe suppression of Islamic manifestations by the Tajik government and the closing of space for moderate Islamic currents, which drives religious youth towards extremist groups. He also emphasized the role of targeted propaganda in cyberspace with Tajik subtitles for recruiting these forces.
In conclusion, he outlined countermeasures at three levels: first, enhancing intelligence and security cooperation domestically and with regional partners like Afghanistan; second, focusing on cultural work and raising awareness to counter the recruitment of uninformed members; and third, managing the domestic space and preventing divisive and insulting actions by some domestic currents, which become propaganda tools for ISIS-K.
Simiari: Terrorist Groups are Creating a Transnational Identity
The other speaker at the scientific panel was Dr. Morteza Simiari, a regional security expert. Simiari began his discussion with two key observations: first, the lack of a comprehensive and precise definition of terrorism in Iran, which leads to the "whitewashing" of groups like monarchists as "political activists." Second, the void of academic and university studies on terrorism in the humanities, while in the West, this subject is studied scientifically and preemptively. Introducing the key concept of the "genetic mutation of terrorism," he argued that today's terrorist groups, unlike the examples from the 1980s, have evolved in foreign "intelligence laboratories" through the injection of resources, training, and complex strategies, transcending the state of a local threat. To illustrate this concept, he referred to examples like "Joulani" in Syria and "Rigi" in Iran, who, with the support of foreign services, transformed from security figures into "human rights activists" or "presidents."
This speaker then provided a case analysis of the terrorist group Jaish al-Adl and listed the characteristics of its genetic mutation: This group is specifically modeling its strategy on Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham in Syria. This model includes creating a multi-sector structure (strategic, religious, media), carrying out demonstrative operations with professional filming for propaganda and training purposes, and most importantly, attempting to create a transnational identity with the slogan of "Baloch civilization" instead of focusing solely on Iran. He warned that the strategy behind these developments is the Mossad's model of "October 7-ing Iran"; meaning the enemy seeks a surprise, simultaneous attack from multiple fronts (northwest, southeast) to paralyze the country's security system.
Continuing, he criticized the passive policies and concealment by some institutions in dealing with terrorism, warning that this approach only expands the scope of the threat. Simiari stated: "The people must feel the danger of terrorism as clearly as they did in the 1980s and be aware of it." This public awareness does not create panic but, by gaining cooperation and public alertness, "transforms society into a powerful bulwark against the propaganda of terrorist groups." He noted that a successful example of this public participation was seen during the 12-day war, with the spontaneous cooperation of people to identify and report suspicious motorcycle couriers. Therefore, transparency and public awareness are fundamental pillars of countering terrorism in the era of its genetic mutation.
He also analyzed the psycho-social dimensions of hybrid warfare, explaining how groups like Jaish al-Adl, by creating and spreading calculated rumors (such as claims of rape) that are precisely designed based on the "sensitive cultural and social nerves of the region," seek to erode social capital and create a rift between the people and security institutions. Simiari warned that this tactic, which he refers to as "psychological terrorism," is as dangerous as armed operations, as it prepares the necessary ground for the infiltration and social acceptance of the groups in the long term. He noted: "Unfortunately, local provincial channels have become tools for the enemy to pump these rumors into society with high speed and believability."