Military Engagement and its Role in Counter-terrorism

Abstract

The use of military force in combating terrorism has increased in the 21st century. This paper employs a qualitative analytical approach to classify military counter-terrorism engagements into six categories; assistance and protection, preemption, deterrence, retaliation, assassination & targeted killing and war. The research shows that assistance and protection measures are mainly effective in combating terrorism and in reducing the damage caused by terrorist activities. However, deploying a large military force on the streets could be counterproductive. Preemptive operations might eliminate desired targets, but it is difficult to measure their effectiveness in counterterrorist efforts. Deterrence may send a strong message to terrorist groups about a country’s military power, yet it has not been proven to prevent future attacks. Retaliation and assassination could create a martyrdom effect and, in some cases, increase cohesion among terrorist groups. Although wars against terrorist groups have severely weakened their operational capabilities, their complete elimination is yet to be achieved. Military confrontations have been effective in combating terrorism in certain cases and contexts, nevertheless, their effectiveness needs to be studied alongside other counter-terrorism measures, such as cybersecurity operations, international cooperation and counter-terrorism financing.