Students are asked to list and describe pivotal events in the development of Islamic militancy.
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The development of Islamic militancy has been shaped by a series of pivotal events spanning the late 20th and early 21st centuries. One key moment was the 1979 Iranian Revolution, which established a theocratic regime in Iran and inspired Islamist movements worldwide. The same year, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan triggered a decade-long jihad, attracting foreign fighters and giving rise to militant networks like al-Qaeda, founded by Osama bin Laden.
The 1980s and 1990s saw the rise of Islamist groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Palestinian Territories, combining political activism with armed resistance. The 1991 Gulf War and continued U.S. military presence in the Middle East further fueled anti-Western sentiment. The 9/11 attacks in 2001 marked a turning point, as al-Qaeda demonstrated its global reach, prompting the U.S.-led War on Terror.
Subsequent invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq destabilized the region, contributing to sectarian conflict and the rise of ISIS (Islamic State) in the 2010s. The Syrian Civil War and power vacuums in Iraq enabled ISIS to seize territory and proclaim a caliphate in 2014, drawing foreign fighters and launching global terror attacks. These events, rooted in political, social, and religious tensions, continue to influence Islamic militancy today. |
