List of militant organizations

Template:NPOV A terrorist organisation is an organisation that engages in terrorist tactics, they are also (perhaps more neutrally) referred to as militant organisations.

The following groups are considered to be terrorist by a significant number of observers, though opinion is not uniform.
At least two features make objective assessment of which organisations are terrorist difficult:

the definition of terrorism is disputed and
the facts about the actions and motives of these groups are disputed.

The cliché, "One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter" has some relevance as, while Terrorism can technically be defined as politically motivated violence against non-combatants, use of the term is uneven and dependent on the observer's political perspective and moral judgement. Use of the term often carries moral weight beyond its technical use. "Militant" is a more neutral term to describe so-called "terrorist" groups. Militant groups themselves rarely claim to be committing terrorism and often justify their acts as defence against state oppression or terrorism by opposing groups.

This list does not include government actions that could be labelled terrorism; instead, see state terrorism. The U.S. State Department maintains a list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations, groups that the U.S. government considers terrorist, but these designations are far from universally accepted.

Religious Terrorists

Christian

Nagaland Rebels (1948-present) Active in predominately Christian state in Hindu India. Involved in several bombings in 2004. Goal: Independence from Hindu India after annexing parts of neighboring Indian states and Burma if it has Christian majority.
Ku Klux Klan A racist Protestant Christian organization with a history of violence against Afro-Americans, Jews, and Catholics.
Anti-Abortion Terrorism Activities include bombing abortion clinics, killing doctors and nurses. A member, Eric Robert Rudolph was charged with Centennial Olympic Park bombing at the Olympics and a health clinic in Birmingham, Alabama.
Irish Republican Army (IRA) (1916-present) **
Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) (1969-present)
- Splinter group of the 'Official' IRA.
- Supporters of the PIRA split from 'Official' Sinn Féin to form Provisional Sinn Féin. Provisional Sinn Féin was later known simply as Sinn Féin (while 'Official' Sinn Féin eventually became the Workers' Party).
- Under ceasefire since the Good Friday Agreement of 1997
- Splinter groups:
  - Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA) (1986-present)
    - Also known as the "Continuity Army Council" and "Óglaigh na hÉireann (Gaelic for 'Volunteers of Ireland')
  - Real Irish Republican Army (RIRA) (1997-present) *
    - Also known as the True IRA and Óglaigh na hÉireann (Gaelic for Volunteers of Ireland).
    - Does not recognize Belfast Agreement.
Irish National Liberation Army
Operation Rescue

Ulster Defence Association (UDA) (1971-present) **
- Also called the "Ulster Freedom Fighters," or UFF.
- On February 22, 2003, announced a "complete and utter cessation" of all acts of violence for one year. It said it will review its ceasefire every three months.
- Splinter group:
  - Red Hand Defenders (1998-present) **
    - UDA splinter group. Opposes ceasefire.
Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) (May 1966-present)
- Very closely linked with the Red Hand Commandos (1972-present).
Ulster Defense Force (UVP) **
Loyalist Volunteer Force (decommissioned some weapons. Organisation heavily involved in criminal and narcotic activities.)
Orange Volunteers

Hindu

Shiv Sena Extremist political party in India designated by Pakistan as a terrorist group. The group has been involved in several religious riots that lead to the death of several thousands.

Jewish

Jewish Defense League - United States
Kach and Kahane Chai - Israel and United States. The Hatikva Center is a Kahane Chai front organization.
Irgun - British mandate of Palestine (founded 1931, disbanded 1948)
Lehi (sometimes referred to as the Stern Gang) - British mandate of Palestine (founded 1940, disbanded 1948)

Islamic

Abu Sayyaf (1991-present; Islamist separatists; the Philippines)
- Based in the southern islands of Jolo, Basilan, and Mindanao.
- Branched off of the Moro National Liberation Front.
- Is partnered with Jemaah Islamiyah and Al-Qaeda.
Al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya (Late 1970s-present; Islamists; Egypt)
- Seeks to establish Islamist rule in Egypt. Usually targets secular establishments, government buildings, police, the military, Coptic Christians, tourists, Jews, and “morally offensive” buildings.
Armed Islamic Group (1992-present; Islamists; Algeria)
- Seeks to establish Islamist rule in Algeria. Began operations in 1992 after the Algerian government ignored election results that gave victory to Islamist political parties.
- In recent years has lost influence as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat gained power.
Ansar al-Islam (December 2001-present; Islamists; Iraq)
- In Arabic, "Supporters of Islam."
- Also known as "Partisans of Islam or Helpers of Islam."
Al-Qaeda (1988-present; Islamists; Afghanistan, Pakistan, and worldwide)
- In Arabic, "the foundation" or "the base."
- Also known as Qa‘idat al-Jihad, Islamic Army for the Liberation of the Holy Places, World Islamic Front for Jihad Against Jews and Crusaders, Islamic Salvation Foundation, and the Osama bin Laden Network.
Asbat al-Ansar (early 1990s-present; Lebanese Sunni Islamists; southern Lebanon)
- In Arabic, "the League of the Followers."
Hamas (1987-present; Islamists and Palestinian nationalists; Israel and the Palestinian territories) *
- In Arabic, "zeal" or "courage."
- Acronym for "Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya," or Islamic Resistance Movement.
Hizbollah (Lebanese) (1982-present; Lebanese Shiite Islamists; Lebanon and worldwide)
Jama'at al-Tawhid wa'al-Jihad - Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's network, operating in Iraq
- on U.S. State Department list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations
Egyptian Islamic Jihad - Egypt (active since the late 1970s)
Harakut ul-Ansar (HUA) - Pakistan and Kashmir
Islamic Movement of Central Asia - Central Asia
Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan - Uzbekistan
Jaish-e-Mohammad - Pakistan
Jemaah Islamiyah - Southeast Asia
Lashkar-e-Toiba - Pakistan
Maktab al-Khadamat - Afghanistan
Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group - Morocco and Spain
Muslim Brotherhood - international
Palestinian Islamic Jihad - Gaza Strip/West Bank/Israel
People Against Gangsterism and Drugs - South Africa
Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat - Algeria
Takfir wal-Hijra - Egypt/Sudan/Algeria
Hofstad Network - Netherlands

Islamist Fronts

Al-Barakaat (Al-Qaida front)
Al-Wafa Humanitarian Organization (Al-Qaida front)
Benevolence International Foundation (Al-Qaida front)
Global Relief Foundation (Al-Qaida front)
Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (Hamas)
Konsojaya Trading Company (Jemaah Islamiyah front)

Other religious terrorists

Aum Supreme Truth (Aum Shinrikyo) - Japan (homicidal religious cult)
Anti-Abortion Terrorists - United States

Nationalistic Terrorist Organizations

Lebanese

Lebanese Hizbollah (1982-present; Shiite Lebanese Islamists and Palestinian nationalists; Lebanon)
- In Arabic, "Party of God." Hezbollah claims that it has never committed any acts of terror, and normally restricts its operations to Israeli military targets in Lebanon and the Shebaa Farms. However, it is alleged to have been involved in the bombing of Jewish civilian targets in Argentina in 1992 - the Israeli embassy, killing 29 - and in 1994 - a Jewish community centre, killing 95. [12]
- Also known as Hezbollah, Hizbullah, Huzbollah, Hizbalah, Organization of the Oppressed on Earth, and the Revolutionary Justice Organization.

Palestinian

Palestinian Liberation Organization (June 1964-Present)
- Formed as an umbrella group of eight Palestinian nationalist organizations devoted to dismantling Israel headquartered in Damascus, Syria and Beirut, Lebanon.
- Used the name Black September during the 1972 Munich Olympic Massacre)
- Groups within the PLO
- Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) (1967-present)
  - Left-wing Palestinian separatists
  - Joined the PLO in 1968 and became the second-largest PLO faction, after Arafat's al-Fatah, but withdrew in 1974, accusing the group of moving away from the goal of destroying Israel outright.
    - PFLP's splinter groups:
      - Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC) (1968-present) *
        Splinter group from the PFLP, founded by Ahmed Jibril. Declared its focus would be military, not political. Was a member of the PLO, but left in 1974 for the same reasons as PFLP.
      - Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) (1969-present)
        Marxist-Leninist group that believes Palestinian national goals can be achieved only through revolution of the masses. Split into two factions in 1991; Nayif Hawatmah leads the majority and more hard-line faction, which continue to dominate the group. Joined with other rejectionist groups to form the Alliance of Palestinian Forces (APF) to oppose the Declaration of Principals signed in 1993. Broke from the APF - along with the PFLP - over ideological differences. Has made limited moves toward merging with the PFLP since the mid-1990s.
- Abu Nidal organization (ANO) (1974-2002?; Anti-PLO extremists) *
  - Split from PLO but is not considered primarily a Palestinian nationalist organization. See ANO entry above.
- Fatah (early 1960s-present; Palestinian nationalist political party; sponsors terrorism)
  - Reverse acronym for "Harekat at-Tahrir al-Wataniyyeh al-Falastiniyyeh," (FTH) Arabic for "Palestinian National Liberation Movement."
  - Founded by Yasser Arafat in the early 1960s. Took control of the PLO in 1960, with Arafat as chairman, forming the Palestinian Authority.
    - Groups associated with Fatah:
      - Al Aqsa Marytrs Brigade *
        Responsible of many suicide bombings and shooting attacks against Israeli civilian.
        Responsible of executing suspected collaberators and opposition leaders to Arafat.
        Funded by Fatah and the Palestinian Authority.
      - Tanzim (1995-present)
        In Arabic, "organization."
        Loosely organized Fatah militia.
      - Force 17 (early 1970s-present)
        Elite unit of the PLO under Yasser Arafat's direct guidance.
        Acts as a versatile unit for terrorism, combat, and intelligence-gathering.
      - Hawari (1980s-1991)
        Also known as the Fatah Special Operations Group, Martyrs of Tal Al Za'atar, and Amn Araissi.
        Has not carried out terrorist attacks recently.
      - Ahmed Abu Reish Brigade
        Extreme off-shoot of Fatah.
        Was involved in July 17, 2004 kidnappings in the Gaza Strip.
        Possible link to the Popular Resistance Committees.
- The Popular Resistance Committees - Gaza Strip

Pre-Independence Irish Nationalists

Fenian Brotherhood (19th century, disbanded)

Irish Nationalists (Ulster)

Irish Republican Army (IRA) (1916-present) **
Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) (1969-present)
- Splinter group of the 'Official' IRA.
- Supporters of the PIRA split from 'Official' Sinn Féin to form Provisional Sinn Féin. Provisional Sinn Féin was later known simply as Sinn Féin (while 'Official' Sinn Féin eventually became the Workers' Party).
- Under ceasefire since the Good Friday Agreement of 1997
- Splinter groups:
  - Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA) (1986-present)
    - Also known as the "Continuity Army Council" and "Óglaigh na hÉireann (Gaelic for 'Volunteers of Ireland')
  - Real Irish Republican Army (RIRA) (1997-present) *
    - Also known as the True IRA and Óglaigh na hÉireann (Gaelic for Volunteers of Ireland).
    - Does not recognize Belfast Agreement.
Irish National Liberation Army

Sri Lanka

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam aka LTTE - Sri Lanka. One of the largest terrorist group with 10,000 Tamils who wanted liberation from Singhalese government. The group has carried out 240+ suicide bombings since early 80s in the process of their freedom struggle.

Northern Irish Loyalists (Ulster)

Ulster Defence Association (UDA) (1971-present) **
- Also called the "Ulster Freedom Fighters," or UFF.
- On February 22, 2003, announced a "complete and utter cessation" of all acts of violence for one year. It said it will review its ceasefire every three months.
- Splinter group:
  - Red Hand Defenders (1998-present) **
    - UDA splinter group. Opposes ceasefire.
Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) (May 1966-present)
- Very closely linked with the Red Hand Commandos (1972-present).
Ulster Defense Force (UVP) **
Loyalist Volunteer Force (disbanded)
Orange Volunteers

Other nationalist terrorists

East Turkestan Islamic Movement - Central Asia and China
ETA (Basque Fatherland and Liberty) - Spain and southern France (founded 1959)
Croatian Revolutionary Brotherhood - Yugoslavia (disbanded)
Front de Libération du Quebec - Canada (founded 1963)
Kosovo Liberation Army - (KLA)
Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK/KADEK/KONGRA-GEL) - Turkey(disbanded)
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam - Sri Lanka
Los Macheteros - Puerto Rico (founded 1976)
National Front for the Liberation of Corsica (FLNC) - France
Sons of Liberty - United States (disbanded)

Leftist terrorists

Action Directe - France
Animal Liberation Front (ALF) - United States
Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) - Lebanon and Armenia
Chukaku-Ha - Japan
Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) - Nepal
Earth Liberation Front (ELF) - United States
Ejército de Liberación Nacional - Colombia
GRAPO - Spain
Japanese Red Army (Sekigun) - Japan
Khmer Rouge - Cambodia (disbanded)
Manuel Rodríguez Patriotic Front - Chile
Montoneros - Argentina (disbanded)
National Socialist Council of Nagaland - India
Naxals or Naxalites - India
NPA or New People's Army - Philippines
Revolutionary Organization 17 November (17N) - Greece
People's War Group - India
Red Army Faction (popularly known as the Baader-Meinhof Gang) - Germany (founded 1967, disbanded)
Red Brigades (Brigade Rosse) - Italy (founded 1969)
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) - Colombia
Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso) - Peru (active since the late 1960s)
Symbionese Liberation Army - USA (disbanded)
Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA) - Peru
United Liberation Front of Assam - India
Weathermen - USA (founded in 1969, now disbanded)

Right-wing terrorists

Others

The Angry Brigade - United Kingdom (anarchists) (disbanded)
Animal Liberation Front - USA (radical environmentalist) - related to and often works with the ELF (see below).
Buffalo Battalion - Mozambique
Earth First! - Many countries (radical environmentalist)
Earth Liberation Front - USA (radical environmentalist) - claims to avoid harming people or animals, but is considered by the FBI to be a terrorist group, and vice versa
EOKA (Ethniki Organosis Kypriakou Agonistov) - Cyprus (anti-Turkish, pro-Enosis)
Front for the Advancement and Progress of Haiti (FRAPH) - Haiti
Interahamwe - Rwanda
Minuteman Project - United States (anti-immigration vigilante group)
Mungiki - Kenya
National Revolutionary Front for the Liberation of Haiti - Haiti
Quantrill's Raiders led by William Quantrill - United States (pro-Confederate guerillas)
Revolutionary United Front - Sierra Leonean rebels
Tonton Macoutes - Haiti
Umkhonto we Sizwe ("Spear of the nation") - South Africa

External links

Australia government list of terrorist groups (http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/agd/www/nationalsecurityhome.nsf/Page/Listing_of_Terrorist_Organisations)
Canada government list of terrorist organisations (http://www.psepc.gc.ca/national_security/counter-terrorism/Entities_e.asp)
UK Home Office list of terrorist groups (http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/terrorism/threat/groups/index.html)
US State Department list of designated foreign terrorist organizations (http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/pgtrpt/2003/31711.htm)pl:Zbrojne organizacje uznawane za terrorystyczne

sl:Seznam terorističnih skupin zh-cn:恐怖组织

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Categories: Lists of organizations | Irregular military