Op-Ed: The Jackal's Brand of Terrorism Is Coming Back

The world is seeing a resurgence in terrorists who are motivated by money instead of ideology, and an op-ed traces it all back to the infamous Carlos the Jackal. Writing in the New York Times, national security reporter and author Joby Warrick uses a prison interview with Ilich Ramírez Sánchez, the Jackal's real name, to frame the issue. Warrick argues that a "terrorism-for-hire" model—where governments quietly subcontract violence to crooks—has surged since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine and the conflicts that followed Hamas' 2023 attack on Israel.

Drawing on data from the Soufan Center and other experts, the piece describes nearly 300 suspected Russian- or Iranian-linked operations across Europe, Asia, and North America: arson targeting Britain's prime minister, plots against synagogues, and assassination attempts on dissidents and journalists. "The scores of incidents have also reconfirmed something Carlos discovered decades ago," writes Warrick. "If the goal is to covertly attack a powerful enemy without leaving fingerprints, outsourced terrorism offers clear advantages." Warrick says this "spook-gangster" nexus offers Moscow and Tehran cheap deniability while Western intelligence cooperation frays—recalling how states once used Carlos himself. Read the full essay.