The morphing terror threat: How AI, younger recruits, and evolving warfare are reshaping terrorism

ICT director Assaf Moghadam outlines four evolving terror trends: AI lowering the age of recruits to 12-13, convergence of far-right and jihadist ideologies, terrorist groups using military-style combined-arms attacks, and mainstreaming of extremist narratives. He warns antisemitism is a unifying force across these ideologies.

Assaf Moghadam, the new director of the International Institute for Counterterrorism (ICT) at Reichman University, gave his first interview since taking the role to The Jerusalem Post, outlining four major shifts in global terrorism. He argues that AI is lowering the barrier to entry, with radicalized children as young as 12-13 now involved in plots. Ideologies are converging: far-right, far-left and jihadist groups increasingly share narratives and symbols, with antisemitism acting as a unifying glue. Terrorist organizations like Hamas and ISIS now operate across a spectrum from classic terror to guerrilla warfare and military-style invasions, as seen on October 7. Moghadam also warns of a trend toward mainstreaming extremist rhetoric in public debate. The interview covers the erosion of traditional boundaries in age, ideology, tactics, and social acceptance of political violence.