# data[].attributes.headline
1960's: Start of terrorist groups in the Middle East

# data[].attributes.subject
1960's: Start of terrorist groups in the Middle East

# data[].attributes.body
After the creation of an Israeli state in 1948 and during the Six Day War in 1967, many extreme religious militant groups began forming to get Palestinian independence. Other groups also followed due to failed western attempts at creating stable democracies.

# data[].attributes.body
In Iran, a new Islamic government was formed after dissatisfaction with the old monarchy. Although not extremist, the new government nevertheless held anti-Western views, took Americans hostage until 1982, and funded other religious movements in the Middle East. Meanwhile in Afghanistan, militants began fighting against the government with the help of terrorists, which would last for years.

# data[].attributes.headline
1996: Taliban takes control of Kabul, and Al-Qaeda begins to gain power

# data[].attributes.subject
1996: Taliban takes control of Kabul, and Al-Qaeda begins to gain power

# data[].attributes.body
In the fall of 1996, a newly-formed radical Islam militia called the Taliban took over Afghanistan's capital with the help of Al-Qaeda and its leader Osama Bin-Laden. They form a new Sharia-style government and gives refuge to many terrorists, which gives model to many extreme Sunni Islam militant groups.

# data[].attributes.body
On August 7, 1998, bomb attacks on two American embassies happened in Nairobi, Kenya and Der Es Salaam, Tanzania. With at least 200 dead, the attacks were traced to Al-Qaeda's network days later. This move finally led to Osama Bin-Laden being placed on the FBI's Top Ten Most Wanted list.

# data[].attributes.body
On September 11, 2001, members of Al-Qaeda hijacked three American planes and successfully crashed them into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, while the last plane landed on a Pennsylvanian field. It caused almost 3,000 deaths and over 25,000 injuries, making it the deadliest-ever attack on US soil.

# data[].attributes.body
A day after the attacks, the US launched a military campaign mainly in the Middle East to hunt down and target terrorists that are a threat to world peace. The term “war on terrorism” was first used by former President Bush in a Congressional speech five days after the attacks.

# data[].attributes.headline
Fall 2001 - present: Invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq

# data[].attributes.subject
Fall 2001 - present: Invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq

# data[].attributes.body
In October 2001, the US invaded Taliban-run Afghanistan after they were known to be harboring Bin-Laden. In 2006, after defeating the Taliban Government, the US military overthrew brutal Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. Later, in 2011, Osama Bin-Laden was killed by Navy SEALs in his Pakistani compound. Although victorious, new governments set up by the US failed which led to more internal conflicts that are still ongoing to this day.

# data[].attributes.body
One big result of the failure to form stable governments was the rise of ISIL, short for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Originating from Iraq, in 2013 the notorious group expanded into Syria. Although reaching its peak in 2015-16, the group has been in decline since due to the death of its leader in 2019. However, they still commit global large-scale terrorist attacks that have threatened the peace of the world.

# data[].attributes.body
Under former President Obama’s term in the mid 2010’s, troops have been increasingly withdrawn each year due to the declining nature of ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and the Taliban, and also for safety reasons. The trend has still been continuing since President Donald Trump’s election in 2017.

# data[].attributes.body
On October 26, 2019, ISIS leader Abu-Bakr Al-Baghdadi committed suicide after being closed to capture from US Soldiers. Two months later, On January 3, 2020, Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, known for having ties with terrorist groups like Quds Force and Hezbollah, was killed by an American airstrike in Iraq. The death prompted a quick reaction within Iranian authorities and war was inevitable.