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Early Adoption and Implementation of Suicide Attacks

Suicide attacks have been used as a strategic method by political and militant organizations across the globe. For example, the infamous Egyptian Islamic Jihad carried out a failed suicide attack in 1993, which marked the first instance of Sunni Islamists making use of suicide terrorism, a technique previously associated with the Shia group Hezbollah. Similarly, during the Afghan Civil War (1996–2001), Arab suicide attackers believed to be affiliated with Al Qaeda assassinated Ahmed Shah Massoud, a leader of the Northern Alliance. This marked one of the early instances of suicide bombings associated with Islamist extremism.

The widespread use of suicide bombings as a tactic in conflicts was superficially studied by the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth academic Brian Glyn Williams, who was employed by the CIA's Counterterrorism Center. Williams’ study reported an increase in suicide incursions in Afghanistan from 2006, connecting its exportation from Middle Eastern conflict zones like Iraq as a significant factor. He also observed that most suicide attackers were ethnic Pashtuns and not Arabs, most often targeting military installations. This contrasts with the typical methods used in Iraq, where suicide bombings frequently targeted civilians and religious institutions.

Depictions of suicide attacks in popular culture such as in films like the Rendition (film) and Sentinelle, showcase the dreadful ramifications of such actions. Notably, these portrayals often highlight the personal motivations and ideological indoctrinations behind such violent acts, which are often stoked by political and religious fanaticism.

Suicide Attacks in Conflict Zones

Conflicts often become a fertile ground for the use of suicide attacks as a strategy for military or psychological advantage. In a number of incidents, the Hotel Inter-Continental Kabul in Afghanistan was targeted by armed suicide attackers in 2011, with responsibility for the attack being claimed by the Taliban. Alternatively, in Somalia, the capital city Mogadishu has seen several instances of suicide bombings, like the twin car bombings that occurred in February 2018, killing 45 people and injuring many others. The use of suicide attacks in such situations is often an attempt to destabilize regions and inflict mass casualties.

Strategic locations are often targeted for maximum impact. For instance, the Sahafi Hotel in Mogadishu was subjected to a suicide bombing in 2015 by the jihadist group al-Shabaab that resulted in the death of 15 individuals. Similarly, in the Battle of Aleppo during 2012, three suicide car bombings by the Islamist militant group Al-Nusra Front targeted the Officers' Club and nearby buildings, causing significant destruction and loss of life.

Effects and Responses to Suicide Attacks

A suicide attack is not only devastating for those directly affected, but it also significantly impacts the societies in which they occur, instilling fear, and disrupting the perceived safety of public spaces. Responses to such attacks vary depending upon the region and the societal milieus. For example, in Tel Aviv, the city has experienced multiple episodes of political violence, including suicide bombings, since the First Intifada. The aftermath of these terror attacks has contributed towards a state of heightened alertness and security.

Some smaller communities like Burj el-Shemali in Lebanon have witnessed widespread destruction due to suicide car bombings. For instance, in 1982, the Israeli military headquarters in the town was destroyed by a car bomb detonated by a suicide attacker that resulted in heavy losses. Reactions to these events were marked by continued conflict due to heightened tensions and resentment.

Suicide Attacks and Naval Warfare

The use of suicide attacks has also permeated into naval warfare, with tactics such as the detonation of explosive-laden vessels as a method of attack. An example of this can be seen in the operations of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. There were numerous submarines such as the Japanese submarine I-157, and the Japanese submarine I-156, commissioned in the early 20th century, which served in regular naval operations before being converted into kaiten, or manned suicide attack torpedo, carriers in the latter stages of the war. These submarines were deployed to carry suicide torpedoes into enemy fleets and facilities, with the intent of inflicting significant casualties and damage. Despite the strategic advantages conceived in the use of such tactics, the humanitarian implications of deploying suicide attackers posed a significant ethical dilemma in warfare.

Similarly, other Japanese submarines like the Japanese submarine I-361, Japanese submarine I-363, Japanese submarine I-162, and the Japanese submarine I-36 all underwent conversions to function as kaiten carriers. This method of utilizing suicide attackers had long term psychological implications on enemy forces but ultimately represented a desperate strategy of a war nearing its conclusion. The surviving submarines were surrendered at the end of World War II and were later scuttled by Allied forces, marking the end of an era of submarines functioning as vehicles for suicide attacks.