IN the post-9/11 scenario, suicide bombing emerged as the deadliest and most popular terrorist strategy adopted by various groups around the world. After 9/11, there was an intensification in both the frequency and innovation of suicide bombings. Among these, the suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (SVBIED) quickly became one of the most lethal weapons deployed. This sophisticated weapon requires significant technical proficiency, which leading militant organisations developed and employed effectively.

The Islamic State’s frequent use of SVBIEDs in Iraq and Syria helped the militant group attract global media attention. SVBIEDs served as a powerful force multiplier, enabling numerically inferior militants to deliver tons of explosives to designated targets and overrun larger enemy contingents. IS used SVBIEDs to punch holes in static defences, with follow-up attacks inflicting further damage on defenders.

IS tried to gain an edge over its enemies by tailoring SVBIED designs to specific threats, targets, and environments, with the aim of increasing the likelihood of the vehicle reaching its intended detonation point. For example, the covert SVBIED, the most commonly used type, features a vehicle with........

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