Josephus's Terrorist Tactics

As Josephus’s descriptions, demonstrate the terrorist tactics implemented by the Sicarii were threefold; inclusive of selective, symbolic assassinations; more generalised assassinations alongside the destruction or looting of properties from those of affluence and kidnapping. In spite of this, general tactics utilised by terrorist groups, including sniping and sabotage against armed forces and non-selective attacks are not referred to by Josephus. Generally, the assassinations the Sicarii perpetuated come across as being highly selective, along with, insistently intending their attacks for fellow Jews. At no time is it alluded to that the Sicarii oriented their attack towards Roman soldiers or civilians.

It is noted that terrorists repeatedly
As H. Edward Price Jr. states in “The Strategy and Tactics of Revolutionary Terrorism”, “Where the personnel of repression are the target of assassination, the tactic is intended as deterrence, i.e, to convince the authorities that it is not worthwhile to pursue the struggle too vigorously.” As highlighted through the quote, the Sicarii deterring the pro-Roman gentry from collaborating with Roman’s demonstrates their susceptibility to an attack, in addition, acting as a signifier that their aligning did not hold as much significance as their welfare perhaps did.

Comparative to the quote featured in “The Strategy and Tactics of Revolutionary Terrorism”, the Sicarii encompass to a pronounced extent tactics that yet today are still termed as terrorism. In the context of the quote, the personnel of repression act as the inhabitants of Judea that are the pro-Roman gentry, who the Sicarii regard as both targets of opression whom act compliant to this. Nonetheless, if said tactic were to be implemented the Sicarii would perceive the pro-Romans reaction to be a reversion of compliancy to the