Insurgents often deliberately target civilians as part of their strategy for several reasons (Neumann & Smith, 2005). First and foremost, attacking civilians serves to instill fear and terrorize populations, creating a sense of insecurity and vulnerability among civilians. By targeting non-combatants, including women, children, and the elderly, insurgents seek to undermine societal stability, fracture community cohesion, and ultimately erode trust in government institutions. Because civilians are perceived as soft targets, often lacking the protection and defenses of military or security personnel, they are also more susceptible to attacks. Insurgents may also target civilians to incite sectarian or ethnic violence, exacerbate existing tensions, and deepen societal divisions. Symbolically, attacking civilians can serve as a means to garner attention, generate headlines, and attract sympathy or support from sympathetic groups or sympathizers.