Militants are outpacing the state by turning gaming apps, social media, and AI into weapons of propaganda and recruitment, proving the war of narratives is as decisive as the war on the ground. In recent years, however, they have become as equipped in the use of digital media as state actors, if not more. Moreover, militants’ transnational outreach with like-minded jihadists has helped them formulate advanced propaganda techniques to counter the state narrative. In many cases, militant propaganda is as lethal as their actual acts of violence. This trend prompts retaliatory measures in kind from the target state, fuelling further instability and inadvertently strengthening the militants’ threat.