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Why did the IRA use bombings and guerrilla tactics during the Troubles?
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the Troubles
Local people walking past a British soldier on guard in Northern Ireland, August 1969.
During the Troubles, the Provisional wing of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) employed bombings, assassinations, and guerrilla tactics as part of a campaign they termed the "Long War."12
The organization utilized these methods for several strategic objectives:
- Defense: Initially, units were organized to protect Roman Catholic communities from violence by extremists and state forces.12
- Destabilization: The IRA sought to render British rule in Northern Ireland ineffective, destabilize state institutions, and weaken the British government's resolve to maintain the union.12
- Political Pressure: By expanding attacks into mainland Britain and Europe, the IRA aimed to create terror and force the British government to negotiate, with the ultimate goal of achieving a united, independent Ireland.12
The IRA viewed this violence as a necessary component of their struggle to end British rule. While these tactics were intended to advance their republican objectives, they resulted in significant loss of life, including approximately 1,800 deaths between 1969 and 1994, of which about 600 were civilians.12