ABSTRACT
The destruction of cities is not new. Whether in history or modern times the targeting of cities was and is widely understood to be how wars are won. Ancient siege warfare often ended in the sack of a city. Modern aerial bombardment is capable of accomplishing the wreckage of much larger cities more quickly and extensively. Once urbicide figures in an actual war and the violence of physical wreckage entails heavy loss of life, the perpetrators may still claim some form of justification. Post-Arab Spring violence has been a major factor in bringing many cities of the Middle East into the grip of urbicide. Violence across the region has become widespread and too often the term is applied with little critical analysis to almost any form of horrific attack in an urban setting.
