Eye on Extremism
April 6, 2023
**NOTE: CEP’s Eye On Extremism will be suspended Friday, April 7 in observance of Good Friday and Monday, April 10 in observance of Easter. It will resume Tuesday, April 11.**
Fox News: Israeli Fighter Jets Strike Hamas Weapons Facility After Violence, 350 Arrested At Jerusalem Holy Site
“The Israeli Defense Forces launched an airstrike on a Hamas weapons facility on Wednesday, following a series of back-and-forth agitations between Israeli officials and Palestinians earlier in the day, officials said. ‘Fighter jets recently attacked a site for the production of weapons and another site for the production and storage of weapons used by the terrorist organization Hamas in the center of the Gaza Strip,’ the IDF said in a statement. According to the Israeli military, the attack was in retaliation for a volley of rockets being fired at them from the Gaza Strip. ‘This attack constitutes an injury to the ability of the terrorist organization Hamas to strengthen and arm itself,’ the IDF statement added.”
AFP News: Taliban Must 'Immediately Revoke' Ban On UN Employing Women In Afghanistan: UN Chief
“The UN secretary-general on Wednesday demanded that the Taliban ‘immediately revoke’ its ban on Afghan women working with the United Nations in Afghanistan. ‘This is a violation of the inalienable fundamental human rights of women,’ UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement on behalf of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. ‘The secretary-general calls on the Taliban to immediately revoke the decision and reverse all measures that restrict women's and girls' rights to work, education and freedom of movement.’”
Iraq
Iraqi News: Iraqi Intelligence Kills Most Dangerous ISIS Terrorist In Syria
“The Iraqi intelligence announced on Wednesday the killing of Khaled Al-Jubouri, whom it described as the most dangerous terrorist in ISIS group, according to a statement issued by the Iraqi National Intelligence Service (INIS). The INIS illustrated that a qualitative intelligence operation led to the killing of the terrorist Khaled Al-Jubouri, known as Yaqoub Al-Muhajir. The INIS confirmed that the dead man is considered one of the most dangerous terrorists belonging to ISIS, and an arrest warrant has been issued against him by the concerned magistrate. The INIS indicated that Al-Jabouri was targeted in the Syrian governorate of Idlib. Al-Jubouri formerly joined the terrorist organization of Al-Qaeda, then joined ISIS group where he held several positions.”
Turkey
Bloomberg: Turkey Shuts Airspace To Planes Using Iraqi Airport Over Kurdish Militant ‘Infiltration’
“Turkey closed its airspace to planes flying to and from Sulaymaniyah International Airport in Iraq’s Kurdish region, accusing separatist militants of using the site. ‘Infiltration’ of the airport by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, is threatening flight safety, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. The closure will run until July 3. The PKK, which seeks autonomy for Turkish Kurds, is designated a terrorist organization by the European Union and the US. The government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan considers it a major threat, and Sweden’s alleged support for the party is one reason his administration is holding out on approving the Nordic country’s bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region and the central government in Baghdad agreed on Tuesday to resume oil exports via Turkey after a legal spat, but shipments are yet to begin.”
Pakistan
Dawn: 8 Terrorists Killed, Soldier Martyred In South Waziristan IBO: ISPR
“Eight terrorists were killed and a soldier was martyred during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the Shinwarsak area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s South Waziristan district, the military’s media affairs wing said on Wednesday. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), an intense exchange of fire took place between security personnel and terrorists during the operation. ‘Own troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ location and eight terrorists, including terrorist commander Jan Muhammad alias Chargh, were sent to hell,’ the statement said. It added that 31-year-old Sepoy Hamid Rasool, a resident of Rawalpindi district, was martyred during the gun battle with the terrorists while another four security personnel, including two officers, were injured.”
Middle East
AFP News: Two More Rockets Fired From Gaza Towards Israel: Army, Witnesses
“Two more rockets were fired on Wednesday evening from the Israeli-blockaded Gaza Strip towards Israeli territory, the army and witnesses said, after earlier rocket fire led to retaliatory air strikes. Witnesses reported the latest rockets were launched from the north of Gaza. Israel's army said one landed on the Gaza side while the other fell in the border area between Gaza and Israel.”
The National: Two Israeli Soldiers Stabbed In Suspected Terror Attack
“Two Israeli soldiers have been injured in a suspected terrorist attack in central Israel. Both are thought to be in their 20s and one is in a serious condition. Police arrested a 20-year-old suspect, from the West Bank city of Hebron. He has been taken in for questioning over the stabbings. There have been no direct claims of responsibility but Hamas praised the incident as part of a wider campaign to heighten tensions ahead of the Jewish Passover holiday, Israeli media reported. The attack comes after a number of similar incidents, including a shooting that took place in a northern Israeli town on Monday that was claimed by the Islamic Jihad terrorist organisation.”
WTOP News: The Hunt: Who Was Khalid Aydd Ahmad Al-Jabouri?
“In this week’s edition of ‘The Hunt with WTOP national security correspondent J.J. Green,’ Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler, senior director of the Counter Extremism Project, said ISIS leader Khalid Aydd Ahmad al-Jabouri was a shadowy figure.”
Somalia
Garowe Online: Report: Over 1200 People Killed, Injured By Al-Shabaab's IEDs In Somalia
“Over 1,200 Somalis may have been killed or injured through Al-Shabaab's attacks mainly through landmines and Improvised Explosive Devices [IEDs], a report compiled by the United Nations has revealed, focusing on 2022, a year which saw Somalia also hold delayed elections. The UN released the figures in marking the International Day for Mine Awareness e Assistance in Mine Action. Previous UN reports have indicated that Improvised Explosive Devices [IEDs) have become the most effective weapon of war by the militant group Al-Shabaab. According to Anita Kiki Gbeho, the UN Secretary General's Deputy Representative for Somalia, ordinary people were among those targeted by the militants who still control parts of rural central and southern Somalia. She said the U is committed to working with Somali authorities and local and international partners to protect civilians and foster peace, security, and development in Somalia. ‘On this International Day, we especially recognize the courage and dedication of the mine action operators and their commitment to creating a safe and secure environment for all Somalis,’ the UN official said.”
United Kingdom
The National: Activists Plan Legal Action Against UK To Solve Mystery Of 'Civilian Death' In Syria
“The UK government could be the subject of legal action to uncover the truth of an air strike that it says killed a civilian in Syria in 2018. The incident is the only time Britain has admitted responsibility for a civilian death during its operations against ISIS in Iraq and Syria. However, it is clouded in mystery because findings by the US-led coalition against ISIS suggest there were no civilian casualties that day. Campaigners have asked the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) to release documents linked to the attack on March 26, 2018. Joe Dyke of non-profit group Airwars told The National that activists were seeking ‘all documents assessing civilian harm in the incident’.”
France
RFI: Trial Of Alleged PKK Figures Accused Of Financing Terror Begins In France
“Labelled a terrorist organisation by the United States, the European Union and Turkey, the PKK has been waging a decades-long armed struggle against Ankara for greater autonomy for the Kurdish minority in the Turkish southeast. None of the 11 suspects - all Turkish citizens aged from 24 to 64 - acknowledges membership in the group, which they say has no presence in France. But investigators believe that France, alongside EU neighbours, offers a staging ground for PKK activities. Nine of the 11 suspects charged in the case appeared before the Paris criminal court as the trial got under way on Tuesday.”
Australia
Australian Associated Press: Terrorist Guilty Seven Years After Curtis Cheng Murder
“More than seven years after the brutal murder of police accountant Curtis Cheng, the man who supplied the revolver to the teen terrorist shooter is now guilty. Mr Cheng's death shocked the nation and led police to arrest, charge and then jail four individuals behind the brazen and deadly extremist Muslim terror attack. On Friday, a Parramatta Supreme Court jury found Mustafa Dirani guilty of one count of conspiring with others to do an act of terrorism. A separate backup charge of supplying a firearm to an unauthorised person was not considered after the jury's verdict for the primary offence. Mr Cheng was shot in the head by 15-year-old Farhad Mohammad outside the NSW Police Force headquarters in Parramatta at 4.30pm on October 2, 2015.”
New Zealand
Politico: Jacinda Ardern Is Back — As ‘Special Envoy’ For Anti-Terror Initiative
“New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has appointed his predecessor Jacinda Ardern as special envoy for the Christchurch Call, he announced Tuesday. ‘The newly created position will represent New Zealand’s continued commitment to push for greater protection online from terrorist and violent extremist content,’ the New Zealand prime minister's office said in a statement The Christchurch Call is a nonbinding initiative led after the 2019 Christchurch terror attacks by Ardern and French President Emmanuel Macron, and aimed at curbing the spread of terrorist content on the internet. It's backed by countries including the United States and Canada; tech giants such as Google and Meta are participants.”
The Counter Extremism Project depends on the generosity of its supporters. If you value what we do, please consider making a donation.
