Eye on Extremism
April 12, 2023
Associated Press: Taliban: Raid Kills 8 Rebel Fighters In Afghanistan’s North
“A raid on a rebel hideout in northern Afghanistan killed eight fighters from a resistance movement including a commander, the Defense Ministry said Tuesday. The National Resistance Front vowed to fight the Taliban after they overran the country and seized power in August 2021. The NRF retreated to a mountainous and remote valley in Panjshir province after the takeover, with Panjshir the last province to hold out against the Taliban as they swept through Afghanistan. The National Resistance Front and another group, the Afghanistan Freedom Front, are comprised of former security personnel from the previous Western-backed government.”
New York Magazine: Is Social Media Hurting Kids? How Teens And Tweens Became The Face Of Internet Regulation.
“… Hany Farid, senior adviser for the Counter Extremism Project and a computer-science professor at UC Berkeley, provided me with a different car analogy involving a landmark case that wrought reform in the auto industry. The first round of Ford Pinto cars on the market, those that came to define the ’70s with their muted earth tones and buggy headlights, were faultily designed: The gas tank was in the wrong place, cars were exploding if they were hit in just the right spot, and people were dying. “And what the car company said is, ‘Okay, we have two options: We can either recall all these cars, fix the gas tanks, and send ’em back out. It’s gonna cost us X million dollars. Or we can just leave them as it is — let the people die, and we’ll settle the lawsuits. And that will cost us less,’” said Farid. “So that’s what they did.”
United States
Neo-Nazi Gyms Body-Shame New Recruits Into Extremism: Report | Raw Story
“… "The leaders of these active clubs also maintain connections with several pre-existing far-right groups, some of whom have perpetrated hate crimes," said the report. "'Violence is the underlying feature of all of this,' said Joshua Fisher-Birch, an analyst for the Counter Extremism Project, a non-profit that combats extremist groups. 'If you're training people in combat sports in this capacity, it seems like a matter of time before someone is going to use that against someone else.'"
Syria
UPI: U.S. Designates Hurras Al-Din Leader As Global Terrorist
“…According to the nonprofit, international policy Counter Extremism Project, Hurras al-Din formed in February 2018 with the merger of seven Syrian rebel factions with 10 more groups, all affiliated with al-Qaida, joining shortly after. Though having been weakened following losses in 2019, it maintains links to al-Qaida members, who have enabled it "to pose a threat to U.S. and to other Western interests outside os Syria," the Director of National Intelligence states on its website. According to the nonprofit, international policy Counter Extremism Project, Hurras al-Din formed in February 2018 with the merger of seven Syrian rebel factions with 10 more groups, all affiliated with al-Qaida, joining shortly after. Though having been weakened following losses in 2019, it maintains links to al-Qaida members, who have enabled it ‘to pose a threat to U.S. and to other Western interests outside os Syria,’ the Director of National Intelligence states on its website.”
Hawar News Agency: Fatalities In New ISIS Attack Targeting Truffle Hunters In Syrian Badia
“SOHR reported that, ‘today, ISIS mercenaries attacked a group of young men while they were searching for ‘truffles’ in the Al-Midan area, north of the city of Palmyra in the eastern countryside of Homs, as a result 3 people were killed, while the mercenaries fled to an unknown destination.’ ISIS mercenaries have remarkably intensified their attacks, especially against ‘truffle’ hunters in the Syrian desert. The death toll within the Syrian Desert, according to the SOHR’s documentation, has reached 249 since the beginning of 2023. They are: 11 ISIS mercenaries were killed in clashes with the Damascus government forces and Russian air strikes, targeting areas where they hide in separate areas of the desert of Homs, As-Suwayda, Hama, Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor and Aleppo.”
Prensa Latina: Reinforced Syrian Troops Clearing The Desert From Terrorists
“The units deployed in the vast desert region of Al-Badieh received more soldiers and material for the stepping up of the offensive against the remaining terrorist groups of the Islamic State, ‘Daesh’ in Arabic, inscribed on the list of international terrorism organizations, local sources said. They added that in the town of Al-Sukhna, located on the administrative borders between the provinces of Homs and Deir Ezzor, Syrian soldiers eliminated several terrorists during a fierce clash with them. Daesh, whose members receive logistical support, protection and intelligence information from the US armed forces in the Tanef area, in the east of the country, is increasing its attacks in the Al-Badieh desert, according to complaints from Damascus. As reportedly said by analysts, Daesh, since its defeat in 2018, has resorted to gang warfare and attacks, based on clear intelligence instructions in an attempt to wear down Syrian troops and their allies.”
Iraq
Hawar News Agency: Iraqi Forces Dismantle An ISIS Cell In Diyala
“The cell's statement stated, ‘Following intelligence operations with the participation of the Federal Intelligence and Investigation Agency in the Ministry of Interior, the security forces were able to reach a terrorist cell consisting of three ISIS elements in Diyala Governorate.’ The statement added, ‘The terrorists were working to provide logistical support to ISIS members and leaders, noting that during their arrest, a quantity of weapons and other materials were seized in their possession.’”
Turkey
Daily Sabah: Türkiye Detains 15 Suspected Al-Qaida, Daesh Terrorists
“Turkish security forces on Wednesday said they had detained at least 15 suspects in operations against the terrorist groups Daesh and al-Qaida in Istanbul. Anti-terror police launched simultaneous operations at 12 locations in Istanbul against ‘foreign terrorist fighters,’ said security sources, who asked to remain anonymous due to restrictions on speaking to the media. They added that the 15 people arrested in the operation were all foreign nationals. Türkiye has been working on unearthing Daesh plots and apprehending possible suspects.”
Pakistan
Dawn: 3 Terrorists Killed In Intelligence-Based Operation In Bannu: ISPR
“A press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that security forces conducted an IBO last night on the ‘reported presence of terrorists’. ‘During conduct of the operation, fierce fire exchange took place between own troops and terrorists. Resultantly, all three terrorists were sent to hell,’ the statement said. The ISPR said the militants were ‘actively involved in terrorist activities against security forces and killing of innocent citizens’, adding that weapons and ammunition were also recovered from their possession. ‘Locals of the area appreciated the operation and expressed their full support to eliminate menace of terrorism from the area,’ the ISPR said.”
Middle East
Reuters: Israel Halts Jewish Visits To Al-Aqsa, Says Gunmen Shot Dead
“Israel halted visits by Jews and tourists to a flashpoint Jerusalem holy site on Tuesday and its military said soldiers shot dead two Palestinian gunmen in the occupied West Bank, as a wave of unrest showed no sign of subsiding. Last week, an Israeli police raid at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a tinder-box in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict, triggered rocket attacks from Gaza, south Lebanon and Syria that drew Israeli air and artillery strikes. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement after security talks that visits by non-Muslims to the sacred compound, known in Judaism as the Temple Mount, will be stopped until the end of Ramadan, expected around April 20. There was no immediate comment from Palestinian officials on the ban, which Israel has imposed in previous years.”
Egypt
Arab News: Egypt Calls For Comprehensive Approach To Defeat Terrorism, Extremism
“Egypt’s foreign minister has underlined the need to adopt a comprehensive approach to address the roots of terrorism and extremism. At a meeting with the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on Tuesday, Sameh Shoukry explained the Egyptian position on issues of concern to the Islamic world. Shoukry stressed Egypt’s support for the OIC and the role it plays in defending the interests and priorities of the Islamic world. He said Egypt had been calling for years for more support to develop the organization’s work mechanisms to keep pace with the requirements of the modern era.”
Nigeria
Sahara Reporters: Terrorists Attack Nigerian Capital, Abuja Community, Kidnap Traditional Ruler, 13 Others
“Terrorists, locally known as bandits, have kidnapped the traditional chief of Chida community in Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, John Kwayidami, and 13 residents of the community. The gunmen who stormed the community last Thursday shot an 18-year-old boy named Solomon in the leg while attempting to flee. Ishaya Musa, a Chida resident, said the kidnappers, armed with AK-47 rifles, stormed the community around 11:34pm, Daily Trust reports. He claimed the kidnappers went to the chief's palace and abducted him before abducting 13 other people from their homes.”
Somalia
Garowe Online: At Least 3,500 AU Soldiers Killed In Fight Against Al-Shabaab In Somalia
“The African Union [AU] may have lost thousands of peacekeepers in Somalia, insiders have admitted, in that revelation which comes at the time the Horn of Africa nation is planning the second assault against the militants who control large swathes of rural central and southern parts according to the United Nations. In an interview with VOA, the head of the mission, which started in 2007, said Al-Shabaab has been a threat to both innocent civilians and security forces. Mohamed El-Amine Souef, who took over from Francisco Madeira, told the Investigative Dossier that at some point, the AU forces were not prepared because of the absence of a functional government. ‘The troops were not well-prepared, and the administration was not even in Mogadishu. Many cases were not properly documented,’ Souef said via the WhatsApp messaging platform. Initially, the mission was known as African Union Mission in Somalia [AMISOM] but would later change the name to African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS] in 2022. The 22,000-strong force is preparing for exit under the Somali Transition Plan [STP] with a timeline up to December 2023.”
Africa
Associated Press: Gunmen Kill 5 Soldiers In Niger Convoy Ambush
“Gunmen killed five soldiers and wounded others during a weekend ambush of a military convoy performing escort duties in northern Niger, the army said Tuesday. No one has claimed responsibility for Sunday’s attack, which occurred in the Agadez region on the road to Arlit town, the chief of staff for Niger’s army, Abdou Sidikou Issa, said in a statement. The convoy, which included four Toyotas mounted with machine guns, was leaving the a gold mining site when it was hit. Armed groups and people who come to steal gold frequent the area, according to local residents. Three of the wounded soldiers were evacuated to Niger’s capital, Niamey, and military reinforcements have been sent to the area, Issa said. Niger has been battling a jihadi insurgency linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group that’s killed thousands. While attacks by jihadi groups in the Agadez region have been rare in recent years, analysts said the insurgency could not be ruled out in Sunday’s attack.”
Southeast Asia
AFP News: Two Killed In Uzbek Terror Suspects' Attempted Indonesia Detention Escape
“An attempt by three Uzbek terrorism suspects to escape from an Indonesian detention centre left an immigration officer and one of the men dead, police said Tuesday, with the surviving suspects rearrested. The men were originally arrested by Indonesian authorities earlier this month, alongside a fourth Uzbek suspect, for allegedly spreading terrorism propaganda online. They were linked to the al-Qaeda-affiliated Katiba al Tawhid wal Jihad group, according to Indonesian police. The three suspects fled from the North Jakarta Immigration detention centre early on Monday after attacking officers, including members of an anti-terrorism squad, with a knife that they stole from a pantry, said police spokesperson Aswin Siregar.”
Technology
Cointelegraph: The Feds Must Rein In Crypto-Financed Terrorism
“…In June 2020, my own Counter Extremism Project (CEP) located a notorious pro-ISIS website requesting Monero cryptocurrency donations ‘because it offers more privacy and safety features than Bitcoin.’ Months later, a website that supports the National Socialist Order and spreads violent neo-Nazi propaganda requested donations via Monero, and a neo-Nazi chat group on Telegram posted a guide on how to purchase Monero to the dark web. The neo-Nazi accelerationist group The Base, too, has requested cryptocurrency donations in Monero to facilitate training and unspecified equipment. Though the U.S. has the most advanced capacity to track and seize cryptocurrencies used for criminal purposes, these and other privacy coins present technical hurdles that no country has yet fully overcome.”
The Washington Times: Justices Confront Big Tech’s Definition Of ‘Terrorist’ In Legal Liability Case
“…Twitter announced that it had suspended nearly 1 million accounts linked to terrorist content. In 2022, Twitter was pressured to cancel accounts linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. At first, it told the Counter Extremism Project that @igrciran hadn’t violated its policies despite posting a tweet threatening to assassinate Mr. Trump. The account was eventually axed. Yet several top Taliban officials remain active by sharing the oppressive regime’s doings in Afghanistan. A spokesperson from the Counter Extremism Project told The Washington Times that terrorist content has decreased on social media platforms since 2014 but has not disappeared.”
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