Eye on Extremism
April 18, 2023
Associated Press: Antisemitic Incidents On Rise Across US, Report Finds
“Antisemitism rose in the U.S. in 2022 and shows little sign of abating worldwide as political radicals have gained mainstream popularity, researchers said in a report released Monday. The report was released by Tel Aviv University’s Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry and the U.S.-based Anti-Defamation League as Israel began observing its annual day of remembrance for the 6 million Jews killed in the Holocaust. Last year’s report found that 2021 set a new high for antisemitic incidents, with the coronavirus pandemic fueling a worldwide rise in antisemitism. This year the researchers said that ‘2022 did not mark a universal reversal of the trend, and in some countries, most alarmingly the United States, it intensified.’ Other countries with large Jewish populations, such as France, Canada, Argentina and the United Kingdom, showed a decrease in antisemitic incidents from the previous year.”
Garowe Online: Ugandan Troops In Somalia Lauded For Contributions To Al Shabaab War
“The Uganda People's Defense Forces [UPDF] contingent which has been serving in African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS] has been lauded for ‘special’ contributions in the agitation for peace in Somalia and courage in fighting Al-Shabaab militants who control several parts of the country. Battle Group 35, whose mandate ended over the weekend, will pave way for another contingent that will join a 22,000-strong force as Somalia prepares for the second phase of operations against Al-Shabaab particularly in Galmadug and HirShabelle states where the militants are dominant. Maj. Gen. Peter Kimani Muteti, the Ag. ATMIS Force Commander, lauded the team for professionalism throughout their Tour of Duty, noting that UPDF has been instrumental in the liberation of various strategic towns across Somalia, including but not limited to Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. ‘The deployment of Battle Group 35 was quite a testing and challenging experience, but the courage and resilience they displayed represent the finest values of professionalism in soldiering. The ATMIS leadership genuinely appreciates the work ethic and culture of the troops, a trait earned as a result of UPDF's strong background in military training,’ he told the troops.”
United States
Tennessee Star: Bowling Green Pregnancy Center Vandalized by Abortion Extremist Group
“…Jane’s Revenge is referred to as a “militant pro-abortion rights group” by the Counter Extremism Project, which keeps databases on extremist and terrorist organizations throughout the world. The organization also claims that Jane’s Revenge is responsible for numerous arson and acts of vandalism across the nation.”
Syria
Daily Sabah: 12 YPG Terrorists Killed After N. Syria Attack On Turkish Troops
“Twelve terrorists of the PKK’s Syrian wing, the YPG, have been killed in northern Syria as Ankara retaliated after a recent attack on Turkish soldiers, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said late Monday. Speaking in the central Kayseri province during an iftar dinner with earthquake victims, Akar underlined that Ankara continued its strategy to eradicate terrorism at its roots. Four Turkish soldiers were injured in an attack carried out by the YPG/PKK terrorists in northern Syria on Sunday, the Defense Ministry said. The terrorists attacked Turkish bases with simultaneous mortar and multiple rocket launchers in the Operation Olive Branch and Operation Euphrates Shield zones.”
Turkey
Al-Monitor: Fresh Turkey Strikes In Syria Kill 10 Kurdish Militants: Ankara
“Turkey’s Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Monday that his country’s troops targeted several Kurdish positions in northern Syria, killing 10 militants in a major cross-border escalation. Akar said Turkey's armed forces were responding to shelling and rocket attacks by Syrian Kurdish groups that wounded four Turkish soldiers over the weekend. Turkish soldiers were taken to Turkey for treatment. ‘All known terrorist targets have been under fire. We have four wounded,’ he said. Britain-based war monitor The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said over the weekend that the two Turkish soldiers were critically wounded as result of shelling that was launched from northern Syrian regions that are controlled by the US-allied Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as well as groups loyal to the Syrian government.”
Afghanistan
Associated Press: Reclusive Taliban Leader Releases End-Of-Ramadan Message
“The reclusive top leader of the Taliban released a message Tuesday lauding the changes in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover and the measures they imposed after seizing the country following two decades of war. The statement from Hibatullah Akhundzada was made public ahead of the Eid al-Fitr holiday later this week that marks the end of the fasting Muslim month of Ramadan. Akhundzada, an Islamic scholar, rarely appears in public or leaves the Taliban heartland in Afghanistan’s southern Kandahar province. He surrounds himself with other religious scholars and allies who oppose education and work for women.”
Pakistan
Dawn: CTD Arrests Militant In Mardan After Exchange Of Fire
“Officials said that Irshad, who carried Rs5 million head money, was wanted to the police for his involvement in an attack on police deployed for security of the polio teams in 2021. Two police personnel had been martyred in the attack. The wanted militant was intercepted by the Counter-Terrorism Department team of Mardan while he was travelling on Jabbar-Katlang Road along with his family, senior police officials said. The officials said that as soon as Irshad was signalled by the police to stop his vehicle, he started firing at the police party. They added that the police team retaliated to the fire, in which Irshad sustained injuries.”
Middle East
AFP News: Gunman Wounds Two Near Jewish Site In East Jerusalem: Police
“A suspected Palestinian gunman wounded two men near a Jewish site in annexed east Jerusalem on Tuesday, Israeli authorities said, with security forces conducting a manhunt for the perpetrator. The shooting came days before the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, which has seen deadly attacks and clashes in Israel, annexed east Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank. Israeli police announced a suspected ‘shooting terror attack’ in the Sheikh Jarrah sector of east Jerusalem targeting two motorists, who according to medics were rushed to hospital. ‘Police and Border Police officers are at the scene conducting searches for the suspect who fled the scene,’ the police said in a statement.”
i24 News: Stabbing Attack In West Bank Leaves One Wounded, Terrorist 'Neutralized'
“One person was moderately wounded in a stabbing attack on Monday evening at the Gush Etzion Junction in the West Bank. The female terrorist was neutralized by Israeli forces, and the victim, a man in his 60s, was taken to Hadassah Ein Karem Hospital in Jerusalem. His condition was considered stable, according to doctors. The West Bank settlement of Karmei Shomron said he was one of its residents, a father who was waiting for the bus home when he was stabbed.”
The Jerusalem Post: Iran IRGC, Hezbollah Recruitment In West Bank Foiled, Two Arrested
“Indictments were filed against two Palestinian West Bank residents after they had been recruited to conduct operations on behalf of Hezbollah and the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) announced on Monday. Yusuf Mansour and Maarsil Mansour allegedly agreed to smuggle and traffic military equipment in Israel for operatives who had identified themselves as representatives of Hezbollah. Yusuf is accused of gathering intelligence with assistance from Maarsil on IDF operations in the West Bank on behalf of the Lebanon-based terrorist organization. The two had also worked to recruit additional operatives, and received funding to aid them in these missions.”
Nigeria
Sahara Reporters: Terrorists Kill Community Leader, Abduct Several Residents In Kaduna State
“Some terrorists, locally dubbed as bandits, have reportedly killed a community leader and abducted several residents during a fresh attack in Unguwan Liman community in Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State. This was confirmed by a resident, Malam Uban Marayu, in the community who mentioned that the gunmen invaded the community on Sunday night, took away a yet-to-be-identified number of residents and properties. It was gathered that the terrorists also threatened to attack the community again, PUNCH reports. He said, ‘They came yesterday (Sunday) around 10.00 pm. They struck at the periphery of Birnin-Gwari where they killed Maiunguwa at Unguwan Liman, 3 kilometers from Birnin-Gwari town.’”
Vatican News: Over 50,000 Christians Killed In Nigeria By Islamist Extremists
“Over 50,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria since the outbreak of the Boko Haram Islamist insurgency in 2009, a newly-released report published by a Nigerian non-governmental organization has revealed. The report, titled ‘Martyred Christians in Nigeria’, has been published by the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), a Nigerian-based research and investigative rights group, which has been monitoring and investigating religious persecution and other forms of religious violence by State and non-State actors across Nigeria since 2010. According to its findings, over the past 14 years at least 52,250 Nigerian Christians have been brutally murdered at the hands of Islamist militants, more than 30,000 of whom during the eight-year presidency of former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, often criticized during his tenure for not doing enough to combat growing insecurity in the country. In the same period 18,000 Christian churches and 2,200 Christian schools were set ablaze. Approximately 34,000 moderate Muslims also died in Islamist attacks.”
Europe
Swiss Info: Convicted Swiss IS Supporter Charged With Further Offences
“The Office for the Attorney General (OAG) announced further charges on Monday against the suspect who had been released from custody in 2020 for original offences. The man had been convicted for breaching anti-terror laws after travelling to Syria to serve with IS. ‘The suspect exploited the prestige he had gained as a returnee from IS territory in Syria,’ the OAG stated. Since being released from prison under supervision, the man is alleged to have spread IS propaganda, including videos depicting violence, in an effort to find new recruits.”
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