Eye on Extremism
April 25, 2023
CNN: Violent Extremists Are Increasingly Sharing Tactics For Attacking Power Stations, DHS Warns
“Domestic violent extremists have in the last year increasingly shared tactics with each other on using guns to attack electric power stations in a move that likely escalates the threat to US critical infrastructure, according to a Department of Homeland Security bulletin obtained by CNN. Following multiple high-profile attacks on US power substations last year, extremists have stepped up sharing of ‘online messaging and operational guidance promoting attacks against this sector,’ says the DHS bulletin, which was distributed to US critical infrastructure operators on Monday. The information and tactics shared by extremists online include ‘detailed diagrams, simplified tips for enhancing operational security, and procedures for disabling key components of substations and transformers,’ DHS warned. The last year saw a flurry of physical attacks and vandalism on US electric infrastructure.”
The National: Israel 'Shells Hezbollah Site In Syria'
“Israel shelled a site in Syria belonging to Hezbollah early on Monday morning, according to reports in state-affiliated Syrian media. No injuries have been reported. The barrage was claimed to have taken place just across Israel's border, with Israeli forces also reportedly dropping Arabic-language pamphlets in the same area warning Syrian troops against working with Hezbollah. Images of the purported documents on social media read: ‘We are closely watching and aware of the ongoing intelligence co-operation with Hezbollah within the Syrian army’s positions in the region, including near the Israeli border … co-operation with Hezbollah leads to harm!’ They also show images that appear to depict a Syrian military officer next to a Hezbollah commander, according to Israeli media.”
United States
Tennessee Star: Ohio Pro-Life Group Responds to Rep. Sykes’ Legislation Penalizing Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers
“…The Counter Extremism Project, which keeps databases on extremist and terrorist organizations throughout the world, refers to Jane’s Revenge as a “militant pro-abortion rights group.” The organization also claims that Jane’s Revenge is responsible for numerous arson and acts of vandalism across the nation.”
Syria
Kurdistan24: SDF Arrest Four ISIS Operatives In Raqqa: Coalition
“The U.S. Combined Special Operations Joint Task Force - Levant (SOJTF LEVANT) on Monday said the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) arrested four ISIS operatives in Raqqa on April 14 and 15. ‘SDF, advised, assisted, and enabled by Coalition Forces, planned and achieved the successful capture of Hasan Husain Muhammed Al Ali, Hasan Harald Ali Hajju, Omar Ibrahim Omar Al Sulaiman, and Muhamad Al Ali, who are assessed ISIS operatives while conducting searches for weapons, explosives, and other illicit items, with the focus on disrupting and dismantling ISIS networks,’ the SOJTF LEVANT said in a press release. ‘Coalition Forces continue to see successful results with SDF-led operations in ar-Raqqah province,’ said U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Claude Tudor, Combined Special Operations Joint Task Force - Levant Commander. ‘We continue to advise, assist, and enable our SDF partners by reviewing key infrastructure requirements that will play a critical role iin the enduring defeat of ISIS.’”
Turkey
Reuters: Turkey Arrests 110 Over Alleged Kurdish Militant Ties Ahead Of Election
“Turkish police on Tuesday detained 110 people over alleged militant ties, security sources said, with a pro-Kurdish lawmaker saying politicians, lawyers and journalists were among those held in raids that he linked to elections on May 14. The operation was focused on Diyarbakir, the largest city in mainly Kurdish southeast Turkey, and targeted people across 21 provinces accused of links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group. The operation came less than three weeks before presidential and parliamentary votes that represent the biggest electoral challenge President Tayyip Erdogan has faced since his AK Party first came to power in 2002. ‘On the eve of the election, out of fear of losing power, they have resorted to detention operations again,’ Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) lawmaker Tayip Temel said on Twitter.”
Afghanistan
The Print: Taliban Rejects Pentagon Report About Presence Of ISIS In Afghanistan
“Taliban has denied the media report citing ‘classified Pentagon assessment’ stating that Afghanistan has become a significant coordinate site for the Daesh/ISIS group that plans attacks in Europe and Asia and carries out ‘aspirational plotting’ against the US, TOLO News reported. The head of the Taliban-led Qatar-based Political Office Suhail Shaheen refuted the report. He said that Daesh has been suppressed in Afghanistan, TOLO News reported. The statement of Suhail Shaheen comes after The Washington Post in its report cited a ‘classified Pentagon assessment’ that demonstrates the threat as a ‘growing security concern.’ Suhail Shaheen said that The Washington Post report is not as per the ground realities in Afghanistan.”
Pakistan
Reuters: Explosions At Pakistani Counter-Terrorism Ammunition Store Kill At Least 13
“Two explosions in a counter-terrorism ammunition depot in northwest Pakistan killed at least 13 people and wounded over 50 on Monday, police said. Provincial police chief Akhtar Hayat said the explosions rocked the counter-terrorism office in northwestern Swat valley, which was previously long controlled by Islamist militants before they were flushed out in a military operation in 2009. His spokesman said in a statement issued later that ammunition caught fire, ‘most probably due to an electric short-circuit. No evidence of an attack from outside has been established so far.’
Middle East
Outlook India: Israel: 5 Injured In Car Ramming Attack Near Jerusalem Market
“…Think tank Counter Extremism Project (CEP) says the 2016 Nice attack launched a wave of vehicular terrorist attacks around the world. It also says that Hamas is among the terrorist groups engaging in vehicular terrorist attacks. The CEP says, ‘Terrorist groups like al-Qaeda, ISIS, and Hamas have long called for—and claimed responsibility for—vehicular terrorist attacks...Following the wave of vehicular terrorist attacks in 2016 and 2017, ISIS has continued to issue calls to violence and warnings of additional car-ramming attacks.’ The CEP notes that Israel has particularly faced the brunt of car attacks. The CEP says, ‘A slew of car-ramming attacks have also been carried out by Palestinian assailants in Israel and the West Bank. In November of 2014, Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist groups—including the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)—praised a wave of vehicular attacks and called for more. One such image posted online read, 'Run [them] over, son of Hebron...and son of Jerusalem. Take your car...and run over the Zionists'."
AFP News: Decrease In IS Attacks In Iraq, Syria: Coalition
“The international coalition fighting the Islamic State (IS) group in Iraq and Syria said Monday there has been a ‘reduction in attacks’ by jihadists in both countries this year. The IS extremists in 2014 launched their self-proclaimed ‘caliphate’ across swathes of both countries in a campaign marked by its brutality including mass killings, torture, rape and slavery. US-backed counter-offensives ended their territorial hold in Iraq in 2017 and in Syria in 2019, but IS cells continue to target security forces and civilians in both countries. ‘Since the beginning of this year in Iraq... through the first week of April, we have seen a record of a 68-percent reduction in attacks when compared to the same period last year,’ said US Major General Matthew McFarlane, commander of the anti-jihadist coalition.”
i24 News: West Bank: Terrorist Shoots At Joggers Commemorating Israel's Memorial Day
“One person was wounded when a group of Israeli joggers were fired upon in the West Bank, Israeli emergency services reported Tuesday morning. The shooting was confirmed to be a terrorism-motivated attack. According to initial reports a 28-year-old man taking part in a Memorial Day run was lightly wounded in the arm when shots were fired from a passing vehicle, paramedics said. Medics provided assistance at the scene. Hadassah Medical Center reported that the victim's condition was moderate, and that he was fully conscious.
Africa
Associated Press: Kenyan Cult Deaths At 73, President Likens Them To Terrorism
“Kenyan President William Ruto on Monday compared the dozens of starvation deaths among the followers of a pastor in the south of the country with the results of terrorist acts, as the new death toll rose to 73. He maintained that the pastor, Paul Makenzi, who is in police custody, should be in prison. ‘What we are seeing ... is akin to terrorism,’ Ruto said. ‘Mr. Makenzi ... pretends and postures as a pastor when in fact he is a terrible criminal.’ Makenzi was arrested on suspicion of telling his followers to fast to death in order to meet Jesus. A group of emaciated people were rescued alive, but some of them later died. Authorities then turned their attention to dozens of shallow graves marked with crosses on Makenzi’s 800-acre ranch.”
UPI: EU Sanctions ISIS Group In Mozambique
“The European Union has sanctioned an Islamic State-affiliated terrorist group in Mozambique and two of its leaders as the lawmakers seek to stem years of violence that has displaced more than a million people in the northern Cabo Delgado province. Lawmakers in the 27-member bloc's council, which defines the union's political direction, announced the punitive measures against Abu Yasir Hassan and Bonomade Machude Omar as well as their ISIS-Mozambique terrorist organization on Monday. All three have been previously designated by the United States. ‘Their activities contribute to the expansion of the terrorist threat in Mozambique and pose a serious threat to the EU and to regional and international stability,’ the EU said in a statement.”
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