Eye on Extremism
May 3, 2023
Reuters: US, Turkey Cooperate On Terrorism-Related Sanctions -Treasury
“The United States worked together to impose terrorism-related sanctions on two individuals linked to funding two Syria-based groups already sanctioned by the United States and United Nations, the Treasury Department said on Tuesday. The actions target Omar Alsheak, a leader of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham group, and Kubilay Sari, who has received funds in Turkey from donors for Katibat al-Tawhid wal-Jihad, the department said in a statement. ‘As terrorist groups continue to seek access to the international financial system, collaboration with our partners increases our ability to more effectively disrupt these facilitation networks,’ said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. The new designations follow joint U.S.-Turkish actions on Jan. 5 that target a key financial network of Islamic State, Treasury said.”
AFP News: Islamic Jihad Announces Truce After Gaza Rocket Fire
“Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad announced a truce around Gaza Wednesday, after militants traded fire with Israel following the death in Israeli custody of a hunger striker from its ranks. Mediators from Qatar, Egypt and the United Nations intervened to broker a return to calm from 4 am (0100 GMT), sources in Islamic Jihad and fellow militant group Hamas told AFP. Israel did not immediately confirm the agreement. The Israeli army said the last warning sirens sounded near the Gaza border at around 5:30 am (0230 GMT).”
Syria
The National: Two ISIS Smuggling Operatives Captured In Syria
“The Syrian Democratic Forces have captured two ISIS smuggling operatives in the country's north-eastern Hasakah province, US partner forces announced on Tuesday. The US Combined Special Operations Joint Task Force said the SDF led an April 30 operation that successfully captured Said Husayn Al Hamawai and Ali Muhamed Gahanam, ‘ISIS operatives known for leading smuggling co-ordination efforts’ within Al Hol displacement camp. ‘SDF co-ordinated the deliberate targeting of these ISIS members to further disrupt ISIS capabilities, degrade their support networks, and improve security and stability within Al Hol,’ the task force said. Al Hol houses thousands of mostly Arab refugees who arrived there after the territorial defeat of ISIS in 2019. Most of the camp's 56,000 residents are women and children from Syria and Iraq.”
Pakistan
Dawn: Three Terrorists Killed In Dera, Tank Operations: ISPR
“Three suspected terrorists were killed and two others were injured in two intelligence-based operations (IOBs) conducted by the security forces on Monday, the army’s media wing said. The Inter-Services Public Relations said that the operations were conducted in Dera Ismail Khan and Tank districts on the reported presence of terrorists there. In one of the operations conducted in Chodwan area of Daraban tehsil, two terrorists, belonging to the Asthana group of the proscribed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, were killed. They were identified as Rizwan Khan and Ismail. The security personnel also recovered weapons and their organisational cards from their possession.”
Middle East
The Times Of Israel: Foreign National Moderately Hurt As Gazan Terrorists Launch Rocket Barrage On South
“A foreign national was moderately hurt after Palestinian terrorists in Gaza launched a volley of rockets at southern Israel on Tuesday afternoon, the military and medics said. The attack came after the Israeli military carried out tank strikes toward the Strip following four rockets fired at Israel from there earlier, which were a reaction to the death of a hunger-striking member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group in Israeli custody. The Israel Defense Forces said 22 rockets were launched from Gaza at southern Israel in the attack on Tuesday afternoon. Several hours later, another six mortars and five rockets were fired from the Strip. In all, 37 rockets were launched at southern Israel on Tuesday.”
Arab News: Islamic Counter-Terrorism Chief Meets Iraqi Military Intelligence Director In Riyadh
“Secretary-General of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition Maj. Gen. Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Moghedi on Tuesday received the Director of Iraqi Military Intelligence Maj. Gen. Zaid Hoshi Khalaf Wadi and his accompanying delegation in Riyadh. During their meeting, they discussed issues of concern to Iraq and the coalition, and the latter’s role in coordinating and stepping up member nations’ efforts to combat terrorism, including in the fields of ideology, communications, counter-terrorist financing, and military. Wadi and his delegation toured the coalition’s headquarters and were briefed on the latest developments in relation to the activities of global terror groups, and the Iraqi official praised the coalition’s working in fighting terrorism. Al-Moghedi said that the coalition was an integrated system that aimed to strengthen cooperation among member states based on legitimacy, engagement, coordination, and autonomy, in line with international rules and regulations.”
Kurdistan24: SDF Captures ISIS Cell Near Camp Hosting ISIS Families
“On May 1, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), with support of the US-led anti-ISIS coalition, executed a security operation targeting a member of an ISIS cell in the town of Al-Hol, located adjacent to the Al-Hol camp that hosts thousands of ISIS families. ‘With air surveillance provided by international coalition forces, we successfully apprehended the terrorist who was responsible for supplying weapons to active terrorist cells in the Al-Hol camp, enabling them to carry out killings and assassinations,’ the SDF said in a press release. Moreover, the SDF accused the terrorist of smuggling other cell members from the camp to different locations. ‘During the operation, our special units also apprehended another suspect l, who had been working with the detained cell member. Technical equipment was found in the house, where the suspects were staying, and the equipment was subsequently confiscated,’ the SDF confirmed.”
Somalia
Voice Of America News: Somali Army Kills 67 Al-Shabab Militants, Seizes Explosives
“Somalia’s army said it has killed 67 al-Shabab militants and seized large amounts of explosives in an operation in the north-central Mudug region. Brigadier General Mohamed Tahlil Bihi told reporters Tuesday the military was acting on intelligence about movements of the al-Shabab group. Bihi said the operation in the Harardhere district of central Mudug region took place at around 1 a.m. when 120 jerrycans containing improvised explosive devices were offloaded from a boat and carried in a vehicle that was guided by 69 militants. Bihi said Somalia’s National Army fired rocket-propelled grenades at the vehicle and destroyed it. He said only two militants were captured alive. VOA could not independently verify the army’s casualty figures.”
Africa
AFP News: IS-linked Rebels Kill 6 In DR Congo's Troubled East: Locals
“Rebels linked to the Islamic State group attacked a village in DR Congo's volatile east killing at least six people, local authorities said Tuesday. Hundreds of people have been killed in rebel and militia attacks in the gold-rich Ituri province, where the IS-linked Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) also operate. ‘The ADF rebels entered Makumo village on Monday night’ in the Mambasa area, Gilbert Sivamwenda, a local community leader, told AFP. ‘This morning we found six bodies,’ he said, underlining that the toll could be higher as they did not go far out into the bush to look for bodies as the area was not secure.”
Europe
Fox News: Albanian Man Charged With Supporting Terror Attacks On Social Media
“Albanian law enforcement authorities on Tuesday charged an Albanian man with supporting terror attacks in Western Europe on social media. A statement from the special prosecutor’s office against corruption and organized crime accused Bledar Zeneli of promoting and urging terror attacks, falsifying documents and weapon possession. If convicted, he faces up to 17 years in prison. Using a false profile on Facebook Zeneli and other people, who have yet to be identified, supported terror attacks in Nice, France, and Vienna in October and November 2020 ‘and other terror attacks and radical actions from extremist persons,’ according to prosecutors.”
Australia
Voice Of America News: Australia Confronts Threat Of Far-Right Extremism
“The growing threat of far-right extremism in Australia has prompted opposition lawmakers to propose a new law to federally criminalize the public display of Nazi symbols. Experts say Australia’s response to white nationalism is similar to that in other countries. A parliamentary inquiry in Australia’s federal parliament Tuesday heard the Nazi salute and swastika were universally recognized symbols of mass murder and hate that have been weaponized by far-right extremists. The Australian Senate’s Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee is considering a proposed new law introduced by the shadow attorney general, Michaelia Cash, a member of Australia’s conservative opposition. Her bill was introduced in parliament just days after a group of men from the Nationalist Socialist Network — a fringe Australian organization — repeatedly performed the Sieg Heil salute on the steps of Victoria’s state parliament in March.”
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