Eye on Extremism
May 4, 2023
Reuters: US Strike Targets Senior Al-Qaeda Leader In NW Syria -Statement
“The United States carried out a strike on northwest Syria on Wednesday targeting an unnamed al-Qaeda leader, the Central Command said in a written statement. ‘At 11:42 a.m. local time on May 3rd, U.S. Central Command forces conducted a unilateral strike in Northwest Syria targeting a senior Al Qaeda leader,’ it said, without giving a name or specifying whether the leader had been killed. The strike comes just days after Turkey announced that its forces had killed the Islamic State group's head in the same zone in northwest Syria, where Turkish-backed rebels hold sway. Residents of the area, which mostly consists of hilly plains dotted with shrubbery and boulders, told Reuters that they heard three loud blasts that sounded like air strikes. The White Helmets, a rescue force in opposition-held parts of Syria, said an unidentified drone had carried out a strike in the northwestern province of Idlib and killed a sheep herder.”
Daily Sabah: Türkiye Eliminates Top PKK/KCK Terrorist In Northern Iraq
“The National Intelligence Organization (MIT) on Thursday announced that it eliminated a ‘high-ranking’ member of the PKK/KCK terrorist group in a pinpoint operation in the northern Iraqi region of Gara. Ahmet Gümüş, codenamed ‘Cudi Engizek,’ had been the so-called training officer of the KCK/PKK terrorists since 2022, the agency said, noting that he had been under surveillance since 2022 before being ‘neutralized.’ He joined the organization in 1999 and had a hand in planning and implementing numerous bomb attacks and assassinations carried out in Türkiye, as well as Iraq and Syria until 2007. By 2008, Gümüş moved to lead the group’s training ‘academies’ in Syria where he raised terrorists. After 2016, he began serving as a bodyguard to Murat Karayılan, the PKK’s de-facto leader, until last year.”
Turkey
WTOP News: The Hunt: Turkey Says It’s Killed The Leader Of ISIS. But Where’s The Evidence?
“In this episode of “The Hunt with WTOP national security correspondent J.J. Green,” Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler, senior director of the Counter Extremism Project, said it’s not enough to say he’s dead. You need to present evidence.”
Middle East
The Sun: Hamas Terror Suspects ‘Who Shot Brit Mum And Sisters Dead In Their Car In West Bank’ Are Blown Up By Drone
“HAMAS terrorists suspected of killing a British mum and her daughters in a hail of bullets have been blown up by a drone in Palestine. Israel's security services claimed to have killed the three Palestinian militants in a raid during the early hours of this morning in the city of Nablus. Sisters Maia, 20, and Rina Dee, 15, were killed when their family car was riddled with 22 Kalashnikov bullets in an ambush in Israel's West Bank on April 7. Their mum Lucy Dee, 48, died a few days later from her injuries in hospital on April 11. The three victims held dual Israeli-British citizenship and the attack took place near Hamra, 30 miles north of Jerusalem in the Jordan Valley.”
The Jerusalem Post: Terrorist Killed In Huwara Stabbing Attack, Israeli Reported Injured
“A stabbing attack was carried out in the West Bank town of Huwara on Thursday morning, according to an IDF statement. The terrorist was killed at the scene. The IDF has completed a series of security measures that were implemented to reduce terror and tensions in the Palestinian village of Huwara in the West Bank, they announced on Tuesday. In recent months, three Palestinian terror attacks were carried out against Jewish settlers driving through Huwara and one Jewish settler riot in which they set parts of the village ablaze, killing one Palestinian and injuring dozens.”
Israel Hayom: Exclusive: Security Officials Eye Extensive Anti-Terrorism Operation In Samaria
“The continued terror attacks in Samaria have prompted the security echelon to consider changing the military policy in the region, including a potential large-scale military operation, Israel Hayom has learned. Officials have not yet come to a final decision on the matter. The Shin Bet security agency is said to believe there is a need for a policy change, while Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi are yet to come to a decision. Supporters of the move say increased incitement to commit terror attacks could lead to a heavier toll than a full-scale operation. Samaria, in particular, has seen an uptick in terror attacks as the Palestinian Authority is losing control of the region.”
Nigeria
Sahara Reporters: Two ISWAP Terrorists Dead, Others Injured In Sambisa Forest Crash
“At least two members of the Islamic State of the West Africa Province (ISWAP) reportedly died while others were injured in a lone accident that occurred in Sambisa Forest on Tuesday evening. It was gathered that the crash involved a Toyota Hilux conveying the ISWAP terrorists in Galmasku village. A counterinsurgency expert and security analyst in Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, who revealed the details of the accident, said that the crash was caused by speeding and a tyre that burst caused the vehicle to summersault. Zagazola said that the bodies of the dead terrorists and those injured in the accident were evacuated to Shettima Abor by the ISWAP fighters.”
Somalia
Garowe Online: Foreign Fighters Among Militants Killed In Somalia Operation
“At least 10 foreign fighters were killed in an operation targeting Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia, the country's National Security and Intelligence Agency [NISA] confirmed, in the latest crackdown which comes a few weeks before the commencement of the second phase of operations against the group. The spy agency said that the operation, which was aided by international partners, left at least 46 Al-Shabaab militants dead in Sharif Farm, about 8 kilometers north of Barire town within the troubled Lower Shabelle region. Barire town, 60 km south of Mogadishu is prone to frequent Al-Shabaab attacks. Among the dead were 10 foreign fighters but the spy agency did not reveal their atonalities at the time of press. Previously, foreign fighters have been killed in Al-Shabaab operations with the majority of them coming from neighboring Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and even Uganda, with others coming from Pakistan and Yemen.”
Garowe Online: US Deports Somali National Over Links To Al-Shabaab Recruitment Syndicate
“A Somali national living in the United States has been deported over links to the Al-Shabaab recruitment syndicate, reports indicate, in one of the country's policies of fighting violent extremism through judicial means as enshrined in the constitution and international laws. On Tuesday, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's [ICE] Enforcement and Removal Operations [ERO| Seattle announced on May 2 that they removed Omer Abdi Mohamed, a 38-year-old Somali citizen, from the United States. This is the first major deportation of a person with Al-Shabaab links. A decade ago, Mohamed was found guilty of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and sentenced to 12 years in prison and 20 years of supervision by the U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, making it the first major landmark case involving internal terror actors within the country.”
Africa
Anadolu Agency: Court In Uganda Confirms Terrorism Charges Against Former Guantanamo Bay Inmate
“The International Crimes Division of the High Court in Kampala, Uganda has confirmed terrorism financing charges against former Guantanamo Bay prisoner Jamal Kiyemba. Kiyemba, 44, also known as Tonny Kiyemba, was arrested last year and arraigned before the Chief Magistrates Court and charged with belonging to a terrorist organization contrary to section 11(1) (a) and (b) of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2002. He was later committed to the International Crimes Division (ICD) for trial. A pretrial at the ICD conducted by Justice Alice Komuhangi confirmed charges against Kiyemba of belonging to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a rebel outfit operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and soliciting financial support for the ADF. The court heard that between 2021 and January 2022, while in Uganda and the DRC, Kiyemba belonged or professed to belong to the ADF, a designated terrorist organization, by recruiting persons for it along with others still at large. The judge ruled that the prosecution has adduced incriminating evidence warranting the accused to stand trial.”
Europe
AFP News: Swedish Parliament Adopts Tougher Anti-terror Law
“Sweden's parliament on Wednesday passed new legislation to ban activities linked to extremist groups, as it beefs up its terror laws, a key demand from Turkey to approve Stockholm's NATO membership bid. With 268 votes in favour, the law -- which criminalises ‘participation in a terrorist organisation’ -- was adopted by Sweden's 349-seat parliament and will enter into force on June 1. When presenting the legislation in February, Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer said it was a ‘considerable widening of the scope compared to current legislation’. Actions such as handling equipment, organising camps or locations for meetings, cooking or being in charge of transport for designated terrorist organisations can be considered crimes under the new law, Strommer explained.”
Southeast Asia
India Today: 2 Terrorists Killed In Jammu And Kashmir's Baramulla, 2nd Encounter In 24 Hours
“Two terrorists were killed after an encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday. Police said incriminating materials, arms and ammunition, including an AK 47 rifle and one pistol were recovered. This is the second encounter in Jammu and Kashmir in the last 24 hours. According to police, two terrorists killed in the encounter are local and belong to the proscribed terror outfit LeT. They have been identified as Shakir Majid Najar and Hanan Ahmad Seh from the Shopian district.”
Australia
Australian Associated Press: Man Admits Terrorism Offences, Carrying Rifle In Syria
“A Queensland man carried an assault rifle in ‘extremely vicious’ battles in Syria after being motivated by online images, a court has been told. Foot soldier Agim Ajazi has admitted engaging in hostile activities in a foreign country, an offence carrying a maximum sentence of life behind bars, and advocating terrorism. The now 34-year-old was not a member of a terrorist organisation, but admitted taking part in efforts to overthrow the Syrian government, pleading guilty in the Brisbane Supreme Court to three offences, including two terrorism charges. Ajazi left Australia in July 2013, establishing a base in Turkey from which he crossed the border into Syria the following year, prosecutor Ben Power said in sentencing submissions on Thursday.”
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