Eye on Extremism
May 8, 2023
The Washington Post: Va. Man Charged With Sending Money To ISIS Women Overseas
“A Fairfax County man who professed his support for violent jihad in online posts secretly wired thousands of dollars to Islamic State women overseas, hoping to smuggle them out of a Syrian refugee camp, the FBI alleged in a filing unsealed Friday. Mohammed Azharuddin Chhipa, 33, was charged with providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Chhipa was being held in jail after making an initial appearance in Alexandria federal court Friday, records show.”
AFP News: Suspected Jihadists Kill Seven, Kidnap 22 In Nigeria
“Seven people have been killed and 22 others kidnapped in two separate attacks in northeast Nigeria's Borno State where jihadist groups operate, security sources and residents said Saturday. Insecurity is a major concern in Africa's most populous nation as a new president is set to be sworn in this month following an election disputed by the opposition. On Thursday, three farmers were killed and 11 others abducted by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) jihadists near Bulayobe village close to the town of Banki, the sources said. The farmers had ventured 10 kilometres (six miles) outside Banki to clear fields in preparation for the planting season, with the annual rains expected in days.”
United States
Daily News: Allen, Texas, Shooter May Have Been Right-wing Extremist: Police
“Authorities said Sunday they’re examining possible right-wing extremist motives for the gunman who slaughtered eight people and wounded seven others at a Texas shopping mall. Investigators are scrutinizing social media accounts that they believe are shooter Mauricio Garcia’s, along with posts expressing interest in white supremacist and neo-Nazi views. On Saturday at about 2 p.m., Garcia, 33, moved people down with an AR-15 style assault rifle at a Dallas-area mall. He was shot dead by a police officer who happened to be nearby. A patch Garcia wore bore the abbreviation ‘RWDS,’ or ‘Right Wing Death Squad,’ a meme sometimes used by right-wing extremists and white supremacy groups. The Southern Poverty Law Center said some extremist group members have worn patches sporting the same acronym.”
Syria
Israel National News: Reports: Jordanian Fighter Jets Attack Hezbollah Site In Syria
“Jordanian media sources are reporting that fighter jets, apparently Jordanian, attacked a purification plant near the town of Kharab al-Shaham, in the suburbs of Daraa in southern Syria, early this morning. According to Kan News, local activists reported on social media networks that the target of the attack was a purification plant containing a drug manufacturing plant, which is overseen by Hezbollah militias.”
The Times Of Israel: Hezbollah Recruiter In South Syria Said To Resume Activities After Israel Nabs Spy
“A Hezbollah operative in Syria tasked with enlisting locals to gather intelligence on Israel appears to have resumed his activities after lying low in response to the recent arrest of one of the spies, Israeli television reported Sunday. Ghaith Abdullah, 26, was arrested in January by troops after crossing into Israeli territory from Syria for unspecified reasons and was later charged with spying on the Lebanese terror group’s behalf. The Israel Defense Forces has said Abdullah was part of the so-called ‘Golan File,’ a Hezbollah plot that mostly involves collecting intelligence and recruiting operatives, but also has weaponry in its possession, namely explosives, light arms, machine guns, and antitank missiles. According to the Kan public broadcaster, Abdullah was recruited by a Hezbollah member known by the nom de guerre Abu Ali, who is in charge of enlisting spies for Hezbollah in southern Syria.”
Iran
Reuters: Iran Hangs Swedish-Iranian Convicted Over Attack That Killed 25 People
“Iran on Saturday executed a Swedish-Iranian dissident convicted of leading an Arab separatist group accused of attacks including one on a military parade in 2018 that killed 25 people, the Iranian judiciary said. The Swedish foreign ministry said it had summoned Iran's deputy ambassador to protest the execution of Habib Farajollah Chaab, which it confirmed took place earlier in the day. Chaab had been sentenced to death for being ‘corrupt on earth’, a capital offence under Iran's strict Islamic laws. Iran on Saturday executed a Swedish-Iranian dissident convicted of leading an Arab separatist group accused of attacks including one on a military parade in 2018 that killed 25 people, the Iranian judiciary said. The Swedish foreign ministry said it had summoned Iran's deputy ambassador to protest the execution of Habib Farajollah Chaab, which it confirmed took place earlier in the day. Chaab had been sentenced to death for being ‘corrupt on earth’, a capital offence under Iran's strict Islamic laws.”
Iraq
Iraqi News: Terrorist Group Killed In Air Strike In Diyala
“The Iraqi Air Force eliminated a terrorist group on Sunday in the northeastern Iraqi governorate of Diyala, the Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported. The Joint Operations Command mentioned in a statement that the air strike was carried out by F-16 fighter jets in Diyala governorate, INA added. In addition to the elimination of the terrorist group, the strike also destroyed their guesthouse. The Joint Operations Command confirmed that security forces will continue to fight the remnants of ISIS groups. The Iraqi forces carry out continuous operations against the terrorist group of ISIS, most of which are concentrated in the outskirts of cities and remote areas where terrorists are hiding.”
Daily Sabah: Turkish Forces Eliminate PKK/KCK Terrorist In N. Iraq
“A wanted PKK/KCK terrorist was eliminated in an operation by Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) in northern Iraq, security sources announced Friday. Necirvan Seven, code-named ‘Firaz Zilan,’ was involved in several attacks on Turkish security forces and took part in street protests, according to sources who requested anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media. Seven joined the rural establishment of the terrorist group in 2015 and was active in the so-called Patriotic Revolutionary Youth Movement (YDG-H), a PKK offshoot before February 2015, the sources said. Also, Seven participated in street riots in Türkiye to protest the conflicts between the PKK/YPG and Daesh terrorist groups in the northern Syrian region of Ain al-Arab, also known as Kobani.”
Kurdistan24: Iraqi Fighter Jet Kills Three Suspected ISIS Members In Kirkuk
“An Iraqi airstrike killed at least three suspected ISIS militants in southern Kirkuk on Friday, according to a statement from the Joint Operations Command. The strike was conducted against a hideout in Wadi Al-Shai (Valley of Tea), in the southern remote area of the oil-rich province. At least three bodies were found on the scene after the strike, the press release noted. In addition to destroying the hideout, weapons and cash were confiscated, it added.”
Middle East
Jewish News Syndicate: Two Avnei Hefetz Terrorists Killed, Two Additional Suspects Arrested
“Israeli forces on Saturday killed two terrorists who were involved in a shooting near the town of Avnei Hefetz in Samaria on May 2. The terrorists, identified as Hamza Hariush and Samer Shafi, were killed during an exchange of fire during which an Israeli citizen was injured and vehicles were damaged, according to the Israeli military. Searches of the building where the suspects were hiding uncovered ammunition and two M-16 rifles, military vests and gun magazines. Two additional terror suspects were arrested in connection with the May 2 attack, both residents of Tulkarm, according to the military. One of the suspects was wounded while attempting to escape.”
Nigeria
Sahara Reporters: Over 1,100 Nigerian Civilians, 79 Soldiers, Security Agents Killed, 658 Abducted In Q1 2023 –Report
“A security report done by Nigeria Mourn, a violent incident tracking organisation in Nigeria, has revealed that no fewer than 1,151 civilians and 79 security operatives were killed in the first quarter (Q1) of 2023. It also said over 658 abductions were recorded across the country within the period under review. The report stated that attacks and activities of Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) constituted 22.11% which amounted to at least 272 deaths while political-related killings, mostly due to the recent 2023 general elections, claimed at least 7.72% which stood at no fewer than 95 deaths. According to the report, ‘In what has been an unfortunate trend in our data collated in the first quarter of 2023, banditry remains the largest cause of violent deaths across the country with 29.27% (360 deaths) while an existing threat is the rise in extra-judicial killings and herdsmen related killings which constitute about 10.08% and 13.65% respectively with (at least 124 and 168 deaths each).’”
Somalia
Garowe Online: Senior Al-Shabaab Leaders Captured In Somalia
“Three senior Al-Shabaab members are the latest victims of the state, the government of Somalia has announced, following the latest crackdown within the fragile Galgaduud area in central Somalia where the militants have been in control for the last couple of years according to security forces. The government announced that the senior Al-Shabaab militants were arrested in the Sudan area where they are believed to have planned a series of attacks against the government forces, senior government officials, and members of security forces who have been working hard to secure the country.
Sunday's operation targeted Hul Adur and Halaney areas within Eldheer District of
Galgaduud region, the government confirmed in a statement. The operation comes before the second phase of a crackdown against the militants who control large
swathes of rural central and southern Somalia.”
Africa
Morocco World News: Morocco Launches Anti-extremism Program With The EU
“Morocco and the European Union are collaborating to launch an initiative to combat violent extremism and terrorism through prevention and education. The initiative was launched on Thursday, on the sidelines of the Global Counterterrorism Forum in Cairo, in which Morocco participated. The program also comes in cooperation with Hedayah, an organization dedicated to countering extremist thoughts and violent terrorism. Speaking to the forum via a video message, Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita said education was a ‘strong tool’ to prevent and fight extremism, including the violence it leads to.”
France
i24 News: French Jihadists Who Joined ISIS In Syria Asks To Be Repatriated
“Bryan Dancona, one of the first Frenchmen to join the ranks of the Islamic State group in Syria, wants to return to his native country, according to information relayed by the Center for Analysis of Terrorism (CAT). Having left for Syria on December 27, 2013, the young man, now 26, presented himself with his daughter in early May at the French consulate in Istanbul, asking to be repatriated to France. Dancona, an Islamic convert from Nice, was 16 years old when he went to Syria, via Turkey, with only an identity document in hand. According to French intelligence, which never lost track of him over the past decade, Dancona was very active once he arrived in Syria, where he attempted to recruit other young Frenchmen. Married for a time to the mother of his daughter, a compatriot, he settled with her in a camp near Idlib until 2021 or 2022.”
Europe
Associated Press: Belgium Arrests Iraqi Suspected Of Terror Attack Involvement
“Belgian authorities said Friday they have arrested an Iraqi on charges of murder, war crimes and crimes against humanity over bombings that took place in Baghdad more than a decade ago. The federal prosecutor’s office identified the suspect as a person in their 40s who has been living in Belgium since 2015. It said the suspect was believed to belong to a cell of the al-Qaida terrorist network that was ‘partly responsible for several bombings in the Green Zone of Baghdad in 2009 and 2010, which killed at least 376 people and injured more than 2,300.’ The suspect was charged with ‘several murders with terrorist intent, participation in the activities of a terrorist group, war crimes and crimes against humanity.’”
India
Reuters: Five Indian Soldiers Killed In Operation Against Kashmir Militants
“Five Indian Army soldiers were killed and one wounded during an operation against militants in Kashmir on Friday, the army said. Indian defence forces have launched several operations in the Rajouri sector of the Himalayan region since unidentified attackers opened fire on an Indian Army vehicle last month. A military search team came across a group of militants in an area which is ‘thickly vegetated with rocky and steep cliffs’ on Friday morning, the army said in a statement. ‘The terrorists triggered an explosive device in retaliation,’ the army said. Two soldiers died in the attack and another three succumbed to their injuries later in the day, it added.”
Nation: Punjab CTD Arrests Terrorists Linked To TTP, Al-Qaeda
“The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab claimed to have arrested 11 suspected terrorists associated with proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and outlawed Al-Qaeda in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in different cities of Punjab. According to the authorities, the suspected terrorists belonged to the outlawed Al-Qaeda, Islamic State and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. The spokesperson said that arms, a suicide jacket and ammunition were seized from their possession. The authorities claimed the terrorist network had planned terror attacks in sensitive cities.”
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