A previous edition of Eye on Extremism was issued earlier today in error. We
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A previous edition of Eye on Extremism was issued earlier today in error. We
regret the inconvenience.



Eye on Extremism



May 17, 2023



Associated Press: Alleged Turkish Drone Strike Targets Yazidi Militant Group
In Iraq’s Sinjar
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“An airstrike targeted a militant group in northern Iraq’s Yazidi heartland of
Sinjar on Tuesday, according to local officials, who attributed the strike to
Turkey. Officials gave conflicting reports regarding the number of casualties.
The semi-autonomous Kurdish region’s counter-terrorism service said in a
statement that three fighters were killed in the attack, and one wounded. Ali
Hamed, a member of the militia-affiliated town council, however, denied that
there were any deaths, saying one civilian was lightly injured in the attack. A
drone strike around noon in the Sinjar district hit a house frequently used by
leaders of the Shingal Resistance Units, or YBS, Hamed said.”



CNN: NYC Bike Path Terrorist Set To Be Sentenced To Life In Prison After
Avoiding Death Penalty Verdict At Trial
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“A terrorist convicted of striking and killing eight people with a rented
truck on a New York City bike path in an attack for ISIS is scheduled to be
sentenced to serve life in prison Wednesday. Sayfullo Saipov effectively
learned his sentence in March, when the jury in the penalty phase of his trial
in Manhattan federal court told a judge it was unable to reach an undivided
decision favoring the death penalty on any of the nine capital counts against
him. The capital counts each carry a mandatory life imprisonment sentence by
law after the jury didn’t unanimously vote for the death penalty. Saipov’s case
was the first death penalty case under the Biden administration.”




The CEP CounterPoint: Expert Analysis

* CEP-KAS: Sahel Monitoring April 2023
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* ISIS Redux: The Central Syria Insurgency in April 2023
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* Accounts for White Supremacist Active Clubs Allowed to Remain on Instagram
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* CEP-KAS: Sahel Monitoring March 2023
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* Afghanistan Terrorism Report: March 2023
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United States



Fox News: Wisconsin Teacher Charged With Making Terrorist Threats After Seeing
Swastikas In Notebook
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“A Grafton, Wisconsin, middle school teacher allegedly made terroristic
threats to his students after he discovered students had drawn swastikas on a
notebook found in his class, according to reports. On May 12, police were
dispatched to John Long Middle School after a report of a teacher making
threats about guns and harming students, Fox 6 in Milwaukee reported. When
police arrived, they spoke with the school principal who said David Schroeder
reported finding a notebook with a swastika on it in the classroom. Then, two
days later, the teacher saw two students in possession of a drawing with
swastikas on it. A student claimed Schroeder confronted the class about the
drawing and said it was inappropriate before telling them, ‘I wish pain on all
of you and your families.’”



Syria



Daily Sabah: Turkish Intelligence Eliminates PKK ‘Accountant’ In Syria
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“Amember of the PKK terrorist group in charge of ‘financial affairs,’ Tuba
Karakoç, was ‘neutralized’ in Syria by the National Intelligence Organization
(MIT), security sources told Turkish media outlets Wednesday. The term is used
to describe terrorists killed or captured in counterterrorism operations by
Turkish security forces. Karakoç, also known by her codenames ‘Zin Kobani,’
‘Cudi Egid’ and ‘Sorxwin,’ joined the terrorist group in 2013, participating in
the terrorist group’s activities in Türkiye, Iraq and Syria. She was last
serving as an ‘accountant’ of the group in Ain al-Arab, also known as Kobani.”



Kurdistan24: SDF Arrests Four ISIS Suspects, Kills One In Raqqa
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“The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Tuesday said they arrested four ISIS
militants and killed one who refused to surrender in Raqqa, the former ISIS
capital. ‘Our SDF Anti-Terrorism Units (YAT), along with the Counter-Terrorism
Group (CTG) of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and the International Coalition
forces, conducted two security operations in Raqqa city, resulting in the
arrest of four ISIS terrorists and the elimination of another,’ the SDF said.
On May 13 in al-Karama, the SDF arrested a suspected ISIS cell that was
allegedly responsible for facilitating the movements of ISIS militants between
Hasakah and Raqqa, and the smuggling of ISIS families from the al-Hol camp to
the Turkish-occupied areas. ‘This operation resulted in eliminating one
terrorist who refused to answer the call for safe surrender and arresting
another,’ the SDF said.”



Iraq



AFP News: Iraq Lays To Rest 78 Killed By IS And Found In Mass Grave
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“Funerals were held Tuesday in Iraq for 78 people killed by the Islamic State
group in 2014 and uncovered in a mass grave, in one of the jihadist group's
worst atrocities. DNA testing was used to identify the remains of hundreds of
people slain by IS after their discovery in 2017 at the grave site on the
outskirts of Mosul, in the country's north. The Sunni Muslim extremists seized
a large chunk of Iraq's territory and proclaimed a ‘caliphate’ in 2014,
carrying out abductions, beheadings, ethnic cleansing, mass killings and rapes.
In June that year, IS members attacked Badush prison and freed Sunni inmates
before forcing around 600 mostly Shiite prisoners into a truck, driving them to
a ravine and shooting them dead. Seventy-eight of them were laid to rest on
Tuesday in Baghdad and in the Shiite holy city of Najaf, in central Iraq, AFP
journalists reported.”



Iraqi News: Large Security Operation Launched In Northern Baghdad
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“A large-scale security operation was launched on Tuesday north of the Iraqi
capital, Baghdad, to search for the wanted persons and the remnants of the ISIS
terrorist group, according to a statement issued by the Popular Mobilization
Forces (PMF). The statement explained that a force from the 12th Brigade of the
PMF, in coordination with the security forces, is launching a large-scale
security operation in areas west of Tarmiyah. The security operation took place
to search for the wanted persons and remnants of ISIS, and secure the northern
part of the capital, Baghdad, the Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported. Iraq
announced in late 2017 the liberation of all its territories from the grip of
ISIS, but the authorities are constantly launching security operations to
pursue remnants of ISIS groups that carry out attacks from time to time in the
country. Last month, the Global Coalition against Daesh (ISIS) reported a
decline in the attacks in Iraq and Syria during the first quarter of 2023 when
terrorists are still active despite their defeat.”



Pakistan



Dunya News: CTD Arrests Three Terrorists During IBO In Peshawar
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“The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) arrested three terrorists during an
intelligence based operation (IBO) in Peshawar on Tuesday, Dunya News reported.
According to CTD spokesperson, the Counter-Terrorism Department conducted an
operation at Al-Haram Town Link Road and arrested three terrorists while one of
their accomplice managed to escape. The spokesperson further informed that the
arrested terrorists have been identified as Ijaz, Wisal and Saadat. The CTD
personnel also recovered six hand grenads, pistol and mobile phone from
arrested terrorists.”



Pakistan Today: One Terrorist Killed, Another Held In Bannu Operation
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“One terrorist was killed and another held after exchange of fire during an
operation of security forces here on Tuesday. According to details, the
security forces on intelligence tip-off launched operation against militants in
Domail area of Bannu. The terrorists taking shelter in the area upon sight of
security forces started firing and tried to flee which led to an encounter.
After exchange of fire, one terrorist was killed while another was held by the
security personnel. The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Bannu Region said
that the killed and arrested terrorist were wanted to police over attacks on
security squad of DSP Iqbal Mohmand in which more than six police personnel
were martyred.”



Middle East



The National: Man Convicted Of Terrorism Charges By UAE Extradited From Jordan
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“A man convicted of terrorism offences by the UAE has been extradited to the
Emirates from Jordan. Khalaf Abdel Rahman Hamid Al Rumaithi was sentenced in
absentia to 15 years in prison in 2013 by the UAE's Federal Supreme Court.
Charges included establishing a secret organisation affiliated with the
terrorist group the Muslim Brotherhood, according to state news agency Wam. Al
Rumaithi was handed over to UAE authorities after an arrest warrant was issued
against him.”



Kurdistan24: Supported By Iraqi Air Support, Kurdish Peshmerga, Army Conduct
Anti-ISIS Operations
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“Top commanders from the Kurdistan Region’s Peshmerga forces and the military
on Tuesday agreed to increase the joint operations against the remnants of ISIS
in the disputed areas with the support of the Iraqi air force. A senior Iraqi
military delegation, consisting of top commanders from Joint Operations
Command, on Tuesday, arrived in the Kurdistan Region’s Sulaimani and met with
Kurdish Peshmerga commanders in the presence of members of the US-led coalition
forces. The top military officials discussed conducting joint operations
against the so-called Islamic State remnants, whose self-styled caliphate was
toppled by the Iraqi and Kurdish forces with the Coalition’s air support.
However, the militants had lost 40 percent of the land they used to control,
and the terror group is still capable of launching a low-level insurgency
against civilians and the security forces, according to the Coalition and the
country’s security assessments.”



The Jerusalem Post: Palestinian Terrorists Sentenced To Life In Prison For
Elad Ax Attack <[link removed]>



“The two terrorists who committed the 2022 Elad ax attack received four life
sentences and an additional 20 years in prison for the murder spree that
claimed the lives of four people and injured three others, the State Attorney's
Office said on Tuesday. Assad al-Rafai, 20, and Tzabahi Abu Shakir, 21, pleaded
guilty to the crimes and were convicted, their sentences part of agreements
between their legal representatives and the State Attorney's Office. The
indictment against the Palestinian terrorists had been amended following the
2023 passing of one of the injured victims. The ax murder spree was conducted
on Independence Day, with much of the carnage unfolding in a playground. Many
of the victims had children witness their murder.”



Nigeria



Sahara Reporters: Terrorists Kill Women, Children In Fresh Attacks On Plateau
State Community
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“Suspected terrorists have attacked and reportedly killed many residents,
including women and children at Kubat village in the Mangu Local Government
Area of Plateau State during an assault on Monday night. The terrorists invaded
the community when the villagers were asleep. Governor Simon Lalong, who
confirmed the incident, described it as a sad development and directed security
forces to pursue and apprehend the attackers. According to Dr. Makut Simon,
Lalong's Director of Press and Public Affairs, the governor also directed the
State Emergency Management Agency and the Peace Building Agency to visit the
area and assess the humanitarian needs in order to provide assistance to those
affected while an investigation was conducted.”



Africa



RFI: Conflict-Ridden Sahel Region Needs Help To Fight Extremists, UN Says
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“UN Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, Martha Pobee, told a Security
Council meeting that ‘resolute advances’ to fight groups linked to IS, al-Qaida
and others, as well as organised crime, ‘desperately’ needed to happen. An
anti-terrorism force set up in 2014 that now includes Burkina Faso, Chad,
Mauritania and Niger, lost Mali a year ago when the country’s ruling junta
decided to pull out. Pobee said the joint force had not carried out any major
military operations since January, and was instead adjusting to new realities.
France was sending its forces to Niger instead of Mali because of the conflict
with the junta and Mali's decision to allow Wagner's Russian mercenaries to
enter its territory.”



United Kingdom



BBC: Student Hatched Terror Plot To Blow Up Police
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“A student who hatched a plot to blow up a police station as part of a

full-on war’ has been found guilty of planning a terrorist attack. Luke
Skelton, from Washington, was charged after planning an attack in Newcastle in
November 2021. The 19-year-old held extreme right-wing beliefs, had devised
recipes for explosives and carried out reconnaissance on potential targets. He
was convicted at Teesside Crown Court following a two-week trial.”



India



Reuters: India Boosts Security For G20 Meeting In Kashmir After Attacks
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“India has stepped up security in the Jammu and Kashmir region because of an
increase in militant attacks in the run-up to a G20 meeting on tourism in the
Himalayan territory, officials said on Wednesday. The city of Srinagar, the
summer capital of the federal territory, is due to host a tourism working group
meeting of G20 members on May 22-24, part of a series of meetings ahead of a
G20 summit in New Delhi in September. Islamist militants have stepped up
attacks this year in the Jammu region, across the mountains from the Kashmir
Valley where Srinagar is located. Ten soldiers and seven civilians have been
killed in four attacks in Jammu this year. Security officials said they fear
the separatist militants could try to promote their cause with an attack before
or during the G20 meeting.”



The Times Of India: Two Hizbul Terrorists Who Executed Former Mirwaiz In 1990
Arrested
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“Thirty-three years after the assassination of former Mirwaiz of Kashmir,
Molvi Mohammad Farooq, Jammu and Kashmir Police’s special investigation agency
(SIA) has arrested two Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists who had hatched and
executed the murder conspiracy. The two accused — Javaid Ahmad Bhat and Zahoor
Ahmad Bhat, both residents of Srinagar — had gone underground after Mirwaiz’s
murder at his Nigeen residence on May 21, 1990, and had since been absconding.
Three other terrorists were involved in the murder. Javaid, then area commander
of Hizbul Mujahideen, was associated with the criminal conspiracy right from
the outset and had dispatched the assassination team of three terrorists,
including Zahoor, to Mirwaiz’s residence. It was Zahoor who fired several
rounds on Mirwaiz, killing him.”



MENAFN: Gangster-Terrorist Nexus Case: NIA Raids 122 Locations, Recovers
Sensitive Data
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“In a major operation, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday
was conducting raids at 122 locations across six states, and sources said that
incriminating documents have been recovered. The local police and paramilitary
were assisting the agency during the raids. The raids are part of an ongoing
investigation into the gangster-narcotics smuggler-terrorist nexus case with
suspected links to Khalistani elements. According to sources, the raids were
going on in Uttarakhand, Punjab, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Haryana.
Sources said that they have recovered a few incriminating documents during the
raids. In Punjab, 58 locations were being raided.”



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