“A recent report by the UN has said the Taliban are once again allowing the
terror group Al Qaeda on Afghan soil – one of the original justifications for
the US-led invasion of the country, following the group’s September 11, 2001,
attacks in New York and Washington that killed 3,000 people. The UN as well as
experts spoken to by The National say the movement is now torn between a
dangerous militant wing that refuses to compromise and a less militant but
still extremely conservative side. The Taliban have also appointed several Al
Qaeda members to advisory roles in its administration as well as provided their
members with monthly ‘welfare payments’, portions of which filtered down to
fighters of affiliated groups, according to the Security Council’s Analytical
Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team. The sustained influence of Al Qaeda, the
report claims, has contributed to widening fault lines within the Taliban.”











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Eye on Extremism



June 20, 2023



The National: Taliban Shelter Al Qaeda But Rifts Within The Movement Are
Emerging, UN Says
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“A recent report by the UN has said the Taliban are once again allowing the
terror group Al Qaeda on Afghan soil – one of the original justifications for
the US-led invasion of the country, following the group’s September 11, 2001,
attacks in New York and Washington that killed 3,000 people. The UN as well as
experts spoken to by The National say the movement is now torn between a
dangerous militant wing that refuses to compromise and a less militant but
still extremely conservative side. The Taliban have also appointed several Al
Qaeda members to advisory roles in its administration as well as provided their
members with monthly ‘welfare payments’, portions of which filtered down to
fighters of affiliated groups, according to the Security Council’s Analytical
Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team. The sustained influence of Al Qaeda, the
report claims, has contributed to widening fault lines within the Taliban.”



Garowe Online: Al-Shabaab Kidnaps 30 People In Somalia
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“Al-Shabaab militants have reportedly kidnapped at least 30 locals, in the
latest heightened activities by the group, which has wreaked havoc in the
country, following military operations which left thousands of the group
members dead in the first seven months of Hassan Sheikh's administration.
According to multiple sources, the group rounded and kidnapped 30 people in
newly- liberated village of Daru Nima within Ruun-Nirigood District in Middle
Shabelle. It is within Middle Shabelle and parts of Galmadug where the Somali
National Army [SNA] with assistance of international partners conducted the
first phage of operations against the group. Those kidnapped by the group,
sources said, were mainly traditional elders and children but it is not clear
where the militants took them. In most cases, the militants abduct locals in
exchange for ransom, but so far, the militants are yet to communicate through
their formal channels.”




CEP Expert Analysis

* New CEP Reports Assess Ties Between Terror Groups In Africa And Their Ties
To Organized Crime
<[link removed]>
* New CEP Reports Examine Development Of Al-Qaeda, ISIS Affiliates In West
Africa And Sahel
<[link removed]>
* Civilian Counterterrorism Forces and the Fight Against Extremism: A Review
of Nigeria, Somalia, and Burkina Faso
<[link removed]>
* Extremism in Erdogan's AKP
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* Security Risks Emanating From Afghanistan
<[link removed]>



Syria



Daily Sabah: Turkish Intelligence Eliminates Top MLKP Terrorist In Syria
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“The National Intelligence Organization (MIT) eliminated a senior member of
the Marxist-Leninist Communist Party (MLKP) terrorist group in Syria, sources
said Saturday. Turkish authorities use the term ‘neutralize’ to imply the
terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured. PKK/YPG
terrorists hide near the Turkish border in northern Syria, where they plan or
stage attacks on locals and nearby settlements in Türkiye. The agency
neutralized Osman Nuri Ocaklı codenamed ‘Yılmaz Behrareş,’ who was behind a
prison attack in Bursa among many other terrorist attacks in Türkiye on behalf
of MLKP, according to security forces.”



Iran



AFP News: Top Palestinian Militants Hold Talks In Iran
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“The leaders of Palestinian militant groups Islamic Jihad and Hamas held
talks Monday with top Iranian officials in Tehran as deadly violence flared in
the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi received
Islamic Jihad chief Ziyad al-Nakhalah while Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh held
talks with Ali Akbar Ahmadian, the newly-appointed secretary of the Supreme
National Security Council (SNSC), ahead of meeting with other top officials.
‘The most efficient way to end the more than 75 years of occupation of
Palestine is resistance,’ Ahmadian told Haniyeh, according to the Nournews
website close to the SNSC. Nakhalah has been in Iran since last week and has
met top Iranian officials, including the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
and Raisi.”



Turkey



Radio Free Radio Liberty: Abducted Turkish-Kyrgyz Educator Handed Lengthy
Prison Term In Turkey On Terrorism Charge
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“A Turkish-Kyrgyz educator who was abducted by Turkish agents in Kyrgyzstan
in 2021 has been sentenced to 21 years in prison on a charge of ‘establishing
an armed terrorist group,’ Turkish media reports said on June 16, adding that
Orhan Inandi had been "brought to Turkey via an ‘operation’ carried out by the
National Intelligence Organization. Inandi, who headed the Turkish-language
Sapat school system in Kyrgyzstan, was abducted by Turkish agents in Bishkek in
June 2021. Turkish officials have called Inandi a top Central Asian leader of
the Gulen movement, which is led by the U.S.-based Turkish cleric Fethullah
Gulen, a former close friend of Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan before
falling out of favor and becoming a rival. Turkey considers the movement, known
as Hizmet in Turkish, to be a terrorist organization, though it is mainly
involved in educational activities and promoting civil society. Its schools in
Kyrgyzstan are considered prestigious and have been attended by thousands of
people, many of them now serving in government.”



Daily Sabah: Far-Right German Terrorist’s Father Threatens Turkish Family
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“The family of Ferhat Ünvar, one of four Turks killed by far-right terrorist
Tobias Rathjen, found themselves the target of Rathjen’s father again.
Hans-Gerd Rathjen issued death threats in a letter addressed to Ünvar’s mother,
Serpil, according to reports in the German media. The 24-year-old Ünvar was
among nine victims of Rathjen in the German town of Hanau in 2020. Tobias
Rathjen killed Ünvar and others in attacks targeting two cafes on Feb. 19,
2020. All of his victims in the cafes had migrant backgrounds. Rathjen later
killed his mother and himself. His father was accused of sending multiple
letters containing death threats to the families of the victims, who sought a
restraining order against him. Last March, a court ordered his imprisonment for
violating the restraining order and failure to pay a 4,200 euro ($4,589.13)
fine for the violation. He has violated the order six times, often approaching
the families and in some cases, in the company of an aggressive dog, according
to accounts of the families. Germany-based website Perspektive reported that
the elder Rathjen has been showing up on the doorstep of Ünvar’s mother and a
youth center that Ferhat Ünvar frequented in the past. The website reported
that he also sent a letter addressed to Serpil Ünvar, urging her ‘to leave
Germany.’”



Afghanistan



Reuters: Taliban Treatment Of Women Could Be 'Gender Apartheid' - UN Expert
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“A U.N. expert said on Monday that the treatment of Afghan women and girls by
the Taliban could amount to ‘gender apartheid’ as their rights continue to be
gravely infringed by the country's de facto authorities. ‘Grave, systematic and
institutionalised discrimination against women and girls is at the heart of
Taliban ideology and rule, which also gives rise to concerns that they may be
responsible for gender apartheid,’ U.N. Special Rapporteur on the situation of
human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, told the Human Rights Council in
Geneva. The U.N. defines gender apartheid as ‘economic and social sexual
discrimination against individuals because of their gender or sex’. ‘We have
pointed to the need for more exploration of gender apartheid, which is not
currently an international crime, but could become so,’ Bennett told reporters
on the sidelines of the Council.”



Business Insider: Afghanistan's Taliban Needs Money So Badly They Are Selling
Tickets To Monuments Their Own Fighters Smashed To Pieces: Report
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“The Taliban are selling tickets to vist the site of ancient monuments they
themselves blasted to pieces in an attempt to boost Afghanistan's flagging
economy, The Washington Post reported. Tickets to see the cavernous remains of
the Bamiyan Buddhas, in the Hazarajat region, are sold to locals for 57 cents
and $3.45 to foreigners, the paper reported. It appears out of character from
the militant political movement that, to the horror of the international
community, blasted away the 1,500-year-old Buddhist reliefs, leaving little
more than their niches hewn out of the mountain. Over a period of days in March
2001, the Taliban destroyed the two statues, using anti-tank mines,
anti-aircraft guns, artillery and systematically placed explosives to reduce
them to vacant holes in the rock, as Slate reported.”



Pakistan



Dunya News: 'Most Wanted' Terrorist Among Three Gunned Down In Darra Adamkhel
Operation
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“The security forces killed the most wanted terrorist commander Zafar alias
Zafri along with his companions in Darra Adamkhel area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to details, the security forces conducted an operation between Friday
and Saturday night and as a result, three terrorists including terrorist
commander Zafar were killed. Officials said that the killed terrorists include
Hasan from Darra Adamkhel and Anas alias Ali of Nangarhar and Zafar Khan alias
Zafri and his associates belonged to the outlawed TTP. The slain terrorist
Zafri was a resident of Malan village of Darra Adamkhel and he came back to
Peshawar from Nangarhar’s province of Afghanistan and he was involved in 26
major attacks in Pakistan. He used to target security forces, coal contractors,
businessmen and influential people and had earned millions through extortion
and kidnapping for ransom. Meanwhile, Hasan was an expert of sniping and
grenade attacks.”



Samaa: Another TTP Commander Killed Amid Militants Infighting
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“Sarbakaf Mohmand was in banned Jamaat ul Ahrar. He died in mysterious
circumstances. Earlier, Jamaat ul Ahrar joined TTP. The internal differences
have been intensified among militants’ factions and groups. The anti-state
element was involved in killing police personnel when the cop was offering
namaz. The terrorist also supported the political party’s attacks on army
installations.”



Middle East



BBC: Six Palestinians Killed In Israeli Military Raid In Jenin
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“An Israeli helicopter fired missiles after Palestinian militants targeted
troop carriers with explosives. It marks a sharp escalation of fighting as
frequent raids in the city in the occupied West Bank continue. The Israeli army
said it had to mount a ‘logistical operation under fire’ to remove several
stranded vehicles. Seven Israeli soldiers and border police officers were
wounded, three of them ‘moderately’, according to the army. It is the first
time in years - possibly since the height of the second Palestinian Intifada,
or uprising, two decades ago - that the Israeli military has used attack
helicopters in the West Bank. The helicopter reportedly fired at militants on
the ground while Israeli forces tried to extract soldiers.”



Fox News: UN Report Shows Al Qaeda And Taliban Ties Remain Strong, Warns Of
ISIS Threat
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“A damning new United Nations Security Council report claims that terrorist
group ISIS-K, the Afghan ISIS affiliate, is the most serious current terrorist
threat operating in Afghanistan, with an estimated 4,000 to 6,000 fighters.
Since the country fell, ISIS-K has benefited from increased operational
capabilities and freedom of movement inside Afghanistan. Most troubling for the
United States and its allies is the report's claim that the relationship
between the Taliban and al Qaeda and other terrorist groups remains ‘strong and
symbiotic.’ Following the collapse of the U.S.-backed Ashraf Ghani government
in August 2021, Taliban spokespersons made assurances that Afghanistan would
not once again become a safe haven for terrorist groups, and they would not
allow any terror group to stage an attack from Afghan territory. The 2020 Doha
Agreement, negotiated under former President Trump, laid the groundwork for the
withdrawal of all U.S. forces in exchange for a pledge from the Taliban to
prevent any terrorist organization from using Afghan soil to threaten or attack
the United States or its allies.”



i24 News: Terror Attack In West Bank, 2 Israelis Wounded, 2 Terrorists
Neutralized
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“Israeli security forces neutralized two terrorists after an attempt ramming
attack at Crossing 300 in the northern West Bank, according to Rescue without
Borders paramedics. First reports say the arrest procedure was carried out on
the suspected vehicle, which ended in a shooting. Earlier on Monday, eight
Israeli soldiers were wounded in clashes with Palestinians in the West Bank
city of Jenin. During an arrest operation, seven soldiers were lightly and
moderately wounded, and another was lightly wounded by shrapnel. The soldiers
were evacuated to Rambam Hospital via helicopter.”



Nigeria



Al Arabiya News: Suspected Extremists Kill 11 Farmers In Nigeria
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“Suspected Boko Haram militants have killed 11 farmers in northeast Nigeria,
the latest attacks in the conflict-wracked region, local militias told AFP on
Friday. The attackers stormed farms on motorcycles in Kuwayangiya, a village 15
kilometers from Borno state capital Maiduguri, seizing 11 of them and slitting
their throats, three anti-extremism militia members said. ‘The insurgents
rounded up 11 farmers working on their fields, bound their hands behind their
back and cut their throats,’ militia leader Babakura Kulo said. The attackers
chose not to use guns, hoping to avoid alerting soldiers and militia from
nearby Molai village, said militia leader Umar Ari. ‘All the 11 farmers were
slaughtered and their bodies abandoned on the farms by the Boko Haram
terrorists,’ Ari said.”



Somalia



The East African: 43 Al Shabaab Militants Killed In Somalia Airstrike
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“Somalia’s government says 43 Al Shabaab militants, including two senior
commanders, were killed by Somali National Army forces during a weekend
airstrike about 14 kilometres from the Jamame District in the Lower Juba
region. ‘The airstrike successfully eliminated key Al Shabaab leaders Aden
Abdirahman Aden and Idris Abdirahim Nur, who was of Kenyan national origin, and
a total of 43 Al Shabaab fighters,’ the Somali National News Agency (Sonna)
reported on Monday. Sonna said the attack, carried out by ‘Somalia’s
international partners’, happened on Friday as the militants and their
commanders gathered to plan attacks against government soldiers at the
Barsanguni military base, which is home to the Somali National Army and local
forces. The statement did not specify the foreign partner that conducted the
airstrike, but often, US Africa Command drones carry out attacks on Somali
militant targets.”



Africa



The National: Militants Linked To ISIS Kill 41 In Attack On Ugandan School
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“The death toll in an attack on a school in western Uganda has risen to at
least 41 from 25 announced earlier by police, Ugandan media outlets said on
Saturday. Privately owned NTV Uganda television said on Twitter that the toll
stood at 41, while state-run New Vision newspaper said it was 42. Members of
the Allied Democratic Forces, a Ugandan group based in eastern Congo that has
pledged allegiance to ISIS, attacked Lhubirira secondary school in Mpondwe,
burning a dormitory and looting food late on Friday, police said. ‘So far 25
bodies have been recovered from the school and transferred to Bwera Hospital.
Also recovered are eight victims, who remain in critical condition at Bwera
Hospital,’ Ugandan police said earlier on Twitter.”



Daily Nation: Two KDF Soldiers Killed In Twin Shabaab Attacks In Lamu
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“Two Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) soldiers were killed in an operation of the
General Service Unit (GSU) team whose vehicle had earlier ran over an
improvised explosive device (IED) at Mlima Faru on the Witu-Pandanguo road in
Lamu County on Sunday. Several GSU officers operating under the multi-agency
security Operation Amani Boni (OAB), while on patrol in the general areas of
Mlima Faru drove over the IED suspected to have been planted on the road by
Al-Shabaab militants at around 9.30 am. Confirming the incident to
Nation.Africa, the military’s Chief Strategic Communications Brigadier Zipporah
Kioko said KDF troops stationed in the area had responded by moving swiftly to
secure the area and recover the wounded. They also enhanced patrols in the
area.”



France



RFI: Trial Of Four Far-Right Extremists Accused Of Terrorism Opens In Paris
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“The men, now aged between 22 and 28, are accused of planning attacks on
mosques, the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France (CRIF) and
the French headquarters of The International League Against Racism and
Anti-Semitism (Licra) in Tours. One of the co-accused said they also planned to
target a concert at the Bataclan by French rapper Médine – whom the far right
accuse of pandering to Islamism – and meetings of Jean-Luc Mélenchon, founder
of the hard left France Unbowed party. Since one of the defendants was 17 at
the time of the accusations, the men are appearing before the special juvenile
assize court in Paris. A fifth protagonist, aged just 14 at the time, was
already tried in a juvenile court in December 2022 and handed a two-year
suspended sentence.”



Europe



BBC: Vienna Pride Parade Attack Foiled, Austrian Police Say
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“The parade, which took place in the capital, Vienna, on Saturday, attracted
more than 300,000 people. Austrian security services said those arrested in
their homes on Saturday were young men, aged 14, 17 and 20. They released no
details, but added that weapons, including knives, an axe, and air guns, had
been seized. The Austrian domestic intelligence chief, Omar Haijawi-Pirchner,
revealed the arrests at a news conference on Sunday. He said police had waited
to reveal details of the planned attack until after the parade to ensure
participants did not feel anxious. ‘That's ultimately the goal of terrorism, to
cause anxiety and fear in the public. It's also our job not to let that
happen.’”



The Print: Eight Pakistan Nationals Arrested In Greece For Plotting Terror
Attacks
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“Eight Pakistan nationals have been arrested in Greece for plotting terror
attacks, according to unconfirmed reports, Greek City Times reported. The
arrests have once again brought the spotlight back on Pakistan which has been
the main spreader of jihadist terrorism across the globe. Jihadist terrorism in
Europe emerged in the 1990s. In many European countries, awareness of this new
development took some time. In fact, the threat posed by jihadist terrorism was
underestimated, overlooked, and often misunderstood.”



Canada



CBC: Calgary Man Faces 4 Terrorism-Related Charges After Federal Policing
Investigation
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“RCMP say a Calgary man is facing four terrorism-related charges following a
national investigation. In a release issued late Friday afternoon, authorities
announced the RCMP Federal Policing Integrated National Security Enforcement
Team and Calgary Police Service arrested a local resident in relation to
terrorism offences. Zakarya Rida Hussein, 20, appeared in court Friday and was
charged with two counts of facilitating a terrorist activity contrary to
section 83.19 of the Criminal Code. Police said the man was also charged with
two counts of participating in or contributing to, directly or indirectly, an
activity of a terrorist group contrary to section 83.18(1) of the Criminal
Code. Hussein was remanded into custody pending a future court appearance.
Representatives for the RCMP and the Calgary police declined to answer
questions about the charges or the man who'd been arrested.”



New York Daily News: Sikh Leader Shot Dead Outside House Of Worship In Canada
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“Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh leader in British Columbia, Canada, was shot
dead Sunday night outside the house of worship he led in a Vancouver suburb.
Nijjar, 45, was president of Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Surrey. He was gunned down
by two attackers, according to witnesses. ‘We honor the death of a brave
warrior and declare that many more will rise,’ read an Instagram post from
BCSikhs. ‘The BC Sikh community has suffered an immeasurable physical loss
tonight at the hands of spineless cowards.’ Nijjar was described as a wanted
terrorist by Indian media outlets. Indian authorities claimed he was part of a
Sikh independence group.



India



The Nation: CTD Punjab Arrests 6 Alleged Terrorists Of Banned Outfits
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“The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Punjab arrested 9 alleged terrorists
of banned outfits during operations in different areas of Punjab. According to
the spokesman, the CTD Punjab conducted 55 intelligence based operations in
different districts of the province to effectively deal with any untoward
incident of terrorism, in which 50 suspected persons were interrogated and 6
alleged terrorists were arrested with weapons, explosives and other prohibited
materials. Among the arrested terrorists three members of Tehreek-e-Taliban
Pakistan, Liaquatullah, Nadeem Khan, Inayatullah, a member of Sepah Sahaba
Pakistan, Muhammad Younis, a member of Daesh, Muhammad Ammar and a member of
Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Ijaz Ahmed are included, he said. The spokesman said that
1358 grams of explosives, one hand grenade, 6.53 feet of Prima Card, one
laptop, 82 pamphlets, 45 stickers, 2 flags, 6 receipt books and 18800 rupees
cash of the banned organization were recovered from the possession of the
terrorists.”



The Times Of India: 5 Jem Terrorists Held In Connection With Circus Worker's
Killing In Jammu And Kashmir
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“Five Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists were arrested from Anantnag district
of Jammu and Kashmir in connection with the killing of a circus worker last
month, police said on Friday. Deepak Kumar (27), a resident of Udhampur
district, was shot dead by two motorcycle-borne militants from a close range
when he had gone to the market to buy milk on the night of May 29. He worked at
a circus in the Janglat Mandi area in the south Kashmir district. The prime
accused in the case received weapon training through WhatsApp video calls from
his handler, police said. Addressing a press conference in Anantnag, Deputy
Inspector General (DIG), South Kashmir Range, Rayees Mohammad Bhat said the
terrorists belong to Kashmir Freedom Fighters (KFF) -- an offshoot of
proscribed terror outfit JeM.”



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