“A Florida man accused in 2020 of plotting terror attacks in the US and
acquiring an arsenal of weapons was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison.
The sentence against Mohammed Al-Azhari, 26, was made by a Tampa federal court
on Thursday, according to court records. The US citizen pleaded guilty in
February to attempting to provide material support to the ISIS extremist group.
Al-Azhari admitted in court papers that he looked out for potential terrorism
targets in the Tampa Bay area, sought to acquire several weapons and pledged an
oath of allegiance to ISIS. The FBI recorded many conversations between
Al-Azhari and confidential or undercover sources in which he discussed avenging
jailed ISIS extremists and using violence to oppose US military actions in the
Middle East.”











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Eye on Extremism



July 14, 2023



The National: Florida Man Sentenced To 18 Years In Prison For Supporting ISIS
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“A Florida man accused in 2020 of plotting terror attacks in the US and
acquiring an arsenal of weapons was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison.
The sentence against Mohammed Al-Azhari, 26, was made by a Tampa federal court
on Thursday, according to court records. The US citizen pleaded guilty in
February to attempting to provide material support to the ISIS extremist group.
Al-Azhari admitted in court papers that he looked out for potential terrorism
targets in the Tampa Bay area, sought to acquire several weapons and pledged an
oath of allegiance to ISIS. The FBI recorded many conversations between
Al-Azhari and confidential or undercover sources in which he discussed avenging
jailed ISIS extremists and using violence to oppose US military actions in the
Middle East.”



Daily Sabah: Turkish Intelligence Eliminates Top PKK Terrorist At Stronghold
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“National Intelligence Organization (MIT) announced Thursday that Edip Temiz,
a prominent figure of the terrorist group PKK, was ‘neutralized’ in Qandil
Mountain, the group’s stronghold in northern Iraq. Turkish authorities often
use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply that the terrorists in
question either surrendered or were killed or captured. Temiz, also known as
‘Cesur Azad,’ was in charge of the so-called Special Force after he was put
through ideological, military and technical training. He was a member of PKK
for about two decades and was among the trainers of new recruits of PKK in
Iraq.”




Recent CEP Press Releases

* Hamas Claims West Bank Terror Attacks Amid Palestinian Authority's
Declining Credibility
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* New CEP Report: Violence Against Perceived Blasphemers In The West – From
Khamenei's Fatwa To The Present
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* Extremist Content Online: ISIS Releases New Propaganda Video, Which Is
Rapidly Promoted On TikTok
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* Extremist Content Online: Pro-ISIS Online Chat Promotes Monero
Cryptocurrency To Fund Propaganda Operations
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* New CEP Reports Assess Ties Between Terror Groups In Africa And Their Ties
To Organized Crime
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Iraq



Iraqi News: Iraqi Security Arrests Sharia Judge Of ISIS
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“The Iraqi National Intelligence Service (INIS) announced on Thursday the
arrest of ‘Abu Jamal,’ who is the sharia judge in the terrorist group ISIS. The
INIS mentioned in a statement that its officers managed to arrest Akkab Hamad
Nijris Dali, nicknamed ‘Abu Jamal,’ who holds the position of the sharia judge
in the ISIS group, after receiving intelligence information and tracking the
suspect in more than a country. The statement elaborated that Abu Jamal issued
many rulings inciting violence against Iraqi security forces. The statement
also indicated that Abu Jamal fled to Syria in 2017, moving into areas under
the control of ISIS. The INIS clarified that the arrested terrorist infiltrated
back into Iraqi territory in 2023 under the guidance of ISIS leaders. The INIS
noted that the arrest of the Sharia judge of ISIS followed cooperation with the
Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) in Sulaymaniyah governorate and the issuance of
the required judicial order.”



Pakistan



Dunya News: Peshawar's Mattani Police Station Comes Under Terrorist Attack
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“The Mattani police station in the provincial capital came under terrorist
attack during the wee hours of Friday. Distinct sounds of shots being fired
were heard in nearby areas. According to initial reports, some terrorists
attacked the police station from two sides (yet to be determined in
investigations). However, the alert police force fought valiantly and resisted
the attack. The terrorists continued to fire on the police station for about 20
minutes but were unable to enter the police station. The soldiers present
inside smartly utilised the building as a bunker and kept on resisting the
terrorists. Fortunately, no causality has been reported yet. Heavy contingents
of police have been summoned at the police station to ramp up the clearance
operations and check whether the terrorists have shunned away or present in
hiding.”



Middle East



Associated Press: Moves At A Small Border Village Hike Israel-Hezbollah
Tensions At A Time Of Regional Jitters
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“The little village of Ghajar has been a sore point between Israel and
Lebanon for years, split in two by the border between Lebanon and the
Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. But after a long period of calm, the dispute
has begun to heat up again. Israel has been building a wall around the half of
the village in Lebanese territory, triggering condemnation from the Lebanese
militiant force Hezbollah, accusing Israel of moving to annex the site. A
recent exchange of fire in the area raised alarm that the dispute could trigger
violence. The growing tensions over Ghajar add to the jitters along the
Lebanese-Israeli border, where Israel and Iranian-backed Hezbollah fought a
destructive 34-day war in the summer of 2006. The two sides have studiously
avoided outright battle ever since, despite frequent flare-ups of tension --
but each constantly says a new conflict could erupt at any time.”



The Jerusalem Post: Gallant: Iran Has Attempted Over 50 Terror Attacks
Globally Against Jews In Recent Years
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“Iran has planned more than 50 terrorist attacks globally against Jews in
recent years, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Thursday in Azerbaijan, where
he is on a visit to strengthen an alliance against the Iranian threat. ‘By
order of the supreme leader [Ayatollah Ali Khamenei], in recent years, Iran has
led an unprecedented global campaign of terror focused on Israelis and other
Jews across the globe,’ Gallant said. ‘There have been more than 50 attempts in
recent years, the majority of which already got to the point of being ready to
be carried out but were thwarted at the last minute.’ The plots were thwarted
‘by virtue of our defense establishment and by virtue of tight cooperation with
many foreign countries and by virtue of the understanding that Iran constitutes
a threat to the world,’ he said.”



Somalia



Voice Of America News: Al-Shabab Attacks Somali Base Handed Over By AU Forces
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“Al-Shabab fighters have attacked a Somali military base handed over by
Kenyan forces late last month as part of an African Union troop drawdown.
Somalia regional officials said early Thursday the base in Geriley village in
the Gedo region, about 12 kilometers from the Kenya border, was captured by
militants. Ibrahim Guled Adan, the district commissioner of El-Wak town, which
Geriley falls under, told VOA Somali the militants seized the base after a
firefight with Jubaland regional paramilitary forces. Adan said four people —
three soldiers, including two officers, and a civilian — were killed in the
attack by al-Shabab.”



Garowe Online: Somalia: NISA Forces Arrest Al-Shabaab Suspects
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“The National Intelligence Security Agency [NISA] arrested several suspected
Al-Shabaab militants in Shabelle regions, state media reported, in the wake up
of unprecedented attacks by the group, which usually targets innocent
civilians, members of security forces, and senior government officials. On
Wednesday, authorities confirmed, the elite intelligence team combed both Lower
Shabelle and parts of Middle Shabelle where the militants have been hiding
while coordinating attacks. The officers whisked the militants from their
hideouts in farms, state media reports. Although the correct number of those
arrested has not yet been established, the security team published several
photos of the suspects. This comes a few months after the conclusion of the
first phase of operations against the militants which covered HirShabelle and
Galmadug states.”



Africa



Associated Press: Ghana Forcibly Deports Hundreds Of People Who Had Fled
Extremist Violence In Burkina Faso, Says UN
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“Ghana has forcibly deported hundreds of people fleeing violence from Burkina
Faso, the United Nations refugee agency said Thursday. Approximately 251 people
were expelled, most of them women and children seeking safety in northern
Ghana, according to UNHCR. ‘It’s not a voluntary repatriation,’ Alpha Seydi Ba,
senior communications officer for UNHCR, told The Associated Press. In a
statement Wednesday, the UN called on Ghana to cease these expulsions ‘and
guarantee access to the territory and asylum to nationals of Burkina Faso
seeking international protection.’ Under international human rights law, the
principle of non-refoulement guarantees that no one should be returned to a
country where they would face torture, cruel or degrading treatment, or
punishment. The UN’s statement said Ghana was violating the principle.”



United Kingdom



BBC: West Midlands Police Arrest Two Men On Suspicion Of Terror Offences
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“An 18-year-old from Birmingham and a 22-year-old from West Bromwich were
detained on Wednesday during a pre-planned operation. They were held in
connection with disseminating terrorism material and fundraising for terrorism,
said police. Counter terrorism officers searched five properties in connection
with the arrests. The West Midlands force said the men remained in custody.”



Europe



Associated Press: Man Arrested For Planning Terrorist Attack Inspired By
Islamic State, Poland’s Security Agency Says
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“Poland’s Internal Security Agency said Friday it arrested an 18-year-old
Polish citizen planning a suicide attack, on a government office, using an
explosive belt. The agency, ABW, said in a communique the arrest took place on
June 16 in southwestern Poland. It said the man converted to Islam last year
and with a group of other people, inspired by the Islamic State extremist
group, they were planning attacks on government administration offices. He was
charged with participating in a crime ring, having terrorist goals, and
planning actions that would have endangered the well-being of a large number of
people as well as their lives.”



India



Outlook India: 3 Migrant Labourers Shot At By Militants In Jammu And Kashmir's
Shopian
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“Terrorists shot at and wounded three non-local labourers in Gagran area of
Shopian district on Thursday evening, around 60 km south of Srinagar, the
police said. ‘Terrorists fired upon three outside labourers in Shopian. Injured
persons are Anmol Kumar, Pintu Kumar Thakur and Heralal Yadav, all residents of
district Supaul, Bihar, being shifted to hospital,’ Jammu and Kashmir police
said, adding that they have launched a cordon and search operation. Former
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the attack calling it very unfortunate.
‘I unreservedly condemn this attack and send my best wishes to the injured,’ he
said.”



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