“A fresh airstrike and ground offensive in Somalia has left over 100 Al-Shabaab
fighters dead, the Ministry of Information confirmed in a lengthy statement,
just as the country prepares for the second and perhaps final assault on the
members of the group, which still poses threats to regional stability. The
Al-Shabaab militants have been waging coordinated sporadic retaliatory attacks
against the US Africa Command, the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia
[ATMIS], the Somali National Army [SNA], and even innocent civilians causing
havoc and destruction of people's businesses. According to the ministry, the
latest raid was activated by the ever-supportive US Africa Command in
collaboration with the Somali National Army, leaving several other militants
injured. The attack targeted the Gal Libaax and eel Qurac areas in central
Somalia, causing huge losses to the militants.”











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Eye on Extremism



July 21, 2023



Garowe Online: Somalia: Fresh Air And Ground Offensive Kill Over 100
Al-Shabaab Fighters
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“A fresh airstrike and ground offensive in Somalia has left over 100
Al-Shabaab fighters dead, the Ministry of Information confirmed in a lengthy
statement, just as the country prepares for the second and perhaps final
assault on the members of the group, which still poses threats to regional
stability. The Al-Shabaab militants have been waging coordinated sporadic
retaliatory attacks against the US Africa Command, the African Union Transition
Mission in Somalia [ATMIS], the Somali National Army [SNA], and even innocent
civilians causing havoc and destruction of people's businesses. According to
the ministry, the latest raid was activated by the ever-supportive US Africa
Command in collaboration with the Somali National Army, leaving several other
militants injured. The attack targeted the Gal Libaax and eel Qurac areas in
central Somalia, causing huge losses to the militants.”



Dawn: Police Thwart Late-Night Ambush Of Terrorists On Peshawar Checkpost
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“Superintendent Police (SP) Cantt Waqas Rafiq told Dawn.com that armed men
tried to approach the Sarband police checkpost under the cover of darkness late
at night on Thursday. However, the quick response from the vigilant officers
foiled their attempt. The officers, whom he said were equipped with modern
weapons, promptly retaliated, driving the terrorists away. ‘The police’s timely
action foiled the terrorists’ plan,’ the officer stated. As per the KP police
statement, a group of six to seven terrorists made an attempt to reach the
checkpost. Pakistan has seen an uptick in terror activities, especially in KP
and Balochistan, after the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ended its
ceasefire with the government in November last year.”




Recent CEP Press Releases

* Hezbollah Position In Golan Heights Escalates Tensions With Israel On War's
Anniversary
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* Extremist Content Online: Pro-ISIS Propaganda Encourages Terror Attacks
Following Quran Burning
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* 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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Iraq



NPR: Iraq Expels Sweden's Ambassador Over Quran Burning, After Protests At
Swedish Embassy
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“Iraq has expelled Sweden's ambassador and recalled its top diplomatic
representative from Sweden over the desecration of the Quran in the Nordic
country. The move came hours after protesters attacked the Swedish Embassy in
Baghdad earlier Thursday, setting fire to part of the building. The tensions
between Iraq and Sweden began when an Iraqi national set fire to a copy of the
Quran in the Swedish capital of Stockholm last month. Then Swedish police
granted a permit for another planned gathering that could include a burning of
the Muslim holy book in public, according to news reports. Two men did protest
against Islam near the Iraqi Embassy in Stockholm on Thursday, stepping on and
kicking a copy of the Quran, but they did not burn the book, The Associated
Press reported. The news agency said the men also kicked an Iraqi flag and
photos of Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and Iran's supreme leader.”



Middle East



The Jerusalem Post: Man Seriously Wounded In Suspected Terrorist Stabbing In
Jerusalem <[link removed]>



“A man was seriously injured in a stabbing in the Gilo neighborhood of
Jerusalem on Thursday, with police saying they are investigating suspicions the
incident was a terrorist attack. The Shin Bet is reportedly involved in the
investigation. The victim was transferred to Sha'are Zedek Medical Center in
very serious and unstable condition for further medical treatment. ‘The injured
man was lying near the entrance to the building while he was conscious and
suffering from a penetrating and bleeding wound on his body,’ said Magen David
Adom paramedic Elad Rozmarin. ‘We gave him initial medical treatment that
included stopping the bleeding and dressings and quickly evacuated him to the
hospital as his condition was serious and stable.’”



i24 News: Senior Official Tells i24news: Israel In ‘War Of Attrition’ With
Hezbollah, Warns It Could ‘Get Out Of Control’
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“A former high-ranking Israeli official hinted that there may have already
been a response to Hezbollah's outposts in Israel’s territory, as well to
demonstrations of the terror group’s supporters on the border. Former Israeli
National Security Advisor Meir Ben-Shabbat rejected allegations that Israel is
acting with ‘restraint’ towards Hezbollah, during an interview with i24NEWS,
alluding to actions ‘being implemented under the radar.’ ‘The policy of
containment usually includes offensive military activities, but it is kept
secret and is being implemented under the radar,’ Ben-Shabbat said, ‘the
Israeli security services know how to act towards Hezbollah, and some measures
are taken in a non-public manner.’ However, Ben-Shabbat ruled out that the two
sides would head towards a military confrontation, ‘thanks to the deterrence
that was achieved in the Second Lebanon War of 2006, and has proven itself and
is still proving itself.’”



Jewish News Syndicate: Hamas And Islamic Jihad Struggle For Influence Over
Gaza Mosques <[link removed]>



“On Tuesday, dozens of Hamas members took control of a mosque in the town of
Rafah in the Gaza Strip and arrested a prominent figure associated with
Palestinian Islamic Jihad, according to the Tazpit Press Service. Eyewitnesses
reported that dozens of members of Hamas’s ‘Restraint Police’ stormed Rafah’s
Al Awda mosque, considered one of PIJ’s centers of power, and a meeting place
for its operatives. The Restraint Police are tasked with maintaining calm on
the Israel-Gaza border by preventing demonstrations and rocket fire. During the
raid, Sheikh Yahya Mansour, who is responsible for religious activities in
Rafah, was attacked and his hand was broken before being arrested. A number of
PIJ operatives and civilians who tried to defend Mansour were also injured
during the raid. Gaza sources told TPS that the mosque’s seizure is seen as a
strategic move by Hamas, which is aiming to take control of Gaza’s mosques and
exert dominance over PIJ.”



Nigeria



Vanguard: Military High Command Activates ‘War Mode’, Arrests 72 Terrorists
Collaborators
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“The Defence Headquarters said on Thursday that the current leadership of the
armed forces of Nigeria has activated troops into ‘War Mode’ to counter the
threats of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and economic sabotage being
perpetrated against Nigerians. Consequently, in the last one week, troops
neutralized 23 terrorists, bandits and IPOB militants, rescued 17 kidnapped
civilians and arrested 32 criminal elements including terrorist’s
collaborators, logistics supplies, oil vandals and IPOB militants. Making this
known at a briefing on Thursday, the Director of Defence Media Operations,
Major General Edward Buba said a total of N3.525million cash, 125,000 CFA and
60 GHA Cedis were also recovered from the criminal elements after the various
operations by troops and handed over to appropriate investigation authorities.
Throwing more light on the operations, Major Gen Buba said, In the North East,
troops of Operation Hadin Kai recovered 7 AK 47 rifles, 2 FN rifles, one 36
hand grenade, 100 rounds of 7.62 mm Special ammo, 2 mobile phones, 2 Cow, food
stuffs, condiment, one cart and the sum of Two Million One Hundred and Four
Thousand Naira (N2,104, 000.00) only. Troops equally neutralized 6 terrorists
and arrested 8 suspected terrorists’ collaborators.”



Daily Trust: Naf Airstrikes Eliminate 22 Terrorists In Katsina
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“At least 22 terrorists loyal to the deceased notorious terrorists’ kingpin,
Alhaji Abdulkareen Lawal, aka Abdulkareen Boss, have been neutralised by air
strikes on Monday. The strikes were executed by the air component of Operation
Hadarin Daji (OPHD) at Batsari and Sola Poi II in Batsari and Jibia LGAs of
Katsina State. Sources said the bombardment followed credible intelligence
reports that the terrorists were responsible for several abductions and violent
attacks on some communities within Kankara LGA of the state. It would be
recalled that air strikes by NAF on August 6, 2022 eliminated Abdulkareem Boss
and some of his foot soldiers at Ruga Forest in Katsina State.”



Somalia



CNN: US Airstrike Kills 5 Al-Shabaab Militants In Somalia
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“The US military killed five al-Shabaab militants in a ‘collective
self-defense airstrike’ in Somalia, US Africa Command announced Thursday. The
strike was taken at the request of the Federal Government of Somalia, the US
Africa Command statement says, in ‘a remote area near Hareeri Kalle,
approximately 15 kilometers south of Galcad, Somalia.’ The initial assessment
of the airstrike is that five militants were killed, and no civilians were
injured or killed. ‘The airstrike was in support of Somali National Army forces
who were engaged by the terrorist organization,’ the release says. Thursday’s
airstrike comes a little more than a week after the US killed 10 militants in a
strike in an area near Afmadow.”



United Kingdom



Arab News: UK Unprepared For Release Of 120 Terror Convicts: Report
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“The UK lacks the resources to monitor 120 convicted terrorists and people
deemed ‘terrorist risk offenders’ due to be released across the year to March
2024, according to a report issued by the country’s inspectorates of prisons,
the police and probation services. The report warns that many of those set to
be released may have become more dangerous due to radicalization in jail. The
120 include Daesh and Al-Qaeda-inspired individuals, as well as far-right
terrorists, The Independent reported. The UK has a history of terrorist attacks
committed by individuals who have already spent time in prison, including the
2019 London Bridge attack and the 2020 Streatham stabbings.”



India



News18: ISIS Terror Plot Revealed: Jharkhand AMU Student Formed Group Of 10
For ‘Major Attack’, NIA Sources Tell News18
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“Faizan Ansari, the 19-year-old from Jharkhand arrested by the National
Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday for his alleged links to the Islamic
State (IS or ISIS), is highly radicalised and had formed a group of 10
individuals to carry out a major attack in India, according to sources in the
agency. Ansari was in touch with the ISIS operatives in Syria, Afghanistan and
African countries. He has been under ISIS training for the past four years and
was staying outside the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), where he was studying.
‘Ansari wanted to identify targets in India, especially at important places, to
show his allegiance to the ISIS. He had given his payment to the ISIS
recently,’ said sources, adding, ‘He has deep connection with various
individuals in India and used to conduct meetings related to the ISIS.’ He was
planning violent actions and was also contemplating doing ‘hijrat’ (shift) to a
foreign-based ISIS conflict theatre. Documents related to making of explosives
were also recovered from his possession and possibly he wanted to make IED,
said sources.”



Times Of India: NIA Busts Kerala-Based IS Module, Arrests AMU Student With
Terror Ties
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“The NIA has busted a Kerala-based Islamic State module that was allegedly
planning terror attacks at different places of worship as well as on leaders of
certain communities in the state. The module had been conducting reconnaissance
missions at potential targets, it said. In another operation, the NIA also
arrested an Aligarh Muslim University student hailing from Lohardagga,
Jharkhand for being in touch with foreign-based IS handlers on social media,
radicalising and recruiting other vulnerable neo-converts, planning violent
actions and contemplating doing a ‘hijrat’ (holy journey) to an IS conflict
theatre abroad. The Kerala IS module was busted on Wednesday with the arrest of
the accused Ashif, carrying the alias Mathilakath Kodayil Ashraf, from a
hideout in Sathyamangalam, Tamil Nadu. This was followed by raids by NIA and
Kerala ATS at three locations in Thrissur and one in Palakkad on Thursday. The
searches — covering the houses of Ashif, as well as three others led to the
recovery of digital devices and incriminating documents, said the NIA.”



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