“A suicide bomber killed at least 30 soldiers and wounded scores more inside a
military academy in Somalia's capital Mogadishu on Monday, two military sources
said, in an attack claimed by the al Shabaab militant group. A military
campaign launched by government forces and allied militiamen last year has
forced the al Qaeda-linked group from large swathes of territory in southern
Somalia, but the militants have continued to stage deadly raids. In recent
weeks, with the military campaign against them stalled as the army prepares a
second phase of the offensive, al Shabaab fighters have stepped up their
attacks. In late May, they killed at least 54 Ugandan peacekeepers at a base
south of Mogadishu. They laid siege to Baidoa, one of the country's largest
cities for nearly two weeks. And they have staged a series of raids in
Mogadishu this month.”











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Eye on Extremism



July 25, 2023



Reuters: Suicide Bomber Kills At Least 30 Soldiers In Somali Capital -Military
Sources
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“A suicide bomber killed at least 30 soldiers and wounded scores more inside a
military academy in Somalia's capital Mogadishu on Monday, two military sources
said, in an attack claimed by the al Shabaab militant group. A military
campaign launched by government forces and allied militiamen last year has
forced the al Qaeda-linked group from large swathes of territory in southern
Somalia, but the militants have continued to stage deadly raids. In recent
weeks, with the military campaign against them stalled as the army prepares a
second phase of the offensive, al Shabaab fighters have stepped up their
attacks. In late May, they killed at least 54 Ugandan peacekeepers at a base
south of Mogadishu. They laid siege to Baidoa, one of the country's largest
cities for nearly two weeks. And they have staged a series of raids in
Mogadishu this month.”



Associated Press: Jury To Deliver Verdict Over Brussels Extremist Attacks That
Killed 32
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“A jury is expected to render its verdict Tuesday over Belgium’s deadliest
peacetime attack, suicide bombings at the Brussels airport and a busy subway
station in 2016 that killed 32 people in a wave of violence in Europe claimed
by the Islamic State group. Among the 10 defendants is Salah Abdeslam, who
already is serving a life sentence without parole in France over his role in
attacks that hit Paris cafes, the Bataclan theater and France’s national
stadium in 2015. The suspects in Brussels were tried on charges including
murder, attempted murder and participation in the acts of a terrorist group.
The biggest trial in Belgium’s judicial history unfolded over more than half a
year in a special court to address the exceptional case. Survivors and families
of victims hoped the trial and verdict would help them work through the trauma
and find closure.”



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Fighting Terror is a podcast that brings together counterterrorism experts and
practitioners from Europe, the United States, and beyond to address different
approaches to combating terrorism in our society. Our frank discussions cover
the lifecycle of terrorism from propaganda and recruitment, to financing,
action, and failure. Listenhere
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Syria



Prensa Latina: Syrian Army Clashes With Daesh Terrorists In The Desert
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“Operation officials quoted by Al-Watan newspaper stated that several radicals
were killed in violent clashes in the desert areas between Deir Ezzor, Raqa,
and Hama provinces. According to allegations from Damascus, the Pentagon is
recycling Daesh terrorists and providing them with logistical support,
protection, and intelligence information to attack the Syrian Army, its allies,
and civilian communities in the vast desert region in Syria. Analysts stated
that since its defeat in 2018, Daesh has resorted to gang warfare and attacks
based on clear intelligence instructions to wear down Syrian troops and their
allies.”



Iran



i24 News: Iran Says Dismantled 'Terror Cell' Linked To Israel, Denmark,
Netherlands
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“A ‘terrorist cell’ linked to Israel was dismantled in Iran, the Islamic
Republic's Ministry of Intelligence announced on Monday. According to the
statement, the operation took place last week. The Iranian intelligence further
indicated that members of this network working for Israel had received funding
from Denmark and the Netherlands. However, Iran gave no details for the alleged
Danish and Dutch financial support. The Iranians said it had members of the
‘terrorist cell’ arrested throughout the country, in several districts, and
stated that dozens of bombs and weapons had been seized. The Intelligence
Ministry reported that the ‘terrorists’ were planning to carry out attacks in
several locations in the Islamic Republic.”



Afghanistan



Voice Of America News: Taliban Persistently Refute Al-Zawahiri's Death By US
Drone Strike, One Year On <[link removed]>



“Nearly a year after the United States killed al-Qaida chief Ayman
al-Zawahiri in a drone strike in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, the country's
Taliban leaders continue to make conflicting claims about the circumstances
around the death of the world's most wanted man, raising doubts about their
counterterrorism pledges. ‘We had no information about Ayman al-Zawahiri, and
we had nothing to do with his killing,’ Taliban Defense Minister Mullah
Mohammad Yaqoob told Saudi-based Al Arabia television channel on Friday. On
Saturday, the Taliban governor of Kabul was quoted by an Afghan mainstream
television channel as outrightly denying the presence of the al-Qaida chief in
the city. ‘There is no evidence to prove Zawahiri was killed in Kabul,’
Mohammad Qassim Khalid told TOLO news. The latest Taliban claims come days
after U.S. President Joe Biden stated that Washington and the Taliban were
cooperating to push out al-Qaida terrorists from the war-torn country.
‘Remember what I said about Afghanistan? I said al-Qaida would not be there. I
said it wouldn't be there. I said we'd get help from the Taliban,’ Biden told
reporters at the White House earlier this month without elaborating.”



Middle East



Reuters: Israeli Troops Kill Three Palestinian Militants In West Bank,
Minister Says
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“Israeli troops killed three Palestinian militants who opened fire on them
from a car near the occupied West Bank city of Nablus on Tuesday, Israel's
defence minister and army said. The Palestinian health ministry confirmed that
three people had been killed in the incident. Palestine TV showed footage of a
military vehicle blocking access to the area of the incident, including to an
ambulance, as soldiers appeared to carry out an inspection. Congratulating the
army on Twitter, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said the incident had taken
place at Mount Gerizim, a Samaritan community overlooking Nablus.

Violence in the West Bank has surged for over a year, with increased Israeli
raids, Palestinian street attacks and settler rampages in Palestinian villages.
Nablus and the nearby northern West Bank city of Jenin have seen especially
intense clashes.”



Jewish News Syndicate: Palestinian Terrorists Open Fire On Bus In Samaria
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“Palestinian terrorists opened fire on a public Israeli bus in Samaria on
Monday night, the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement. The bus was
traveling through the village of Huwara near Shechem (Nablus) when terrorists
fired at least eight bullets, the IDF confirmed. No injuries were reported,
though the bulletproof vehicle sustained damage. At the time of the attack, the
bus had several passengers on board. The Israel Defense Forces said that its
personnel had set up roadblocks and launched a manhunt for the terrorists.”



Nigeria



Leadership: Troops Kill Terrorist Cammander, 5 Others Crossing Into Nigeria
From Cameroon
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“The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said its troops on Tuesday, July 4, 2023
neutralized a notorious Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province
(ISWAP) terrorist commander identified as Naoib Gambo Jundullah and recovered
one AK47 rifle loaded with 4 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo in Borno State. This
is just as troops in firefight neutralized five other terrorists crossing to
Nigeria from Cameroon. A text of the brief read by Brig.Gen. Abdullahi Ibrahim
said the troops of operation Hadin Kai in conjunction with Civilian Joint Task
Force (CJTF) on July 4, 2023 conducted ambush operation at Mandara Mountain in
Gwoza local government area of Borno State. He said the troops ambushed and
neutralized a notorious Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist commander identified as
Naoib Gambo Jundullah and recovered one AK47 rifle loaded with four rounds of
7.62mm special ammo.”



Vanguard: Terrorism: Atiku Hails Security Agents For Foiling Attack, Arresting
4 Suspects
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“Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, in the February 25,
2023 Election, Atiku Abubakar, has commended security agencies for foiling what
would have been an attack on his Yola residence, by suspected Boko Haram
terrorists. This was contained in a statement signed by the Atiku Media Office,
on Monday. The statement read in part, ‘We wish to alert the Nigerian public
that at about 9:44 pm on Sunday, 23 July, 2023 a man seeking to confirm the
residence of His Excellency Atiku Abubakar in Yola was apprehended at the gate
of the residence. ‘The man who was apprehended by security operatives at the
residence of Atiku Abubakar was later handed over to the police. ‘Upon further
interrogation by the Police, the suspect identified himself as a 29 year-old
Jubrila Mohammed and confessed to being a Boko Haram member from Damboa in
Borno State. ‘The suspect also informed the Police that he and his colleagues,
who were later arrested too, intended to attack organisations associated with
Atiku Abubakar and some other sensitive locations in Yola.”



Somalia



Garowe Online: Al-Shabaab Seizes Strategic Town In Somalia
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“Al-Shabaab militants have seized a strategic village in Somalia, multiple
sources have confirmed, in the latest incident which comes at the time the Horn
of Africa nation is preparing the second phase of operations against the group.
According to sources, Al-Shabaab managed to successfully challenge Somali
National Army [SNA] at Goofgaduud, a village situated at least 30 kilometers
from Baidoa, the regional administrative capital of Southwest state of Somalia.
'The seizure came following fighting with Somali government troops, residents
said. This happens as AIShabaab began to impose further blockade on key towns
in the Federal State, including Baidoa, which hosts million IDPs fled from
drought. The Al-Shabaab blockade affected businesses in the state.”



Europe



Al Jazeera: Two Protesters Burn Quran Outside Iraqi Embassy In Denmark
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“Two protesters have set fire to a copy of Islam’s holy book, the Quran, in
front of the Iraqi embassy in Denmark’s capital, Copenhagen. The duo from a
group that calls itself Danish Patriots stomped on the Quran on Monday and set
it alight in a tin foil tray next to the Iraqi flag lying on the ground.
Shortly after the incident, Iraq’s foreign ministry called on the authorities
of countries in the European Union to ‘quickly reconsider so-called freedom of
expression and the right to demonstrate’, according to the Iraqi state news
agency INA. The far-right, ultra-nationalist Danish Patriots held a similar
demonstration last week and live-streamed the events on Facebook.”



India



Times Of India: Security Forces Neutralized 79 Lashkar-E-Taiba Terrorists In
Last Two Years
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“The security forces in Jammu and Kashmir have neutralized 79 Lashkar-e-Taiba
(LeT) terrorists in the last two years, an official statement said on Tuesday.
According to officials, at least 35 terrorists have been killed by security
forces in joint operations in Jammu and Kashmir this year that includes 27
unidentified and five belonging to The Resistance Front (TRF). ‘In the year
2022, a total of 129 terrorists including 93 local terrorists and 36 foreign
terrorists. Interestingly, there was only one unidentified terrorist in 2022,
but in 2023, the figure of ‘unidentified’ rose to 27 till July,’ an official
said. A senior officer informed that in the valley there are several terrorist
organizations operating that include Hizbul Mujahideen, Tehrik-ul-Mujahideen
(TuM), Al-Badr, Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH), Islamic State Jammu and Kashmir (ISJK),
Lashkar-e-Mustafa (LeM) and The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the
Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba. ‘This year, we have managed to
foil many infiltration attempts, and in various encounters, a total of 35
terrorists have been neutralized that include 27 foreign terrorists that
remained unidentified and eight local terrorists associated with various
organizations,’ another officer informed.”



Goa Chronicle: 2 LeT Militant Associates Arrested In Baramulla
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“Two militant associates affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were arrested
in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district, police said on Tuesday. The two,
identified as Dayem Majeed Khan and Ubair Tariq of Watrina, both residents of
Bandipora district, were arrested on a specific warrant at Kreeri Baramulla.
‘On specific information regarding the movement of terrorists in Chak Tapper
Kreeri, joint forces of Baramulla Police and 29 RR placed a MVCP (Mobile
Vehicle Check post) at the bus stop. Two suspect persons who were coming from
Chak Tapper towards Main Road Kreeri tried to flee while noticing a joint naka
party but were apprehended tactfully,’ a police spokesman said. During their
personal search, two Chinese Pistols, two pistol magazines, 14 live Pistol
rounds, one ID card, and a Xerox copy of the Aadhar Card were recovered from
them. The two were taken into custody immediately, police said. During the
preliminary investigation, both the terrorist associates confessed that they
are affiliated with a banned terrorist organisation of the LeT outfit and had
collected the arms & ammunition for target killing in District Baramulla,’
police said.”



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