Eye on Extremism

August 22, 2023 

Reuters: UN Says Over 200 Former Afghan Military, Officials Killed Since Taliban Takeover

“More than 200 members of Afghanistan's former military, law enforcement and government have been killed since the Taliban took over, the U.N. mission in Afghanistan said on Tuesday, despite a "general amnesty" for old enemies. The mission said in a report it had recorded at least 218 extrajudicial killings with links to the Taliban from their takeover of Afghanistan in mid-2021 up to June. "In most instances, individuals were detained by de facto security forces, often briefly, before being killed," the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said. Senior Taliban leaders have said there is an amnesty for former government officials and members of the military by order of their supreme leader. The Taliban-led foreign affairs ministry said in response to UNAMA that it had not received reports of any cases of non-compliance with the order and any cases that did occur would be investigated.”

The Washington Post: 10 Years After Deadly Chemical Attack, Syria’s Survivors Seek Justice

“On that most terrible of nights, when death stalked every street and crept into bedrooms where small children slept, Taher Hijazi was jarred awake by someone shouting his name just outside his window. “Bring your camera and come down immediately!” the voice said. “What’s happening?” Hijazi called, peering into the dark. “Come down, I can’t talk,” the voice said. Hijazi, then a 26-year-old amateur videographer living in the outer suburbs of Damascus, Syria, stumbled outdoors clutching his camcorder. It was not yet 3 a.m., but it was soon clear that a calamity had struck. Strange rockets had fallen in the neighborhood overnight, and an invisible poison was spreading through the warrens of apartment buildings east of the capital. Hundreds of people were dying.”

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United States

ABC News: Suspect Identified In Shooting Death Of Store Owner Over Pride Flag: Police

“A California clothing store owner and designer was killed allegedly by a gunman who police say tore down a Pride flag outside her business and shot her after making homophobic remarks toward her. Laura Ann Carleton, a married mother of nine children, was killed Friday outside her clothing store in Cedar Glen, an unincorporated San Bernardino County community on the shores of Lake Arrowhead, according to a statement from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office. The suspected killer, who is now deceased, was identified as Travis Ikeguchi, 27, Sheriff Shannon Dicus said at a news conference on Monday evening. After allegedly shooting Carleton, the suspect fled the crime scene on foot, but was found by sheriff's deputies several miles from her store, where he was fatally shot in a confrontation, authorities said. The sheriff's office said the assailant was armed with a handgun, which authorities said Monday night was a Smith & Wesson 9mm automatic handgun, and refused orders to drop the weapon.”

Syria

The Jamestown Foundation Brief: New Islamic State Caliph Inherits Renewed Syrian Insurgency

“On August 6, Islamic State (IS) announced its new caliph, Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Quraishi. He is now the organization’s fourth caliph since Abubakar al-Baghdadi declared the caliphate in 2014 . The announcement also dispelled the notion that the previous caliph was killed by Turkish security forces, as the Turkish government had claimed. Rather, IS blamed the formerly al-Qaeda-aligned Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) for killing the last caliph.Although IS would presumably focus on targeting HTS in northwestern Syria based on the announcement, the organization’s recent operations in Syria, if anything, suggest a resurgence in attacks on roadways in the rural eastern part of the country. On August 1, for example, IS targeted a convoy of fuel tankers on the route from Homs to IS’s former capital, Raqqa; the attack resulted in the burning of the tankers, the death of civilians, and the injury of nine drivers. This was the first attack on a main Syrian roadway since 2021, and is reflective of IS’s resurgence in the area. It remains to be seen, however, whether this attack is representative of a broader trend, and/or whether it will boost the new caliph’s popularity.”

Homeland Security Today: Perspective: The Future Fighters Of ISIS Are Adolescents Being Smuggled Out Of Al-Hol By Their Mothers And Financial Networks

“Despite notable repatriation progress in early 2023, involving 14 countries returning their nationals, including children, the issue of detention centers and camps in Northeast Syria remains a critical challenge for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the U.S.-led anti-IS coalition. Likewise, Al-Hol camp continues to prove a breeding ground for IS resurgence. The tough security regime and the robust monitoring and surveillance efforts undertaken by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) over the years has facilitated the camp administration in maintaining a semblance of relative security and stability, but the ideological influence of IS and its reign of terror spreads gradually through the group’s foreign female stalwarts who are passing on the Islamic State’s extremist ideology to the next generation.”

Middle East

i24 News: Hebron Terrorist Attack Victim Bat-Sheva Nagari Laid To Rest

“The funeral of Bat-Sheva Nagari, murdered this morning by a Palestinian terrorist, took place in the Beit Hagai settlement this evening in the West Bank cemetery of Kfar Etzion. Nagari, a 40-year-old schoolteacher and mother of three, was in the passenger seat of the vehicle that was targeted by the terrorist. A man was also seriously injured in the attack, and was taken to Soroka Hospital in Beersheva, south of Hebron, Magen David Adom said. Her 12 year-old daughter, who was sitting next to her, escaped unhurt.  "For a little girl to see her mother murdered before her very eyes is unimaginable," said Benny Gantz, head of the National Unity party. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netayahu on Monday evening blamed Iranian financing for the attack in Hebron and other recent attacks across the West Bank.”

Jewish News Syndicate: Hamas Is Building Rocket Production Infrastructure In Jenin

“Saleh al-Arouri, the leader of Hamas’s military wing in Judea and Samaria, has been working to realize his vision of setting up a terrorist network in northern Samaria dedicated to producing and launching rockets. Established in May 2023, the Hamas-funded “Al-Ayash Battalion” is named in honor of Yahya Ayash, also known as “The Engineer.” Ayash was an infamous bomb-maker and terrorist leader killed by Israel in 1996. While the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) has managed to apprehend some members of this terrorist network in recent months, most remain concealed within the Jenin refugee camp. Despite those arrests, the group continues manufacturing and launching rockets at Israel. Seven of these primitive, locally-produced “Qassam” rockets have been launched recently. Although these rockets are rudimentary in nature, they symbolize Hamas’s intent. The group seeks to transfer advanced technological knowledge for rocket production from Gaza to Judea and Samaria.”

The Jerusalem Post: Terrorism In The Hebron Area: What's The Significance? - Analysis

“After around 18 months of deadly terrorist attacks in the West Bank focusing mainly on the Jenin and Nablus areas of the northern West Bank, terrorism abruptly returned to Hebron on Monday. It’s not that there has been zero deadly terrorism in the Hebron area – and definitely not zero attempts at terrorist attacks or low-grade Palestinian violence. As OC Central Command Maj.-Gen. Yehuda Fuchs said Monday, Israel’s security forces have been regularly thwarting terrorist plots in the Hebron area. So, what was really distinctive about the attack was that it directed attention to how unusual it has been that Hebron has been quieter than the northern West Bank. Further, what does it mean that this seemingly well-executed terrorist attack happened there?”

Somalia

Garowe Online: Car Bomb Hits Somalia's Capital Amid Offensive Against Al-Shabaab

“A suicide bombing happened on Tuesday morning at Ifka Halane intersection in Mogadishu, leaving at least one person dead. The suicide attack, which took place near the Land Office department around Mogadishu stadium, was executed by a suicide bomber driving a car filled with explosives. Harbi Salad Omar, an official of the transport department of the Hamar municipality, has been confirmed dead in the blast. Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the bombing, which comes as the city's security situation was improving for the past months. Somali forces conducting operations against Al Shabaab in the central regions. Analysts say they believed the Mogadishu attack was a terrorist strategy to divert attention from current army operations.”

Europe

The Jamestown Foundation: Arrests Of Central Asian Jihadists In Germany And The Netherlands Reveals Persistent Islamic State Threat To Europe

“On July 6, law enforcement in Germany and the Netherlands arrested nine Central Asians on terrorism-related charges. In Germany, five Tajik nationals, one Kyrgyz citizen, and one Turkmenistani citizen were arrested in the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia for allegedly creating and participating in a local terrorist organization and supporting Islamic State (IS). In the Netherlands, a married couple—a Tajik husband and Kyrgyz wife—were also arrested in Eindhoven and Breda. Both are suspected of plotting terrorist attacks, with the husband also suspected of IS membership. Since 2022, the suspects have been collecting money for IS and running a terrorist cell in Germany. They were also probing possible places for attacks and trying to acquire weapons in that country. The Dutch and German authorities were in contact with each other during the investigations, as the suspects in the two countries collaborated in plotting attacks. All nine of the suspects arrived from Ukraine in 2022 as refugees after the Russian invasion. Most likely, however, they met each other in Syria or Iraq, where IS controlled vast amounts of territory between 2014 and 2019—and attracted foreign jihadists from around the world, including Central Asia.”

India

India Today: Probe Agency NIA Arrests One More Accused Linked To Islamic State Module

“Central investigative agency NIA on Monday arrested the fourth accused wanted in the ISIS Jabalpur module related to expanding terror activities in India. The Jabalpur Module is an Islamic State-linked terror module that was developed and operated from Jabalpur city in Madhya Pradesh and includes dissemination of Islamic State propaganda through social media platforms, as well as through on-ground ‘Dawah’ programmes. According to the NIA, the accused, identified as Kasif Khan, a resident of Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur district, had been allegedly working with his three associates, Syed Mansoor Ali, Mohammad Adil Khan and Mohammad Shahid, who were earlier arrested by the NIA in May. He was also involved in organising the 'Dawah' programme to brainwash and radicalise gullible Muslim youth to work for ISIS, a transnational militant Islamist group, which has been involved in carrying out major terror attacks across the world.”

The Indian Express: Two Militants Trying To Infiltrate J&K Killed After LoC Encounter

“Two militants were killed while trying to infiltrate the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir’s Balakote area of Poonch district, the Army said on Monday. Sharing details of the incident, Defence PRO Lt Colonel Suneel Bartwal said “Intelligence Inputs received from multiple agencies and Jammu Kashmir Police revealed the presence of terrorists waiting to cross the LoC from opposite own Balakote Sector. Based on these inputs own surveillance grid was placed on heightened alert and multiple ambushes were sited at suitable location. On Monday morning, according to the Army, two militants were detected by alert troops trying to cross the LoC, taking advantage of inclement weather, dense fog , thick foliage and undulating ground in Hamirpur area of Balakote Sector. As the militants approached ambush sites of the Army troops, they were challenged and then engaged with effective fire, the defence PRO said. This forced the militants to flee, but one of them fell down on the ground near the Line of Control, he added.”

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