Eye on Extremism

August 31, 2023 

CNN: Exclusive: Smuggler With Ties To ISIS Helped Migrants Enter US From Mexico, Raising Alarm Bells Across Government

“The FBI is investigating more than a dozen migrants from Uzbekistan and other countries allowed into the US after they sought asylum at the southern border with Mexico earlier this year, a scramble set off when US intelligence officials found that the migrants traveled with the help of a smuggler with ties to ISIS, according to multiple US officials. While the FBI says no specific ISIS plot has been identified, officials are still working to “identify and assess” all of the individuals who gained entry to the United States, according to a statement from National Security Council spokesman Adrienne Watson. And they are closely scrutinizing a number of the migrants as possible criminal threats, according to two US officials. Though there is no evidence at this point to justify detaining anyone, the episode was so alarming that an urgent classified intelligence report was circulated to President Joe Biden’s top Cabinet officials in their morning briefing book. For some counterterrorism officials, it shows that the US is deeply vulnerable to the possibility that terrorists could sneak across the southern border by hiding amid the surge of migrants entering the country in search of asylum.”

The Times Of Israel: Israeli Moderately Hurt In Jerusalem Attack; Palestinian Teen Stabber Shot Dead

“An Israeli man was moderately wounded in a stabbing attack at a light rail station in Jerusalem on Wednesday night, police and medics said. The alleged terrorist, a 14-year-old Palestinian, was shot dead by an off-duty Border Police officer at the scene, according to police. The stabbing took place at the Shivtei Israel light rail station, outside the Old City. The assailant, from the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Hanina, stabbed a man at the station with a large kitchen knife. Other civilians at the station attempted to disarm the stabber and scuffled with him.”

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Syria

Al Jazeera: Kyrgyzstan Brings Back 95 ISIL Wives, Children From Syrian Internment Camps

“The government of Kyrgyzstan has said 95 wives and children of ISIL (ISIS) fighters have been repatriated from internment camps in Syria. “The humanitarian mission on August 30, was carried out to repatriate citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic staying in a camp in northeast Syria,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Wednesday. “Thirty-one women and 64 children who are Kyrgyz citizens were transferred from Syria to Kyrgyzstan,” the ministry added, highlighting that as a part of this mission, the Kyrgyz Republic provided humanitarian assistance and necessary medicines to cater to the needs of the population of northeast Syria. It is not clear how many more Kyrgyz nationals remain in the camps in Syria. The latest repatriation is the third such operation for the Central Asian country. It brought back 59 nationals in February this year and 79 from camps in Iraq in March 2021.”

Iraq

Iraqi News: 3 ISIS Terrorists Killed In Air Strike In Northern Iraq

“The Joint Operations Command in Iraq announced on Wednesday the killing of three terrorists belonging to the ISIS group in an air strike in Salah Al-Din governorate, north of Baghdad. The Iraqi Joint Operations Command mentioned in a statement that the Iraqi air force carried out a successful strike on Wednesday using F-16 fighter jets, targeting the remnants of the terrorist group ISIS. The statement elaborated that, aside from the elimination of the three terrorists, tunnels and caves used by ISIS terrorists were destroyed in the geographically complex area. The Elysee Palace in Paris announced on Tuesday that a member of the French Special Forces had been killed in Iraq during an anti-terrorism operation in support of the Iraqi army.”

Rudaw: Three Suspected ISIS Members Arrested In Iraq

“Iraqi intelligence forces on Wednesday announced they had arrested three suspected Islamic State (ISIS) members in separate operations in Nineveh and Anbar provinces as operations against the terror group rise. Iraqi security forces set up ambush points in the districts of Fallujah and Rutba in Anbar province and Tal Afar in Nineveh to successfully arrest three alleged ISIS members, the country’s intelligence directorate said in a statement. The arrests come as Iraq ramps up its efforts to pursue ISIS remnants in the country in response to escalating militant activities, particularly in areas disputed between the Iraqi federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). ISIS seized control of swathes of Iraqi land in 2014 but it was declared territorially defeated in 2017 when Kurdish and Iraqi fighters supported by the US-led coalition drove them out of the stretches of land they seized years prior in a brazen offensive.”

Turkey

Daily Sabah: More PKK Terrorists Surrender To Türkiye In Iraq

“Four PKK terrorists have surrendered to Turkish security forces as the dissolution of the terrorist group continues as a result of Türkiye’s intense counterterrorism operations. The terrorists laid down their arms at the Turkish border post in Habur after fleeing the group’s shelters in northern Iraq, Türkiye’s National Defense Ministry said Wednesday. “The only way out for terrorists is to surrender to Turkish justice,” it added. With the latest additions, the number of terrorists who laid down their arms through persuasion efforts over the past 90 days reached 38, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed Thursday.”

Pakistan

Tribune India: 6 Associates Of Pakistan-Based Terrorist Harwinder Rinda Arrested

“Six associates of Pakistan-based terrorist Harwinder Singh Rinda who were planning to commit "sensational crimes" in Punjab have been arrested, police said on Thursday. The arrests were made by the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) and the Mohali police, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said in a post on X. Arms and ammunition were also recovered from the arrested accused, according to police.”

Middle East

Israel National News: Terrorist Who Murdered 1 In Ramming Attack Neutralized

“Footage posted to social media shows the moments security forces neutralized the terrorist who murdered one person and injured five in a ramming attack near Modi'in Thursday morning. In the video, which was taken from a passing vehicle, the security forces can be seen advancing on the terrorist and a gunshot can be heard. The attacker was driving a commercial truck at the time of the ramming. He was located and neutralized near the Hashmonaim checkpoint. The terrorist was identified as a 41-year-old Palestinian Authority citizen who held a work permit to enter Israel.”

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