Eye on Extremism

September 28, 2023 

Voice Of America: Taliban: 200 Anti-Pakistan Militants Arrested In Afghanistan

“Afghanistan's Taliban says it has captured 200 suspected militants for staging deadly cross-border attacks against Pakistan and has implemented other "concrete steps" to "neutralize" the terrorist activity, VOA learned from Pakistani officials privy to the process. The de facto Afghan rulers shared the details about the crackdown on the outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, in bilateral talks they hosted last week in Kabul with a high-level delegation from Islamabad. The dialogue came two weeks after hundreds of heavily armed militants assaulted two Pakistani security posts in the northern border district of Chitral. The September 6th raid killed four soldiers and 12 assailants, with the TTP claiming responsibility. The Taliban “arrested 200 TTP cadres returning from the Chitral attack. They are now behind bars," said an official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to publicly interact with the media. He added that de facto Afghan authorities were in the process of relocating other TTP members away from the border with Pakistan.”

The Times Of Israel: Israel Reopens Gaza Border Crossing, Despite Ongoing Riots

“Israel reopened its sole pedestrian crossing with the Gaza Strip on Thursday after closing it two weeks ago in response to rioting on the border. The Erez Crossing in the northern part of the Strip reopened despite ongoing riots and violence on the border since its closure. The IDF’s coordinator for the Palestinian territories announced the reopening on Wednesday, saying, “Continuation of the civil measures will be possible in accordance with security assessments and with the preservation of stable security.” The closure of the crossing affects 17,000 Gazans who have permits to enter Israel for work. The Strip’s economy is badly harmed by the laborers being barred entry to Israel. The crossing is expected to temporarily close again this weekend due to the Sukkot holiday. Also Wednesday, Defense Ministry Yoav Gallant said Israel was prepared to step up actions against Gaza as unrest on the border continued. “We don’t want an escalation [in fighting] and are not looking for a fight, but if we get to the point where we need to act, let Operation Shield and Arrow be a reminder for all terror groups about the capabilities of [Israel’s] security apparatus,” Gallant said at a memorial marking 50 years since the Yom Kippur war.”

United States

The Times Of Israel: The USA. Three Easy Steps. From Democracy To Mobocracy To Ochlocracy

…New research, presented Friday by the Counter Extremism Project (CEP), warns the past several months have seen a proliferation of small, loosely affiliated combat sports and fitness clubs — known as Active Clubs — that publicly advertise fitness, self-improvement, and brotherhood.”

Yemen

Associated Press: In Yemen, 5 Fighters From Secessionist Force Killed In Clashes With Suspected Al-Qaida Militants

“At least five Yemeni fighters from a secessionist group were killed in clashes with suspected al-Qaida militants in the country’s south, security officials said. The deadly fighting broke out Wednesday night between forces loyal to Yemen’s secessionist Southern Transitional Council and al-Qaida militants in the southern Abyan province, local security authorities said in a brief statement. Abyan’s security department said that the secessionist forces, led by the Eastern Arrows Forces, reclaimed several areas that had been under the militants’ control and that three of its fighters were injured in the clashes. No further details were given. It remains unclear how many al-Qaida fighters died in the battle. The group did not comment on the incident. The Southern Transitional Council is backed by the United Arab Emirates and controls most of Yemen’s south. It is at odds with the internationally recognized government and has repeatedly called for the south Arabian country to be split into two states, as it was between 1967 and 1990. Al-Qaida’s branch in Yemen, or AQAP, is active in Abyan province and regularly carries out ambushes against Yemeni forces. AQAP is seen as one of the more dangerous branches of the terror network.”

Lebanon

Associated Press: Lebanese Military Court Sentences An Islamic State Group Official To 160 Years In Prison

“A Lebanese military court has sentenced an official with the extremist Islamic State group to 160 years in prison for carrying out deadly attacks against security forces and planning others targeting government buildings and crowded civilian areas, judicial officials said Wednesday. The officials said Imad Yassin, a Palestinian in his 50s, confessed to all 11 charges against him, including joining a “terrorist organization,” committing crimes in Lebanon’s largest Palestinian refugee camp of Ein el-Hilweh, shooting at Lebanese soldiers, and transporting weapons and munitions for militant groups. Yassin, also known as Imad Akl, said he was planning several other attacks, including blowing up two main power stations, the headquarters of a major local television station in Beirut, killing a leading politician, as well as planning attacks on hotels north of Beirut, the officials said on condition of anonymity in line with regulations. Before joining IS, Yassin was a member of other militant Islamic groups, including al-Qaida-linked Jund al-Sham, which is still active in Ein el-Hilweh. In later years, he became IS’ top official in the camp.”

Middle East

Associated Press: Israel Says It Foiled Iranian Plot To Target, Spy On Senior Israeli Politicians

“Israel arrested five Palestinians in a plot allegedly hatched in Iran to target and spy on senior Israeli politicians, including Israel’s far-right national security minister, the country’s internal security agency said Wednesday. The Shin Bet security service alleged that an Iranian security official living in neighboring Jordan had recruited three Palestinian men in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and another two Palestinian citizens of Israel to gather intelligence about several high-profile Israeli politicians. The targets included National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir — a firebrand Israeli settler leader who oversees the country’s police force in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ultranationalist government — as well as Yehuda Glick, an American-born far-right Israeli activist and former member of parliament. The plan was foiled by Israeli intelligence officials, the Shin Bet said, without offering evidence. Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the allegations.”

Somalia

Garowe Online: Twin Al-Shabaab Morning Car Bomb Attack Targets Somalia

“Two twin explosions targeted Dhusamareb town on Thursday morning, the regional administrative capital of Galmadug, where President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has been temporarily operating from as he steers the final assault on the Al-Shabaab militants across the country. One of the explosions targeted the road leading to the town's main airport, which is said to be busy given the number of dignitaries and military officers who use it. The attackers used a car to detonate bombs along the route, causing massive damages on the way according to eyewitnesses. The second SVBIED targeted the checkpoint within the town, forcing soldiers to fire indiscriminately as they pursued the attackers, witnesses added. The attack caused massive damage to property but there is no official confirmation of the number of casualties, sources said. While the planners are yet to be exposed, embattled Al-Shabaab militants engineered the attack given the recent crackdown targeting them in central regions. The Somali National Army [SNA] has been moving around pursuing the militants in Galmadug and HirShabelle states.”

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