“Islamist groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State have been spreading
across Africa for years. The groups came from the large area south of the
Sahara Desert called the Sahel. They are spreading into wealthier West African
coastal nations like Benin. Militants once were believed to want to use coastal
nations like Benin, Togo and Ghana as bases for attacks on Sahel governments.
Now the militant groups are strengthening. Benin has been the hardest hit. This
year it had more than 10 times the number of violent incidents involving
Islamists than Togo did. That information comes from the Armed Conflict
Location & Event Data Project. Attacks by militant Islamists, or jihadis,
against civilians in Benin went from more than 30 to about 80. The overall
number of incidents involving jihadi groups rose by more than 70 percent. The
jihadis' activity in Benin is mostly in the north of the country. There, they
try to recruit people and create division within local populations. Residents
of one small town told The Associated Press recently that civilians can no
longer move freely. People in Materi live in fear because of the jihadi threat.
The fighters place explosives and carry out kidnappings in the area. They aim
to make people lose trust in the government. The government has put in place a
curfew and a ban on gatherings. “I can’t sleep at night, we’re not free to
travel, to move,” Materi resident Florence Bati said. “People are too afraid.””











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Eye on Extremism



November 20, 2023



Voice Of America: Extremist Groups Spread In West Africa
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“Islamist groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State have been spreading
across Africa for years. The groups came from the large area south of the
Sahara Desert called the Sahel. They are spreading into wealthier West African
coastal nations like Benin. Militants once were believed to want to use coastal
nations like Benin, Togo and Ghana as bases for attacks on Sahel governments.
Now the militant groups are strengthening. Benin has been the hardest hit. This
year it had more than 10 times the number of violent incidents involving
Islamists than Togo did. That information comes from the Armed Conflict
Location & Event Data Project. Attacks by militant Islamists, or jihadis,
against civilians in Benin went from more than 30 to about 80. The overall
number of incidents involving jihadi groups rose by more than 70 percent. The
jihadis' activity in Benin is mostly in the north of the country. There, they
try to recruit people and create division within local populations. Residents
of one small town told The Associated Press recently that civilians can no
longer move freely. People in Materi live in fear because of the jihadi threat.
The fighters place explosives and carry out kidnappings in the area. They aim
to make people lose trust in the government. The government has put in place a
curfew and a ban on gatherings. “I can’t sleep at night, we’re not free to
travel, to move,” Materi resident Florence Bati said. “People are too afraid.””



Associated Press: Roadside Bomb Kills 3 People In Pakistan’s Insurgency-Hit
Baluchistan Province
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“A roadside bomb exploded in Pakistan’s southwestern Baluchistan province,
killing three people, police said. Police officer Mohammad Rahim said the bomb
was planted on a dirt road in the Balgatar area of Kech district and was
detonated remotely. Three men, two of whom were brothers, were killed while on
their way to a family gathering, and a privately owned car was destroyed, he
said. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the blast but suspicion
falls on Baluch nationalists turned separatist groups who have been involved in
low-level insurgency for over two decades in the gas- and mineral-rich
province. The groups have been calling for independence from the central
government in Islamabad. Kech district and surrounding areas have suffered from
violence for years. Insurgent groups have claimed responsibility for attacks on
security forces and civilian targets in recent months. Islamic militants and a
banned Sunni extremist group also operate in the province. Also Sunday, police
in the Rajanpur district of the southwestern Punjab province arrested four
militants in a raid. Dost Muhammad, police chief in Rajanpur, said officers
seized explosive material and weapons from the militants’ hideout. He did not
say which group the militants belong to but said anti-state elements from
Baluchistan often sneak into the border area of his district.”




CEP Expert Analysis

* Houthis Targeting Of Religious Minorities
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* The Houthis And U.S.-Designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations
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* The Houthis’ Use of Technology for Repression
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* CEP Calls For Account Freeze On Qatari Assets In The UK
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* The Houthis and U.S.-Designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations
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CEP Mentions



Congressman Andy Ogles: Ogles, Biggs Introduce The ‘Trust But Verify’ Act
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“…CEP strongly supports the Trust But Verify Act. Qatar has long played both
arsonist and firefighter, harboring and funding terrorists responsible for the
deaths of Americans and Israelis and the captivity of many more. The U.S. must
force Qatar to choose between being an American ally or a partner of
terrorists. We thank Congressman Ogles for sponsoring this bill and urge
Congress to pass it.” - Counter Extremism Project.”



The U.S. Sun: SHOCK & AWE Dramatic Moment Israel Blows Up Terrorist Bomb
Factory In Gaza In Massive Explosion As Troops Hunt For Hamas Tunnels
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“…According to the Counter Extremism Project the group is "dedicated to
eradicating Israel" and "establishing an autonomous Islamic Palestinian state"
in the lands currently comprising Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza.”



VT Uncensored Foreign Policy: Foreign Mercenaries Abandoning Ukrainian Army
After Becoming Zelensky’s ‘Cannon Fodder’
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“…Citing internal documents, the newspaper noted that the Legion was
experiencing problems and that recruitment had“stagnated.” As the
Washington-based Counter Extremism Project claimed in March, the Legion and
other groups tied to it “continue to feature individuals widely seen as unfit
to perform their duties.”



DW: Germany: An Honest Broker For Middle East Diplomacy?
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“…German diplomacy on this issue faces a difficult balance to strike. It
requires "influencing all sides to bring this conflict to an end as quickly as
possible, in such a way that guarantees Israel's security and creates prospects
for the Palestinians," Hans-Jakob Schindler, a political analyst from the
Counter Extremism Project, a nonprofit that researches mostly Islamist
extremism, told DW.”



The National: Fears Over Threat To Free Speech As Europe Restricts
Pro-Palestine Protests
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“Former diplomat Hans-Jakob Schindler, of the Counter Extremism Project, said
Germany's measures show that to be treated as a potential threat groups no
longer have to openly call for violence. “Of course, support for Hamas, or
attempts to support Hamas, will not necessarily stop in Germany but every time
you have one of these bans it makes it more difficult, it makes it harder, it
makes it riskier for individuals,” he said.”



The Washington Post: Antisemitism Was Rising Online. Then Elon Musk’s X
Supercharged It.
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“... Outside of social media, white supremacists and neo-Nazis have continued
to use lightly moderated messaging platforms such as Telegram and group-run
websites to distribute hate messages and propaganda since the Israel-Gaza war
began, according to the Counter Extremism Project, a nonprofit that tracks the
groups. The Global Project Against Hate and Extremism found that antisemitic
and anti-Muslim posts on 4chan, Gab, Odysee, and Bitchute increased 461 percent
from 618 to 3,466 from Oct. 6 to Oct. 8. A researcher at the Institute for
Strategic Dialogue, a London think tank that tracks hate and disinformation,
said online extremists were having a “field day,” with far-right groups using
Hamas propaganda to bolster antisemitic messages. Russia’s sophisticated
disinformation apparatus also has seized on the conflict. One of Russia’s
widest ongoing campaigns, known as Doppelgänger, promotes fake articles on
clones of major media websites. Links to the pages are sent out rapidly by
large networks of automated accounts on X and Facebook. For the past year, most
of these articles have been aimed at undermining Western support for Ukraine,
Russia’s top priority. But not long after Oct. 7, some Doppelgänger assets
started promoting the idea that the United States cared far more about Israel
and would stop sending Ukraine as much aid, according to Antibot4Navalny, a
group of volunteers who track Russian disinformation on the internet.”



United States



Politico: Biden Orders Top Aides To Prepare Reprimands For Violent Israeli
Settlers In West Bank
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“President Joe Biden directed top officials to prepare visa bans and
sanctions for extremist Israeli settlers attacking and displacing Palestinians
in the West Bank, according to an internal document read to POLITICO. The
Cabinet memo, sent to senior aides like Secretary of State Antony Blinken and
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Friday, orders their agencies “to develop
policy options for expeditious action against those responsible for the conduct
of violence in the West Bank.” A senior U.S. official read sections of the memo
to POLITICO on Saturday evening shortly after Biden published an op-ed in The
Washington Post revealing his intentions for such a move. “The United States is
prepared to take our own steps, including issuing visa bans against extremists
attacking civilians in the West Bank,” he wrote in the op-ed. The directive
comes as the Biden administration aims to show that it’s supporting Palestinian
civilians in need, even as it staunchly defends Israel’s retaliation against
Hamas, and while members of the president’s party seek conditions on military
aid to Washington’s ally.”



Reuters: US Designates Kata’ib Sayyid Al-Shuhada, Officer As Specially
Designated Global Terrorists -Statement
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“The U.S. State Department has designated Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada (KSS) and
its secretary general as specially designated global terrorists, the agency
said on Friday. "KSS terrorist activity has threatened the lives of both U.S.
and Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS personnel in Iraq and Syria," Secretary of
State Antony Blinken said in a statement.”



Canada



Bloomberg: Trudeau Reiterates Call For ‘Maximum Restraint’ From Israel
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“Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is continuing to urge Israel to
exercise “maximum restraint” to limit civilian deaths in Gaza, even after his
earlier remarks prompted a rebuke from Benjamin Netanyahu. Trudeau called on
Israel this week to do all it could to avoid civilian casualties, saying “the
world is watching” as women, babies and children die. Netanyahu responded in a
social-media post that it is Hamas, not Israel, “that should be held
accountable for committing a double war crime — targeting civilians while
hiding behind civilians.” After Netanyahu’s reproach, the Canadian leader spoke
with Benny Gantz, an Israeli opposition leader and a member of Netanyahu’s war
cabinet. Asked Friday if he used the same language in that call, Trudeau said
he was consistent in all his conversations. “Canada is extremely concerned
about the number of civilian casualties in Gaza, both because the loss of life
is heartbreaking to see, but also because the pathway towards a secure, viable,
independent Jewish state alongside a secure, viable, independent Palestinian
state is getting more difficult with all the hardship that Palestinians are
undergoing,” Trudeau told reporters in San Francisco. “Even as we absolutely
must see releasing of hostages and condemnation and justice for the Hamas
terrorists, we need to also be moving towards peace and stability in the
region.” When a reporter pointed out he didn’t use the expression “maximum
restraint” in his answer, Trudeau replied simply: “Maximum restraint.””



Pakistan



Associated Press: Tens Of Thousands Of Religious Party Supporters Rally In
Pakistan Against Israel’s Bombing In Gaza
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“Tens of thousands of supporters from Pakistan’s main religious political
party rallied in the eastern city of Lahore on Sunday against Israel’s bombing
of Palestinians in Gaza and what it said is the world’s failure to protect
Gazans. Amid anti-Israeli and anti-American slogans the emotionally charged
crowd also called for jihad, or holy war. Earlier this month, Jamaat-e-Islami
held massive rallies in the port city of Karachi and the capital, Islamabad.
Supporters, including women and children, marched for several kilometers
(miles) to reach the location of the rally, holding banners and posters with
slogans opposing Israel and the United States and in support of the
Palestinians. Senator Sirajul Haq, the JI chief, said the ongoing rallies in
support of Palestinians around the world awaken world governments and give a
voice to the innocent. He said the resolutions and words issued by the
Organization for Islamic Cooperation will not work, and that Muslim rulers have
to rise and to stop the hand of the aggressor.”



Reuters: Taliban Minister Raises Return Of Deported Afghans' Assets In
Pakistan Visit
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“The Taliban's acting commerce minister said he had asked Pakistan to help
return the assets of expelled Afghans and discussed ways to overcome
Afghanistan's stalled banking sector transactions during a four-day visit to
Islamabad this week. Acting minister Nooruddin Azizi's arrival in the Pakistani
capital marked the first public visit by a senior Taliban official since
Pakistan announced its policy to deport thousands of undocumented Afghans and
other foreign citizens after Nov. 1. It comes just a week after Pakistan's
caretaker Prime Minister said its expulsion plan was a response to the
unwillingness of the Taliban-led administration to act against militants using
Afghanistan to carry out attacks in Pakistan. The Taliban have said the
security issues are a domestic matter for Islamabad and called on Pakistan to
stop deportations. Azizi said in an interview with Reuters on Thursday night
that the negotiations had mainly focused on trade issues and had been
"friendly". He said Pakistan officials had raised counter-terrorism issues and
he had reiterated the Taliban's policy that Afghan soil would not be used
against other nations. Azizi said a major focus of the visit had been raising
the problem of Afghan deportees being unable to return their assets from
Pakistan. He said that the Afghan embassy's charge d'affaires in Islamabad and
Pakistan's foreign office would work on a "detailed roadmap" on how the assets
could be returned but said it would take time.”



Associated Press: The Pakistani Army Kills 4 Militants During A Raid Along The
Border With Afghanistan
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“Pakistan security forces killed four militants in a shootout during an
overnight raid in the country’s northwest near the border with Afghanistan, the
military said Sunday. A military statement said security forces conducted an
intelligence-based operation in the Khaisoor area of North Waziristan district,
where they exchanged fire with militants. It said troops seized weapons and
ammunition from the militants’ hideout. The military said one of the most
wanted militant commanders, identified by single name of Ibrahim, was among the
dead, all of whom were involved in attacks on security forces and civilians.
Troops were carrying out sanitization of the surrounding areas to eliminate any
hiding militants, it said. North Waziristan served for decades as a safe haven
for militants until the military carried out a major operation after an attack
on an army-run school in Peshawar in 2014 killed more than 150 people, mostly
schoolchildren. The army announced after the yearslong operation that it had
cleared the region of militants, but attacks continue occasionally, raising
concerns that the local Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, found
sanctuaries in Afghanistan and are regrouping in the area. The Pakistani
Taliban are a separate group but allies of the Afghan Taliban, which seized
power in Afghanistan in 2021 as the U.S. and NATO troops were in the final
stages of their pullout after 20 years of war.”



Yemen



Reuters: Houthis Seize Ship In Red Sea With Link To Israeli Company
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“Israel said on Sunday that Yemen's Houthis had seized a British-owned and
Japanese-operated cargo ship in the southern Red Sea, describing the incident
as an "Iranian act of terrorism" with consequences for international maritime
security. The Houthis said they had seized a ship in that area but described it
as Israeli. "We are treating the ship's crew in accordance with Islamic
principles and values," a spokesperson for the group said, making no reference
to the Israeli account. The Houthis, an ally of Tehran, have been launching
long-range missile and drone salvoes at Israel in solidarity with the
Palestinian Hamas militants fighting in the Gaza Strip. Japan's top government
spokesperson on Monday confirmed the capture of the Nippon Yusen-operated ship,
Galaxy Leader, adding that Japan was appealing to the Houthis while seeking the
help of Saudi, Omani and Iranian authorities to work toward the swift release
of the vessel and its crew. "We strongly condemn such acts," Chief Cabinet
Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told a news conference. No Japanese nationals are
among the crew, he said. Galaxy Leader is owned by a company registered under
Isle of Man-headquartered Ray Car Carriers, which is a unit of Tel
Aviv-incorporated Ray Shipping, according to LSEG data. Ray Car Carriers and
Ray Shipping could not be immediately reached for comment outside business
hours.”



Lebanon



Reuters: Hezbollah, Israel Trade Strikes At Lebanese Border In Latest
Escalation
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“Hezbollah and Israel traded rocket and missile fire in areas near the
Lebanese-Israeli border on Saturday, officials on both sides said, in the
latest flare-up of violence which the United States worries will cause conflict
to spiral in the Middle East. The Iran-backed Hezbollah said it shot down an
Israeli drone near the border in the early hours of Saturday. Israel’s military
said it intercepted a missile fired at an Israeli drone. Reuters could not
verify either statement. Lebanese officials said an Israeli air strike hit a
building in an industrial area near the town of Nabatieh, one of the deepest
Israeli strikes inside Lebanese territory since fighting began last month. The
Israeli military did not immediately comment on the incident. Lawmaker Hani
Kobeissy distributed a video online of him visiting the site which he said was
an aluminium supply store that had been bombed by Israel. Hezbollah released a
series of statements early on Saturday saying it had hit Israeli military sites
and troops in areas along the border and caused casualties. The violence is a
spillover from Israel's war against Palestinian militant group Hamas in the
Gaza Strip. Hamas, which controls Gaza, attacked Israeli towns on Oct. 7
killing 1,200 people, according to Israel. Israel has bombarded and invaded
Gaza since then, killing 12,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health
authorities.”



Middle East



Haaretz: East Jerusalem Journalist Arrested On Suspicion Of Incitement And
Encouraging Terrorism
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“Marwat Al-Azza, a Palestinian journalist from East Jerusalem, was arrested
on Friday on charges of inciting and disseminating materials encouraging
terrorism. According to police, the materials, published in a post on her
Facebook account on October 7, constituted support for Hamas. Al-Azza, a
45-year-old freelancer, started working for the American news network NBC
shortly before the war began. She has previously worked for the American
station Al-Hurra and the Saudi channel KSA2. On October 7, Al-Azza put up posts
on her personal Facebook account allegedly supporting Hamas terrorism. She
wrote on the kidnapping of an elderly woman from a Gaza border community, “It’s
killing me, it’s a black comedy, the old woman looks happy, a bit of action
before she dies.” In another post, she wrote: “Sirens all the time, the Jews
are hiding and the Arabs are out drinking coffee on their balconies.” In yet
another post, she wrote: "I feel like I’m watching a movie where the director
is Palestinian and the protagonists are from Gaza.” At Al-Azza’s remand
hearing, the state’s representative said: “These are extremely grave offenses
during a war, committed by someone who lives and works in a country that is
under attack, yet chooses to incite and glorify the terrible acts committed
against civilians.” He also claimed that her detention should be extended due
to the possibility she may tamper with evidence, since she had deleted some of
her posts.”



Reuters: Insight: Forever War? Israel Risks A Long, Bloody Insurgency In Gaza
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“Israel risks facing a long and bloody insurgency if it defeats Hamas and
occupies Gaza without a credible post-war plan to withdraw its troops and move
toward the creation of a Palestinian state, U.S. and Arab officials, diplomats
and analysts said. None of the ideas floated so far by Israel, the United
States and Arab nations for the post-war administration of Gaza have managed to
gain traction, according to two U.S. and four regional officials as well as
four diplomats familiar with the discussions, raising fears the Israeli
military may become mired in a prolonged security operation. As Israel tightens
its control over northern Gaza, some officials in Washington and Arab capitals
fear it is ignoring lessons from the U.S. invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan
when swift military victories were followed by years of violent militancy. If
Gaza's Hamas-run government is toppled, its infrastructure destroyed and its
economy ruined, the radicalization of an enraged population could fuel an
uprising targeting Israeli troops in the enclave's narrow streets, diplomats
and officials say. Israel, the U.S. and many Arab states agree that Hamas
should be ousted after it launched a cross-border raid on Oct. 7 that killed
some 1,200 people and took around 240 hostages. But there is no consensus on
what should replace it.”



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