Eye on Extremism
March 30, 2020
The
National: US Orders Commanders To Prepare For Campaign To Destroy
Kataib Hezbollah In Iraq
“The US Department of Defense has ordered commanders to prepare for
a campaign to destroy the Iraqi militia that Washington holds
responsible for deadly rocket attacks against US personnel. The
Pentagon blamed Kataib Hezbollah for a March 11 rocket attack that
killed one British and two US personnel in Iraq. The order was
described by officials with knowledge of the internal communications
to the New York Times. But the order faced resistance from within, the
military's top commander in Iraq, Lt Gen Robert P White, who said
thousands more US troops were required in the country for any such
campaign to take place. He also said that such an operation would risk
war with Iran. Earlier this week, the United States blacklisted five
Iran- and Iraq-based companies and 15 individuals on Thursday for
supporting the group, its third round of sanctions on Iranian targets
in the last two weeks even as Tehran battles the coronavirus outbreak.
In a statement, the US Treasury Department accused those targeted of
supporting the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and its Quds
Force elite foreign paramilitary and espionage arm and of transferring
lethal aid to Iran-backed militias in Iraq such as Kataib Hezbollah
and Asaib Ahl al-Haq, all of which Washington deems foreign terrorist
organisations.”
Reuters:
Taliban Refuses To Talk To New Afghan Government
Negotiators
“The Taliban declined on Saturday to begin talks with the Afghan
government’s new negotiating team in a setback to the U.S.-brokered
peace process for one of the world’s longest-running conflicts.
Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the militants could not talk to the
21-member team named on Thursday as it was not constituted taking into
account all parties. The team is headed by Masoom Stanekzai, an
ex-security chief and supporter of President Ashraf Ghani, and
includes politicians, former officials and representatives of civil
society. Five members are women. “In order to reach true and lasting
peace, the aforementioned team must be agreed upon by all effective
Afghan sides so that it can represent all sides,” said Mujahid. The
United States, which ousted the Taliban from power in 2001, signed a
troop withdrawal deal with the group in February. But progress on
moving to talks between the militants and the Afghan government has
been delayed by a feud between Afghan politicians, and disagreement
between the Taliban and the government prisoner releases and a
possible ceasefire. Afghan ministry of peace affairs spokeswoman Najia
Anwari said the Taliban’s stance was unjustified as the negotiating
team was made after wide consultations among Afghan society.”
United States
Newsweek:
How Neo-Nazis Are Exploiting Coronavirus To Push Their Radical
Agenda
“Most far-right terror attacks are launched by individuals, but
almost all will have been immersed in an online world of hatred,
propaganda and conspiracy theories. "We have seen time and time again
how the proliferation of dangerous rhetoric online has led to
real-world consequences," Miller said. "In times of heightened
uncertainty, it is incumbent upon leaders, the media and social media
companies to take precautions to prevent the spread of misinformation,
hate speech and extremist rhetoric." Joshua Fisher-Birch of the
Counter Extremism Project described the trend as "very concerning."
Militant neo-Nazis "really are trying to exploit the crisis," he
explained. "They see that people are afraid. They want people to be
even more afraid. They want people to panic.' "They're trying to
create cleavages in society," Fisher-Birch added. "They're trying to
get people to turn against one another."
Penn
Live: Woman Accused Of Coughing On Store’s Food Jailed, Charged With
Terrorist Threats, More
“A woman accused of coughing throughout a Pennsylvania grocery
store has been charged criminally in the incident, which led to the
store throwing away $35,000 worth of items. According to Hanover Twp.
police in Luzerne County, Margaret Cirko, 35, “intentionally
contaminated” meat, produce and other items around 2 p.m. March 25 at
Gerrity’s Supermarket on Sans Souci Parkway. She made verbal threats,
said she was sick and tried to steal a 12-pack of beer as employees
ordered her to leave, police said. Store co-owner Joe Fasula told the
Times-Leader in Wilkes-Barre that more than $35,000 worth of goods had
to be thrown away. He said he was “sick to his stomach” over the loss
of the food. “While it is always a shame when food is wasted, in these
times when so many people are worried about the security of our food
supply, it is even more disturbing,” Fasula said. Police said in a
news release that Cirko was charged with terroristic threats, threats
to use a “biological agent,” criminal mischief, disorderly conduct and
criminal attempt to commit retail theft. After her arrest, she was
sent to a hospital for a mental health evaluation, police said. She’s
now in Luzerne County Prison on $50,000 bail. Her preliminary hearing
is scheduled for April 8.”
Syria
The
New York Times: IS Militants Riot In Eastern Syria Prison, Some
Escape
“Islamic State militants rioted inside in a prison in northeastern
Syria, wrestling control from guards on an entire floor in the
facility while a number of prisoners managed to escape, a Syrian
Kurdish official said Sunday. Mustafa Bali, a spokesman for the
Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, said anti-terrorism forces were
working to regain control of the prison in the eastern Hassakeh
province, adding that more forces were on their way. The prison is
believed to house foreign IS militants. It is not clear what
nationalities were held there. The U.S-led coalition said it was
assisting the SDF with aerial surveillance as they quell the riot. The
coalition said in a tweet that the facility holds low level IS
members. The coalition said its forces don't staff any detention
facilities in Syria. Bali said the number of those who escaped remains
unclear. He said so far there is no connection between the riot and
fears of the fast-spreading, new coronavirus. There are concerns over
an outbreak of the virus inside overcrowded prison facilities in Syria
and elsewhere in the region. But so far there are no reports of
infection in Kurdish-administered northeastern Syria or in any
detention facilities. “Riots often break out in prisons. But this time
the scale of the riot is large,” Bali said in a text message to the
Associated Press.”
Iraq
The
Washington Post: Militia Attacks On Americans In Iraq Are Becoming
More Audacious. The U.S. Is Wrestling With How To
Respond.
“Iran-backed militias are becoming more audacious in attacking U.S.
personnel in Iraq, with rocket strikes against military bases
occurring more frequently and, for the first time, in broad daylight.
U.S. officials say they are receiving near-daily reports of “imminent”
attacks planned against U.S.-linked military or diplomatic facilities.
But the question of how to deter further militia strikes without
putting troops at greater risk highlights how much American security
and influence have evaporated in Iraq. In the two weeks since the U.S.
carried out bombing raids outside Baghdad to avenge a rocket attack
north of the capital that killed a Briton and two Americans, the Trump
administration has been wrestling with what additional steps to take
to confront the militias without sparking costly retaliation.
Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Schenker
told reporters last week that the U.S. would “take what steps that we
see necessary” to retaliate for militia violence. But the
administration remains divided over how, or even when, to strike back.
“This may ultimately come down to how much risk the president is
willing to accept in Iraq before our presence there becomes too much
of a burden,” said a U.S. official.”
Afghanistan
The
New York Times: Taliban Attack Afghanistan Amid Growing Coronavirus
Threat
“The Taliban on Saturday attacked several provinces in northern
Afghanistan, overrunning large parts of one district even as American
diplomats expressed optimism that a peace process stalled over the
release of prisoners was getting back on track. The insurgents
launched major assaults in three northern province — in Kunduz, whose
capital was overrun by the Taliban repeatedly in recent years, as well
as in Faryab and Badakhshan. Some of the worst fighting occurred in
Badakhshan Province, where the insurgents took control of much of the
district of Yamgan and inflicted heavy casualties on Afghan forces in
another district, Jurm. Amanullah Iman, who leads the executive branch
of the Yamgan district office, said hundreds of Taliban fighters
attacked soon after dawn and captured the district center after three
hours of fighting. “There were five outposts in Yamgan district
center, and the Taliban captured all of them,” Mr. Iman said. “The
security forces escaped to a military base in another part of this
district. The fighting rages despite an appeal for a cease-fire on
humanitarian grounds to slow the spread of the coronavirus across the
country.”
Voice
Of America: Kabul Criticizes Taliban For Rejecting Government Teams
For Peace Talks
“The Afghan government has criticized the Taliban for rejecting
Kabul's negotiating team for upcoming intra-Afghan peace talks aimed
at ending the nearly 19-year war. Waheed Omar, President Ashraf
Ghani's adviser, told reporters in Kabul on March 29 that the Taliban
“should not make excuses any more” to start the long-delayed
negotiations. The talks were scheduled to begin on March 10, but were
delayed due to political bickering in Kabul over the composition of
the negotiating team. After weeks of delays, the government on March
27 announced a 21-member team — including five women — to take part in
the talks, a key step in the U.S.-facilitated peace process. But the
Taliban on March 28 rejected the negotiation team, saying the
government had failed to put forward an “inclusive” team. Omar
rejected the Taliban’s claim, saying the negotiating team represented
“a united Afghanistan.” No major political party in Kabul has opposed
the government’s team. There was no comment from U.S. officials. Under
a deal signed by the United States and the Taliban in Doha on February
29, Taliban representatives agreed to commit to direct talks with the
Afghan government.”
Yemen
Asharq
Al-Awsat: Houthis Allocate Donations To War, Ignoring Millions Of
Hungry Citizens
“Houthi leaders in Sanaa, al-Mahwit, Dhamar, and Amran governorates
are forcing residents, including tribesmen, farmers, and merchants, to
donate money and supplies to send them to the fronts and families of
the group's militants. Local and tribal sources in Sanaa and other
regions told Asharq Al-Awsat that the group’s leaders and local
officials held meetings with notables in villages and districts and
forced them to collect donations for war, threatening to recruit the
children of those who object. A beekeeper from al-Mahwit, who asked to
be referred to as Commander A., told Asharq al-Awsat that the group's
supervisor in al-Khabt district forced him to donate 100 kilos of
honey after he said he didn't have any cash to donate. Asharq al-Awsat
asked one of the local tribal elders in Saafan directorate about the
reason why residents accept Houthi blackmail, he explained that many
of them are small merchants or farmers and are forced to contribute in
order to protect their children.”
Asharq
Al-Awsat: Who Rules Houthis, How Does Is It Relate To The New
Coronavirus Crisis?
“Western diplomatic sources close to decision-making circles in
Sanaa, the Yemeni capital over-run by Iran backed Houthi militia,
believe that the Houthi group is frantic over dealing with the new
coronavirus and its repercussions. The sources, speaking under the
condition of anonymity, confirmed that the Houthi administration is
weak. This is the result of Houthi distribution of power which wasn’t
split according to qualification but according to lineage. In
chaos-mired Yemen, there are not many conclusive answers. But a little
thought and reading into news headlines may help in understanding the
scene. The name of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard official in Yemen,
Abdul Reza Shahlai, emerged in the wake of the killing of Qassem
Soleimani, leader of the Quds Force in Iraq. One of the leaders of the
Iranian Revolutionary Guards in Yemen, Abdulredha Shahlai, is one of
the most wanted individuals in Saudi Arabia and the US, because of his
support for terrorism and the smuggling of weapons and missiles to the
Iranian Houthi militia in Yemen. US law enforcement officials have
long tried to bring Shahlai to justice, most recently on December 5,
2019, by offering a $15 million reward for information leading to the
disruption of his fund-raising networks.”
Saudi Arabia
Al
Jazeera: Why Houthis Offered Saudi Pows Swap For Jailed
Palestinians
“When the leader of Yemen's Houthi rebels recently offered a
surprise prisoner exchange to Saudi Arabia, the announcement brought
to light the case of dozens of Palestinians on trial in the kingdom,
where they are accused of “supporting terrorism”. In a televised
address to mark the fifth anniversary of the Saudi intervention in
Yemen, Abdul Malek al-Houthi offered to swap a Saudi military pilot
and four other prisoners of war held by the Houthis for the
Palestinian activists. Al-Houthi said the offer was made because his
group stands in solidarity with the Palestinian people against those
who “conspire against its legitimate cause”. Saudi Arabia put dozens
of Palestinian activists on trial on March 8, accusing them of
supporting the Hamas group, which governs the besieged Palestinian
territory of Gaza and is considered a “terrorist group” by Riyadh. The
activists' first court appearance was held in secret without legal
representation to defend them against the charges, according to the
families of the detainees. The next court date is scheduled for May.
Hamas sees itself as a “national resistance movement” against the
Israeli occupation of Palestine.”
Egypt
The
Arab Weekly: Egypt’s Terror Fight Not Over After Killing ISIS
Emir
“The killing of Islamic State (ISIS) in Sinai Abu Fares al-Ansari
was a significant blow to the militant group but by no means
represents the end of its presence in Egypt, security analysts said.
“The killing of this man will negatively affect the terrorist group
for a long time to come,” said Khaled Okasha, a member of the Supreme
Counterterrorism Council, an advisory body of the Egyptian presidency.
“Terrorist organisations depend on their leaders to a great deal in
securing financing and logistical support and contacts with regional
or international sponsors.” Ansari, the Islamic State emir in the
North Sinai city of Rafah, was hiding in the southern part of the city
with five other senior ISIS fighters when he was killed in an Egyptian
Army raid. In his late 30s, Ansari was said to have masterminded
numerous ISIS attacks against the Egyptian Army and police in Rafah
and nearby areas. His killing is part of a campaign by Egypt’s
security establishment to push ISIS’s remaining presence into a small
area in the northern part of the territory, which shares borders with
Israel and the Palestinian Gaza Strip. Egypt massed tens of thousands
of troops in Sinai with the aim of eradicating ISIS in
2018.”
Libya
Egypt
Today: Dozens Of Syrian Mercenaries In Libya Killed In 1
Week
“Although the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported
that 151 Turkey-backed militants - fighting in the ranks of
Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) have been killed
since the beginning of this year, the LNA announced Thursday that the
number of Syrian mercenaries who fell over the previous 72 hours is
103. The breakdown indicated by the LNA is 71 from the Second Corps,
and 32 from the Third Corps. Mercenaries affiliated to the Second
Corps are 35 from the Sultan Murad Brigade, nine from Al-Moatasim
Division, 27 from Al-Hamzat Brigade including leader Abou Hassan
al-Hamzawy. Mercenaries affiliated to the Third Corp are eight from Al
Nusra Front, 13 from Afrin-based Al Majd Corps, and 1 from the North
Hawks Brigade. SOHR reported Wednesday that eight Turkey-backed
militants - fighting in the ranks of Tripoli-based Government of
National Accord (GNA) - were killed in clashes with the Libyan
National Army (LNA) so that the total figure becomes 151 since the
beginning of this year. The observatory had reported earlier this
month that the number of fatalities among Syrian mercenaries in Libya
recorded 117.”
Nigeria
Premium
Times: Boko Haram Attack, With ’15 Gun Trucks,’ Repelled By Nigerian
Soldiers – Official
“More details are emerging of a recent military operation by
Nigerian soldiers battling Boko Haram fighters in the North-east. The
Nigerian general leading the operations said the insurgents attacked
troops he was leading with “15 gun trucks” from different flanks. “We
have been met with very strong resistance from Boko Haram since
yesterday. They are more than pockets of insurgents. Today morning,
and from every flank, not less than 15 gun trunks faced us. The Boko
Haram terrorists fired more than 100 RPGs and mortars on us,” Olusegun
Adeniyi, a major-general and theatre commander of Operation Lafiya
Dole said in a video. PRNigeria, a news agency with close ties to
security agencies, said it sourced the video on Sunday morning. The
exact day Mr Adeniyi shot the video was not stated, but PREMIUM TIMES
learnt the video was shot about three days ago meaning the attack
occurred around Wednesday. Mr Adeniyi did not also state the exact
location where the attack took place in the North-east, but our
security source said it was in Borno State. In the video, Mr Adeniyi
said he and other generals led the Nigerian troops to successfully
fight off the insurgents. “Yet, we are not running or fleeing from
them. Me and other generals are on the ground.”
The
Punch Nigeria: Five Dead, 14 Injured As Terrorists Strike In
Maiduguri
“Five people were killed when terrorists attacked their vehicles in
Maiduguri, militia leaders said Sunday, adding more were feared dead.
Gunmen from the Islamic State West Africa Province stopped the
vehicles around 1730 GMT on Saturday near Auno village, 20 kilometres
from Maiduguri, and attacked drivers and passengers with machetes as
they fled into the bush. “We have so far recovered five dead bodies
and 14 people with severe injuries all from machete cuts,” militia
leader Babakura Kolo told AFP. He said the death toll might rise since
more bodies could still be in the bush. “The terrorists killed
several people in a machete-hacking spree, following them into the
bush where bodies are still scattered,” he said. A team of police,
militiamen and local hunters combed through the area Sunday,
evacuating the dead and the injured. The rescue operation was
hampered, however, by the team’s refusal to go deeper into the bush
for fear of attack from the jihadists. “We can’t go deep inside the
bush which is littered with more bodies because the insurgents are
very much around,” another militia Ibrahim Liman said. “We don’t have
the kind of weapons they have to give them a good fight,” he
said.”
Somalia
The
Defense Post: Somalia: Puntland Governor Killed In Al-Shabaab Suicide
Attack
“A governor in Somalia’s Puntland was killed Sunday in a suicide
bomb attack, witnesses said, in an attack claimed by the jihadist
group al-Shabaab. The attack on Abdisalan Hassan Hersi, governor of
the Nugaal region, happened in Puntland capital Garowe on March 29,
said officials. “The doctors tried to save the governor’s life but
unfortunately he died from his injuries,” Mohamed Weli, a police
officer in Puntland, told AFP by phone. A source at the hospital, who
did not wish to be identified, said the governor died less than an
hour after being admitted to the intensive care ward. “He was badly
wounded in the blast and he had little chance of surviving such
serious injuries,” the source told AFP. A former police commander and
a civilian were also wounded in the blast, and all three were being
treated in hospital, Puntland’s interior minister, Mohamed Abdirahman,
told reporters. Witnesses said the attacker ran at the vehicle in
which he was traveling before detonating his explosive vest. “The
governor and the former police commander were wounded seriously in the
blast, the police sealed off the area after the blast,” said one
witness, Adan Suleyman.”
Africa
The
New York Times: Crisis In The Sahel Becoming France’s Forever
War
“For two days, dozens of armored vehicles carrying 180 elite
soldiers with the French Foreign Legion lumbered over West Africa’s
scrubby savanna to reach a suspected hide-out for Islamist militants.
Finally, by a thicket of acacia trees, the legionnaires spotted a
turbaned suspect in flip-flops, carrying an AK-47, who set off at a
sprint and melted away in the distance. The soldiers found only his
gun, boots, and ammunition holster under a thorny fence, and presented
the findings to their officer. “A bit of a modest result,’’ said Col.
Nicolas Meunier, commanding officer of the French desert battle group.
When France sent its forces into Mali, a former French colony, after
armed Islamists took control of the West African country’s northern
cities, their mission was supposed to last only a few weeks. That was
seven years ago. Since then, the terrorist threat has spread across a
vast sweep of land south of the Sahara known as the Sahel, and
France’s counterterrorism fight has spread with it. As a result, more
than 10,000 West Africans have died, over a million have fled their
homes and military forces from West Africa and France have suffered
many losses.”
United Kingdom
Yorkshire
Post: Fantasist Who Hoarded Weapons And Had Seven Terrorist Manuals
Jailed
“Anwar Driouich, 22, from Middlesbrough, admitted possessing 10kg
of ammonium nitrate and seven terrorist manuals, including Munition
Black Books, Anarchy Cookbook, Inspire, Ragnar's Big Book Of Homemade
Weapons and Bloody Brazilian Knife Fighting Techniques. He hoarded
weapons, including knives and a crossbow, and wrote in Facebook chat
he was a “cold-blooded SOB” who wanted to “massacre this place”. The
defendant also trawled the internet for mass shootings, terrorist
attacks, and “incels” - a term for young men who consider themselves
“involuntarily celibate”, a loose US online community responsible for
high-profile murders and a mass shooting. However, his lawyer argued
Driouich was a not terrorist, had no plans to make a bomb, and made
“teenagerish” comments. Opening the facts, prosecutor Tom Walkling
said Driouich was arrested in London last August after the company
Aqua Plants Care reported his online order for 10kg of Ammonium
Nitrate, a component of high explosives. Police found he had
previously bought online 3.5kg of ammonium nitrate, a knuckleduster,
retractable baton, handcuffs, balaclavas, and instructions on making a
flamethrower.”
Germany
Daily
Sabah: 871 Attacks Reported Against Muslims In Germany In
2019
“Some 871 attacks targeted the Muslim community in Germany last
year, according to a report by a German daily Sunday. Two Muslims were
killed, while 33 others were injured in these attacks, Neue
Osnabrücker Zeitung daily reported, citing the government's response
to a question submitted by the Left Party (Die Linke). According to
Left Party's spokesperson Ulla Jelpke, the number may be higher by up
to 90 more cases when the final number has been released, based on her
“experience.” “The hatred of Muslims continues to be displayed in
violent attacks, threats and insults,” Jelpke told the daily adding
that it is still too early to have a clear picture on the total number
of cases. “Unfortunately, we have to expect that there are more
similar ticking time bombs,” she underlined. Germany has been
recording Islamophobic crimes separately since 2017. The total number
of cases in 2019 has not been officially announced. In 2018 there were
910, including 48 attacks on mosques alone, a little lower than 2017
with 1,095 crimes. More than 90% of these were attributed to
politically motivated crimes by the far-right. Considering that the
overall number of crimes has decreased, the assaults have increased,
Die Tageszeitung stressed.”
Australia
The
Canberra Times: Right-Wing Extremism Needs To Confronted, Says
Researcher
“Efforts to stop the growing threat of right-wing extremist
terrorism in Australia must go beyond removing material from websites
for mainstream viewing, counter terrorism researchers have said. Two
chapters in a think-tank's new book on counter terrorism released on
Monday warn against focusing too narrowly on denying right-wing
extremists a platform to share online content with the broader public.
Charles Sturt University researcher in terrorism Kristy Campion said
in the Australian Strategic Policy Institute's Counterterrorism
Yearbook 2020 that right-wing extremist ideology should be confronted
head-on in public debate. Her comments follow warnings from the
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation of a marked increase in
right-wing extremism in Australia over recent years. Dr Campion said
government efforts against the online presence of right-wing extremist
material addressed a “carrier” of their views but failed “to provide
meaningful counter-narratives or to undermine the value that
individuals attach to ideological affiliation”. “Ideologically driven
narratives serve to recruit, motivate and guide violent actors, but
they don't always contain violent content; nor are they disseminated
solely in open online spaces,” she said.”
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