Eye on Extremism
*Note: Eye On Extremism will be suspended
tomorrow, April 10. Eye On Extremism will resume on Monday, April
13.*
April 9, 2020
Daily
Sabah: Top PKK Terrorist Killed In Turkish Anti-Terror Operation In
Northern Iraq
“Senior PKK terrorist Fadil Ekinci in charge of the terrorist
group's activities in Iraq's Zap region and listed in the blue
category of Turkey's wanted list was killed in an anti-terror
operation in coordination with National Intelligence Organization,
reports said Wednesday. Ekinci was sought with a TL 1 million
($147,284) bounty on his head. The Interior Ministry divides sought
suspects into five color-coded categories, with red marking the most
wanted, followed by blue, green, orange and gray, depending on the
sensitivity of their criminal activity. Turkish security forces
regularly conduct counterterrorism operations in the eastern and
southeastern provinces of Turkey where the PKK has attempted to
establish a strong presence and bases. The TSK also conducts
cross-border operations in northern Iraq, a region where PKK
terrorists have hideouts and bases from which they carry out attacks
on Turkey. The operations intensified after July 2018 and became
routine since the beginning of another extensive campaign, Operation
Claw, which was launched on May 27 to entirely eliminate the presence
of the terrorist organization in northern Iraq. On July 13, the TSK
launched Operation Claw-2 as a follow up to the successful
Claw-1.”
Voice
Of America: Somali Officials Confirm US Airstrike Killed Senior
Al-Shabab Leader
“A Somali intelligence official has confirmed that a U.S. airstrike
in southern Somalia killed a senior leader of militant group
al-Shabab. The official in Somalia's southwest region told VOA that
the airstrike on April 2 killed Yusuf Jiis, a long-standing,
high-ranking leader in the al-Qaida-affiliated group. The airstrike
took place near Bush Madina, about 55 kilometers east of the town of
Dinsor, in a Shabab-controlled area. “This individual was a key leader
in the al-Shabab organization,” said U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend,
commander of U.S. Africa Command. “He was violent, ruthless and
responsible for the loss of many innocent lives. His removal makes
Somalia and neighboring countries safer.” Jiis, whose real name was
Yusuf Nur Sheikh Hassan, was the al-Shabab official in charge of
dealing with humanitarian agencies. He was accused of leading
militants who raided and looted the offices of aid agencies in 2009.
Al-Shabab has been accused of blocking aid to Somali civilians in
need, particularly during a 2011 drought that killed an estimated
260,000 people. Somali officials believe more recently, Jiis worked in
the Hisba, or police department, of al-Shabab and was recently added
to the group's consultative council, or Shura.”
NBC
News: Prospective Peace Talks In Peril As Taliban Reject Afghan
Government Prisoner Release
“An Afghan government announcement that it freed 100 Taliban
prisoners Wednesday has been rejected by the militant group, putting
the prospect of peace talks between the two parties in further peril.
The announcement came a day after the Taliban said it was pulling out
of talks aimed at facilitating a larger swap of thousands of
prisoners. Announcing the release of the 100 prisoners, Javid Faisal,
a spokesperson for Afghanistan’s National Security Council said in a
statement Wednesday: “The government of the Islamic Republic of
Afghanistan remains open [to] continuing joint technical work with the
Taliban in order to advance the peace process.” But the Taliban
rebuffed the overture saying they were unable to verify which, if any,
prisoners had been released, adding that as far as they were concerned
the prisoner exchange negotiations were still suspended. “We don’t
know who these 100 people are who the Afghan government claims to have
freed today,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told NBC News. The
prisoner exchange was part of the deal signed between the United
States and the Taliban in the Qatari capital of Doha in February,
under which America agreed to withdraw all forces from Afghanistan
within 14 months.”
United States
Associated
Press: US Charges 2 With Terror Crimes Over Threats To Spread
Virus
“The Justice Department charged two people with federal terrorism
offenses on Wednesday for allegedly claiming they were intentionally
trying to spread the coronavirus. The charges, in cases in Texas and
Florida, come about two weeks after Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey
Rosen instructed federal prosecutors across the U.S. that they could
charge people who threaten to spread the coronavirus under the
terrorism statutes because the Justice Department considers it a
“biological agent” under the law. “Threats or attempt to use COVID-19
as a weapon against Americans will not be tolerated,” Rosen wrote in
the memo to U.S. attorneys and the heads of all Justice Department
agencies, including the FBI. More than 400,000 people have been
diagnosed in the U.S. with the virus, which has prompted stay-at-home
orders from lawmakers across the country. Authorities have reported an
uptick in hate crimes and virus-related scams. Prosecutors allege
James Jamal Curry, 31, of St. Petersburg, Florida, coughed on an
officer’s arm while he was being arrested on a domestic violence
charge on March 27 and told the officer, “Well I got the Corona,”
according to court documents.”
Military
Times: Some DoD Medical Facilities Found Vulnerable To ‘Violence,
Sabotage Or Terrorism'
“An audit of eight military hospitals and clinics found security
flaws that allowed unauthorized access to patient records and
pharmacies, and left the facilities vulnerable to incidents of
violence, sabotage or terrorism, according to a Pentagon inspector
general report released this week. Though the facilities “generally
implemented physical security controls,” weaknesses were found at all
eight locations, and the auditors concluded that similar
vulnerabilities may also exist at other facilities operated by the
Defense Health Agency. The report cited recent security incidents at
medical facilities —including a 2015 shooting near the William
Beaumont Army Medical Center on Fort Bliss, Texas — that underlines
the need for more stringent protocols. The rate of workplace violence
is also four times higher for health care workers, according to the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the Drug
Enforcement Agency often warns of the propensity of criminals to
target pharmacies for controlled substances. None of the eight medical
treatment facilities audited appear named in the redacted report. The
auditors looked at the facilities’ use of security cameras, duress
alarms, intrusion detection systems and badging methods to regulate
entry to restricted areas.”
Syria
The
New York Times: Syria Used Chemical Weapons 3 Times In One Week,
Watchdog Says
“An investigative team with the international group that monitors
compliance with the chemical weapons ban accused the Syrian government
on Wednesday of having launched three chemical weapons attacks on one
village in northern Syria in March 2017, sickening scores of people.
The team, established by the Organization for the Prohibition of
Chemical Weapons, said in a report that in the span of one week,
Syrian fighter jets had twice dropped bombs containing sarin nerve
agent on the village and a helicopter had targeted its hospital with a
cylinder containing chlorine. Reports of chemical weapons use have
surfaced frequently during Syria’s nine-year civil war, and officials
from the United States, Turkey and other countries have accused the
Syrian government of using banned weapons to try to break the back of
the rebel movement that is seeking to oust President Bashar al-Assad.
The O.P.C.W. verified the use of chemical weapons in many of these
cases, but had refrained from assigning blame for who deployed them,
raising criticism from activists that holding back such judgments
diminished the chances for accountability.”
Iraq
Kurdistan
24: Kurdish Leader Stresses ISIS Still A Serious Threat After Attack
Kills 2 Peshmerga
“The so-called Islamic State remains a serious threat, said
Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Masoud Barzani on Wednesday, a
day after members of the terrorist organization killed two Kurdish
Peshmerga forces in an attack. “Last night's terrorist attack in the
Garmiyan area which resulted in the martyrdom of 2 Peshmerga forces is
a reminder that the #ISIS terrorists continue to constitute a threat,”
said Masoud Barzani in a tweet. “It is imperative that the
anti-terrorism efforts by Erbil, Baghdad and the coalition remain a
priority.” In his statement on the incident, Kurdistan Region
President Nechirvan Barzani said, “I extend my heartfelt condolences
to the families and relatives of the two fallen Peshmerga heroes,
Surkew Rashid and Ismaeil Fars, who lost their lives last night while
repelling an attack by ISIS terrorists in Kulajo village, Garmian
region.” The incident occurred in the south of the autonomous region
in the small town of Kulajo, located within the Garmiyan
Administration, an unofficial province in the Kurdistan Region that
includes the three districts Kalar, Kifri, and Chamchamal.”
Afghanistan
Long
War Journal: Taliban Touts More Elite ‘Red Unit’ Fighter Training On
Social Media
“There has been no slowdown in the Taliban’s propaganda, as two of
the group’s top spokesmen continue to take to social media to tout the
training of its military personnel. One of their latest posts appears
to show fighters from the Red Unit, the Taliban’s special operations
unit that spearheads its assaults throughout the country. Taliban
spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid pushed out the images of the Red Unit on
Twitter on April 4. Qari Yusuf Ahmadi promoted images from a Taliban
camp in Paktika on Twitter on April 7. The images have yet to be
published on the Taliban’s official website, Voice of Jihad. However,
the photographs bear the watermark of El Emara Studio, which is the
official media wing of the Taliban. While Mujahid did not explicitly
identify the fighters in his photographs as members of the Red Unit, a
prominent Taliban booster who has accurately reported on Taliban
issues has confirmed. The photographs support his claim. In his tweet,
Mujahid named the lead trainer: Ammar Ibn Yasser, who is described as
“the Mujahideen of Mujahideen.” In the photographs, Yasir and two
other trainers were seen wearing shirt emblazoned with the logo of the
Taliban’s “special forces.”
Middle East
The
Times Of Israel: Top Hamas Official Says Terror Group Willing To Enter
Prisoner Swap Talks
“A senior Hamas official said Wednesday that the terror group was
willing to enter talks “tomorrow” to return two Israeli civilians and
the bodies of two soldiers killed in the 2014 Gaza War. Musa Dudin, a
member of the Hamas political bureau, speaking on a Hamas-affiliated
TV channel, said Israel had a “window of opportunity” that it can take
advantage of before it will once again be forced to “negotiate under
more difficult conditions,” apparently referring to the willingness to
make a humanitarian gesture during the coronavirus crisis. Hamas is
believed to be holding two Israeli civilians — Avera Avraham Mengistu
and Hisham al-Sayed — who are though to have entered the Gaza Strip of
their own accord in 2014-2015, as well as the bodies of Hadar Goldin
and Oron Shaul, IDF soldiers killed in the 2014 Gaza war. Dudin said
“Israel knows what the demands are and that they should not be
discussed in the media.” His remarks come after Palestinian media said
Hamas was holding internal deliberations on whether to enter talks
with Israel and that the Egyptian military had offered to mediate
between Israel and Hamas.”
Nigeria
All
Africa: Nigerian, Nigerien Troops Battle Insurgents In
Borno
“Joint troops from Nigeria and Niger Republic yesterday battled
fighters of Boko Haram and the Islamic State for West African Province
(ISWAP) in Tumbun Tago and Tumbun Fulani in Borno State. This is
coming as the Nigerian Navy yesterday recovered 140 litres of stolen
crude oil from an illegal oil refinery site in Warri, Delta State. The
troops had a fierce encounter with the insurgents at Kure village
along Tumbun Rago and Tumbun Fulani general areas of Borno State. A
war update issued by the Directorate of Defence Media Operations
(DDMO) said the combined troops of 403 Special Forces Brigade Baga and
Niger Republic troops supported by Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya
Dole decimated scores of the terrorists. “In continuation with the
ongoing clearance operations in the North-east theatre of operation,
combined troops of 403 Special Forces Brigade Baga, Niger Republic
Troops supported by Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole had a
fierce encounter with some Boko Haram/ISWAP elements at Kure village
along Tumbun Rago and Tumbun Fulani general areas of Borno State.
“Consequently, the terrorists were decisively dealt with during the
encounter. The terrorists suffered heavy casualties and unconfirmed
number escaped with gunshot wounds,” it said.”
United Kingdom
BBC
News: Terror Suspect Unable To Attend Court Due To
'Self-Isolation'
“A terror suspect accused of plotting to fight against so-called
Islamic State was unable to attend his latest court hearing because he
is “self-isolating”. Former soldier Daniel Burke is being held in
custody after being charged with three terrorism offences. His case
was brought before Mr Justice Sweeney at the Old Bailey on Wednesday.
But the 32-year-old, from Manchester, was unable to appear via video
link from prison as he is self-isolating due to the virus pandemic,
the court heard. The defendant, who allegedly expressed a desire to
travel to Syria to fight for Kurdish militia, was charged in December
last year after being stopped at a port. It is alleged that, between 7
October and 5 November last year, Mr Burke of Amberwood Drive engaged
in conduct with the intention to assist another person to commit,
prepared or instigate an act of terrorism. Between 18 September and 2
November last year, he allegedly entered into or became concerned in
an arrangement with others to provide money and military equipment
while having reasonable cause to suspect that it would or may be used
for the purposes of terrorism.”
France
Reuters:
France Knife Attack Suspect Charged With Terrorism Offences,
Murder
“A man who killed two people in a knife attack in southeastern
France at the weekend is a refugee from Sudan and has been charged
with terrorism offences and murder, the French anti-terrorist
prosecutor’s office said on Wednesday. Five people were also wounded
in Saturday’s attack. The 33-year-old suspect probably acted alone,
“without having been given any orders by a terrorist organisation”,
the office said in a statement. It added that the man, who worked
locally, had not been known to police forces or intelligence services.
He had arrived in France in August 2016 and obtained refugee status in
June 2017. When police arrested him shortly after the attack, he was
kneeling on a pavement and praying in Arabic. A search of his home
revealed documents with a religious connotation in which the author
complained in particular of living in a country of “unbelievers”.
France has experienced a wave of attacks by Islamist militants in
recent years. Bombings and shootings in November 2015 at the Bataclan
theatre and other sites around Paris killed 130 people, and in July
2016 an Islamist militant drove a truck through a crowd celebrating
Bastille Day in Nice, killing 86.”
The
Trumpet: Jihadist Kills Two In France
“The French are more concerned about terrorism than most in the
developed world. This has been true since 2014, even before the
migrant crisis. Polling data by the Counter Extremism Project shows
that “the French public, relative to public opinion in the United
States and other European countries, has long viewed Islamist-based
extremism as one of its greatest threats.” A 2017 Pew Research poll
indicated that 88 percent saw the Islamic State as a major threat to
the country. Radical Islam isn’t going away. In France and around the
world, coronavirus lockdowns are making the loss of liberty feel
normal—even necessary. People are trusting the government with their
safety and welfare. All this to fight a virus. What about when it
comes to fighting the virus of Islamic extremism? France will soon
look to a strong leader for protection.”
Canada
Global
News: Violent Extremists May Exploit Coronavirus Pandemic, Target
Hospitals, Threat Report Warns
“Violent extremists may try to take advantage of the coronavirus
pandemic by attacking hospitals and supermarkets, according to a U.S.
threat assessment circulated in Canada by the RCMP. “Pandemics and
other natural crises create unprecedented challenges that terrorists
could exploit to conduct attacks against and already stressed society,
and strained government and public safety system,” it said. “While
most citizens isolate in their homes, public safety personnel,
hospitals and establishments, such as supermarkets and pharmacies,
serve the largest number of co-located individuals, making them
potentially attractive targets.” The April 1 warning was written by
the U.S. National Counterterrorism Centre (NCTC) but was included in a
security advisory prepared by the U.S. rail industry. According to two
sources who did not want to be publicly identified, they industry
advisory was distributed in this country by the RCMP’s First Responder
Terrorism Awareness Program. A copy was obtained by Global News. The
report also included an April 1 Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
assessment of attempts by extremists to encourage supporters to spread
COVID-19 to law enforcement members and minority communities, as well
as at places of worship and on public transit.”
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