“The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah this week struck a military post in
northern Israel using a drone that fired two missiles. The attack wounded three
soldiers, one of them seriously, according to the Israeli military. Hezbollah
has regularly fired missiles across the border with Israel over the past seven
months, but the one on Thursday appears to have been the first successful
missile airstrike it has launched from within Israeli airspace. The group has
stepped up its attacks on Israel in recent weeks, particularly since the
Israeli incursion into the southern city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip. It has
struck deeper inside Israel and introduced new and more advanced weaponry “This
is a method of sending messages on the ground to the Israeli enemy, meaning
that this is part of what we have, and if needed we can strike more,” said
Lebanese political analyst Faisal Abdul-Sater who closely follows Hezbollah.”











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Eye on Extremism



May 17, 2024



Associated Press: Hezbollah Introduces New Weapons And Tactics Against Israel
As War In Gaza Drags On
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“The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah this week struck a military post in
northern Israel using a drone that fired two missiles. The attack wounded three
soldiers, one of them seriously, according to the Israeli military. Hezbollah
has regularly fired missiles across the border with Israel over the past seven
months, but the one on Thursday appears to have been the first successful
missile airstrike it has launched from within Israeli airspace. The group has
stepped up its attacks on Israel in recent weeks, particularly since the
Israeli incursion into the southern city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip. It has
struck deeper inside Israel and introduced new and more advanced weaponry “This
is a method of sending messages on the ground to the Israeli enemy, meaning
that this is part of what we have, and if needed we can strike more,” said
Lebanese political analyst Faisal Abdul-Sater who closely follows Hezbollah.”



Associated Press: Yemen’s Houthi Rebels Claim Shooting Down Another US MQ-9
Predator Drone As Footage Shows Wreckage
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“Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Friday claimed to have shot down an American drone,
hours after footage circulated online of what appeared to be the wreckage of an
MQ-9 Predator drone. The U.S. military did not immediately acknowledge the
incident. If confirmed, this would be yet another Predator downed by the
Houthis as they press their campaign over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza
Strip. Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed that rebels
shot down the Predator on Thursday with a surface-to-air missile, promising to
later release footage of the attack. He described the drone as “carrying out
hostile actions” in Yemen’s Marib province, which remains held by allies of
Yemen’s exiled, internationally recognized government. Online video showed
wreckage resembling the pieces of the Predator, as well as footage of that
wreckage on fire.”




Recent CEP Press Releases

* CEP Online Book Launch Discussion: "Screwed: Britain's Prison Crisis and
How to Escape It" by Professor Ian Acheson in Conversation with CEP Advisor
Liam Duffy
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* Extremist Content Online: Antisemitic, Anti-Muslim, And Pro-Nazi Content
Located On TikTok
<[link removed]>
* CEP Webinar: (Mis)Understanding the Transnational Violent Extreme-Right
Active Club Strategy
<[link removed]>
* Extremist Content Online: Instagram Accounts Use Pro-ISIS Content To
Encourage Acts Of Terrorism
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* Extremist Content Online: Alleged 'New Criteria' Prompts Twitter/X To
Reinstate Account Belonging To Australian Neo-Nazi
<[link removed]>



CEP Mentions



FDD’s Long War Journal: Generation Jihad Ep. 169 — The Houthi Origin Story
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“Bill is joined by Long War Journal regular and long-time friend of the show,
Edmund Fitton-Brown to talk about the Houthis. If you’re here, you’ve heard of
them — but how much do you actually know about them? What is their relationship
with the Islamic Republic of Iran? Why are they in Yemen? Edmund previously
served as the United Kingdom’s Ambassador to Yemen, a role which required him
to negotiate and spend a significant amount of time in close quarters with
Houthi leaders. He details some of his interactions with them and how the
experience shapes his understanding of the region today.”



United States



Fox News: 'Heightened Threat' Of Terrorism During Pride Month 2024, FBI And
DHS Warn
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“Federal intelligence agencies are warning that this year's Pride Month may
be targets for terrorist organizations. The FBI and Department of Homeland
Security released a public service announcement last week titled, "Foreign
Terrorist Organizations and their Supporters Likely Heighten Threat Environment
during 2024 Pride Month." "The FBI and DHS are issuing this Public Service
Announcement to provide awareness to the public of foreign terrorist
organizations (FTOS) or their supporters potential targeting of
LGBTQIA+-related events and venues," the announcement reads. "Foreign terrorist
organizations or supporters may seek to exploit increased gatherings associated
with the upcoming June 2024 Pride Month."”



USA Today: White Supremacist Admits Plot To Destroy Baltimore Power Grid,
Cause Mayhem
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“A Maryland woman pleaded guilty on Tuesday to plotting to destroy the
Baltimore power grid as part of an extremist white supremacist ideology that
promotes government collapse. Sarah Beth Clendaniel and Brandon Russell planned
to shoot down five Baltimore substations last year in an attempt to shut down
the city's entire power grid and cause widespread mayhem, federal prosecutors
said. They inadvertently exposed their operation to federal agents after
colluding with an FBI informant, who recorded conversations detailing the plot.
“It would probably permanently completely lay this city to waste if we could do
that successfully,” Clendaniel told the informant, according to court records.
Clendaniel, who pleaded guilty Tuesday, said she wanted to "completely destroy
this whole city" and was planning to target five situated in a "ring" around
Baltimore, court documents said. “



Iraq



The National: Mass Executions In Iraq Under Anti-Terrorism Laws Of 'Great
Concern', UN Envoy Says
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“The head of the UN mission in Iraq said on Thursday that a recent increase in
mass executions of people convicted under antiterrorism laws was a cause for
great concern. Iraqi authorities this month executed 11 people by hanging who
had been convicted of “terrorism”, according to AFP. They were the second such
group put to death since late April. “Power grabs or punitive policies may
benefit one segment of society or community in the short term, but, in the end,
everyone loses,” Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, special representative and head of
the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (Unami),told the Security Council. “This is
particularly true in a country with conflict in living memory.” Ms
Hennis-Plasschaert, who assumed her role in January 2018, warned that
corruption and other issues remain in the country more than two decades since
the UN mission was founded.”



Turkey



Associated Press: Turkey Sentences Pro-Kurdish Politicians To Lengthy Prison
Terms Over Deadly 2014 Riots
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“A Turkish court on Thursday sentenced several pro-Kurdish politicians to
between nine and 42 years in prison over deadly riots in 2014 by Kurds angered
by what they perceived to be government inaction against Islamic State group
militants who had besieged the Syrian border town of Kobani. The three days of
clashes that broke out in October 2014 resulted in 37 deaths and left hundreds
of others — police and civilians — injured. The protests were called by leaders
of Turkey’s pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party, or HDP, who were frustrated
by what they considered to be Turkish support for IS militants. A total of 108
people were charged with various crimes, including the killings of the 37
victims and crimes against the integrity of the state. The defendants include
HDP’s imprisoned former leaders, Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, who
were accused of organizing the protests and inciting the violence.”



Pakistan



Associated Press: Suspected Militants Bomb A Girl’s School Overnight In
Northwest Pakistan
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“Suspected militants bombed a girl’s school in a former Pakistani Taliban
stronghold, destroying the structure, police said Friday, although no one was
hurt in the overnight attack. The attack happened in South Waziristan, a
district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. It was the second one this month
after another school was badly damaged in the region, local police official
Safdar Khan said. Nobody immediately claimed responsibility, but the suspicion
is likely to fall on Islamic militants and specifically the Pakistani Taliban,
who had previously targeted girl’s schools in the province, saying that women
should not be educated. Until years ago, Pakistan’s northwest witnessed
multiple attacks on girl’s schools, especially in the Swat Valley where the
Pakistani Taliban long controlled the former tribal regions. In 2012,
insurgents attacked Malala Yousafzai, a teenage student and advocate for female
education. She later went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize.”



Yemen



Associated Press: Yemen’s Houthi Rebels Claim Shooting Down Another US MQ-9
Predator Drone As Footage Shows Wreckage
<[link removed]>



“Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Friday claimed to have shot down an American drone,
hours after footage circulated online of what appeared to be the wreckage of an
MQ-9 Predator drone. The U.S. military did not immediately acknowledge the
incident. If confirmed, this would be yet another Predator downed by the
Houthis as they press their campaign over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza
Strip. Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed that rebels
shot down the Predator on Thursday with a surface-to-air missile, promising to
later release footage of the attack. He described the drone as “carrying out
hostile actions” in Yemen’s Marib province, which remains held by allies of
Yemen’s exiled, internationally recognized government. Online video showed
wreckage resembling the pieces of the Predator, as well as footage of that
wreckage on fire.”



Middle East



i24: IDF Eliminates 150 Hamas Terrorists In Jabaliya, Op Continues In Rafah
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“The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported on Thursday significant progress in
their ongoing operations in Gaza, with Division 98 and Division 162 leading
intense combat efforts in the Jabaliya and Rafah areas. In the north of the
Gaza Strip, forces from Division 98 have been actively engaging in the heart of
the Jabaliya camp. The combined efforts of ground troops and the Air Force have
resulted in the elimination of over 150 terrorists. Several rocket launchers
were destroyed, and dozens of rockets, including long-range ones, were located.
Paratrooper brigade fighters raided numerous terrorist infrastructures, killing
and arresting dozens of terrorists. Combat teams from the 7th and 460th
brigades have also been operating in the area, targeting and dismantling
terrorist infrastructures. Some terrorists were captured while attempting to
flee under civilian cover, with weapons found near schools and humanitarian
shelters.”



Somalia



Garowe Online: Al-Shabaab Discredits Somalia President's Achievements
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“The al-Shabaab militants have dismissed the much-publicised achievements of
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who assumed powers from Mohamed Abdullahi
Mohamed two years ago, terming him a 'serial failure'. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is
entering his third year in power after much-publicised elections, which caused
sharp divisions in the country. The president had pledged to eliminate the
group within the first two years in power. Al-Shabaab says President Hassan
Sheikh Mohamud failed in his objectives, justifying the statement's major
setbacks Somali government forces suffered at the hands of al-Shabaab including
attacks in Gal’ad, Awsweyne and El-Lahelay. The militant group’s media
highlighted that government officials including Hassan Sheikh Mohamud promised
to eliminate al-Shabaab in months but have not achieved that. The government
kick-started the fight against Al-Shabaab immediately after Hassan Sheikh took
over.”



Africa



Associated Press: South Africa Urges UN’s Top Court To Order Cease-Fire In
Gaza To Shield Citizens In Rafah
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“South Africa urged the United Nations’ top court on Thursday to order a
cease-fire in Gaza during hearings over emergency measures to halt Israel’s
military operation in the enclave’s southern city of Rafah. It was the third
time the International Court of Justice held hearings on the conflict in Gaza
since South Africa filed proceedings in December at the court, based in The
Hague in the Netherlands, accusing Israel of genocide. The country’s ambassador
to the Netherlands, Vusimuzi Madonsela, urged the panel of 15 international
judges to order Israel to “totally and unconditionally withdraw” from the Gaza
Strip. The court has already found that there is a “real and imminent risk” to
the Palestinian people in Gaza by Israel’s military operations. “This may well
be the last chance for the court to act,” said Irish lawyer Blinne Ní
Ghrálaigh, who is part of South Africa’s legal team.”



United Kingdom



BBC: 'No Public Threat' As Radiological Material Found
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“The Metropolitan Police said "small traces of radiological material" had
been detected during a counter-terrorism operation in Bedfordshire. Specialist
officers have been searching a house in Caddington, near Luton, after
suspicious substances were found earlier this month. A 31-year-old man from
Bedford has been arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences and remained in
custody. Cdr Dominic Murphy, head of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, said
officers had found "no evidence that any form of 'dirty bomb' has been or was
being constructed". "During the searches over the past few days, some very
small traces of radiological material have been detected," he added. "I want to
stress that at no stage was it identified as being at a level that would pose
any kind of risk or harm to the public.”



Europe



Reuters: Suspect In Attack On Slovak PM Showed No Signs Of Extremism,
Neighbours Say
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“A 71-year-old former security guard charged on Thursday with the attempted
murder of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is the author of three collections
of poetry who neighbours said had shown no sign of political extremism. Fico,
59, was shot as he greeted supporters in the small town of Handlova, in central
Slovakia, and underwent hours of surgery. A hospital official said on Thursday
that the prime minister was in "very serious" but stable condition. The
suspect, who was apprehended at the scene, has not been named by authorities
but scattered details about him began to emerge as the country struggled to
make sense of the attack. A neighbour in the modest seven-storey building in
Levice, a town of about 36,500 inhabitants due south of Handlova, where the
suspect lives, said he had known the man for 40 years and that he had never
vented extreme political views.”



India



The Times Of India: No Bilateral Cricket With Pak Until They Shun Terrorism:
Jaishankar
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“External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Thursday ruled out the possibility
of the resumption of bilateral India-Pakistan cricket ties till the
neighbouring country completely shunned terrorism and terrorists. "Pakistan
must stop cross-border terrorism for the restoration of cricket ties between
the two nations. Will you invite someone abusing you to a marriage in your
family? Certainly not. The same logic applies here," he told reporters in an
interaction session in Nashik. Jaishankar also said Pakistan cricketers would
not be allowed to participate in the Indian Premier League (IPL) till the
country mends its ways. "Terror acts may have reduced in Jammu and Kashmir
during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's regime. But the guns are still there. A
majority of Indians will not be in favour of resuming cricket ties with
Pakistan or allowing its players to participate in IPL," he said.”



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