CEP Mentions
FDD’s Long War Journal: Generation Jihad Ep. 169 — The Houthi Origin Story
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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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