“The Department of Homeland Security has identified more than 400 migrants who
came to the US via a human smuggling network that may have some connection with
ISIS, prompting an additional review of those individuals, according to two US
officials. The purpose of the network was to smuggle people, not bring in
terrorists, one of the officials said. But it has ties to the same network that
brought a group of Uzbek nationals last summer across the southern border by a
facilitator who had ties to ISIS, the official said. CNN was first to report on
that incident in 2023. In the latest case, the 400 migrants under scrutiny –
mostly from Central Asian nations – are being screened purely because of their
connection to the human smuggling network. Homeland Security Secretary
Alejandro Mayorkas told reporters Wednesday that the department hasn’t
identified “400 people with potential ISIS ties.””











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Eye on Extremism



June 27, 2024



CNN: DHS Identifies 400 Migrants Smuggled Into US By Network That May Be
Connected To ISIS
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“The Department of Homeland Security has identified more than 400 migrants who
came to the US via a human smuggling network that may have some connection with
ISIS, prompting an additional review of those individuals, according to two US
officials. The purpose of the network was to smuggle people, not bring in
terrorists, one of the officials said. But it has ties to the same network that
brought a group of Uzbek nationals last summer across the southern border by a
facilitator who had ties to ISIS, the official said. CNN was first to report on
that incident in 2023. In the latest case, the 400 migrants under scrutiny –
mostly from Central Asian nations – are being screened purely because of their
connection to the human smuggling network. Homeland Security Secretary
Alejandro Mayorkas told reporters Wednesday that the department hasn’t
identified “400 people with potential ISIS ties.””



Bloomberg: US And Israel Ease Weapons ‘Bottlenecks,’ Gallant Says
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“Israel’s defense minister said talks with top White House officials eased
“bottlenecks” in the supply of arms to Israeli forces, a sign that the two
sides want to ease tensions fanned by accusations that the US was withholding
weapons. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant cited “significant progress” on the
issues of “force build-up and munition supply,” according to a statement from
his office released after he met Wednesday with National Security Advisor Jake
Sullivan in Washington. “Obstacles were removed and bottlenecks were
addressed,” Gallant said in the statement without offering more detail. It
appeared to be a reference to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s accusation
last week that the US was withholding weapons to Israel in its war against
Hamas in the Gaza Strip. White House officials said they didn’t know what
Netanyahu was referring to, though President Joe Biden had earlier held back a
shipment of 2,000-pound bombs.”



CEP Mentions



Frankfurter Rundschau: Expulsion Due To Social Media Post: Expert Warns After
Faeser’s Initiative – “Difficult Questions”
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“Hatred is germinating on the internet. Security authorities have long been
observing that extremists are becoming more and more active on social media and
are spreading propaganda. A veritable "extremist radicalization machine" is in
operation, said NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul a few weeks ago : "Not just
on the streets, but above all on the internet. And that's where it gets
dangerous." […] Terror expert Hans-Jakob Schindler from the Counter Extremism
Project believes the move is fundamentally understandable: "If a person in
Germany only has a temporary residence status and makes such statements online,
it cannot be expected that this will be accepted without consequences and that
the general public will have to bear the risk that this person potentially
represents," he said in an interview with IPPEN.MEDIA.”



WTOP News: The Hunt: Terror Attack in Dagestan
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“On June 23, 19 people were killed and many others were wounded in a terror
attack in Dagestan, in Russia. In this week’s edition of “The Hunt with WTOP
national security correspondent JJ Green,” Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler, senior
director of the Counter Extremism Project, says the Taliban may be culpable.”



United States



CBS News: 8 Arrested Men With Ties To ISIS Feared To Have Been Plotting
Potential Terrorist Attack In U.S., Sources Said
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“Federal agents apprehended eight men from Tajikistan — a Central Asian
nation that borders Afghanistan — because they were concerned the men could
have been plotting a possible terrorist attack on U.S. soil, multiple sources
familiar with the investigation told CBS News. The eight men residing in Los
Angeles, New York, and Philadelphia were taken into custody earlier this month
and charged with violating civil U.S. immigration law by Immigration and
Customs Enforcement. They remain in ICE custody and face removal proceedings,
according to two of the sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity because
they were not authorized to speak publicly about the probe. Multiple sources
told CBS News there was no evidence to suggest that a specific targeted attack
was planned, and U.S. officials said there was no imminent threat to the
homeland.”



Daily Wire: U.S. Special Forces Group Warns U.S. Faces Serious Risk Of Getting
Hit By Major Islamic Terror Attack
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“A group representing U.S. special forces warned in a letter this week that
the U.S. faces an ultra-high threat of getting hit by a major Islamic terrorist
attack because of President Joe Biden’s disastrous foreign policy and open
border policies. Special Operations Association of America (SOAA) Chairman
Christopher Miller, who served as Acting Secretary of Defense at the end of
President Donald Trump’s first term in office, said in a letter that the
organization was “gravely concerned by the current heightened risk of terrorist
attacks against targets inside the United States and both U.S. and allied
interests abroad.” The organization — which represents thousands of Army
Rangers and Green Berets, Navy SEALs, Marine Raiders, Air Force Air Commandos,
and other special operators — said that Biden’s disastrous pullout from
Afghanistan was a key reason why the threat environment was so high.”



Voice Of America: Evidence Mounts Islamic State Is Looking To The US Southern
Border
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“U.S. intelligence and security officials are increasing their focus on the
country’s southern border, worried the constant flow of migrants has attracted
the attention of the Islamic State terror group. The heightened concern follows
the arrests earlier this month of eight men from Tajikistan, all of whom
entered the United States via its southern border with Mexico, some making the
trip over a year ago. While the initial background checks came up clean, U.S.
law enforcement subsequently turned up information indicating potential ties to
the Islamic State group, also known as IS or ISIS.”



Iran



Tehran Times: Iran Condemns Terrorist Attack In Niger, Calls For Global
Cooperation Against Terrorism
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“In a statement released on Wednesday, Nasser Kanaani conveyed heartfelt
condolences to the government and the Muslim people of Niger. Special mention
was made of the families who lost loved ones in this tragic event. "We extend
our deepest sympathies to the victims' families and stand in solidarity with
the people of Niger during this painful time," Kanaani said. Kanaani also
underscored the Iranian government's stance on terrorism. "The Islamic Republic
of Iran views terrorism as a significant threat to human society and
international security. We believe that it is imperative for the global
community to unite and engage in comprehensive efforts to counter this shared
menace," he emphasized. Kanaani highlighted the urgent need for international
cooperation in addressing the root causes of terrorism and implementing
effective measures to prevent such atrocities. "Terrorism knows no borders and
affects all nations. It is a scourge that requires a coordinated and sustained
global response. We urge all countries to collaborate closely to eradicate this
threat and ensure the safety and security of all people," he added.”



Iraq



ABC News: Iran-Allied Militants Claim An Attack Targeting The Israeli Port
City Of Eilat
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“An Iranian-backed umbrella group known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq
claimed an attack targeting the southern Israeli port city of Eilat on
Wednesday. The militants are allied with Yemen's Houthi rebels, who are
suspected of attacking a ship in the Gulf of Aden the same day. Shipping has
reduced drastically through the route crucial to Asian, Middle East and
European markets in a campaign the Houthis say will continue as long as the
Israel-Hamas war rages in the Gaza Strip. International criticism is growing
over Israel’s campaign against Hamas as Palestinians face severe and widespread
hunger. The eight-month war has largely cut off the flow of food, medicine and
basic goods to Gaza, and people there are now totally dependent on aid. The top
United Nations court has concluded there is a “plausible risk of genocide” in
Gaza — a charge Israel strongly denies.”



Afghanistan



Associated Press: Women’s Rights Will Be Raised At The UN Meeting Being
Attended By Taliban, UN Official Says
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“The U.N. political chief who will chair the first meeting between
Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers and envoys from about 25 countries answered sharp
criticism that Afghan women have been excluded, saying Wednesday that women’s
rights will be raised at every session. Undersecretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo
stressed to a small group of reporters that the two-day meeting starting Sunday
is an initial engagement aimed at initiating a step-by-step process with the
goal of seeing the Taliban “at peace with itself and its neighbors and adhering
to international law,” the U.N. Charter, and human rights. This is the third
U.N. meeting with Afghan envoys in Qatar’s capital, Doha, but the first that
the Taliban are attending. They weren’t invited to the first and refused to
attend the second. Other attendees include envoys from the European Union, the
Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the United States, Russia, China and
several of Afghanistan’s neighbors, DiCarlo said.””



Pakistan



Nikkei Asia: Pakistan Eyes New Counterterror Operations As Security
Deteriorates
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“Pakistan is planning to launch fresh counterterror operations as Beijing
grows increasingly wary about investing in the country after deadly attacks on
Chinese nationals and key economic projects. But the plan, dubbed Operation
Azm-i-Istehkam (Operation Resolve for Stability), is facing strong pushback
from the political opposition, and there are few assurances that it will be
enough to placate Pakistan's key investor. The new counterterror blueprint was
announced on Saturday, just a day after a top Chinese official warned that
security is crucial to Beijing pouring more money into the South Asian nation.
"As people often say, confidence is more precious than gold," said Liu
Jianchao, head of the Chinese Communist Party's International Department. "In
the case of Pakistan, the primary factor shaking the confidence of Chinese
investors is the security situation."”



Lebanon



Wall Street Journal: Biden Administration Scrambles to Head Off Wider War
Between Israel and Hezbollah
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“A Biden administration push to curtail worsening border clashes between
Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon is running into major headwinds
because of the difficulty the U.S. faces arranging a cease-fire in Gaza, U.S.
officials say. The connections between the two fronts underscore the diplomatic
conundrum facing the White House as it seeks to prevent a full-scale war that
could draw in Iran and broaden the fighting well beyond Gaza. The White House
insists that de-escalation along Israel’s northern frontier can’t be
conditional on an elusive cease-fire in Gaza and is mounting a major diplomatic
effort to defuse tensions in the north after weeks of unsuccessful pressure on
Hamas to agree to a halt in the fighting in the south. But Hezbollah, a
U.S.-designated terrorist group and a key ally of Hamas, has intensified rocket
and drone attacks in northern Israel in recent weeks, putting more pressure on
the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which has vowed to
end the threat and return some 70,000 citizens who have had to be evacuated to
the north.”



Middle East



NPR: Israel’s Many Conflicts Could Soon Crack Its Iron Dome
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“Tensions are high along Israel's border with Lebanon, where Israeli forces
have been trading fire with the militia group Hezbollah. In a speech last week,
Hezbollah's leader warned that if war erupts, then all of Israel would be under
threat. "The enemy knows very well that no place will be safe from our missiles
and drones," Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, said on June 19. Keeping
those weapons from hitting Israeli territory is the job of a sophisticated air
defense system called Iron Dome. It has intercepted thousands of missiles over
the years, and it has been critical to protecting Israel's cities during the
latest war in Gaza. But some experts warn that Hezbollah's arsenal could push
the system past its limits.”



The Times Of Israel: Israeli Strikes Said To Kill 2 In Syria, Flatten Building
In Lebanon, Wounding 5
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“The Israeli military allegedly struck targets in Syria and Lebanon on
Wednesday night, according to state media in the two countries. Two people were
killed in an Israeli strike on southern Syria, the official SANA news agency
reported, citing a military source. “At around 11:40 p.m., the Israeli enemy
carried out an aerial assault from the occupied Syrian Golan, targeting a
number of positions in the southern region, killing two people and injuring a
soldier,” SANA said, after initially reporting one death. It said Syrian air
defense had also shot down some missiles, without giving further details. The
strike was reportedly near Sayyida Zeinab, which is home to an important Shiite
sanctuary and is defended by pro-Iranian militias and the Syrian army.”



Mali



Associated Press: ICC Convicts Al-Qaida-Linked Leader Of Abusing Prisoners in
Mali
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“The International Criminal Court on Wednesday convicted an al-Qaida-linked
extremist leader of the religious persecution and torture of prisoners in Mali
in 2012-13 when he headed the Islamic police in the historic desert city of
Timbuktu. Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz Ag Mohamed Ag Mahmoud sat stoically while
the decision finding him guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity was
read out at the court in the Dutch city of The Hague. He faces up to life in
prison when the sentence is decided at a later date. Al Hassan was acquitted of
several charges focusing on the abuse of women. The three-judge panel found
that rape and sexual slavery did occur while Al Hassan’s group controlled
Timbuktu, but that Al Hassan couldn’t be connected to those crimes. The court
found the 47-year old Malian was a key member of Ansar Dine, an Islamic
extremist group with links to al-Qaida that held power at the time.”



United Kingdom



BBC: Recordings ‘Chilling Expression Of Terrorist Intent’
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“The prosecution in the case of 10 people facing terrorism charges linked to
the New IRA says secretly recorded conversations were a "chilling expression of
terrorist intent". The case arises from a major undercover surveillance
operation by MI5 and police, called Operation Arbacia, into the activities of
alleged violent dissident republicans. On Tuesday, a defence lawyer had claimed
recordings made during Operation Arbacia amounted to nothing more than
"republican pub talk". As part of the operation, security forces recorded two
meetings at properties in County Tyrone in February and July 2020, as well as
one in Edinburgh. Lawyers for nine of the accused have applied to have the case
against their clients dismissed. The charges include directing a terrorist
organisation, belonging to a proscribed organisation, preparing terrorist acts,
conspiring to direct terrorism and possessing articles for use in terrorism.”



France



Associated Press: France Bans Extreme-Right And Radical Islamic Groups Ahead
Of Polarizing Elections
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“France’s government on Wednesday ordered the dissolution of multiple extreme
right and radical Muslim groups, four days before the first round of
high-stakes legislative elections that may see a surge in support for political
extremes. Snap national elections called by pro-business moderate President
Emmanuel Macron have plunged the country into a hasty and disorderly electoral
race, in which hate speech is becoming a growing concern. Interior Minister
Gerald Darmanin announced Wednesday that the government ordered the shutdown of
several groups peddling extremist hatred. A series of decrees announcing the
shutdown outlined investigations into the groups and said they posed risks of
violence. The groups affected include GUD, known for violence and antisemitism.
Its members have supported far-right political leader Marine Le Pen in the
past.”



Reuters: French Court Upholds Warrant For Syria’s Assad Over Chemical Weapons
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““A French appeals court on Wednesday upheld an arrest warrant issued for
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad over the use of banned chemical weapons
against civilians. The warrant approved by French judges in November 2023
refers to charges of complicity in crimes against humanity and complicity in
war crimes. It followed a French investigation into chemical attacks in Douma
and the district of Eastern Ghouta in August 2013 that killed more than 1,000
people. Assad's government has denied using chemical weapons against its
opponents in the civil war, which broke out in March 2011. Syrian authorities
did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the Court of Appeal
ruling. Prosecutors, who would be responsible for asking the police to carry
out the warrant, had challenged its validity, arguing that, as a sitting head
of state, Assad was immune from trial and prosecution in France.”



Germany



The Washington Post: Germany Moves To Ease The Deportation Of Foreigners Who
Glorify Terrorist Acts
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“Germany’s government on Wednesday launched new legislation to ease the
deportation of foreigners who publicly approve of terrorist acts. Under the
law, a single comment on social media could provide grounds for kicking people
out. The measure approved by the Cabinet was pledged by Chancellor Olaf Scholz
following a knife attack last month on members of a group that describes itself
as opposing “political Islam,” an assault that left a police officer dead. It
comes as Scholz’s government faces broader pressure to curb migration. The
Interior Ministry said that the law on residence will be changed so that
approving or promoting “a single terrorist crime” is grounds for a
“particularly serious interest in expulsion.” That means that in future a
single comment that “glorifies and endorses a terrorist crime on social media”
could constitute a reason for expulsion.”



DW: Germany’s New Law Backs Deportations For Terrorism Praise
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“German government ministers on Wednesday agreed on draft legislation to
simplify the deportation process for individuals who express support for
terrorism, Germany's Interior Ministry said. The move comes in reaction to
online hate posts that celebrated the Hamas attack on Israel and other
terrorist incidents. The draft law would allow deportation if someone is
considered to have approved of a single terrorist offense. No criminal
conviction would be necessary for an individual to be deported. Expressions of
approval could include not only posting of hateful content on social media but
also marking a hate post with a "like" or other positive reaction on platforms
such as YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok.”



Australia



The Guardian: Teenager Charged With Planning Terrorist Attack After Allegedly
Entering NSW MP’s Office With ‘Intention To Kill’
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“A New South Wales teenager has been charged with planning a terrorist attack
after he allegedly entered Labor MP Tim Crakanthorp’s office carrying items
including “knives and tactical equipment” with the “intention to kill”. Jordan
Patten, a 19-year-old from Raymond Terrace, was arrested in Newcastle after
midday on Wednesday and was charged with one count of preparing or planning a
terrorist act. Investigators confirmed Patten circulated a 200-page document to
a number of media outlets and public figures. Patten appeared in a Parramatta
court on Thursday via video conference from custody. The magistrate told the
court that police will allege Patten had intended to kill Crakanthorp “due to
his position in the Labor party”.”



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