“Liberia-flagged oil tanker Chios Lion was assessing damage and investigating a
potential oil spill after it was attacked by Yemen's Houthis in the Red Sea,
the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) said on
Tuesday. An unmanned watercraft inflicted minor damage to Chios Lion's port
side on Monday as part of a swarm of attacks by the Houthis on the vessel and
another ship sailing around 100 nautical miles northwest of Yemen’s port city
of Hodeidah. "While originally headed south, following the attack the vessel
turned around and back north out of the threat area to further assess damage
and investigate potential oil spillage," the JMIC said in a statement. It added
that the captain and crew were safe. The manager of Chios Lion did not
immediately respond to requests for comment.”











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Eye on Extremism



July 17, 2024



Reuters: Tanker Assesses Possible Red Sea Oil Spill After Houthi Attack,
Maritime Center Says
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“Liberia-flagged oil tanker Chios Lion was assessing damage and investigating
a potential oil spill after it was attacked by Yemen's Houthis in the Red Sea,
the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) said on
Tuesday. An unmanned watercraft inflicted minor damage to Chios Lion's port
side on Monday as part of a swarm of attacks by the Houthis on the vessel and
another ship sailing around 100 nautical miles northwest of Yemen’s port city
of Hodeidah. "While originally headed south, following the attack the vessel
turned around and back north out of the threat area to further assess damage
and investigate potential oil spillage," the JMIC said in a statement. It added
that the captain and crew were safe. The manager of Chios Lion did not
immediately respond to requests for comment.”



BBC: Pakistanis And Indian Among Six Killed In Oman Attack Claimed By IS
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“Six people, including a policeman, have been killed and 28 others injured in
a rare shooting attack near a Shia Muslim mosque in Oman's capital, Muscat,
police say. The three attackers were also killed by security forces during the
incident in the al-Wadi al-Kabir area on Monday night, according to a
statement. Police gave no details about the identities of the victims and
gunmen, or the motive. But Pakistan said four Pakistanis were among those
killed in a "terrorist attack" on the Imam Ali Mosque. India also said one of
its citizens was killed. The Sunni Muslim jihadist group Islamic State (IS)
says three of its members were involved in the attack. Supporters of the group
celebrated the shooting on social media networks. IS has repeatedly targeted
Shia ceremonies, processions and worshippers in countries like Iraq,
Afghanistan and Pakistan. But it has never before claimed an attack in Oman,
where the Shia are a minority.”




The CEP CounterPoint: Expert Analysis

* The Financial Motive Behind Houthi Spyware Hacks
<[link removed]>
* ISIS Redux: The Central Syria Insurgency in June 2024
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* CounterPoint Brief: U.S. Designated Nordic Resistance Movement as Specially
Designated Global Terrorist Organization
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* CEP-KAS: Sahel Monitoring April 2024
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* ISIS Redux: The Central Syria Insurgency in May 2024
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Iraq



Associated Press: Islamic State Attacks On Track To Double In Iraq And Syria
Compared To Last Year, US Military Says
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“The U.S. Central Command said Wednesday that the Islamic State group is
trying “to reconstitute” as the number of attacks in Syria and Iraq is on track
to double those of the previous year. IS has claimed 153 attacks in both
countries in the first six months of 2024, CENTCOM said in a statement.
According to a U.S. defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he
wasn’t allowed to speak publicly on the matter, the group was behind 121
attacks in Syria and Iraq in 2023. “The increase in attacks indicates ISIS is
attempting to reconstitute following several years of decreased capability,”
CENTCOM said. The announcement comes just after the 10-year mark since the
militant group declared its caliphate in large parts of Iraq and Syria. At its
peak, the group ruled an area half the size of the United Kingdom where it
attempted to enforce its extreme interpretation of Islam, which included
attacks on religious minority groups and harsh punishment of Muslims deemed to
be apostates.”



Reuters: Drones Target Iraq's Ain Al-Asad Airbase, No Casualties, Say Military
Sources
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“Two armed drones on Tuesday targeted Iraq's Ain al-Asad airbase, which hosts
U.S forces and other international forces in western Iraq, two Iraqi military
sources told Reuters. It was the second attack against U.S. forces in Iraq
since early February when Iranian-backed groups in Iraq stopped their attacks
against U.S. troops. In April, two drones were shot down near Ain al-Asad base,
according to a U.S. official. No casualties have been reported, said the
sources. An Iraqi military official said defence systems downed one drone near
the base perimeter. Iraqi army patrols stepped up patrolling the areas around
the base to prevent possible further attacks, said an Iraqi army official. The
attack came less than a week before an expected visit by a high level Iraqi
military delegation to Washington to continue talks on ending the U.S.-led
military coalition in the country.”



Lebanon



BBC: Smoke On The Horizon - Israel And Hezbollah Edge Closer To All-Out War
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“As the war in Gaza grinds on, there are growing fears another Middle East
war may erupt - with devastating consequences for the region, and beyond.
Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah (backed by Iran) have been
trading fire across their shared border for the past nine months. If this
conflict escalates to all-out war, it could dwarf the destruction in Gaza, draw
in Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, and Yemen, spread embers around the Middle
East and embroil the US. Iran itself could intervene directly. The United
Nations has warned of a “catastrophe beyond imagination”. For now, a low-level
war simmers in the summer heat, along a 120km (75 mile) stretch of border. One
spark here could set the Middle East alight. Over the lapping of the waves, and
the thwack thwack of paddle games on the beach, a sound cuts through - a sudden
deep boom.”



Reuters: Hezbollah To Hit New Israeli Targets If It Keeps Killing Civilians,
Nasrallah Says
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“Hezbollah will hit new targets in Israel if it keeps killing civilians in
Lebanon, the group's leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said on Wednesday, noting a
spike in the number of non-combatants killed in Lebanon in recent days. Five
civilians, all Syrians and including three children, were killed in Israeli
strikes in Lebanon on Tuesday and at least three Lebanese civilians were killed
the day before, according to state media and security sources. "Continuing to
target civilians will push the Resistance to launch missiles at settlements
that were not previously targeted," Nasrallah said, in comments made during a
televised address to mark the Shi'ite holy day Ashoura. Hezbollah, an
Iran-backed militant group, refers to all Israeli population centres as
settlements and does not recognise Israel.”



Middle East



Associated Press: Israel’s Military Will Begin Drafting Ultra-Orthodox Men On
Sunday. It Could Rattle The Government
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“The Israeli military on Tuesday said it would begin sending draft notices to
Jewish ultra-Orthodox men on Sunday — a step that could destabilize Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. The announcement followed a landmark
Supreme Court order for young religious men to begin enlisting for military
service. Under long-standing political arrangements, ultra-Orthodox men had
been exempt from the draft, which is compulsory for most Jewish men. The
exemptions created resentment among the general public in Israel, especially
after more than nine months of war against Hamas militants in Gaza. The army
summons is the beginning of a monthslong enlistment process that could be
difficult to enforce if there is large-scale refusal to comply. The army did
not say when it expects ultra-Orthodox men to begin serving or how many it
expects to enlist.”



Bloomberg: Israel-Hamas Truce Talks Said To Face Four Key Sticking Points
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“Negotiations aimed at winding down Israel’s nine-month war on Hamas in Gaza
face four key sticking points, including which hostages should be released,
according to people with knowledge of the talks. Other issues include whether
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sticks to his demands that Hamas be
barred from northern Gaza, according to the people, who asked not be identified
because they aren’t authorized to speak publicly. Additionally, Netanyahu wants
his forces to retain control of a key southern border corridor and that he
should not be bound to an indefinite cease-fire. Israel declared war on Hamas
on Oct. 7, when it was attacked by thousands of militants who killed 1,200
people and took some 250 hostage. The group returned 110 captives and Israel
released about three times as many Palestinian detainees during a seven-day
cease-fire that ended Dec. 1.”



Associated Press: Israeli Strikes In Southern, Central Gaza Kill More Than 60
Palestinians, Including In ‘Safe Zone’
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“Israeli airstrikes killed more than 60 Palestinians in southern and central
Gaza overnight and into Tuesday, including one that struck an Israeli-declared
“safe zone” crowded with thousands of displaced people. Airstrikes in recent
days have brought a constant drumbeat of deaths of Palestinians in the Gaza
Strip, even as Israel has pulled back or scaled down major ground offensives in
the north and south. Almost daily strikes have hit the “safe zone” covering
some 60 square kilometers (23 square miles) along the Mediterranean coast,
where Israel told fleeing Palestinians to take refuge to escape ground
assaults. Israel has said it is pursuing Hamas militants who are hiding among
civilians after offensives uprooted underground tunnel networks.”



Somalia



Garowe Online: Al-Shabaab Fighters Executed By Firing Squad In Somalia
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“Al-Shabaab militants were executed by authorities in Somalia, officials
said, in the latest crackdown against the militants who have been destabilizing
the Horn of Africa nation for the last 19 years, when they first struck in the
country. Al-Shabaab is fighting to topple the fragile UN-backed federal
government of Somalia, but there have been concerted efforts to drive them away
from the country. The group has lost several strategic towns across the
country. According to reports, five men convicted for terrorism including
assassinations and the killing of two clerics and an elder have been executed
by firing squad in Kismayo, Jubaland state of Somalia, Tuesday. The firing
squad has been used to tackle those convicted of terrorism in the country for
the last few years. The country uses the military's court-martial to execute
those responsible for the criminal activities, which have destabilized
thousands of people.”



Voice Of America: 12 Killed As Somali Troops, Local Militias Clash
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“Twelve people were killed Monday in central Somalia as government soldiers
and local militias fought over two truckloads of weapons illegally brought over
the border from Ethiopia. Two soldiers are among the dead in the clash inside
the village of Shiilamaow, about 20 kilometers northwest of Abudwak town, close
to the Ethiopian border, said a Somali security official who asked not to be
named because he is not allowed to speak to the media. The Internal Security
Ministry said government security forces had seized the weapons from "illegal
weapons traders” and were escorting them when armed militias erected a
checkpoint and intercepted the weapons. The local militias overpowered
government forces after receiving reinforcements from clansmen, the official
added. The Somali government did not disclose the quantity of the weapons but
the security official told VOA Somali that the weapons were two truckloads and
included DshK and PKM machine guns, AK-47 assault rifles, pistols and
ammunition.”



France



Reuters: France's Macron Discusses Israel/Hamas War With Egypt, Qatar And
Bahrain
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“French President Emmanuel Macron spoke on Tuesday with Egyptian President
Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Qatar's Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Bahrain's
King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to discuss the conflict between Israel and Hamas,
said Macron's office. France is a United Nations Security Council permanent
member and the country has both large Jewish and Muslim populations. Also,
hostages holding French citizenship were killed in the Hamas attacks on Oct. 7
last year. Qatar has also played an increasingly important role as a mediator -
in January, Qatar and France brokered a deal with Israel and Hamas to deliver
urgent medication to Israeli hostages. "The President condemned recent Israeli
air strikes that have targeted UN schools as well as displaced citizens in the
Al-Maghazi refugee camp which have left a large number of civilian victims,"
Macron's office said in a statement.”



India



The Times Of India: 'UN Unable To Respond To Global Challenges Such As
Terrorism, Pandemics': India At UNSC Open Debate
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“India at the UNSC meeting on Wednesday pointed out the UN's shortcomings in
addressing complex global issues such as terrorism, pandemics, climate change,
threats from emerging technologies, cyberattacks, and the disruptive influence
of non-state actors. "While we may have succeeded in preventing another world
war, this does not hide the reality of the UN's inability to respond to
increasingly complex global challenges such as terrorism, pandemics, climate
change, threats posed by emerging technologies, cyberattacks and the disruptive
role of non-state actors," R. said R. Ravindra, Chargé d'Affaires & DPR of
India. India reiterated its call for time-bound negotiations to reform the
UNSC, criticising the manipulation of council mechanisms by major powers as
detrimental to the multilateral spirit.”



The Times Of India: Three Militants Killed During An Ambush In Cachar, 3 Cops
Injured
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“Three militants belonging to Hmar People's Convention Democratic (HPDC) who
had been arrested on Tuesday afternoon, were killed during an ambush by the
other members of the said outfit during a search operation at the Bhuban Hills
in the eastern fringe of Assam’s Cachar district on the wee hours of Wednesday.
Sources said three members of Hmar outfit were arrested at Ganganagar in Dholai
circle of Cachar district on Tuesday afternoon. Apart from the arrest of three
militants, several sophisticated weapons including an AK series of rifles were
also recovered from the auto-rickshaw in which the militants were travelling.
Sources said that in the wee hours of Wednesday, Cachar police along with the
three arrested militants went to Bhuban Hills, 25 km from here for further
search operation.”



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