“A new round of airstrikes hit Beirut suburbs late Sunday as Israel intensified
its bombardment of northern Gaza and southern Lebanon in a widening war with
Iran-allied militant groups across the region. Palestinian officials said a
strike on a mosque killed at least 19 people. A year after Hamas’ Oct. 7
attack, Israel has opened a new front in Lebanon against Hezbollah, which has
traded fire with Israel since the war in Gaza began. Israel’s military
confirmed a Hezbollah attack on the northern city of Haifa, though it was not
immediately clear whether shrapnel from “fallen projectiles” was from rockets
or interceptors. Hezbollah said it tried to hit a nearby naval base. The Magen
David Adom ambulance service said it treated 10 people, most of them hurt by
shrapnel. Israel also has vowed to strike Iran after a ballistic missile attack
on Israel last week.”











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Eye on Extremism



October 7, 2024



Associated Press: Israel Intensifies Bombardment Of Gaza And Southern Lebanon
Ahead Of Oct. 7 Anniversary
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“A new round of airstrikes hit Beirut suburbs late Sunday as Israel
intensified its bombardment of northern Gaza and southern Lebanon in a widening
war with Iran-allied militant groups across the region. Palestinian officials
said a strike on a mosque killed at least 19 people. A year after Hamas’ Oct. 7
attack, Israel has opened a new front in Lebanon against Hezbollah, which has
traded fire with Israel since the war in Gaza began. Israel’s military
confirmed a Hezbollah attack on the northern city of Haifa, though it was not
immediately clear whether shrapnel from “fallen projectiles” was from rockets
or interceptors. Hezbollah said it tried to hit a nearby naval base. The Magen
David Adom ambulance service said it treated 10 people, most of them hurt by
shrapnel. Israel also has vowed to strike Iran after a ballistic missile attack
on Israel last week.”



CBS News: U.S. Warships And Aircraft Strike Over A Dozen Houthi Targets In
Yemen
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“The U.S. military on Friday struck over a dozen Houthi targets in Yemen
using both aircraft and warships, U.S. officials told CBS News. The strikes,
according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command, hit 15 targets
containing Houthi offensive military capabilities, and the strikes were "to
protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and
more secure for U.S., coalition, and merchant vessels." The Houthis last week
launched what the Pentagon characterized as "a complex attack" using cruise
missiles and drones in the vicinity of U.S. Navy ships. The weapons the Houthis
launched were either shot down by the Navy ships or failed, according to the
Pentagon. None of the U.S. ships were hit, and no U.S. personnel were injured,
but the attack further demonstrated that months of U.S. airstrikes have not
dissuaded Houthis from their campaign targeting ships in the Red Sea.”




CEP Expert Analysis

* CEP Report: Civilian Counterterrorism Militias Take Action, Introduce New
Challenges to Combatting Violent Extremism in Africa
<[link removed]>
* CEP Policy Brief: Identifying and Disrupting Key Antisemitic Actors
<[link removed]>
* Extremist Content Online: Extreme Right Celebrates Anti-Muslim Immigratn
Riots on Telegram and X
<[link removed]>
* Counterpoint Brief: US Designates Nordic Resistance Movement Specially
Designated Global Terrorist Organization
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* ISIS Redux: The Central Syria Insurgency in March 2024
<[link removed]>



CEP Mentions



Politico: Inside The US Intel Dilemma On Gaza A Year After Oct. 7
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“... “The intelligence community is vast, but so are the number of priorities
assigned to its staff,” said Norman Roule, former national intelligence manager
for Iran and senior adviser to the Counter Extremism Project. “Absent steady
policymaker demand, the system moves resources — and demands on our partners —
to targets that are perceived to have greater policymaker interest.” POLITICO
spoke to four current and former senior U.S. officials and three lawmakers and
congressional staffers for this story. Most were granted anonymity to speak
freely about sensitive intelligence matters. The large U.S. blind spot in Gaza
drew immediate scrutiny in the days following Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
In briefings on Capitol Hill, intelligence officials told lawmakers they were
stunned by what Hamas was able to pull off. The assault had taken months if not
years to plan, they said. And it killed 30 Americans — the deadliest terrorist
attack on U.S. citizens since 9/11.”



Express: Inside Hamas's Gaza Metro 'Larger Than The London Underground' Where
101 Hostages Are Held
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“Daniel Roth, Managing Director at the Counter Extremism Project (CEP),
stated that much of the underground system remains intact despite Israeli
airstrikes and ongoing efforts to neutralise it. He told the Daily Express:
"Given that Hamas constructed a subterranean complex, the so-called 'Gaza
metro', more extensive than the London Underground, it is completely feasible
that much of the tunnel system is still functioning." He added that Israeli
Defense Forces (IDF) engineers have been focusing on disabling key sections of
the network rather than destroying it outright. Roth said: "The sheer magnitude
of the network, which cost hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars
and took nearly two decades to construct, may ultimately require a more
comprehensive destruction to render it permanently inoperable." Roth emphasised
that the tunnels are a vital part of Hamas' operations, including military
activities and the concealment of hostages.”



Express: Warning As Hitler-Supporting Far-Right Group ‘Recruiting Members In
England’
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“A Hitler-supporting Neo-Nazi hate group has released a promotional video
looking to recruit members in England. The video, released on Telegram,
features pounding music and clips of men boxing, weightlifting and doing
martial arts. The group, known as Active Club (AC), presents itself as a sports
organisation promoting self-improvement through weight training and fitness for
young men. […] Alexander Ritzmann, Senior Advisor at the Counter Extremism
Project, cautions that Active Clubs are carefully presenting themselves as
'just another right-wing sports club' to evade detection by authorities.”



Newsmax: US Intel Agencies Facing Information Gap On Hamas, Gaza
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“... Norman Roule, former national intelligence manager for Iran and senior
adviser to the Counter Extremism Project, said, “The intelligence community is
vast, but so are the number of priorities assigned to its staff.” He added,
“Absent steady policymaker demand, the system moves resources — and demands on
our partners — to targets that are perceived to have greater policymaker
interest.” Intelligence officers told lawmakers in briefings following the
assault that they were caught off guard by the Oct. 7 attack, which, they said,
clearly took months, if not years, to plan. They admitted they had largely
relied on Israel for inside info on Gaza and said Israelis failed to take
seriously some of their internal warnings. Since then, U.S. intelligence
agencies have increased efforts to track Hamas, including using drones and
satellites. But those tactics can only do so much.”



United States



Associated Press: US Launches Airstrikes By Fighter Jets And Ships On Yemen’s
Iran-Backed Houthi Rebels
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“The U.S. military struck more than a dozen Houthi targets in Yemen on
Friday, going after weapons systems, bases and other equipment belonging to the
Iranian-backed rebels, U.S. officials confirmed. Military aircraft and warships
bombed Houthi strongholds at roughly five locations, according to the
officials. Houthi media said seven strikes hit the airport in Hodeida, a major
port city, and the Katheib area, which has a Houthi-controlled military base.
Four more strikes hit the Seiyana area in Sanaa, the capital, and two strikes
hit the Dhamar province. The Houthi media office also reported three air raids
in Bayda province, southeast of Sanaa. The strikes come just days after the
Houthis threatened “escalating military operations” targeting Israel after they
apparently shot down a U.S. military drone flying over Yemen. And just last
week, the group claimed responsibility for an attack targeting American
warships.”



Afghanistan



The Independent: Taliban Profit As Flights Diverted Around Middle East Crisis
Fill Up Afghan Airspace
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“The number of international flights passing through Taliban-controlled
Afghan airspace reached a record high this week in the aftermath of Iran’s
missile attack against Israel. On Thursday, a record 191 flights passed over
Afghanistan, with airlines paying the country’s civil aviation ministry $700
per flight for the privilege. The payments represent a significant and growing
revenue stream for the cash-strapped Taliban regime. Afghan airspace became
off-limits to international flights amid safety fears around the time of the
collapse of the Nato-allied government in August 2021, when Western militaries
withdrew from Kabul and the hardline Islamist group seized control of the
country. But those planes have steadily been returning, particularly in the
past year since the 7 October attack on Israel by Hamas and the subsequent war
in Gaza. In the second week of August, Afghanistan saw more than seven times
the number of flights through its airspace compared to August 2023, data from
FlightRadar24 showed.”



Pakistan



Reuters: 'Terrorist Attack' Near Karachi Airport Kills Two Chinese Nationals,
Embassy Says
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“Two Chinese nationals were killed in an explosion near the international
airport of the southern Pakistani city of Karachi on Sunday night, the Chinese
embassy in Pakistan said, in what it described as a "terrorist attack". In a
statement emailed to journalists, separatist militant group Baloch Liberation
Army (BLA) claimed the explosion was an attack carried out by them using a
vehicle-borne improvised explosive device targeting Chinese nationals,
including engineers. The Chinese embassy said a convoy from the Port Qasim
Electric Power Company was attacked near the airport. "The Chinese Embassy and
Consulates General in Pakistan strongly condemn this terrorist attack, express
deep condolences to the innocent victims of both countries and sincere
sympathies to the injured and (their) families," the statement said, adding the
Chinese side has been working with Pakistani authorities in the aftermath.”



Associated Press: Militants Kill 6 Pakistani Soldiers In A Shootout
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“Militants killed six Pakistani soldiers in a shootout, the army said
Saturday, the latest unrest in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering
Afghanistan where armed groups including the Pakistani Taliban are active. The
troops died in an overnight operation in North Waziristan district on Saturday,
according to an army statement. It said six militants also were killed. The
army said a separate operation killed two militants in Swat, also in Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa. One of them was said to be involved in an attack on a convoy of
foreign ambassadors in the area earlier this month. Also Saturday, cellphone
services remained suspended in Islamabad as it entered a second day of a
lockdown aimed at thwarting rallies in support of ex-leader Imran Khan. He is
in prison on multiple charges. Shipping containers blocked off the city’s entry
and exit points, but videos from Khan’s PTI party showed supporters piled into
vehicles and attempted to head toward Islamabad.”



Lebanon



Reuters: Hezbollah Strikes Israel On Gaza War Anniversary
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“Hezbollah rockets hit Israel's third largest city Haifa early on Monday as
the country looked poised to expand ground incursions into southern Lebanon on
the first anniversary of the Gaza war, which has spread conflict across the
Middle East. Iran-backed Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas, the Palestinian militant
group fighting Israel in Gaza, said it targeted a military base south of Haifa
with "Fadi 1" missiles and launched another attack on Tiberias, 65 km (40
miles) away. The spiralling conflict has raised concerns that the United
States, Israel's superpower ally, and Iran will be sucked into a wider war in
the oil-producing Middle East. Israeli police confirmed that rockets had struck
Haifa, also a major port, and local media said 10 people were wounded there. An
Israeli military statement said five rockets were launched at Haifa from
Lebanon and interceptors were fired at them. "Fallen projectiles were
identified in the area. The incident is under review."”



Middle East



Associated Press: Middle East Latest: Palestinian Militants In Gaza Fire
Rockets Into Israel As Mourners Mark Oct 7
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“Palestinian militants in Gaza fired a barrage of rockets into Israel on
Monday as mourners marked the anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack, without
disrupting a nearby ceremony. Hamas also said it attacked Israeli forces in
different parts of Gaza. The Israeli military said it launched a wave of
artillery and airstrikes overnight and into Monday to thwart what it said was
an imminent attack. It said it targeted Hamas launch posts and underground
militant infrastructure. The fighting on the anniversary underscored the
militants’ resilience in the face of a devastating Israeli offensive that has
killed around 42,000 Palestinians, according to local medical officials. It has
also destroyed large areas of Gaza and displaced around 90% of its population.
Hamas-led militants blew holes in Israel’s security fence and stormed into
nearby army bases and farming communities in a surprise attack one year ago,
killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting another 250.”



Voice Of America: Israel Marks One Year Since Hamas Attack
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“Israel’s military said it carried out airstrikes Monday targeting Hamas
positions throughout the Gaza Strip, one year after a Hamas attack on southern
Israel sparked a war that includes fighting in Lebanon and concerns about a
regional conflict. The targets included Hamas rocket-launching positions. Hamas
said Monday it fired rockets at areas near several border crossings in southern
Israel. The Israeli military also said it struck targets used by the Hezbollah
militant group in Lebanon, including attacks on Beirut, parts of southern
Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley. Hezbollah rockets hit the northern Israeli city
of Haifa where Israeli media said at least 10 people were injured. Hezbollah
said it targeted an Israeli military base south of Haifa. Ahead of Monday’s
anniversary, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited troops Sunday in
northern Israel.”



Reuters: Israeli Bombardment Kills 29 People In Gaza, Militants Renew Rocket
Fire Into Israel
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“Israeli military strikes across the Gaza Strip killed at least 29
Palestinians on Friday, medics said, and sirens blared in southern Israel in
response to renewed rocket fire from militants in the Palestinian enclave. The
new rocket salvoes indicated that Hamas-led militant factions in Gaza are still
able to fire projectiles into Israel despite a year-long Israeli aerial and
ground offensive that has turned wide areas of the enclave into wasteland. On
Friday, the Israeli military said sirens sounded in southern Israel for the
first time in around two months. "Almost a year after Oct. 7, Hamas is still
threatening our civilians with their terrorism and we will continue operating
against them," it added, referring to the anniversary of Hamas' cross-border
attack that touched off the Gaza war. In Gaza City in north Gaza, Palestinian
health officials said one Israeli aerial strike on a house killed at least
seven people.”



Africa



Associated Press: Mozambique Headed For Crucial Elections Amid Jihadist
Insurgency And Drought-Induced Hunger
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“Mozambicans will vote this week for a new president who many hope will bring
peace to an oil- and gas-rich northern province that has been ravaged by a
jihadist insurgency for nearly seven years. Close to 17 million voters will
vote for the next president, alongside 250 members of parliament and provincial
assemblies, on Wednesday. The current president, Filipe Nyusi, is ineligible to
stand again after two terms of office. During the six week campaign period,
which ended Sunday, the frontrunners promised that violence in the north of the
country will be their main priority, although none has laid out a plan to end
it. Mozambique has been fighting an Islamic State-affiliated group that has
launched attacks on communities in the province of Cabo Delgado since 2017,
including beheadings and other killings.”



Europe



Associated Press: A Woman Goes On Trial In Sweden For War Crimes Over
Allegedly Abusing Yazidis In Syria
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“A 52-year-old woman associated with the Islamic State group went on trial on
Monday in Sweden on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes
against Yazidi women and children in Syria. Lina Laina Ishaq, who is a Swedish
citizen, is accused of committing the crimes during the period from August 2014
to December 2016 in the Syrian city of Raqqa, which at the time was the seat of
the militant group’s self-proclaimed caliphate and home to about 300,000
people. The trial marks the first time that IS attacks against the Yazidis, one
of Iraq’s oldest religious minorities, have been tried in Sweden. The hearings
are expected to last about two months, most of them behind closed doors. The
crimes took place under IS rule in Raqqa, where Ishaq was living at the time.
Under IS rule, Yazidi women and children were “regarded as property and
subjected to being traded as slaves, sexual slavery, forced labor, deprivation
of liberty and extrajudicial executions,” prosecutor Reena Devgun said when the
charges were made public last month.”



Southeast Asia



CBS News: Tajikistan Nationals With Alleged ISIS Ties Removed In Immigration
Proceedings, U.S. Officials Say
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“When federal agents arrested eight Tajikistan nationals with alleged ties to
the Islamic State terror group on immigration charges back in June, U.S.
officials reasoned that coordinated raids in Los Angeles, New York and
Philadelphia would prove the fastest way to disrupt a potential terrorist plot
in its earliest stages. Four months later, after being detained in Immigration
and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities, three of the men have already been
returned to Tajikistan and Russia, U.S. officials tell CBS News, following
removals by immigration court judges. Four more Tajik nationals – also held in
ICE detention facilities – are awaiting removal flights to Central Asia, and
U.S. officials anticipate they'll be returned in the coming few weeks. Only one
of the arrested men still awaits his legal proceeding, following a medical
issue, though U.S. officials speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss
the sensitive proceedings indicated that he remains detained and is likely to
face a similar outcome.”



Russia

Reuters: Russia Has Decided 'At Highest Level' To Remove Taliban From
Terrorist List, TASS Reports
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“Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Friday that a decision to remove the
Taliban from a list of terrorist organisations had been "taken at the highest
level", the state TASS news agency reported. The decision needs to be followed
up with various legal procedures in order to make it a reality, President
Vladimir Putin's special representative on Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, was
quoted as saying. Putin said in July that Russia considered Afghanistan's
Taliban movement an ally in the fight against terrorism. Russia has been slowly
building ties with the Taliban since it seized power in Afghanistan in August
2021 as U.S.-led forces withdrew after 20 years of war but the movement is
still officially outlawed in Russia. No country has formally recognised the
Taliban as the country's legitimate leadership, although China and the UAE have
accepted its ambassadors.”



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