CEP Mentions
Politico: Inside The US Intel Dilemma On Gaza A Year After Oct. 7
“... “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
“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’
“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
“... 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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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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