“Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that Israel needs to pursue
an “enduring strategic success” after its tactical victories against Hamas,
urging it to seek a deal that would end the war in the Gaza Strip and bring
back dozens of hostages. He spoke before traveling from Israel to Saudi Arabia
on his 11th visit to the region since the outbreak of the war. Air raid sirens
sounded in Tel Aviv shortly before his departure as Israel intercepted two
projectiles fired from Lebanon, and a puff of smoke could be seen in the sky
from Blinken’s hotel. “Israel has achieved most of the strategic objectives
when it comes to Gaza,” Blinken told reporters before boarding his plane. “Now
is the time to turn those successes into an enduring strategic success.” “There
really are two things left to do: Get the hostages home and bring the war to an
end with an understanding of what will follow,” he said.”











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Eye on Extremism



October 23, 2024



Associated Press: Blinken Urges Israel To Seek Deal After Tactical Gains As
Truce Efforts Remain Stalled
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“Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that Israel needs to pursue
an “enduring strategic success” after its tactical victories against Hamas,
urging it to seek a deal that would end the war in the Gaza Strip and bring
back dozens of hostages. He spoke before traveling from Israel to Saudi Arabia
on his 11th visit to the region since the outbreak of the war. Air raid sirens
sounded in Tel Aviv shortly before his departure as Israel intercepted two
projectiles fired from Lebanon, and a puff of smoke could be seen in the sky
from Blinken’s hotel. “Israel has achieved most of the strategic objectives
when it comes to Gaza,” Blinken told reporters before boarding his plane. “Now
is the time to turn those successes into an enduring strategic success.” “There
really are two things left to do: Get the hostages home and bring the war to an
end with an understanding of what will follow,” he said.”



Reuters: Twenty Reported Killed In Gaza As Israel Intensifies Siege Of North
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“Israeli strikes across Gaza killed 20 people on Wednesday as Israeli forces
intensified a siege of northern parts of the Palestinian enclave, surrounding
hospitals and refugee shelters, and ordering residents to head south, medics
and residents said. The Gaza health ministry and the World Health Organization
said they would be unable to start a polio vaccination campaign in northern
Gaza as planned because of the intense bombardments, mass displacements and
lack of access. Israeli forces began the operation in the north about three
weeks ago with the declared aim of preventing Hamas fighters from regrouping.
The operation has intensified since the killing of Hamas chief Yahya Al-Sinwar
a week ago. Israel's allies, including the United States, have said they hoped
Sinwar's death could provide a fresh impetus for peace by allowing Israel to
declare that it had achieved some of its major objectives in Gaza.”




The CEP CounterPoint: Expert Analysis

* ISIS Redux: The Central Syria Insurgency In September 2024
<[link removed]>
* One Year On: Remembering October 7 In London
<[link removed]>
* Al-Qaeda’s Brazen Attacks In Mali’s Capital Bamako
<[link removed]>
* ISIS Redux: The Central Syria Insurgency In August 2024
<[link removed]>
* CounterPoint Brief: EU Arrests Members Of Newly-Designated Terrorist Group
The Base
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CEP Mentions



Voice Of America: Exclusive: Facing Cash Crunch, Hezbollah Seeks To Boost
Illegal Drug Sales In Europe
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“... Selling illegal drugs in Europe is a quick way for Hezbollah to raise
money because of ample demand and supply, according to Hans-Jakob Schindler,
senior director of the Counter Extremism Project, a U.S.-German nonprofit
policy organization. “Europe is the largest consumer of cocaine worldwide,
bigger than the United States, so the demand is there,” said Schindler, a
former U.N. Security Council and German government official. On the supply
side, Schindler said Hezbollah has established relationships with South
American drug cartels who ship their illicit cargos to West Africa, from where
they are transported first to Africa’s northern coast and then to Europe’s
southern coast. “Unlike drug trafficking, Hezbollah’s other money-making
ventures are not easy to ramp up quickly,” Schindler said.”



EU Reporter: French Neocolonialism: A Threat To The European Economy And
Security
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“France is facing a significant economic crisis, which threatens not only its
domestic stability but also risks creating ripple effects across the European
Union (EU). Key challenges include record high public debt, now over €3
trillion, or 112% of its GDP, and a widening budget deficit. These issues are
compounded by rising inflation, political turmoil, and public unrest, placing
France’s finances under intense EU scrutiny. […] According to the experts of
the Counter Extremism Project (CEP) France and Qatar’s relationship deepened in
2024 with a €10 billion investment agreement, marking a strategic partnership.
While the partnership boosts the French economy, particularly in luxury,
sports, and real estate sectors, it raises concerns about Qatar’s influence on
French policies.”



Yahoo News: Leader Of Islamic State In Iraq Killed, Prime Minister Says
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“Security forces in Iraq have killed the leader of the Islamic State (IS)
terrorist group in the country, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani
said on Tuesday. In addition to the leader of Islamic State in Iraq, eight
other senior figures in the group were killed during a "heroic operation" in
the Hamrin Mountains, he said. "There is no place for terrorists in Iraq,"
al-Sudani said. […] The organization Counter Extremism Project counted around
70 attacks in Syria alone in March this year. Islamic State cells have also
regained some of their strength in parts of Africa and South Asia.”



Daily Mail: Islamic State’s Iraqi Chief Is Assassinated In Strike On Mountain
Stronghold
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“Islamic State's top commander in Iraq has been killed after Iraqi security
forces launched punishing airstrikes on the terrorist outfit's stronghold in
the Hamrin mountains, the prime minister declared this afternoon. The ISIS
commander, named as Jassim al-Mazrouei Abu Abdel Qader, died along with eight
other terrorists in the operation conducted early last week, according to Iraqi
premier Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's statement. […] Edmund Fitton-Brown, Senior
Advisor to the Counter Extremism Project and former Ambassador of the UK to
Yemen, told MailOnline: 'ISIS methodically kept itself alive during the height
of military and counterterrorism pressure it faced by creating a global
structure of mutually supportive regional networks.'”



Tagesspiegel: "Heoric Effort" In The Hamrin Mountains: Security Forces Kill
Leader Of IS Terrorist Militia In Iraq
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“Security forces in Iraq have killed the leader of the terrorist militia
Islamic State (IS). Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani announced this
and spoke of a "heroic operation" in the Hamrin Mountains. In addition to the
Wali ("governor") of IS in Iraq, eight other high-ranking leaders of the
terrorist militia were killed. […] But IS has not disappeared. According to the
US Central Command, there are currently around 2,500 IS fighters in both
countries who carry out attacks again and again . The Counter Extremism Project
organisation counted around 70 attacks in Syria alone in March of this year. IS
cells have also regained some strength in parts of Africa and South Asia.”



RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland: Where The Millions Of Hezbollah And Hamas’
Fortunes Come From
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“Beirut, end of September: A Boeing 747-200 F of the Iranian airline Qeshm
Fars Air is approaching Rafiq Hariri Airport in the south of the Lebanese
capital. The Israeli military, which has hacked the communication channel,
suddenly intervenes in the conversation between the tower and the crew. The
Israelis warn the crew of Qeshm Fars Air not to land in Beirut. If they do so,
the plane will be destroyed immediately. But if the Boeing changes course and
returns to Tehran, it will remain unharmed. […] Terrorism expert Hans-Jakob
Schindler calls Hezbollah "a state within a state," "which requires several
hundred million dollars of funding per year," the employee of the transatlantic
think tank Counter Extremism Project (CDP) told RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland
(RND).”



FOCUS Online: Expert Warns: Violence At Anti-Israel Demonstrations Reaches New
Dimension
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“The security situation in Germany has been particularly tense since Hamas'
pogrom-like attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Just hours after this
terrorist attack, Islamist extremist actors mobilized their supporters and
sympathizers in Germany to demonstrate against Israel. […] After an
international career in research, public service, the private sector and as
terrorism advisor to the United Nations Security Council, Hans-Jakob Schindler
currently works as Senior Director at the Counter Extremism Project in Berlin
and New York and on advisory boards of various international organizations. He
studied in Tübingen, Georgetown, St Andrews and Tel Aviv and wrote his PhD
thesis on international terrorism in St Andrews.”



Newsrael: What Sinwar’s Possessions Say About His Pre-Death Movements
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“When Israeli forces examined Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar’s body after killing
him in a surprise ground operation on Thursday, they discovered several curious
items, including grenades, an assault rifle, nearly $11,000 in cash, and a
passport belonging to an employee of the United Nations Relief and Works
Agency. […] “Having access to a humanitarian passport—even if expired in
2017—could possibly provide access to humanitarian corridors to evacuate a
crisis zone,” said Riza Kumar, a research analyst with the Counter Extremism
Project, a nonprofit policy group. “Given that only two others died alongside
Sinwar, his small entourage suggests he was attempting to make moves that
wouldn’t be so easily detected.””



United States



Associated Press: US Charges Iran Revolutionary Guard Official In Alleged Plot
To Kill A Human Rights Activist In NYC
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“Federal prosecutors on Tuesday charged a senior Iranian military official
and three others with links to that country’s government with plotting to kill
an Iranian American author on U.S. soil — a development lauded by the alleged
target. “This is a beautiful day for me. It’s like I’ve been given a second
life,” Masih Alinejad said of her reaction after eight FBI agents and Justice
Department officials told her about the charges filed against Brig. Gen.
Ruhollah Bazghandi, a senior official in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, and three
other men. Bazghandi, who previously served as chief of the Revolutionary
Guard’s counterintelligence department, and the three other defendants live in
Iran and remain at large, according to prosecutors. Five others were previously
charged in the alleged plot, including three people who are in custody.”



Iraq



Voice Of America: Iraq Says It Killed Top Islamic State Group Figure
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“Iraqi forces have killed nine Islamic State group commanders, including the
militants’ top figure in the country, Baghdad announced Tuesday, with the
Pentagon saying two U.S. troops were injured during the raid. Iraq's Joint
Operations Command said in a statement that counterterrorism forces "killed
nine terrorists, among them the so-called governor of Iraq" for IS, naming him
as Jassim al-Mazroui Abu Abdel Qader. The statement said the raid in the
northern Hamrin Mountains was carried out "with technical support" and
intelligence provided by the U.S.-led anti-jihadi coalition and said that
"large quantities of weapons" were seized in the operation which was "still
ongoing." Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder said that U.S. Central
Command and Iraqi forces "conducted a partner raid in Iraq targeting several
senior ISIS leaders" overnight.”



Pakistan



Associated Press: Pakistan Police Arrest 3 Men Who Stabbed And Killed 2
Transgender Women At Their Home
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“Pakistan’s police arrested three men on suspicion of killing two transgender
women with daggers at their home in the country’s conservative northwest,
police said on Wednesday. District police chief Zahur Babar Afridi told
reporters that the men were arrested Tuesday over the killings, which took
place Sunday in Mardan, a city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The men, who
were handcuffed and whose faces were covered with hoods, were present at the
police news conference. Afridi said the three men had confessed to the killings
during questioning. Their arrest came a day after representatives of trans
community in northwestern Pakistan urged police to detain the perpetrators.
Transgender people are often subjected to harassment, abuse and attacks in
Muslim-majority Pakistan. They are also among the victims of so-called honor
killings carried out by relatives to punish perceived sexual transgressions.”



Middle East



The Washington Post: IDF Confirms Death Of Top Hezbollah Leader; Blinken Meets
With Netanyahu
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“Hashem Safieddine, the senior Hezbollah leader widely seen as the successor
to the group’s former leader, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed around three weeks
ago, the Israel Defense Forces announced Tuesday. The IDF said it could confirm
the news following weeks of speculation about whether Safieddine, who headed
Hezbollah’s executive council, was still alive. Earlier Tuesday, Secretary of
State Antony Blinken met with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in
Jerusalem, the prime minister’s office said, as part of Blinken’s latest tour
of the Middle East to try to de-escalate tensions in Lebanon and the Gaza
Strip. Blinken “emphasized the need for Israel to take additional steps to
increase and sustain the flow of humanitarian assistance into Gaza,” and pushed
for a path to ramp down the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, State Department
spokesman Matthew Miller said.”



Reuters: Israel Issues Travel Warning To Parts Of Sri Lanka Over Terrorism
Threat
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“Israel's national security council on Wednesday called on Israelis to
immediately leave some tourist areas in southern Sri Lanka over the threat of a
possible terrorist attack. The agency said the warning pertained to the area of
Arugam Bay and beaches in the south and west of Sri Lanka, and stemmed from
"current information about a terrorist threat focused on tourist areas and
beaches". The security council did not specify the exact nature of the threat
and called on Israelis in the rest of Sri Lanka to be cautious and refrain from
holding large gatherings in public areas. "The Israeli security establishment
... is in close contact with the security authorities in Sri Lanka and is
following the developments," it said.”



Mali



Reuters: Drone Attack In Northern Mali Kills At Least 8, Tuareg Rebels Say
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“At least eight people including children were killed and 20 injured in a
drone strike at a fair in Mali's northern Timbuktu region, Tuareg rebels said
on Tuesday. The rebel coalition known as the Permanent Strategic Framework for
the Defence of the People of Azawad (CSP-DPA) said in a statement on Monday
that a Turkish drone had carried out several strikes on a local market and
civilian dwellings. The CSP-DPA blamed Mali's army and its allies for the
attack. Mali's armed forces did not immediately respond to a request for
comment on the incident. The Tuareg are an ethnic group that inhabits the
Sahara region, including parts of northern Mali, and is fighting for an
independent homeland. The separatist group launched an insurgency against
Mali's junta government in 2012 but the rebellion was later hijacked by
Islamist groups. They signed a peace agreement with Bamako in 2015, but CSP-DPA
pulled out of the talks at the end of 2022.”



Africa



The Washington Post: Swiss Tourist Suffers ‘Violent Death’ Visiting Algeria
With Tour Group
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“A Swiss tourist was killed earlier this month in Algeria, which has in
recent years aimed to attract tourists and put a history of instability and
terrorism in the Sahara in the past. Switzerland’s Department of Foreign
Affairs on Tuesday said in a statement to The Associated Press that it had been
in contact with Algerian authorities about the “violent death” of an unnamed
Swiss citizen on Oct. 11. The woman was part of a tour group of five Swiss
travelers. Algerian authorities did not respond to a request for comment and
had not issued a public statement as of Tuesday.”



France



Associated Press: France Defends Restrictions On Israeli Firms Supplying
Middle East Wars And Says It’s Not A Boycott
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“France’s government on Tuesday defended its decision to bar Israeli
companies supplying the wars in the Middle East from exhibiting at an upcoming
trade fair outside Paris. Organizers of the Nov. 4-7 naval defense exhibition,
called Euronaval, posted on the event’s website that Israeli firms can take
part in the show and “may have an exhibition stand, provided that their
products are not used in military operations in Gaza and Lebanon.” The
organizers attributed the restrictions to French government decisions taken
earlier this month. Addressing parliament Tuesday, French Foreign Minister
Jean-Noël Barrot said the policy doesn’t amount to a boycott of Israeli firms.
But he also said it would be “incoherent” for France to allow the promotion of
weapons used in the wars when Paris is also pushing for an immediate cease-fire
in Gaza and Lebanon.”



Germany



The Washington Post: A Man Who Allegedly Planned A Bomb Attack For The Islamic
State Group Is Indicted In Germany
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“German prosecutors said Tuesday they have filed an indictment against a man
who allegedly joined the Islamic State group in Iraq and planned to carry out
an attack in Germany on its behalf. The Iraqi national, identified only as
Mahmoud A. in line with German privacy rules, was arrested in June in
Esslingen, near Stuttgart. The federal prosecutor’s office said he has now been
formally charged at the state court in Stuttgart with membership in a foreign
terrorist organization and preparing a serious act of violence.The suspect
joined IS in Iraq in May 2016, and fought and carried out guard duties for the
extremist group until October 2017, according to prosecutors. He then allegedly
went to Turkey in consultation with IS, and continued to Germany in October
2022.”



Russia



Reuters: Senior Hamas Official Arrives In Russia, RIA Reports
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“A senior member of Hamas, the militant Palestinian group that controls Gaza,
Mousa Abu Marzouk has arrived in Moscow on a planned visit, Russian state-run
news agency RIA Novosti reported on Wednesday, citing a diplomatic source.
Hamas politburo member, Abu Marzouk, intends to hold a series of meetings with
Russian officials, RIA said without providing any further details. Russia has
ties to all key players in the Middle East, including Israel, Iran, Lebanon,
the Palestinian Authority and Hamas. Moscow has repeatedly blamed the current
crisis in the Middle East on the failure of U.S. diplomacy, and called for a
ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and the resumption of talks aimed at finding
a peace settlement.”



Southeast Asia



The Independent: Abu Sayyaf: Militants Jailed For Life For Mass Kidnapping Of
Tourists From Tropical Island Resort
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“A court has sentenced to life 17 Islamic militants for kidnapping 21 people,
including European tourists and Asian workers, from a dive resort in Malaysia
more than two decades ago. The Filipino militants belonged to the small but
violent Abu Sayyaf group. Among those convicted by the Regional Trial Court in
Taguig city, a suburb of the capital region, were two Abu Sayyaf leaders,
Hilarion Santos and Redendo Dellosa, who had been included in a United Nations
terrorism blacklist, the Department of Justice in Manila said. The 17 were
sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of pardon after 30 years,
according to justice officials. In April 2000, Abu Sayyaf militants armed with
assault rifles and machetes, traveled by speedboats from their southern
Philippine jungle strongholds and raided the Sipadan Island dive resort in
neighboring Malaysia, where they abducted 21 Western tourists and resort
workers at gunpoint.”



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