CEP Mentions
Deutschlandfunk: How The "Islamic State" Works In Germany
“... It is no coincidence that the men all come from Central Asia: the IS offshoot ISPK is recruiting new supporters there. The abbreviation stands for "Islamic State Khorasan Province". But why Afghanistan? The ISPK operates from Afghanistan and claims the historical region of Khorasan, which stretches across several Central Asian states. According to the international non-profit organization Counter Extremism Project, the ISPK is a kind of showcase project for the IS headquarters in Syria and Iraq. Most IS groups emerged from the Al-Qaeda network, says Hans-Jakob Schindler of the Counter Extremism Project. The ISPK, on the other hand, was founded by the IS headquarters in Syria. The group also receives its money from there - in contrast to other IS offshoots, which have to finance themselves, says Schindler.”
United States
Associated Press: Middle East Latest: US Won’t Halt Any Weapons To Israel Over Gaza Humanitarian Aid Situation
“Eight international aid groups said Tuesday that Israel has failed to meet U.S. demands for greater humanitarian access to the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, where hunger experts say the north may already be experiencing famine. However, the Biden administration said Tuesday it won’t limit weapons transfers to Israel because the U.S. says its key ally has made good but limited progress in increasing the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Last month, Washington told Israel to boost aid to Gaza within 30 days, or else it could trigger U.S. laws requiring it to scale back American military support as Israel wages war against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israeli strikes killed at least 46 people in Gaza in the past 24 hours, and killed at least 33 people in Lebanon, local health officials said Tuesday. Two people in northern Israel also died from rockets fired from Lebanon.”
Reuters: US Warships Repelled Attack From Yemen's Houthis, Pentagon Says
“U.S. warships shot down drones and missiles fired by Yemen's Houthis while they were transiting the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Pentagon said on Tuesday. Earlier on Tuesday, the Houthis said they conducted two military operations against U.S. naval vessels in the Red and Arabian seas which the group's military spokesperson said lasted for eight hours. Pentagon spokesperson Air Force Major General Patrick Ryder said that on Monday two U.S. warships were attacked by at least eight drones, five anti-ship ballistic missiles and three anti-ship cruise missiles. The warships brought down the projectiles and there was no damage to the vessels. Ryder said he was not aware of any attacks against the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln. Houthi spokesperson Yahya Sarea had earlier said the first operation targeted a U.S. aircraft carrier in the Arabian sea with a number of missiles and drones, while the second operation launched missiles and drones at two U.S. destroyers in the Red Sea.”
Afghanistan
Voice Of America: Taliban Announce Scheduled Public Execution For Afghan Murder Convict
“Taliban authorities in eastern Afghanistan are scheduled to publicly execute a convicted murderer on Wednesday, citing the Islamic concept of retributive justice, or qisas. The early morning punishment will be carried out at a sports stadium in Gardez, the capital of the Paktia province, according to a local language official announcement Tuesday through the X social media platform. It invited the public, religious scholars, and civilian and military officials to attend the event, instructing them not to bring cameras or cell phones. If the death penalty is implemented as scheduled, it will be the sixth public execution of a murder convict in Afghanistan since the Taliban regained power in August 2021 and implemented a criminal justice system based on their interpretation of Islamic law, Sharia. The announcement did not specify how the execution will be implemented.”
Middle East
Associated Press: Israeli Strikes Kill 46 People In The Gaza Strip And 33 In Lebanon, Medics Say
“Israeli airstrikes killed at least 46 people in the Gaza Strip in the past day, including 11 at a makeshift cafeteria in an Israeli-declared humanitarian zone, medics said. In Lebanon, warplanes struck Beirut’s southern suburbs and killed 33 people elsewhere in the country on Tuesday. The latest bombardment came as the United States said it would not reduce its military support for Israel after a deadline passed for allowing more humanitarian aid into Gaza. The State Department cited some progress, even as international aid groups said Israel had failed to meet the U.S. demands. In Lebanon, large explosions shook Beirut’s southern suburbs — an area known as Dahiyeh, where Hezbollah has a significant presence — soon after the Israeli military issued evacuation warnings for 11 houses there. There was no immediate word on casualties.”
Voice Of America: Hezbollah, Hamas Down But Not Out, US Says
“Israel's war against Hezbollah and Hamas, while inflicting considerable damage, has yet to strike a crippling blow to either of the Iran-backed terror groups, according to a top U.S. counterterrorism official. The acting director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) said Tuesday that the impact of Israeli intelligence operations, along with repeated military airstrikes and ground offensives in Lebanon and Gaza, have severely diminished the ability of both groups to launch new attacks on Israel. But he cautioned that both groups remain resilient, and in the case of Hezbollah, retain significant capabilities. "Before the conflict, they [Hezbollah] had built up unprecedented numbers of rockets and missiles and other munitions," the NCTC's Brett Holmgren told an audience in Washington, adding that the Lebanese group was starting at a "very strong point."”
Africa
Voice Of America: Chad Says Boko Haram Fighters Fleeing To Neighboring States
“The government of Chad said Tuesday that hundreds of Boko Haram fighters are fleeing the central African state’s territory and crossing over into Cameroon, Niger and Nigeria. State TV reports the fighters fled after clashes with Chadian forces over the weekend that killed more than 100 Boko Haram fighters as well as close to 20 Chadian soldiers. Chad state TV reports that assaults have continued against Boko Haram strongholds after the central African state’s military saw almost 20 soldiers killed and 32 others injured in a Saturday battle with Boko Haram terrorists in the Lake Chad basin. A government statement said about 100 Boko Haram fighters were killed and a dozen others injured during the clashes, and that Boko Haram fighters are now fleeing to Cameroon, Nigeria and Niger. Earlier this month, Chad's military launched an operation aimed at dislodging Boko Haram terrorists from areas around Lake Chad, according to the central African state’s president, General Mahamat Idriss Deby.”
United Kingdom
BBC: Serving Police Officer Arrested On Suspicion Of Supporting Hamas
“A serving police office in South West England has been arrested on suspicion of supporting the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The officer, a constable aged in his thirties, was arrested on Tuesday in Gloucestershire by counterterrorism police, who said the suspected support "relates to activity online". He has been taken to a police custody unit outside Gloucestershire. Specialist officers from Counter Terrorism Policing South West (CTPSW) made the arrest on a property in Gloucester, and also searched a vehicle and address in the area, police said. Gloucestershire Police Assistant Chief Constable Arman Mathieson said the searches aimed to find digital devices for analysis. “The arrest of a serving officer on suspicion of such a serious offence will no doubt cause our communities concern, as it does everyone who works for Gloucestershire Police," he added.”
Southeast Asia
The Tribune: Encounter Breaks Out Between Security Forces, Militants In Bandipore
“A gunbattle between militants and security forces took place in North Kashmir's Bandipore on Tuesday morning, said Army officials. This is eighth such encounter in Kashmir Valley this month as security forces have intensified anti-militancy operations. Based on intelligence inputs regarding presence of terrorists, security forces launched a search operation in Nagmarg forest of Bandipore district, they said. The forest area where the exchange of fire took place is situated in the middle of north Kashmir’s Bandipore and Kupwara districts and close to the Line of Control. Army’s Srinagar-based Chinar Corps wrote on X that the forces had received inputs about the presence of militants in the area. “On 12 November 24, based on specific intelligence input regarding presence of terrorists, a joint operation launched by Army, police in general area Nagmarg, Bandipore,” the Army wrote on X.”
The Times Of India: Security Forces Foil Potential IED Attack, Two Ex-Militants Held
“In a significant breakthrough ahead of Ulfa-I's protest day, security forces intercepted an IED at Rangajan Tollgate in Golaghat district on Tuesday, potentially averting a major security threat. The operation, conducted jointly by Golaghat Police, Charaideo Police and 23 Assam Rifles, led to the arrest of two former militants of All Adivasi National Liberation Army (AANLA). The individuals, identified as Ajay Shyam (29) and Tiken Kurmi (27), were apprehended while transporting the IED in an autorickshaw. "Based on specific intelligence inputs about IEDs being transported from Dimapur to Sivsagar, we launched a coordinated operation. The timing of this interception is crucial, as intelligence suggests the explosive was intended for use during Ulfa-I's protest day on Nov 28," said a senior police official involved in the operation.”
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