“Diplomacy aimed at securing a ceasefire in Lebanon showed tentative signs of
progress on Thursday as Israel pounded its northern neighbour including heavy
airstrikes on the stronghold of armed group Hezbollah near Beirut. Pressing its
offensive against the Iran-backed group, Israel hit Beirut's
Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs, carrying out intense attacks there for a
third consecutive day. Plumes of smoke rose over the suburbs known as Dahiyeh,
where Israeli strikes destroyed five buildings, sources familiar with the
damage said. “We say God help us," said Ayat, a 33-year-old Lebanese woman. The
Israeli military said its fighter jets targeted weapons warehouses, military
headquarters and other Hezbollah sites. In addition, Israeli strikes in the
eastern city of Baalbek killed at least 20 people while 11 died in Israeli
aerial bombardment of towns in southern Lebanon, authorities and Lebanon’s
National News Agency said.”











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Eye on Extremism



November 15, 2024



Reuters: Lebanese Ceasefire Efforts Inch Ahead As Israel Keeps Up Fierce
Bombardment
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“Diplomacy aimed at securing a ceasefire in Lebanon showed tentative signs of
progress on Thursday as Israel pounded its northern neighbour including heavy
airstrikes on the stronghold of armed group Hezbollah near Beirut. Pressing its
offensive against the Iran-backed group, Israel hit Beirut's
Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs, carrying out intense attacks there for a
third consecutive day. Plumes of smoke rose over the suburbs known as Dahiyeh,
where Israeli strikes destroyed five buildings, sources familiar with the
damage said. “We say God help us," said Ayat, a 33-year-old Lebanese woman. The
Israeli military said its fighter jets targeted weapons warehouses, military
headquarters and other Hezbollah sites. In addition, Israeli strikes in the
eastern city of Baalbek killed at least 20 people while 11 died in Israeli
aerial bombardment of towns in southern Lebanon, authorities and Lebanon’s
National News Agency said.”



Associated Press: Brazil Authorities Link Bombing In The Capital To Extremist
Discourse
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“A Brazilian Supreme Court justice said Thursday that he believes the
explosion outside the court in capital Brasilia was the consequence of frequent
far-right attacks and hate speech targeting the country’s institutions. “It
grew under the guise of a criminal use of freedom of speech. To offend,
threaten, coerce,” Justice Alexandre de Moraes said at an event in Brasilia.
Federal Police are investigating the explosions on Wednesday as terrorism and a
violent attack on the democratic rule of law, its director, Andrei Passos
Rodrigues, said at a news conference later. He said that the man had attempted
to enter the Supreme Court and that it appeared that he acted alone, though the
police official indicated he also was viewing the attack in the broader context
of extremism.”




Recent CEP Press Releases

*
Antisemitic Violence Instigated by Pro-Palestinian Protestors in Amsterdam
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Statement on the Death of Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar
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One Year After October 7
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CEP Report: Civilian Counterterrorism Militias Take Action, Introduce New
Challenges To Combatting Violent Extremism In Africa
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Counter Extremism Project Statement Marking 9/11
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United States



Reuters: Families Of Israeli Hostages Still In Gaza Call On Trump, Biden To
Work Together
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“Families of Israeli hostages taken captive to Gaza by Islamist group Hamas
urged U.S. President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday to
work on a deal to free those still being held before winter. A delegation of
former hostages and hostages' relatives were visiting Rome for meetings
including with the local Jewish community and Pope Francis. During a press
conference, they told reporters a deal was swiftly needed to bring back all the
hostages still being held after the Oct. 7 2023, Hamas attack on southern
Israel that triggered the Gaza war, and said Biden and Trump should work
together. "We hope Biden and Trump work together now to get the hostages back,
before the winter ... it has been so tough for them, they cannot be expected to
wait another winter," said Sharon Lifshitz.”



NBC News: The FBI Says It Stopped A Possible Terrorist Attack In Houston
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“Federal law enforcement officials said Thursday that they stopped a Texas
man from carrying out a possible terrorist attack in Houston. "Any day we can
publicly say that is a good day," the FBI's Houston field office said on social
media. Anas Said, 28, was charged last month with attempting to provide
material support to the terrorist group ISIS, according to an indictment filed
in U.S. District Court in Texas. Said was arrested last week at the Houston
apartment complex where he is alleged to have planned the attack, said the FBI,
which accused him of bragging that he would commit "a 9/11-style" attack if he
had the resources. Said is alleged to have told federal agents that he created
propaganda for the terrorist group, considered attacking members of the U.S.
military and discussed researching the locations and physical layouts of
synagogues and the Israeli Consulate in Houston, federal court documents show.”



The Economic Times: Concerns In US Over Growing Extremism In Bangladesh,
Sheikh Hasina Did Good Job In Controlling It: Ex-White House Official
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“There are serious concerns in the US over growing extremism in Bangladesh, a
former White House official has said, observing that deposed former Prime
Minister Sheikh did a good job in controlling it. Lisa Curtis, who served as
President-elect Donald Trump's South Asia point-person in his first term, has
said there is concern about the future and what it could bring to Bangladesh.
"We are at a critical juncture in Bangladesh. With the overthrow of Sheikh
Hasina and efforts to reform the political system, there is a lot of hope.
People are hopeful that the democratic process will get stronger," she said on
Thursday. The Awami League regime led by Hasian was toppled on August 5 in the
face of a mass upsurge originating from a quota reform campaign by the
Anti-Discrimination Students Movement.”



Iran



Associated Press: Former VOA Farsi Service Journalist Kills Himself In Iran
After Demanding Release Of Prisoners
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“A former journalist with the Voice of America’s Farsi service jumped to his
death from a building in Iran’s capital in protest of the country’s supreme
leader and an ongoing crackdown on dissent in the Islamic Republic, authorities
said Thursday. An official in Iran’s presidency acknowledged the death
Wednesday night of Kianoosh Sanjari, 42, who had earlier demanded the release
of four prisoners held in the country and threatened to kill himself if they
weren’t released. Ali Raniei, a social adviser to Iran’s reformist President
Masoud Pezeshkian, said that Sanjari’s death should be the subject of a
government review. He called an increase in the number of suicides in the
country by young people “alarming,” according to remarks published by Iran’s
state-run IRNA news agency.”



Iraq



Newsweek: Exclusive: Iraq Militia At War With US Troops Seeks 'Peace' Under
Trump <[link removed]>



“The head of an Iraqi militia involved in a campaign against U.S. troops and
Israel has expressed to Newsweek his desire for a less hostile relationship
with the United States when President-elect Donald Trump assumes office. The
remarks come as regional stakeholders anxiously await Trump's strategy upon
returning to office to oversee a volatile landscape in the Middle East, where
Israel and the Iran-aligned Axis of Resistance have been locked in battle for
more than a year. Trump has signaled strong support for Israel and a tougher
line against Iran, but he has also vowed to put an end to wars abroad, having
accused President Joe Biden of pursuing interventionist policies in the region.
Now, as fighters of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq call into question the
current administration's commitment to a deal announced in September to begin
withdrawing U.S. forces from the country, one group sees potential in Trump's
outlook.”



The Economist: Iraq Could Be The Middle East’s Next Battleground
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“No sooner had it unleashed the first of its drones at Israel on November 8th
than the Iraqi militia published an image of missiles streaking through the
sky. Israel said its aerial defences had thwarted the attack by al-Nujaba (“the
Nobles”). “Big surprises in the coming hours,” the group promised—in Hebrew as
well as Arabic: “God willing, many events”. Most of the Middle East’s rulers,
including those of Iran’s allies, would prefer God has other plans. Iraq has
been doing rather well of late. It is at last using its oil revenues to fund
infrastructure, not sectarian wars or foreign slush funds. Violence is at its
lowest level since America’s invasion. Its officials are desperate to sidestep
Israel’s conflict with Iran. But their efforts are hamstrung by a lack of
control over their own turf.” Israel says Iran is funnelling fresh stocks of
long-range missiles and explosive drones to its militias there.”



Pakistan



The Guardian: Pakistan Military Has No Intention Of Cutting Deal With Jailed
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan – Sources
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“Pakistan’s military has no intention of entering into negotiations or
cutting a deal with incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan, senior
military sources told the Guardian, after Khan said he would be willing to
engage with the army leadership from his jail cell. Khan, who is being held in
Pakistan’s Adiala jail, is banned from meeting journalists but the Guardian was
able to submit questions through his legal team. In his responses, Khan said he
has had “no personal engagement with the military” since he was arrested and
imprisoned in August last year. However, he said he would not rule out doing a
deal with Pakistan’s powerful military establishment, despite previously
accusing them of bringing down his government and being behind his
incarceration.”



Lebanon



The Wall Street Journal: Israeli Forces Push Deeper Into Lebanon In Widening
War Campaign
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“Israel is expanding its ground operation in southern Lebanon, sending troops
into villages farther from its border, in what some former senior security
officials worry could turn into a war of attrition. On Thursday, Israel’s
military for the second day in row said its troops were reaching new targets in
southern Lebanon. A day earlier, the military announced six soldiers were
killed fighting there, in one of the deadliest single incidents for Israeli
troops since the start of the ground operation more than a month ago. The
soldiers were killed in a firefight with at least four Hezbollah fighters who
ambushed Israeli troops inside a building, according to an initial Israeli
probe. That is a sign of the continual threat Hezbollah’s guerrilla warfare
presents to Israeli soldiers going deeper into Lebanon.”



New York Post: Daily Hezbollah Strikes Begin To Dwindle As Israel Closes In On
Cease-Fire Deal: Officials
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“The number of daily Hezbollah rocket strikes against Israel has fallen by
nearly half as officials say they are as close as they’ll ever be to reaching a
cease-fire deal in Lebanon. The Iran-backed terror group has consistently fired
around 150 to 200 rockets every day in recent months, but the frequency has
dropped this past week to an average of less than 100 missiles a day, according
to the Israel Defense Forces. In recent days, the number fell even further,
with only 50 rockets launched on Tuesday and another 55 on Wednesday, marking a
dramatic decrease following Israel’s ground incursion in Lebanon. The Israeli
military vowed to decimate Hezbollah’s launching capabilities after it began
intensifying its own rocket strikes over the border.”



Middle East



Reuters: Israel Will Attack Any Attempt To Bring Arms To Hezbollah From Syria
-Army Spokesperson
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“Israel will attack any attempt to bring weapons to Hezbollah from Syria,
Israel's military spokesperson said on Thursday. "We are identifying rockets
and other weapons that Hezbollah is launching at Israeli territory that were
manufactured in Syria," Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told reporters. "We will
attack every attempt to bring weapons from Syria to Hezbollah. And we will
attack all infrastructure we identify in Syria whose purpose is to produce
weapons for Hezbollah." He added that the military has been carrying out air
strikes from Beirut suburb and Hezbollah stronghold Dahiyeh to Damascus. He was
speaking shortly after Syria's state news agency reported what it said was an
Israeli air strike that hit a bridge in Syria near the border with northern
Lebanon.”



Associated Press: Israel Demolishes Village At The Heart Of Bedouin Minority’s
Struggle Over Land
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“Israeli authorities on Thursday completed the demolition of a village at the
heart of a yearslong struggle by members of the country’s Arab Bedouin minority
against relocation plans. Israel says the hundreds of villagers were squatting
on state-owned land, and officials had offered them plots in a nearby Bedouin
township. Residents of the village, Umm al-Hiran, accuse the authorities of
forcibly displacing them so the land can be developed for Israel’s Jewish
majority. Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir,
celebrated the move, posting on X that there has been a 400% increase in the
issuance of such demolition orders so far this year. “Proud to lead a strong
policy of demolishing illegal houses in the Negev!” he wrote.”



Associated Press: Israeli Strikes Kill At Least 12 Lebanese Rescuers And 15
People In Syria
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“An Israeli airstrike killed at least 12 Lebanese rescue workers on Thursday
inside a civil defense center in the eastern city of Baalbek, according to
health and rescue officials, hours after state media in Syria said Israeli
strikes in and around the capital killed at least 15 people. Lebanese emergency
workers were digging through the rubble Thursday evening to search for more of
their colleagues still trapped under the destroyed rescue center, the group
said in a statement. At least three civil defense members were wounded. There
was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. Lebanon’s civil defense
forces have no affiliation with the militant group Hezbollah, and they provide
crucial rescue and medical services in one of the world’s most war-torn
nations.”



Africa



Associated Press: French Weapons System Found In Sudan Is Likely Violation Of
U.N. Arms Embargo, Says Amnesty
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“Armored vehicles manufactured by the United Arab Emirates and equipped with
French defense systems have been captured by the Sudanese army during the civil
war in Sudan, Amnesty International says. The rights group said in a report on
Thursday it had identified the UAE-made armored personnel carriers (APCs) in
various parts of Sudan, including the Darfur region, where they were used by
the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in its fight with the Sudanese
Armed Forces (SAF). It added that the presence of the military vehicles on the
battlefield “likely constitutes a violation” of a United Nations arms embargo
that prohibits the transfer of weapons to Sudan.”



United Kingdom



BBC: Officer Arrested On Suspicion Of Terror Offence Bailed
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“A police officer arrested on suspicion of a terrorism offence has been
released on bail pending further enquiries. The Gloucestershire Police officer
was arrested on Tuesday by Counter Terrorism Policing South West, and he has
been suspended from all duties by the force. The officer is suspected of
providing support online for a proscribed organisation contrary to Section 12
of the Terrorism Act 2000. The investigation remains ongoing.”



France



Associated Press: Protests Erupt In Paris Over Pro-Israel Gala Organized By
Far-Right Figures
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“Protests erupted in Paris on Wednesday against a controversial gala
organized by far-right figures in support of Israel. The event, intended to
raise funds for the Israeli military, included Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel
Smotrich among its invited guests. The demonstrations came on the eve of a
high-stakes soccer match at France’s national stadium against the Israeli
national team, overshadowed by tensions around the wars in the Middle East.
Authorities in Paris announced that more than 4,000 police officers and 1,600
stadium staff will be deployed for the game. Smotrich, a vocal advocate of
Israeli settlements, had been expected to attend Wednesday’s gala, dubbed
“Israel is Forever,” which was planned by an association of the same name. The
group’s stated goal is to “mobilize French-speaking Zionist forces.””



Europe



Newsweek: Pope Francis Meets With Former Hostages Held By Hamas In Gaza
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“Pope Francis met with several former hostages held by Hamas in Gaza this
week, amid Israel's ongoing war with the militant group. Pope Francis expressed
hope that both the incoming and outgoing U.S. administrations will collaborate
to secure the return of those still held captive. The released hostages
included Yelena Troufanov, who was freed last November. However, her son,
Sasha, remains in Gaza and was shown in a video released Wednesday by the
Palestinian Islamic Jihad group. "You see in the picture how my child has
changed over the course of this year," Troufanov said during a press conference
in Rome on Thursday. "I am very worried about his condition, I see that he is
not in a good mental state and not in a good physical state."”



South America



The New York Times: Suicide Bomber In Brazil’s Capital Rattles Nation Ahead Of
Global Summit
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“The explosions that shook Brazil’s capital on Wednesday evening and prompted
an evacuation were an act of terrorism by a lone attacker who sought to
violently disrupt democracy, police officials said on Thursday. The authorities
said the only person killed was the attacker himself, and no one was injured.
But the two explosions took place near the nation’s Supreme Court in Brasília,
the capital, and put the nation on edge just days before the country is set to
host a major G20 summit, which President Biden and other world leaders are
expected to attend. The attack echoed the violence that descended on Brasília
following the election of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva nearly two years
ago, fueling worries about renewed tensions after a period of relative calm.”



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