“Iran has defied international demands to rein in its nuclear program and has
increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels,
according to a confidential report by the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog seen
Tuesday by The Associated Press. The report by the International Atomic Energy
Agency said that as of Oct. 26, Iran has 182.3 kilograms (401.9 pounds) of
uranium enriched up to 60%, an increase of 17.6 kilograms (38.8 pounds) since
the last report in August. Uranium enriched at 60% purity is just a short,
technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. The IAEA also estimated
in its quarterly report that as of Oct. 26, Iran’s overall stockpile of
enriched uranium stands at 6,604.4 kilograms (14,560 pounds), an increase of
852.6 kilograms (1,879.6 pounds) since August.”











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Eye on Extremism



November 20, 2024



Associated Press: Iran Defies International Pressure, Increasing Its Stockpile
Of Near Weapons-Grade Uranium, UN Says
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“Iran has defied international demands to rein in its nuclear program and has
increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels,
according to a confidential report by the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog seen
Tuesday by The Associated Press. The report by the International Atomic Energy
Agency said that as of Oct. 26, Iran has 182.3 kilograms (401.9 pounds) of
uranium enriched up to 60%, an increase of 17.6 kilograms (38.8 pounds) since
the last report in August. Uranium enriched at 60% purity is just a short,
technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. The IAEA also estimated
in its quarterly report that as of Oct. 26, Iran’s overall stockpile of
enriched uranium stands at 6,604.4 kilograms (14,560 pounds), an increase of
852.6 kilograms (1,879.6 pounds) since August.”



The New York Times: Putin Lowers Russia’s Threshold For Using Nuclear Arms
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“President Vladimir V. Putin on Tuesday lowered Russia’s threshold for the use
of nuclear weapons, a long-planned move whose timing appeared designed to show
the Kremlin could respond aggressively to Ukrainian strikes on Russian
territory with American missiles. The decree signed by Mr. Putin implemented a
revised version of Russia’s nuclear doctrine that Mr. Putin described in
televised remarks in September. But the timing sent a message, coming just two
days after the news that President Biden had authorized the use of
U.S.-supplied longer-range missiles by Ukraine for strikes inside Russia. Asked
whether Russia could respond with nuclear weapons to such strikes, Dmitri S.
Peskov, Mr. Putin’s spokesman, repeated the new doctrine’s language that Russia
“reserves the right” to use such weapons to respond to a conventional-weapons
attack that creates a “critical threat” to its “sovereignty and territorial
integrity.””




The CEP CounterPoint: Expert Analysis

*
CEP – KAS: Sahel Monitoring June 2024
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*
ISIS Redux: The Central Syria Insurgency In October 2024
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*
Antisemitism In Amsterdam: Even Soccer Fans Cannot Escape Double Standards
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*
ISIS Redux: The Central Syria Insurgency In September 2024
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*
One Year On: Remembering October 7 In London
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United States



MSNBC: Scalise Preps Vote On Terrorism Bill Decried As A Gift For Trump
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“Republicans in the House have revived their efforts to pass a bill widely
decried by human rights and civil rights groups as an effort to crack down on
free speech and their ideological opponents. A look at House Majority Leader
Steve Scalise’s weekly schedule shows the so-called Stop Terror-Financing and
Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act bill teed up for a vote Wednesday. The
bill, also known as H.R. 9495, was introduced by Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y.,
and would provide tax relief to Americans held hostage abroad. It would also
give the U.S. Treasury unilateral authority to strip tax-exempt status from
nonprofits deemed “terrorist supporting organizations.” That’s a frightening
prospect given Trump’s previous attempt to designate antifascist protesters as
“terrorists,” his classification of pro-Palestinian protesters as “pro-Hamas
radicals,” his open desire to quell dissent with violence, and his frequent
classification of those who disagree with him as the “enemy from within.””



Syria



Fox News: Syrian National Accused Of Funneling Over $9 Million In US-Funded
Humanitarian Aid To Terrorist Organization
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“A Syrian national was charged after allegedly funneling more than $9 million
in U.S.-funded humanitarian aid to terrorist organizations — including al
Qaeda. According to a news release from the U.S. attorney's office, District of
Columbia, 53-year-old Mahmoud Al Hafyan was charged in a 12-count indictment
for allegedly diverting more than $9 million in U.S.-funded humanitarian aid
intended for Syrian civilians to armed combatant groups. The groups included
the Al-Nusrah Front (ANF), which is a designated foreign terrorist organization
affiliated with al Qaeda in Iraq, the release said. "This defendant not only
defrauded the U.S. government, but he also gave the humanitarian aid he stole
to a foreign terrorist organization," U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves said.”



Pakistan



Voice Of America: China, Pakistan To Hold First Anti-Terror Drills In 5 Years
Amid Rising Attacks
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“China said Tuesday it will send troops to Pakistan later this month for the
countries first joint counterterrorism military exercise in five years to
enhance security cooperation with its South Asian neighbor and close ally. The
announcement follows reports that Beijing is pushing Islamabad to permit its
security personnel to safeguard thousands of Chinese nationals working in
Pakistan from deadly terrorist attacks. It also comes amid a spike in terrorist
attacks against Pakistani security forces attributed to or claimed by the
outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, commonly known as TTP. On Tuesday, China’s
Defense Ministry said that the Pakistan-hosted “Warrior-VIII exercise is set to
begin in late November and will run until mid-December “with the aim … to
enhance the capability for conducting joint counterterrorism operations,”
according to Chinese state media.”



Voice Of America: Suicide Bombing Kills 12 Pakistan Soldiers
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“Authorities in northwestern Pakistan said Wednesday that militants overnight
launched a gun and suicide bomb attack against a military outpost, killing at
least 12 troops and injuring several others. The deadly assault took place in
the militancy-hit Bannu district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which borders
Afghanistan. The statement reported that Pakistani security forces in the
ensuing gunfight killed six assailants and “effectively” blocked their attempt
to enter the post, prompting a suicide bomber to ram an explosive-laden vehicle
into the facility. The explosion caused the collapse of a portion of “the
perimeter wall and damaged the adjoining infrastructure,” resulting in
fatalities, the military said.”



Lebanon



The Washington Post: Israel’s War On Hezbollah Takes Terrible Toll On
Lebanon’s Children
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“Scattered throughout the wrecked apartment was evidence of how particularly
vulnerable children are to the effects of explosive weapons. A day and a half
after Israel fired the missile through the building, the bodies of the adults
had long since been retrieved and identified. Pieces of the children, though,
were still being found everywhere. The main recovery effort in this village
south of Beirut was over, but this stage was infinitely more delicate: A civil
defense worker, using just a small trowel and his hands, picked carefully
through the concrete that had collapsed into the second-floor apartment,
searching for what remained of Mohamad, 11, and Elia, 7. An ambulance worker
followed with a plastic bag to collect bits of their charred flesh for DNA
identification. Each chunk was so small it could fit in the palm of his hand.”



Reuters: UN Force In Lebanon Says Four Peacekeepers Wounded, Israel Blames
Hezbollah Rockets
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“The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said that four Ghanaian
peacekeepers were wounded on Tuesday when a rocket that was most likely fired
by "non-state actors" hit their base in southern Lebanon. Peacekeepers and
facilities were targeted in three separate incidents on Tuesday, UNIFIL added.
Israel's military said Hezbollah had twice fired rockets on Tuesday that
damaged UNIFIL posts. One rocket was fired at 9.50 am (0750 GMT), hitting a
UNIFIL post in the Ramyeh area in southern Lebanon, it said. At 1.30 pm, the
military said, Hezbollah fired a number of rockets from Maaliyeh that hit and
damaged a UNIFIL post in the area of Chamaa in southern Lebanon.”



Middle East



Reuters: Israeli Forces Kill Three Islamic Jihad Militants In West Bank Raid,
Medics Say
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“Israeli forces shot dead three members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad
militant group on Tuesday during an army raid into Qabatiya in the
Israeli-occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry and the group said.
The armed wing of the Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad group said three of its
members were killed as they confronted Israeli forces who raided Qabatiya near
the city of Jenin. There was no immediate Israeli comment. Later on Tuesday,
the Palestinian health ministry said two Palestinians had been killed by
Israeli fire in the Palestinian city of Jenin in the West Bank. Israel's
military did not immediately comment on the incident. Violence has surged
across the West Bank since the start of the Hamas-Israel war in Gaza more than
13 months ago.”



NBC: New Details Emerge About Netanyahu Aide Accused Of Leaking Hamas
Documents To The Press
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“Israeli prosecutors have accused one of Benjamin Netanyahu’s aides of
illegally leaking classified intelligence in an attempt to blunt widespread
criticism of the prime minister’s handling of the Gaza hostage crisis. The
allegations, detailed in newly released court filings, are part of a sprawling
criminal probe that has rocked Israel’s government and led to the aide’s arrest
and detention in prison. Four military personnel have also been arrested in
connection with the case. Investigators discovered that a low-level Israeli
soldier had illegally removed Hamas documents from a military database and
passed them to Eli Feldstein, a communications consultant working for
Netanyahu, prosecutors said.”



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