The Russian military has recruited "hundreds" of Yemeni fighters, according to
a new report, as Moscow pays dearly in casualty counts for gains in eastern
Ukraine. Yemeni citizens were promised high wages and Russian citizenship
before traveling to Russia to be "forcibly inducted into Moscow's army and sent
to the front lines in Ukraine," the Financial Times reported on Sunday. The
travel was facilitated by a company linked to Yemen's Houthi rebels. Newsweek
has reached out to the Russian Foreign Ministry for comment via email. It's not
clear how close Russia is with the Houthis, which maintain control of swathes
of the country devastated by civil war. But the grinding conflict in Ukraine
has seen Russia—a pariah state in the eyes of many Western countries—court
relationships with countries hostile to the U.S. and other nations backing
Ukraine.











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Eye on Extremism



November 26, 2024



Newsweek: Yemeni Fighters Reportedly Join Russia’s War In Ukraine
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"The Russian military has recruited "hundreds" of Yemeni fighters, according
to a new report, as Moscow pays dearly in casualty counts for gains in eastern
Ukraine. Yemeni citizens were promised high wages and Russian citizenship
before traveling to Russia to be "forcibly inducted into Moscow's army and sent
to the front lines in Ukraine," the Financial Times reported on Sunday. The
travel was facilitated by a company linked to Yemen's Houthi rebels. Newsweek
has reached out to the Russian Foreign Ministry for comment via email. It's not
clear how close Russia is with the Houthis, which maintain control of swathes
of the country devastated by civil war. But the grinding conflict in Ukraine
has seen Russia—a pariah state in the eyes of many Western countries—court
relationships with countries hostile to the U.S. and other nations backing
Ukraine."



Politico: Top Counterterrorism Official Warns Of ISIS
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Rapid Rise In Africa
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“The top U.S. counterterrorism official is warning that the Islamic State
terror group has set its sights on Africaas its new frontier — and that its
activities there are increasingly dangerous for the U.S. “The ISIS threat in
Africa, in our view, is potentially one of the greatest long-term threats to
U.S. interests,” Brett Holmgren, the head of the U.S. National Counterterrorism
Center, or NCTC, said in an interview. “They’ve clearly prioritized Africa as a
growth opportunity.” ISIS in Africa is nothing new, but most top administration
officials have rarely talked about it in their public addresses on national
security. Holmgren’s assessments offer a stark warning to a Washington that is
eager to move on from the war on terror era and focus on great power
competition against rivals like China and Russia — a priority for both the
outgoing Biden administration and incoming Trump administration.”



United States



The Washington Examiner: AGO Task Force Looks At ‘Extremism’ From A Public
Health Perspective
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“As the Washington State Attorney General’s Office continues work on a pilot
project for a hotline to report “bias incidents,” it has separately started a
task force focused on “extremism and mass violence” from a public health
perspective, the first of its kind in the nation. However, concerns have
already been raised as to the true purpose of the group and the intent of its
members regarding the impact to private citizens’ right to express their views
without fear of government retaliation. Speaking during the task force’s first
meeting on Friday, Sharon Damoff told the task force that “too often, the
government goes after citizens they disagree with politically, such as parents
speaking at school board meetings and prolife citizens, these people have been
falsely labeled domestic extremists.””



Fox News: Blinken Set To Testify On Afghanistan Withdrawal In House Amid
Looming Contempt Vote
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“Facing the threat of a contempt of Congress vote, Secretary of State Antony
Blinken finally agreed to testify in front of the 118th Congress' House Foreign
Affairs Committee (HFAC) on the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal after being sought
to do so for months, according to a spokesperson for the committee's GOP
majority. President Biden's Secretary of State is set to appear for a public
hearing on Dec. 11, an HFAC majority spokesperson told Fox News Digital. His
testimony will take place over three years after the Biden administration's
disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. Blinken did testify directly after the
withdrawal in front of the Democrat-controlled HFAC in September 2021. Blinken
has previously refused to comply with the GOP-led committee's subpoena for
testimony in 2024 on the Afghanistan withdrawal.”



Afghanistan



Reuters: UN Says Taliban Detained Journalists Over 250 Times In Afghanistan
Since Takeover
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“The United Nations' mission to Afghanistan said on Tuesday the ruling
Taliban had arbitrarily detained journalists 256 times since their takeover
three years ago, and urged authorities there to protect the media. In a reply
accompanying the report, the Taliban-led foreign ministry denied having
arrested that number of journalists and added that those arrested had committed
a crime. Journalists in Afghanistan worked under "challenging conditions", the
U.N. mission (UNAMA) and the U.N. Human Rights Office said in a statement.
"They often face unclear rules on what they can and cannot report, running the
risk of intimidation and arbitrary detention for perceived criticism," said
Roza Otunbayeva, the special representative of Secretary-General Antonio
Guterres.”



Reuters: Russia Pledges Broader Afghanistan Ties, Says US Should Help Rebuild
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“Sergei Shoigu, the secretary of Russia's powerful Security Council, told
Afghanistan's Taliban leaders on Monday that Moscow wanted to help achieve a
durable peace in the country, Russian news agencies reported. Shoigu, a former
defence minister, also said the U.S. should play a leading role in rebuilding
Afghanistan in view of its many years of military involvement in the country.
Taliban leaders asked Shoigu to help them ease the pressure imposed by U.S.
sanctions against the Kabul government, according to the Russian news agency
reports. Shoigu headed a Russian delegation that held talks with senior
officials in Kabul, including deputy prime ministers and the defence and
interior ministers. "Let me confirm our readiness to establish a constructive
political dialogue between our countries and among the goals would be providing
an impulse for the process of a settlement among Afghans," the agencies quoted
him as saying.”



Pakistan



Reuters: Four Soldiers Killed In Pakistan As Protesters Demand Release Of
Ex-PM Khan
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“Four paramilitary soldiers were killed on Tuesday during clashes near
Pakistan's parliament between security forces and protesters who were demanding
the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The interior ministry
confirmed the deaths but did not say who was responsible. Prime Minister
Shehbaz Sharif blamed the protesters, accusing them of ramming the paramilitary
troops with a convoy of vehicles. "It is not a peaceful protest. It is
extremism," Sharif said in a statement, aimed at achieving "evil political
designs". Information minister Attaullah Tarar said the protesters appeared
bent on fomenting chaos but said authorities would not allow that, adding: "No
one will be spared."”



Middle East



Associated Press: What’s Blocking A Ceasefire Between Israel And Hezbollah?
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“Diplomats and other officials say there have been several sticking points in
ceasefire talks to end the war between Israel and the Lebanese militant group
Hezbollah, even as conditions for an agreement appear to be ripe. Israel’s
military has killed nearly all of the militant group’s top leaders, but it
continues to fire missiles into Israel. Tens of thousands of Israelis who were
evacuated from the border months ago are pressuring their government to help
them go home. And the world wants to stop regional conflict from spreading
after more than a year of fighting. Following the latest visit to the region by
a U.S. mediator, Israel hit central Beirut over the weekend, and Hezbollah
responded with its biggest barrage in weeks as each applied pressure to reach a
deal.”



BBC: Israel And Hezbollah Close To Lebanon Ceasefire Deal
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“Israel and Lebanon appear to be close to a ceasefire deal, with the Israeli
cabinet set to meet on Tuesday to discuss it, Israeli and US officials say. A
60-day truce is being proposed to end fighting between Israel and the
Iranian-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah. It is said to include the withdrawal
of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and an end to the Hezbollah presence in
the area. "We believe we've reached this point where we're close," US National
Security Council spokesman John Kirby said. But he added, "We're not there
yet." The US and France - a long-term ally of Lebanon - have been involved in
the search for a ceasefire. It is often said that the darkest hour is before
the dawn.”



Associated Press: Middle East Latest: Israeli Ambassador To US Says Hezbollah
Ceasefire Deal Could Come ‘Within Days’
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“The Israeli ambassador to Washington says a ceasefire deal to end fighting
between Israel and Lebanon-based Hezbollah militants could be reached “within
days.” Ambassador Mike Herzog told Israeli Army Radio on Monday there remain
“points to finalize” and any deal requires agreement from the government. But
he said “we are close to a deal.” Israeli officials said Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu’s security Cabinet was set to convene Tuesday to discuss a
proposed ceasefire. Among the issues that remain is an Israeli demand to
reserve the right to act should Hezbollah violate its obligations under the
emerging deal. The deal seeks to push Hezbollah and Israeli troops out of
southern Lebanon. Israeli warplanes bombed the Lebanese capital of Beirut and
parts of southern Lebanon and the country’s Health Ministry said 31 people were
killed on Monday.”



Mali



The New York Times: Mali’s Junta Replaces Civilian Prime Minister With One Of
Its Own
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“The ruling junta of Mali appointed its spokesman as the country’s new prime
minister on Thursday, after his civilian predecessor was fired for criticizing
the administration. The spokesman, Gen. Abdoulaye Maiga, replaced former Prime
Minister Choguel Maiga — the two are not direct relatives — after Choguel Maiga
told reporters that the junta was making decisions about the postponement of
elections in “total secrecy.” He condemned the administration for failing to
transition the country back to democracy within two years, as it had promised
after seizing power in 2020. Choguel Maiga, who had served as prime minister
since 2021, had consistently defended the junta before his comments, even as
Mali’s neighbors and former Western partners criticized it for delaying
elections and working with Russia.”



Africa



Associated Press: Militia Detains 300 Migrants In The Desert In Libya’s Effort
To Contain Sea Crossings
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“Libyan military officials said Monday they apprehended hundreds of migrants
traversing the country’s vast desert hoping to ultimately cross the
Mediterranean Sea in pursuit of a better life in Europe. The 444 Brigade, a
powerful militia group that operates under the auspices of the Libyan army,
said in a statement that its patrolling commanders detained more than 300
migrants and referred them to authorities. The group in a post on Facebook
condemned smuggling and human trafficking and said its patrols would continue
efforts to block smuggling routes. It posted satellite images of the desert and
pictures of what appeared to be migrants sitting in rows in front of armed and
masked militants. The apprehensions come as Libya remains a primary point of
departure for men, women and children from the Middle East and Africa aiming to
reach Europe.”



Voice Of America: Horn Of Africa Forum Opens In Djibouti Amid Ethiopia-Somalia
Tensions
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“Somali scholars, politicians and traditional leaders from across the Horn of
Africa gathered in Djibouti on Monday for a three-day forum on strengthening
regional stability. The annual forum, the eighth of its kind, was organized by
the Heritage Institute for Policy Studies in Somalia, an independent,
nonprofit, nonpartisan research group in Mogadishu. Mursal Saney, executive
director of the institute, said the forum is providing an opportunity for
Somalis from across the region to discuss issues of concern. “We have invited
nearly 300 delegates including regional experts to provide them an opportunity
to discuss and exhibit constructive ideas on how the Horn of Africa region can
strengthen its stability and the importance of rule of law,” Saney said.”



Europe



Associated Press: Middle East Latest: EU Urges Israel To Accept Ceasefire Deal
With Hezbollah
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“The European Union’s top diplomat said Tuesday there were “no excuses” for
Israel to refuse to implement a ceasefire with the Lebanese militant group
Hezbollah, saying all its security concerns had been addressed in the
U.S.-French-brokered deal. Josep Borrell, the outgoing EU foreign policy chief,
called for increased pressure on Israel to blunt extremists in the government
who are refusing to accept the deal. Speaking on the sidelines of a Group of
Seven meeting in Italy, Borrell warned that if a ceasefire is not implemented,
“Lebanon will fall apart.” Israeli officials said Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu’s security Cabinet was set to convene Tuesday to discuss a proposed
ceasefire.”



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