“As insurgents raced across Syria in a surprise offensive launched in the
country’s northwest late last year, officials from several countries backing
either the rebels or Syria’s government met in Qatar on what to do. According
to people briefed on the Dec. 7 meeting, officials from Turkey, Russia, Iran
and a handful of Arab countries agreed that the insurgents would stop their
advance in Homs, the last major city north of Damascus, and that
internationally mediated talks would take place with Syrian leader Bashar Assad
on a political transition. But insurgent factions from Syria’s south had other
plans. They pushed toward the capital, arriving in Damascus’ largest square
before dawn.”











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Eye on Extremism



January 23, 2025



Associated Press: Southern Rebels Loom Large As Syria’s New Rulers Try To Form
A National Army
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“As insurgents raced across Syria in a surprise offensive launched in the
country’s northwest late last year, officials from several countries backing
either the rebels or Syria’s government met in Qatar on what to do. According
to people briefed on the Dec. 7 meeting, officials from Turkey, Russia, Iran
and a handful of Arab countries agreed that the insurgents would stop their
advance in Homs, the last major city north of Damascus, and that
internationally mediated talks would take place with Syrian leader Bashar Assad
on a political transition. But insurgent factions from Syria’s south had other
plans. They pushed toward the capital, arriving in Damascus’ largest square
before dawn.”



Reuters: Hamas' Tight Grip On Gaza Complicates Plan For Lasting Peace
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“In neighbourhoods levelled by 15 months of war with Israel, Hamas officials
are overseeing the clearance of rubble in the wake of Sunday's ceasefire. The
group's gunmen are guarding aid convoys on Gaza's dusty roads, and its
blue-uniformed police once again patrol city streets, sending a clear message:
Hamas remains in charge. Israeli officials have described a parade of jubilant
Hamas fighters that celebrated the ceasefire on Sunday in front of cheering
crowds as a carefully orchestrated attempt to exaggerate the Palestinian
militant group's strength. But, in the days since the ceasefire took effect,
Gaza's Hamas-run administration has moved quickly to reimpose security, to curb
looting, and to start restoring basic services to parts of the enclave, swathes
of which have been reduced to wasteland by the Israeli offensive.”



CEP Mentions



Polish Press Agency: Auschwitz Commandant's Villa To Become Extremism Research
Centre
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“The Counter Extremism Project has purchased the Auschwitz commander's villa
in Poland to transform it into a centre for research on extremism, education,
and combating antisemitism. During World War II, the building was owned by
Rudolf Hoess, a high-ranking SS officer in Nazi Germany who served as the
commandant of the German concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. The centre will
be named the Auschwitz Research Centre on Hate, Extremism, and Radicalisation
(ARCHER). "This will be a global institution," Jacek Pruski, the head of the
future centre, said on Wednesday. "We want to monitor online hate. We will
combat radicalisation, research modern trends that threaten our security, and
teach those influencing our security how to use this knowledge."”



The Times Of Israel: Former Auschwitz Commandant’s House To Host Antisemitism
Research Center
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“... The “CEP (Counter Extremism Project) will transform the former
Commandant’s House into the Auschwitz Research Center on Hate, Extremism, and
Radicalization (ARCHER),” the nonprofit says in a press release. “The ordinary
house of the greatest mass murderer will now be converted into the
extraordinary symbol” of the fight against extremism and antisemitism, CEP’s
Mark Wallace says. Directly adjacent to the camp that has become a symbol of
the Holocaust, the house with a large garden where Höss and his family lived
was recently featured in Jonathan Glazer’s Oscar-winning film “The Zone of
Interest.””



DW: After 15-Month War With Israel, How 'Defeated' Is Hamas?
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“Israel's main objective in the war in Gaza was the eradication of Hamas, but
that has not happened. Although the group's military capabilities and supply
networks have been diminished, it could still regain strength as the dominant
political force in Gaza, Hans-Jakob Schindler, a Middle East analyst with the
Counter Extremism Project, told DW.”



Voice Of America: Researchers: Houthis Have Advantages In Protecting Leaders
From Israeli Strikes
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“Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi terror group appears to be well-positioned to
shield its leaders from retaliatory strikes recently threatened by Israel,
international researchers tell VOA. Israel also faces its own challenges in
potentially engaging in long-distance targeting of Houthi leaders, but those
researchers say the Israeli threat to Houthi rule is likely to grow in the
future… Ari Heistein, an Israel-based researcher with the Counter Extremism
Project, said Houthi military leaders risk losing relevance in running their
regime if they disconnect from electronic communications for prolonged periods.
“Running a country of more than 32 million people with serious problems is hard
to do from isolation in a remote environment,” Heistein said.”



UnHerd: Why Prevent Isn’t Fit For Purpose, It Has Turned Counterterrorism Into
Social Work <[link removed]>



“… Prevent has a troubled history. Embedding multi-agency working into
counterextremism, it was meant to flag people of concern before diverting them
from violence. Soon enough though, the usual cultural sensitivities shone
through. “Prevent had become a safeguarding crèche for unhappy teenagers who
were unlikely ever to take up arms,” Professor Ian Acheson of the Counter
Extremism Project has noted. “This distraction and mission creep — fuelled by
an unjustifiable focus on far-right extremism — made it more likely highly
dangerous people would fall through the cracks.” The practical workings of
Prevent were just as woolly. To some in law enforcement, Prevent became little
more than an attempt to turn counterterrorism into an adjunct of social work. I
remember colleagues viewing it as a punishment posting, one involving the usual
police chicanery around performance figures. Metrics were based on a nebulous
concept of “interventions” — with predictably facile results.”



TVP World: Haunting Glimpse Inside Auschwitz Commandant’s House Ahead Of
Opening As Anti-Hate Memorial
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“Documents, newspapers and prisoners' uniforms are among the grim finds
discovered in the family home once owned by Rudolf Höss, the commandant of
Auschwitz, ahead of its opening to the public on Monday. Located in the
southern Polish city of Oświęcim, the three-story villa—which overlooks the
world’s most notorious concentration camp—was purchased by the Counter
Extremism Project (CEP), a U.S.-based NGO, and will open its doors to visitors
on the 80th anniversary of the camp’s liberation. Prior to this, workmen had
stripped the property bare, using 14 dumpsters to haul away the house’s
post-war embellishments.”



Polskie Radio: 54 Delegations Set To Mark 80th Anniversary Of Auschwitz
Liberation; US VP May Attend
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“Fifty-four state and international delegations have confirmed attendance at
Friday's ceremonies commemorating the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the
Nazi German Auschwitz concentration camp, organizers announced… The American
non-governmental organization Counter Extremism Project bought the building and
will open it to visitors on January 27, the 80th anniversary of the liberation
of the camp… According to Polish and international media reports on Thursday,
US Vice President JD Vance could represent the United States, but the Auschwitz
Museum has not confirmed it.”



United States



Associated Press: Afghans Who Fled Taliban Rule Urge Trump To Lift Refugee
Program Suspension <[link removed]>



“Afghans who fled after the Taliban seized power appealed Wednesday to U.S.
President Donald Trump to exempt them from an order suspending the relocation
of refugees to the United States, some saying they risked their lives to
support U.S. troops. An estimated 15,000 Afghans are waiting in Pakistan to be
approved for resettlement in the U.S. via an American government program. It
was set up to help Afghans at risk under the Taliban because of their work with
the U.S. government, media, aid agencies and rights groups, after U.S. troops
pulled out of Afghanistan in 2021, when the Taliban took power.”



Jewish News Syndicate: US House Panel Releases Updated ‘Terror Threat Snapshot’
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“In the wake of the ISIS-inspired terrorist car-ramming attack in New Orleans
on New Year’s Day, which killed 15 people and wounded 35, including two
Israelis, the House Committee on Homeland Security’s Subcommittee on
Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement and Intelligence released a report Wednesday
on the rise of terrorism in the United States. The 14-page “Terror Threat
Snapshot” highlights the “persistent terror threat to America, the West and the
world from foreign jihadist networks.” There were more than 50 instances of
jihadist terrorism in 30 states within the last four years, the report notes.
Most involved attempts to provide material support to terrorist organizations,
such as when a man tried to join Hezbollah and lied to the FBI about his
intentions. Unlike in New Orleans, most of these attempts were thwarted.”



Syria



Reuters: Syria's New Leaders Turn To Islamic Law In Effort To Rebuild Assad's
Police
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“Syria's new authorities are using Islamic teachings to train a fledgling
police force, a move officers say aims to instil a sense of morality as they
race to fill a security vacuum after dismantling ousted president Bashar
al-Assad's notoriously corrupt and brutal security forces. Police they brought
into Damascus from their former rebel enclave in the northwestern region of
Idlib are asking applicants about their beliefs and focusing on Islamic sharia
law in the brief training they offer recruits, according to five senior
officers and application forms seen by Reuters. Ensuring stability and winning
the trust of people across Syria will be crucial for the Sunni Muslim Islamists
to cement their rule.”



Iraq



Bloomberg: Iraq Wary Of Resurgence Of Islamic State In Post-Assad Syria
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“Iraq is concerned about a potential resurgence of Islamic State in
neighboring Syria and believes only a credible and inclusive political process
will bring security to the country after the overthrow of former President
Bashar Al-Assad. The extremist group also known as ISIS “became bigger,
attracted more members recently and controlled more weapons because of the fact
the Syrian army collapsed,” Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said in an
interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Iraqi society
still harbors “ISIS cells and a basis for ISIS ideology,” the minister added.
The group is designated a terrorist organization by most countries around the
world, including Muslim ones.”



Afghanistan



Associated Press: The Taliban Say A Chinese National Has Been Killed In
Northeastern Afghanistan
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“A Chinese man was killed as he traveled in northeastern Afghanistan while
working for a mining company, Taliban officials said Wednesday. A militant
resistance group took responsibility for the killing, alleging the man was
working with Taliban intelligence. The killing of foreigners is rare in
Afghanistan, especially since 2021 when foreign troops withdrew from the
country and the Taliban returned to power. The Chinese man, surnamed Li, was on
his way to the Dasht-e-Qala district with an interpreter on Tuesday when he was
killed by “unknown people,” Taliban police spokesman Mohammed Akbar said. The
interpreter was unharmed, he said.”



Voice Of America: Islamic State Claims Killing Of Chinese National In
Afghanistan
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“Taliban authorities in northeastern Afghanistan said Wednesday that a gun
attack resulted in the death of a Chinese national, while his local interpreter
escaped unharmed. An Afghanistan-based Islamic State affiliate, IS-Khorasan,
claimed responsibility for the deadly overnight shooting in Takhar province,
which sits on the country’s border with Tajikistan. The terrorist outfit said
on its Amaq media outlet that its “soldiers” used a machine gun to target the
Chinese man. Taliban officials said the slain foreigner was working for a
mining company in the country. Mohammad Akbar, the provincial police chief,
said the Chinese citizen was being driven with his interpreter to the
Dasht-e-Qala district late Tuesday when their vehicle was ambushed.”



Pakistan



Reuters: Pakistan's Imran Khan Calls Off Talks With Government After Latest
Conviction
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“Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan, opens new tab called off
reconciliatory talks with the government on Thursday, a week after a court
handed him a 14-year jail term on graft charges, his party's chairman said.
Aimed at cooling political instability in the South Asian nation, the talks had
started late last year ahead of the judgment in the land corruption case
against the 72-year-old former cricket star-turned-politician. The graft case
is the largest that Khan faces in terms of financial impropriety. It involves
land given by a real estate tycoon to a welfare institution set up by Khan and
his wife in return for illegal favours.”



Yemen



Axios: Trump Lists Houthi Rebels In Yemen As A Terrorist Organization
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“President Trump announced on Wednesday that he is once again designating the
Houthi rebels in Yemen as a terrorist organization. Why it matters: Trump's
decision reverses a decision by then-President Biden in 2021 to remove the
terrorist designation from the Houthis. Biden had lifted the designation over
concerns about the ability of the UN and other humanitarian organizations to
deliver aid to civilians in Yemen. Trump's move is expected to be welcomed not
only by Israel but also by Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Trump spoke on Wednesday
with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi state news
agency said.”



Associated Press: Yemen’s Houthi Rebels Release Crew Of Commercial Vessel
Seized In Red Sea In November 2023
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“Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Wednesday released the crew of the Galaxy Leader, a
vehicle carrier seized in November 2023 at the start of their attacks on
shipping in the Red Sea corridor over the Israel-Hamas war. The move by the
Iranian-backed Houthis marks their latest effort to de-escalate their attacks
following a ceasefire in Gaza. However, it came as U.S. President Donald Trump
moved to reinstate a terrorism designation he made on the group late in his
first term that had been revoked by President Joe Biden, potentially setting
the stage for new tensions with the rebels. The Houthis said they released the
sailors after mediation by Oman, a sultanate on the eastern edge of the Arabian
Peninsula that’s long been an interlocutor with the Houthis.”



Middle East



Voice Of America: Israeli Military Says It Killed 2 Militants Connected To
West Bank Bus Attack
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“Israel’s military said Thursday it killed two Islamic Jihad militants who
were involved in a deadly attack on a bus in the West Bank earlier this month.
The Israel Defense Forces said its troops killed the militants in the village
of Burqin amid an exchange of fire after the militants had barricaded
themselves in a building. One Israeli soldier was injured in the attack, the
military said. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz praised the operation
Thursday and said Israel will continue its operation targeting terrorists in
the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank to ensure it does not become a base for
attacks. Israel launched the operation on Tuesday, days after it began a
ceasefire with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.”



Africa



Associated Press: West Africa’s Junta-Led Nations Announce Deployment Of A
Joint Force As Extremist Violence Spikes
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"The junta-led West African countries of Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali have
created a joint force that will soon be deployed in the restive Sahel region
against rising extremist violence, Niger’s defense minister said Wednesday, The
force of 5,000 personnel will be posted in the three countries, Salifou Mody
said during an interview on state television, adding that some joint operations
have already taken place. Niger and its neighbors Mali and Burkina Faso have
battled for over a decade an insurgency fought by jihadi groups, including some
allied with al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. Following military coups in
all three nations in recent years, the ruling juntas have expelled French
forces and turnedto Russia’s mercenary units for security assistance.”



Germany



DW: Germany: Stabbing In Aschaffenburg Leaves 2 Dead
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“Two people were killed in a stabbing in the southern German city of
Aschaffenburg on Wednesday, local police said. A 41-year-old man and a
2-year-old boy died in the attack. Three others were seriously injured. A
28-year-old suspect, who police say is from Afghanistan, has been taken into
custody. Another person who witnessed the attack is also being held for
questioning, but was not suspected of wrongdoing. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz
said the attack was "an unbelievable act of terror" and offered his sympathies
to the victims' families and those who were injured. "I am sick of seeing such
acts of violence occurring in our country every few weeks, by perpetrators who
have actually come here to find protection here," he said.”



Europe



Kyiv Independent: Prigozhin’s Wagner Group Accused Of Plotting Attacks On
Chevron, Cooperating With Al Qaeda, Leaked Emails Show
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“The late Russian warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin's Wagner mercenary force has been
accused of plotting attacks against Western infrastructure in Africa, including
U.S. oil company Chevron's pipelines, according to the leaked correspondence of
Prigozhin's Concord Group obtained by Ukraine's Channel 24. Another accusation
is that Wagner mercenaries have allegedly cooperated with terrorists, including
Al Qaeda, in Africa. The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the
information. The hacked correspondence contains numerous emails written by
relatives of Wagner mercenaries killed in Ukraine, as well as mothers and
fathers asking Prigozhin to hire their sons.”



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