Email from Counter Extremism Project (CEP) At UN, amid jeers and cheers, Netanyahu says Israel ‘must finish the job’ against Hamas in Gaza Eye on Extremism September 26, 2025   Top Stories Times of Israel: In largest strikes yet, IAF jets bomb Houthi military sites in Yemen after drone attack The Israeli Air Force carried out strikes on Thursday against Houthi military sites in Yemen’s capital Sanaa, in response to the Iran-backed group’s repeated attacks on Israel, including a drone attack on Eilat a day prior. The Israel Defense Forces said it struck seven targets belonging to the Houthis’ “security and intelligence apparatus” and army, including a top military headquarters. Defense Minister Israel Katz said the “powerful” strikes killed “many dozens of Houthi terror operatives, and destroyed stockpiles of UAVs and weaponry.” Associated Press: At UN, amid jeers and cheers, Netanyahu says Israel ‘must finish the job’ against Hamas in Gaza Encircled by critics and protesters at the United Nations, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told fellow world leaders on Friday that his nation “must finish the job” against Hamas in Gaza, giving a defiant speech despite growing international isolation over his refusal to end the devastating war. “Western leaders may have buckled under the pressure,” he said. “And I guarantee you one thing: Israel won’t.”   LATEST CEP WEBINAR On September 17, 2025, the Counter Extremism Project (CEP) hosted a webinar, “Transnational Connections Between Antisemitic Extremist and Terrorist Actors." This is the first webinar of a three-part series focused on highlighting various aspects of the role of antisemitism in the mobilization to violence by extremists and terrorist actors, supported by the Federal Foreign Office of Germany. Watch here.   CEP Mentions Afghanistan International: UN Officials Warn IS-K Could Exploit Afghan Deportee Crisis Hans-Jakob Schindler, former coordinator of the UN monitoring committee on militant groups, told AFP: “The risk that Islamic State Khorasan sees these newly arrived Afghans as a potential recruitment pool is high.” He noted that since 2021, IS-K has recruited both disaffected Taliban members and Afghans excluded from the new governing structures. Schindler says “Many foiled attacks in Europe between 2023 and 2025 have been linked back to the Islamic State.” Bloomberg: Hate Groups Seize on Trump’s Antifa Order With Online Threats Violent groups have pounced on the recent news events to promote themselves, rehabilitate their images and reach new audiences, said Joshua Fisher-Birch, a researcher at the Counter Extremism Project, a nonprofit that tracks such activity online. “Propagandists are also hoping that federal action will spill over to journalists and those who monitor the extreme right,” he said. DNYUZ: ‘Hey, fascist! Catch!’ Leftist group apparently recruiting college students with slogan tied to Kirk murder The John Brown Gun Club is a leftist group that originally “sought to militarize the white working class and spur it toward a social-justice revolution,” according to the Counter Extremism Project. Although the club claims to simply act as armed security at protests, local chapters have often been associated with other left-wing militant groups like Antifa and have been involved in violent attacks. Berliner Morgenpost: Nuclear dispute: Iran outsmarts Western sanctions The United Arab Emirates (UAE), in particular, plays a key role in Tehran's covert dealings. "An Iranian company or an Iranian businessman can buy a company in one of the UAE's free trade zones that is set up there for a transaction," Hans-Jakob Schindler, head of the Berlin-based think tank Counter Extremism Project, told our editorial team. "It has a managing director, a board of directors, and is subject to regular auditing. It's a completely legal company, but after the transaction is completed, this 'overnight company' is dissolved." Analysis Generation Jihad: SATC: Sharaa and the City Ahmed al Sharaa used to be known as Abu Mohammed al Jolani—Al Qaeda’s man in Syria. Now he’s known as the president of Syria. Sharaa is in New York City this week, headlining the UN General Assembly (UNGA), fraternizing with world leaders, and meeting with senior Trump administration officials like Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He was even hosted by a prominent think tank for a fireside chat with General David Petraeus, a self-described “fan.” Why is everyone so eager to embrace someone with a record of terror? GNET: Gen-Zs and Ghost Guns: Trends, Threats and Implications These are just a few examples that showcase the alarming and increasing trend of 3DPF cases involving youth below the age of 24. Furthermore, several of these cases are linked to violent extreme right-wing ideology. Between 2018 and August 2025, there were at least 80 cases of youth involved with 3DPFs globally. This Insight aims to shed light on the global trends pertaining to youth involvement with 3DPFs and is an update to the author’s report on global proliferation trends of 3DPFs. The Washington Institute: After Operation Inherent Resolve: The Future of U.S.-Iraq Security Relations This month marks the formal conclusion of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), the mission that the Obama administration and its international coalition partners originally launched in 2014 to roll back the Islamic State (IS) offensive in Iraq. In practical terms, the final steps to end the mission remain unclear for now, but the working assumption is that all remaining U.S. troops will definitively depart Iraq by the end of 2026, raising questions about the future of bilateral relations and the residual IS threat. United States New York Times: Trump Says He Won’t Allow Israel to Annex the West Bank President Trump said on Thursday that he would not allow Israel to annex the Israeli-occupied West Bank, after assuring leaders of Arab and Muslim-majority nations of his stance on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. “I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank,” he said in the Oval Office. He added: “There’s been enough. It’s time to stop now.” Mr. Trump’s remarks came on the eve of a speech by Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, at the General Assembly, where several countries declared their recognition of a Palestinian state this week. The White House: Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence This political violence is not a series of isolated incidents and does not emerge organically. Instead, it is a culmination of sophisticated, organized campaigns of targeted intimidation, radicalization, threats, and violence designed to silence opposing speech, limit political activity, change or direct policy outcomes, and prevent the functioning of a democratic society. A new law enforcement strategy that investigates all participants in these criminal and terroristic conspiracies — including the organized structures, networks, entities, organizations, funding sources, and predicate actions behind them — is required. Reuters: Suspect in Dallas shooting sought to 'terrorize' ICE agents, officials say The sniper who opened fire on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office in Dallas left behind notes saying he acted alone in an attack intended to kill and "terrorize" ICE agents, whose work he viewed as "human trafficking," officials said on Thursday. Although one person held in ICE custody was killed and two other detainees were critically wounded in Wednesday's bloodshed, it seemed clear from the gunman's writings "he did not intend to kill detainees or harm them," Nancy Larson, acting U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas, said at a news conference. Fox News: Trump stakes Gaza peace hopes on 21-point plan as Israel, Houthis continue deadly fighting As President Donald Trump’s new peace plan circulates at the United Nations, Israel launched long-range strikes deep inside Yemen, hitting targets more than 2,000 kilometers from home and underscoring how volatile the Middle East remains even as diplomacy plays out in New York. Trump unveiled a 21-point initiative to end the Gaza war during meetings with Arab leaders on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly this week. Independent: Political violence on the rise: Left wing attacks outnumber those from the right for first time in decades For the first time in decades, the landscape of domestic terrorism in the U.S. has shifted, with incidents linked to far-left extremists now outpacing those attributed to far-right extremists, according to a new study. Jewish News Syndicate: Former US guardsman charged with trying to sell guns to Al-Qaeda Adam Scott Hastings, 25, resigned from the National Guard as the federal government probes him for allegedly trying to sell weapons to Al-Qaeda, a terrorist group, according to a complaint that the U.S. Department of Justice unsealed on Wednesday. Jewish Insider: TikTok’s U.S. takeover: Will it curb antisemitic content? A new set of American powerplayers appears set to take over ownership of TikTok’s U.S. business from the Chinese company that made the short-form video app the most widely used social media platform in the world. It is also likely the most controversial one, due to national security concerns over TikTok parent company ByteDance’s ties to the Chinese government and broader societal concerns with extremist, divisive and harmful content often funneled to users through the app’s powerful algorithm. Jerusalem Post: Man who threatened Jewish families sentenced after trying to illegally buy guns for 'God's wrath' After threatening attendants of a Jewish preschool and seeking to purchase weapons, a Dearborn man was sentenced to 34 months prison for illegal possession of firearms inside a gun store, the Michigan Eastern District US Attorney's Office announced on Wednesday. Canada APTN: Manitoba premier denounces extremism as vandalism affects two First Nations ministers All week, APTN News has been covering incidents of vandalism and harassment affecting two female First Nation provincial cabinet ministers in Manitoba. Premier Wab Kinew has been silent on the issue, until we reached him at an unrelated news conference. Germany SPIEGEL: A Window into the Moscow Life of Wirecard's Jan Marsalek One of the most-wanted men in Europe seems relaxed as he strolls across Moscow’s Trubnaya Square on July 1. A pair of sunglasses is dangling from the collar of his white T-shirt, his girlfriend’s hand clutched in his own. A nice couple, it seems. Jan Marselek is well disguised, with numerous identities and a palette of real and fake passports. A man who is being protected by the highest echelons of power. Seemingly untouchable for the European investigators, prosecutors and intelligence agencies on his trail. Deutsche Welle: German arms exports to Israel fall to zero after embargo Germany did not approve a single new arms shipment to Israel in the five weeks after Chancellor Friedrich Merz imposed partial export restrictions, it was revealed on Thursday. Merz's policy change last month aims to block any weapons that could be used in the Gaza war, but some members of the opposition want Berlin to go further. The news that "no approvals" were granted came from the Economy Ministry in response to a query by Left Party lawmaker Ulrich Thoden. The ministry said this had been the case between August 8 — the day of Merz's decision — and September 12 when Thoden made the enquiry. Deutsche Welle: Left-wing extremist Hanna S. sentenced to five years for Budapest attacks The Munich Higher Regional Court has sentenced left-wing extremist Hanna S. to five years in prison for aggravated assault and membership in a criminal organization over two attacks on suspected right-wing extremists in Budapest. Deutsche Welle: Far-right AfD ordered to vacate Berlin headquarters by late 2026 The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) must vacate most of its Berlin headquarters by September 30, 2026. It would need to leave the remainder by December 31, 2026, after a landlord dispute over a post-election party. Russia RFE/RL: The Russian Neo-Nazi Behind A Shadowy GRU Recruitment Campaign For months, Western intelligence and law enforcement officials have warned of an alarming trend: random people -- "freelancers," "proxies," "disposable agents" -- recruited, usually via Telegram, usually unwittingly, to perform various surreptitious, sometimes destructive tasks like surveillance, arson, sabotage, and spreading disinformation. The agencies doing the recruiting and hiring, authorities say, are often directly or indirectly linked to Russia. That includes "The Military Intelligence of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation," known widely as GRU. United Kingdom New York Times: As Right-Wing Populism Rises, Progressives Meet to Share Tactics in London In normal times, five election-winning, center-left political leaders from around the world, gathered in an imposing marbled hall in London, would be a stirring show of strength for champions of liberal politics. Instead, the prime ministers, who include Canada’s Mark Carney, Australia’s Anthony Albanese, and Britain’s Keir Starmer, are set to meet on Friday at a moment when their brand of progressive politics has rarely seemed more endangered. Fickle voters, stagnant economies and a polarizing debate over immigration have left center-left governments vulnerable to right-wing populists. In the United States, the Democratic Party is limping in the political wilderness, unable, as yet, to formulate a persuasive message to counter President Trump. Reuters: Member of Irish rap group Kneecap has his UK terrorism prosecution thrown out A member of Irish rap group Kneecap won his bid on Friday to throw out his terrorism prosecution for allegedly displaying a flag of Iran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah, with a London court ruling that the charge had been brought too late. Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who was initially charged under the anglicised name Liam O'Hanna and whose stage name is Mo Chara, was accused of having waved the flag of the banned militant group Hezbollah during a Kneecap gig in London in November 2024. Reuters: Brother of Manchester suicide bomber in UK court over attack on jail guards The brother of a man who detonated a suicide bomb after an Ariana Grande concert in Britain appeared in a London court on Thursday, charged with attempting to murder three prison guards in the jail where he is serving a life sentence. AFP: UK's Starmer urges liberals to fight 'the lies' told by far right UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer told a global conference of centre-left leaders Friday that they must tackle uncontrolled migration and confront "lies" being told about their countries by hard-right politicians seeking to win over voters. Afghanistan Afghanistan International: Taliban Removes 51 Lessons On Rights & National Symbols From School Textbooks Taliban’s Ministry of Education has removed 51 lessons from school curriculum that dealt with freedom, women’s rights, human rights, national symbols, and other social themes, saying they contradict Islamic teachings and the group’s policies. Gaza Strip Reuters: Palestinian leader pledges to work with Trump, others on UN-backed Gaza plan "We declare our readiness to work with President Donald Trump, with Saudi Arabia, France, the United Nations and all partners to implement the peace plan" backed by the General Assembly, Abbas said. Hamas rejected the remarks by Abbas. "We consider the President of the Authority’s assertion that Hamas will have no role in governance an infringement on the inherent right of our Palestinian people to decide their own destiny and to choose who governs them, and a submission —unacceptable to us — to external dictates and schemes,” Hamas said in a statement. Iran RealClear Defense: Iran’s Revolutionary War on America’s Homeland Perhaps the most striking example of symbolic infiltration came in summer of 2022, when Arbaeen commemorations at the White House featured flags honoring the Shia Imam Hussein. Images went viral across Iranian media, hailed the demonstration as a “triumph” and evidence that the regime’s “dream of turning the White House into a Husseinieh”—a Shia shrine—was one step closer. Once again, American media outlets largely ignored it. Whether the lack of coverage was an oversight or the media’s ignorance of what the scene represented, the ambition of the Islamic Republic could not be more clear. Iran International: Guards-linked media admits Iran used online photos in Israel intelligence film An outlet tied to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards acknowledged that a recent documentary from the Ministry of Intelligence relied on archival images from the internet, despite presenting them as exclusive material obtained from Israel. Israel Jerusalem Post: Why the Houthi drone threat will continue The drone that struck Eilat on Wednesday was a kamikaze drone, of the type the Houthis and other Iranian-backed groups have used for several years. These types of drones have also been used by Hezbollah and also militias in Iraq. The Houthis appear to have shifted to using more drones in their attacks, and Wednesday’s attack was the second recent strike by a drone in Eilat. This may be due to them having fewer ballistic missiles or because they have judged that drones are more likely to penetrate Israel’s vast air defense network. Jerusalem Post: Former UK PM Tony Blair proposes he lead interim Gaza government Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has proposed leading a transitional governing authority in Gaza following the end of the Israel-Hamas war, according to reports by The Telegraph and The Economist. The plan, developed through the Tony Blair Institute (TBI), involves the creation of a temporary administration called the Gaza International Transitional Authority (GITA). GITA would be established under United Nations auspices and serve as the governing authority in post-war Gaza for several years before transferring control to the Palestinian Authority (PA), pending internal reforms. Times of Israel: After Trump rejects West Bank annexation, right-wing MKs urge PM to do it anyway Right-wing figures in Israel rejected US President Donald Trump’s declaration Thursday that Israeli annexation of the West Bank is “not going to happen,” and called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take the step anyway. Lebanon Reuters: Hezbollah appeal to Saudi Arabia was spurred by Iran, sources say Hezbollah's effort to blunt international pressure on Lebanon to disarm the group by appealing to Saudi Arabia last week was the result of back-channel diplomacy by Iran, two Iranian sources and a source with knowledge of Hezbollah thinking said. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem appealed to Saudi Arabia to turn "a new page" and set aside past disputes to create a unified front against Israel in a speech last week, a move widely seen as signalling the Iran-backed Shi'ite Muslim group's alarm at the push to make Lebanon implement a plan for disarming it. Naharnet: Salam orders arrest of those who beamed Nasrallah pic to Raouche Rock Thousands of Hezbollah supporters gathered at a scenic overlook on Beirut's coast Thursday and projected images of the group's former longtime leader and his successor on the iconic arched Raouche rock to commemorate their deaths in Israeli airstrikes nearly a year ago. The move came despite an attempt by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to halt the planned light show. Associated Press: Hezbollah defies Lebanon PM’s ban to honor fallen leaders with coastal light show Thousands of Hezbollah supporters gathered at a scenic overlook on Beirut’s coast Thursday and projected images of the group’s former longtime leader and his successor on the iconic arched Raouche rock to commemorate their deaths in Israeli airstrikes nearly a year ago. Naharnet: Geagea says Hezbollah 'hasn't learned anything', throws support behind Salam Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Friday said that the Raouche Rock event proved that “Hezbollah has not learned anything from everything that has happened and has not drawn lessons from the tragedies it plunged Lebanon and the Lebanese into.” “In whose face was the finger raised yesterday on the Raouche Rock? The Israeli attacks on Lebanon are countless, so was that finger raised to confront them? Or was it raised in the face of the majority of Beirut’s residents and the Lebanese in general?” Geagea wondered, referring to a laser illustration of Nasrallah’s famous finger gesture that was beamed onto the Raouche Rock during Thursday’s event. Qatar Afghanistan International: Qatar Expresses Readiness To Facilitate Taliban Engagement With Global Community A senior Qatari official said Doha is prepared to ensure the Taliban’s “constructive engagement” with the international community and to help address Afghanistan’s humanitarian needs. Syria Reuters: Exclusive: Israel-Syria talks hit snag over humanitarian corridor, sources say Efforts to reach a security pact between Syria and Israel have hit a last-minute snag over Israel's demand that it be allowed to open a "humanitarian corridor" to Syria's southern province of Sweida, four sources familiar with the talks said. Syria and Israel had come close in recent weeks to agreeing the broad outlines of a pact after months of U.S.-brokered talks in Baku, Paris and London that accelerated in the lead-up to the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week. Kurdistan24: ISIS Attack Thwarted East of Deir ez-Zur, Five SDF Fighters Killed The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced on Thursday that five of its fighters were killed and another was wounded while repelling an attack by ISIS militants in the town of al-Bahra al-Wusta, east of Deir ez-Zur city. Yemen UN News: Yemen calls for ‘firm international action’ to counter global threat posed by Houthis Yemen’s President Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi on Thursday urged the international community to move beyond statements, to “firm international action” against Houthi separatists, saying the crisis provoked by the militants’ international aggression now threatens regional and global security. Yemen Online: Yemen : 13 Israeli Airstrikes Hit Houthi Targets in Sana’a’s Al-Sabeen Square and Bab al-Yemen Israeli warplanes launched a series of 13 airstrikes , Today Thursday, targeting Houthi positions in the heart of Yemen’s capital, Sana’a. The strikes focused on Al-Sabeen Square and Bab al-Yemen, coinciding with a televised speech by Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, in what analysts described as a calculated political and military message. Pakistan Associated Press of Pakistan: Governor Kundi calls poverty root cause of extremism, urges collective efforts for prosperity Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi has said that poverty was the root cause of social disparities and extremism, stressing that equality, justice and collective efforts were essential to eradicate it. He added that a prosperous and peaceful future was directly linked to economic and social development. Uzbekistan UZ Daily: A Man Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for a “Like” on Extremist Material In Surkhandarya Region In Surkhandarya region, a citizen has been sentenced to three years of imprisonment for having “liked” a prohibited post on a social network six years ago, according to the official Telegram channel of the regional courts. Africa Catholic World Report: Jihadist groups create ‘corridor of violence’ targeting Christians in Sahel Ryan Brown, the CEO of Open Doors US, paints a grim picture of jihadist violence in the Sahel, saying that jihadist groups have “a regional corridor of violence” targeting religious minorities. Mr. Brown was speaking in exclusive comments to CWR following a jihadist attack at a baptism ceremony that left 22 Christians dead. Local media reports that gunmen on motorbikes stormed the Tillabéri region on Monday, September 15, opening fire on attendees of a baptism. They reportedly killed 15 people on the spot before moving on to claim seven more lives. The attack came barely a week after suspected jihadists killed some 27 Nigerien soldiers in the same locality. Australia Jerusalem Post: Sydney teenager faces charges after assaulting man at knifepoint on train in antisemitic attack A Sydney teenager was charged on Tuesday for the antisemitic knifepoint assault of a Jewish man on a train, the New South Wales Police said on Wednesday. CEP Podcasts Unpacking the week's extremism-related anniversaries and news, as well as counter extremism developments and prospects. A deep dive into CEP's research and topics that are relevant to our mission, from our Berlin-based team.   The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) is a nonprofit and non-partisan international policy organization working to combat the growing threat posed by extremist ideologies. CEP depends on the generosity of its supporters. If you value what we do, please consider making a donation. DONATE Were you forwarded this email? Subscribe for yourself here. Counter Extremism Project (CEP) | PO Box 3980 | NEW YORK, NY 10185 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice