Email from Counter Extremism Project (CEP) Global News on Extremism and Terrorism Eye on Extremism January 26, 2026   Top Stories Associated Press: 2 Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Yemen signal will to attack as Iran-US tensions high Two Iranian-backed militias in the Mideast are signaling their willingness to launch new attacks, likely trying to back Iran on Monday as it worried about an approaching U.S. aircraft carrier after President Donald Trump threatened military action over its crackdown on nationwide protests. Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels signaled a willingness to resume attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. That came just after Iraq’s Kataib Hezbollah paramilitary group, long supported by Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, issued a direct threat late Sunday toward any attack targeting Iran, warning a “total war” in the region would be a result. Associated Press: 25 killed in attack by Islamic State-backed group in eastern Congo, rights group says An attack by an Islamic State-linked militant group in eastern Congo killed at least 25 people early Sunday, a rights group based in Ituri province said. The dead from the attack by the Allied Democratic Force, or ADF, include 15 men who were burned alive in a house and seven who were shot in the village of Apakulu in the Irumu territory of Ituri province. Three others were killed in Walese Vonkutu administrative area.   JOIN US TOMORROW | Enduring Music: Compositions from the Holocaust will bring works nearly erased by atrocity into public consciousness, played again in remembrance of victims of the Shoah. Francesco Lotoro—world-renowned conductor, composer, and musicologist—and orchestra will premiere pieces from Maestro Lotoro's archive, honoring and bringing to life music composed in the unimaginable conditions of the death camps. Tickets now available here.   CEP Mentions Telegrafi: Why are approximately 40 Israeli hostages listed as "possibly missing" in Gaza? Meanwhile, Hans-Jakob Schindler, senior director of the nonprofit Counter Extremism Project, told BI that groups like PIJ may be trying to "play the situation to their advantage." Analysis European Conservative: Syria: Al-Qaeda–Linked Regime Targets Kurds in Ethnic Cleansing Syria’s Islamist government, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa—also known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani—is currently waging attacks against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Since January 6, an estimated 150,000 people, including Kurds, Christians, and Yazidis, have been internally displaced by forces loyal to Julani. Jewish News Syndicate: Europe’s Hamas problem: Financing networks and terrorist plots Italian authorities recently dealt a substantial blow to the Hamas financial network in the country. On Dec. 27, Italian police arrested seven individuals and issued international arrest orders for two others suspected of funneling millions to Hamas and its affiliated associations. United States Axios: Trump officials stick "terrorist" label on Americans killed by DHS For the second time in less than a month, President Trump's top officials rushed to declare that a U.S. citizen killed by U.S. immigration agents was a "domestic terrorist." Why it matters: The Trump administration isn't waiting for an investigation before sharing conclusions about the Jan. 7 killing of Renee Nicole Good and the Jan. 24 killing of Alex Pretti. The Hill: Blanche says nobody thinks Alex Pretti’s actions meet ‘legal definition of domestic terrorism’ Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said Monday that the actions of Alex Pretti before he was fatally shot by a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis on Saturday did not constitute domestic terrorism. “I don’t think anybody thinks that they were comparing what happened on Saturday to the legal definition of domestic terrorism,” Blanche said on Fox News’s “Fox & Friends.” Times of Israel: Columbia University Hillel welcomes new president as anti-Zionist group derides ‘fascist admin’ Columbia University’s Hillel director welcomes the school’s newly-appointed president, while the university’s anti-Zionist activist coalition accuses her of fascism. Yesterday, Columbia announced the appointment of Jennifer L. Mnookin, the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as the university’s next president. Jewish Telegraphic Agency: Trump’s antisemitism envoy rebukes European rabbi, drawing praise from Elon Musk A disagreement over how to define the sources of rising antisemitism in Europe escalated into a public clash this week between two prominent Jewish leaders, with tech billionaire Elon Musk intervening to back the U.S. government’s antisemitism envoy over a prominent European rabbi. The Guardian: Kanye West takes out full-page ad apologising for antisemitic behaviour and denying he is a Nazi Kanye West has taken out a full-page advert in the Wall Street Journal apologising for his antisemitic behaviour. “I am not a Nazi or an antisemite,” he wrote. “I love Jewish people.” In a letter titled “To Those I’ve Hurt”, he attributed his inflammatory actions, including making profoundly offensive statements and selling T-shirts bearing swastikas, to his bipolar-1 disorder, which he said he developed as a result of medical oversight failing to diagnose a frontal-lobe injury sustained in a car crash in 2002. Jewish News Syndicate: Homeland Security asks NJ to hold Mexican accused of throwing rock fracturing Jewish girl’s skull U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement filed an arrest detainer on Monday asking New Jersey to hold Hernando Garcia-Morales, who is accused of throwing a “baseball-sized rock” into a school bus, hitting an 8-year-old Jewish girl and fracturing her skull on the New Jersey Turnpike in Teaneck. The federal agency, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security, referred to Garcia-Morales as a “criminal illegal alien from Mexico.” KESQ: Local students take a stand against antisemitism in Rancho Mirage Middle and high school students in the Coachella Valley gathered Sunday at the Tolerance Education Center to discuss the rise of antisemitism and explore ways to combat hate in their communities. The event provided students with a safe space to learn, share personal experiences, and engage in conversations about tolerance and inclusion. Oklahoman: Oklahoma bills would ban Sharia law, declare CAIR as terror organization Muslim leaders in Oklahoma say some state lawmakers are trading fear for votes after introducing bills that would prohibit state courts from adopting Islamic law and declare the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group as a terror organization. Cincinnati Enquirer: Glendale man linked to neo-Nazi Blood Tribe puts home up for sale A local man affiliated with an alleged neo-Nazi group is trying to sell his Glendale home. Keith Elflein has listed his five-bedroom, 5,500-square-foot home for $998,000, according to online real estate services. Canada Jewish Telegraphic Agency: Resignations shake Canadian art gallery after it rejects Nan Goldin acquisition over antisemitism claims An art gallery in Canada has been roiled by resignations after it narrowly voted not to acquire works by Jewish photographer and outspoken pro-Palestinian activist Nan Goldin over accusations that she holds antisemitic views. The resignations of the Art Gallery of Ontario’s modern and contemporary curator and two members of its modern and contemporary collections committee were first reported by The Globe and Mail. France Jerusalem Post: French lawmakers back EU terror listing for Muslim Brotherhood despite heated debate France’s National Assembly has adopted the resolution to “place the Muslim Brotherhood movement on the European list of terrorist organizations,” despite accusations of Islamophobia from left-wing parties. The motion passed by a majority of 157 to 101 after a near-five-hour debate, the entirety of which was filled with heated arguments and across-the-board accusations of racism and bigotry. BBC: Two Brits detained in France over far-right protest Two British nationals have been detained in northern France on suspicion of planning to join a banned far-right protest, prosecutors have said. The two men, aged 35 and 50, were arrested near Calais on Sunday after "broadcasting live videos", prosecutor Cécile Gressier told the BBC. Georgia OC Media: Georgia charges four more members of ‘fascist-Nazi’ group of violent hate-motivated crimes Georgia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has charged four more people in a mass violence case involving a group described as holding ‘fascist-Nazi ideology’. Like others in the case, the four individuals are accused of targeting people, including minors, over their lifestyles and identities. Germany European Conservative: Berlin: Left-Wing Extremist Violence Nearly Doubled in 2025 Berlin has seen a sharp rise in extremist violence in 2025, with left-wing groups responsible for a growing share of attacks. According to preliminary data from the Berlin Senate, left-wing violent crimes nearly doubled compared with 2024, rising from 123 to 220 incidents. Ireland Break News: Irish anti-immigrant 'influencers' copying talking points from international groups Ireland is "of interest to the global far-right" while anti-immigrant 'influencers' here are taking their talking points from international groups, according to an organisation that monitors extremism. Netherlands NL Times: Multiple Dutch soldiers under investigation for right-wing extremism In recent years, the military intelligence service MIVD investigated multiple Dutch soldiers for right-wing extremism, the Ministry of Defense confirmed to NU.nl. This is a persistent problem in the armed forces, which the anti-terrorism coordinator NCTV has warned about in its biannual threat assessment for years. The Ministry would not give the newspaper exact figures on how many soldiers were investigated, nor the outcome of the investigations. The Ministry also wouldn’t say how many soldiers the MIVD is currently monitoring. Portugal Portugal Resident: PJ national director receives “threats and insults” following Neo Nazi raid The concerted raid on suspected Neo Nazis last week essentially ‘decapitated’ the leadership of the notorious Group 1143. The long-term ‘leader of the group’, former skinhead Mário Machado, has seen his current jail time extended – and the man who had been leading the movement ‘on the outside’ of the prison system has himself been placed in preventive custody. United Kingdom Daily Mail: Al-Qaeda chief in Britain - dubbed Osama bin Laden's right hand man - could be back on the streets in weeks after being granted new parole hearing Britain's top al-Qaeda chief could be back on the streets within a matter of weeks - as he launches his latest bid for freedom. Rangzieb Ahmed, dubbed Osama bin Laden's right hand man, will appear before a parole board on February 13 to argue he is a 'reformed character'. Jerusalem Post: 'It’s okay to be antisemitic': Holocaust survivor says antisemitism would push her out of UK A rise in antisemitism in Britain made Holocaust survivor, Joanna Millan, 83, say she would consider leaving the country if she were younger, Millan said in an interview with The Telegraph on Sunday. Millan, a north London resident who dedicated her life to Holocaust education, warned that antisemitism was “getting worse.” As the Holocaust Memorial Day approaches on January 27, the survivor, who took refuge in England as one of the liberated Windermere Children, sees the threat coming back to Jewish life. LancsLive: Racists and Nazi extremists told Blackpool isn't their 'playground for hate' A Blackpool MP has hit back at 'far-right agitators and racists', warning they will not be allowed to turn the seaside town into a "playground for hate". Chris Webb said the town is "proud, diverse, and compassionate" and condemned the harassment of residents by extremists claiming to hold "peaceful protests". Over the past year, incidents have included Nazi salutes, racist language, and public calls for violence — both in person and online. WP Times: How did an AI-generated British schoolgirl turn into a far-right meme phenomenon AI-generated schoolgirl avatar from a UK counter-extremism game has been repurposed into a fast-spreading far-right meme, after an artificial intelligence character created for a government-funded educational programme aimed at preventing youth radicalisation was lifted from its original classroom context and widely reused online. According to monitoring and reporting cited by The Guardian, the material has circulated across mainstream platforms in altered images and videos carrying extremist messaging, a trend observed and documented by The WP Times. Daily Mail: Former extremist who became 'deradicaliser' - turning young women away from Islamist terrorism including friends of Shamima Begum - dies suddenly of aneurysm aged 48 One of Britain's most respected 'deradicalisers' – who turned dozens of young women away from Islamist extremism – suddenly died of a brain aneurysm. Friends of Hadiya Masieh were left shocked after the 48-year-old was taken to hospital with a headache, but died two days later. Although Ms Masieh stayed away from the media glare, she was deeply respected in Government and among terrorism experts for deradicalising women who were about to commit terrorist acts, or who were planning to flee to countries like Syria and join ISIS. Afghanistan Afghanistan International: Taliban Intel Official Praises Media Activists For Shaping Public Opinion Tajmir Jawad, described as a deputy intelligence chief and a key architect of Taliban suicide attacks, on Sunday praised the group’s cultural and media activists during a ceremony. He said that they played a decisive role in shaping public opinion, legitimising the Taliban’s war and highlighting its attacks. Afghanistan International: Taliban Flog 36 People In Khost In A Single Day The Taliban’s Supreme Court said Monday that at least 36 people were publicly flogged in Khost province in a single day. According to a court statement, those punished received between 10 and 39 lashes and were also sentenced to prison terms ranging from one to two years. A primary court in Khost carried out the punishments in public on charges including the buying and selling of narcotics, extramarital relations and sexual relations between men. Gaza Strip/West Bank Times of Israel: Hamas: Return of last hostage shows we are committed to Gaza ceasefire Hamas says that the return of the body of Master Sgt. Ran Gvili proves its commitment to the terms of the Gaza ceasefire. “The discovery of the body of the last Israeli captive in Gaza confirms Hamas’s commitment to all the requirements of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, including the prisoner exchange,” says Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem in a statement. Times of Israel: IDF reveals the intel that led it to the burial location of Gvili’s body With the recovery of Master Sgt. Ran Gvili’s body from Gaza, the IDF discloses its intelligence assessments regarding where the slain police officer’s remains were believed to have been held. The army says that the intelligence indicating Gvili was buried at the cemetery in eastern Gaza City had been known for a while, though recently the picture was made clearer by intelligence-gathering operations and information confirmed by Hamas to Israel via mediators. Iran Iran International: Over 36,500 killed in Iran's deadliest massacre, documents reveal More than 36,500 Iranians were killed by security forces during the January 8-9 crackdown on nationwide protests, making it the deadliest two-day protest massacre in history, according to documents reviewed by Iran International's Editorial Board. Associated Press: Iran’s Revolutionary Guard commander warns the US his force has its ‘finger on the trigger’ The commander of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which was key in putting down recent nationwide protests in a crackdown that left thousands dead, warned that his force is “more ready than ever, finger on the trigger,” as U.S. warships headed toward the Middle East. Nournews, a news outlet close to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, reported on its Telegram channel that the commander, Gen. Mohammad Pakpour, warned the United States and Israel “to avoid any miscalculation.” Associated Press: Iran unveils mural warning of retaliation if US conducts a military strike Iranian authorities unveiled a new mural on a giant billboard in a central Tehran square on Sunday with a direct warning to the United States to not attempt a military strike on the country, as U.S. warships head to the region. The image shows a bird’s-eye view of an aircraft carrier with damaged and exploding fighter planes on its flight deck. The deck is strewn with bodies and streaked with blood that trails into the water behind the ship to form a pattern reminiscent of the stripes of the American flag. A slogan is emblazoned across one corner: “If you sow the wind, you will reap the whirlwind.” Reuters: UN rights body censures Iran's 'brutal repression' of protests The U.N. rights body condemned Iran on Friday for rights abuses and mandated an investigation into a recent crackdown on anti-government protests that killed thousands of people. "I call on the Iranian authorities to reconsider, to pull back, and to end their brutal repression," High Commissioner Volker Turk told an emergency session of the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva, voicing concerns for detainees. Iran International: Iran-linked influence campaign targeted Western debate on uprising - OSINT group An independent research group said on Saturday it had identified a large, coordinated social media influence operation it linked to the Islamic Republic, aimed at shaping global narratives and suppressing dissent during the country’s uprising. Golden Owl, an open-source intelligence research initiative, said its investigation found thousands of coordinated accounts on X and Instagram working in support of the Iranian state, amplifying regime narratives while targeting opposition voices. Jerusalem Post: ‘They do not spare bullets’: Ex-IRGC member details how regime cracks down on protests Tehran deploys non-Iranian fighters to help crush demonstrations, as they are more willing to open fire on civilians, Roni Insaz, an Iranian-born former member of the IRGC, said in a 103FM interview on Sunday. Iraq Associated Press: Baghdad says it will prosecute Islamic State militants being moved from Syria to Iraq Baghdad will prosecute and try militants from the Islamic State group who are being transferred from prisons and detention camps in neighboring Syria to Iraq under a U.S.-brokered deal, Iraq said Sunday. The announcement from Iraq’s highest judicial body came after a meeting of top security and political officials who discussed the ongoing transfer of some 9,000 IS detainees who have been held in Syria since the militant group’s collapse there in 2019. Jerusalem Post: Kataib Hezbollah calls on supporters to prepare for conflict with Israel Kataib Hezbollah, a pro-Iranian militia based in Iraq, put out a statement on Sunday threatening Israel, titled “The Secretary-General of Kataib Hezbollah addresses the Zionists of the land: The war on the Islamic Republic will leave nothing of you in our region.” Israel Associated Press: US envoys urge Netanyahu to move into Gaza ceasefire’s second phase Top U.S. envoys met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday, urging his government to move into the second phase of the ceasefire in Gaza. Netanyahu met with U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and Middle East adviser, according to the prime minister’s office, which did not give details. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to describe the talks, told reporters the envoys had been working closely with Netanyahu on recovering the remains of the last hostage in Gaza, and on the next steps for demilitarizing the territory. Times of Israel: Northern Command chief: IDF ready on all fronts if US attack on Iran sparks retaliation IDF Northern Command chief Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo said Sunday that the military is preparing for the possibility that a US strike on Iran could trigger Iranian retaliation against Israel. “We don’t know where this is heading,” Milo said in remarks broadcast by Channel 12 News, as tensions continue to mount. “We see the force buildup the Americans are carrying out, both in the Persian Gulf and throughout the Middle East.” Times of Israel: At Knesset antisemitism event, European lawmakers blame Islamism, policy failures At a Knesset plenary session kicking off the government-sponsored International Conference on Combating Antisemitism, some 20 visiting lawmakers warned about the role of radical Islam in antisemitism, the failures of European policies in stymying growing hatred, the importance of education, and what they described as moral and political ambiguity on anti-Jewish hatred since Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel. Jerusalem Post: IDF tests readiness for Houthi infiltration via Jordan under manpower limits The IDF’s Central Command has launched a drill designed to test the army's readiness for extreme scenarios involving multiple arenas operating simultaneously under manpower constraints. The exercise should examine the preparedness of the Central Command headquarters to contend with high-intensity situations across multiple fronts simultaneously, while coping with limited personnel. Lebanon Iran International: Hezbollah says it considers Trump’s threats against Khamenei a threat to itself Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem on Monday said the group considers threats by US President Donald Trump against Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to be a threat against Hezbollah itself. “Hezbollah is concerned with confronting Trump’s threat against Khamenei and considers it a threat against itself, and it has full authority to take whatever it deems appropriate to confront it,” Qassem said. Naharnet: Karam says Hezbollah not helping army locate weapons and facilities The Lebanese Army is dismantling Hezbollah’s military infrastructure in south Lebanon on its own, without help from Hezbollah, head of the Lebanese delegation to the ceasefire monitoring committee Simon Karam told al-Hadath channel. Naharnet: Salam says Lebanon won't back down from 2nd phase of Hezbollah disarmament Lebanon will need some sort of international force after the withdrawal of the United Nations's Unifil mission scheduled for 2027, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said during a visit to Paris. Some 10,800 U.N. peacekeepers have manned a buffer zone between Israel and Lebanon since March 1978, but they will have one year to leave Lebanon starting 31 December, under a resolution passed last August under pressure from the United States and Israel. Saudi Arabia Jewish Insider: Antisemitism, anti-Israel rhetoric a key feature of Saudi Arabia’s regional realignment Anti-Israel and antisemitic messages from Saudi regime mouthpieces and state-sanctioned media have increased in recent weeks, as Riyadh has pivoted away from a more moderate posture to an alignment with Islamist forces, such as Qatar and Turkey. Syria Associated Press: Ceasefire with Kurdish-led force extended for another 15 days, Syrian army says Hours after the expiration of a four-day truce between the Syrian government and Kurdish-led fighters Saturday, Syria’s defense ministry announced the ceasefire had been extended by another 15 days. The defense ministry said in a statement that the extension was in support of an operation by U.S. forces to transfer accused Islamic State militants who had been held in prisons in northeastern Syria to detention centers in Iraq. Yemen Associated Press: Supporters of UAE-backed separatist group rally in southern Yemen Thousands of Yemenis rallied Saturday in the southern city of Aden in a show of support for a separatist group backed by the United Arab Emirates, a day after it dissolved itself following clashes with forces of Yemen’s internationally recognized government. Supporters of the Southern Transitional Council assembled in their stronghold of Khor Maksar district, where Aden’s international airport is located. Armed groups loyal to the STC secured the protest area, according to an Associated Press journalist in Khor Maksar. Associated Press: Protesters rally in south Yemen to call for a separate state A large crowd of protesters rallied in southern Yemen on Friday to call for the secession of the south and to show support for an Emirati-backed southern separatist group more than a week after it dismantled itself. Supporters of the Southern Transitional Council, or STC, rallied in Khor Maksar district, where Aden’s international airport is located. Last weekend, protesters held a rally at the same location in Aden, Yemen’s interim capital where the internationally recognized government is based. Kenya Reuters: Al Shabaab kills local chief and teacher in northeast Kenya, police say Somalia's al Shabaab militants killed a local chief and a teacher in Hulugho, a northeastern Kenyan region near the Somali border, Kenyan police said on Monday, adding that security in the area had been reinforced following the attack. A police statement said a multi-agency security team was pursuing the attackers, and the area had been secured as operations continued. Mali Associated Press: Mali’s government moves to impose fuel rationing as al-Qaida-linked attacks cut off supplies Mali’s government has moved to impose fuel rationing to counter widespread shortages caused by al-Qaida-linked groups operating in the border regions that have in recent months cut off fuel supplies to the landlocked African country. In announcing the rationing on Thursday, officials did not say when it would start. The measure was cast as an effort to reduce long lines at gas stations, especially with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan only a few weeks away. Nigeria Business Insider Africa: US military releases fresh update on anti-terrorism war in Nigeria The United States is expanding military and intelligence cooperation with Nigeria following Christmas Day strikes on Islamic State-linked targets. Australia WA Today: Far-right threats to kidnap Albanese, post bombs to mosques, secret chats reveal In the hours after the Bondi terror attack, far-right associates of neo-Nazis threatened to kidnap the prime minister and send bombs to mosques through the post, prompting two separate police raids. This masthead was leaked the apparent threats, including a recording of a man being offered $10,000 to rent a van and kidnap Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, from within an online chat room run by March for Australia organisers and filled with neo-Nazis in the lead-up to Monday’s anti-immigration rallies. The Guardian: Man charged after allegedly making comments aligned with neo-Nazi ideology at Sydney anti-immigration march A man who made antisemitic comments that police allege were “unequivocally” aligned with neo-Nazi ideology in front of a cheering crowd at an anti-immigration protest in Sydney has been charged with inciting hatred. An estimated 2,000 people took part in a March for Australia rally in Sydney on Monday, while hundreds marched in a March for Australia rally in Melbourne, with police working to keep the groups separate from Invasion Day rallies which were held at the same time. 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