Email from Counter Extremism Project (CEP) UN official warns of rising ISIS attacks worldwide Eye on Extremism February 5, 2026   Top Stories Stars and Stripes: CENTCOM launches new strikes against ISIS targets in Syria U.S. Central Command recently launched fresh strikes against Islamic State targets in Syria, continuing its retaliatory campaign after the December killings of two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter in an ambush. Between Jan. 27 and Feb. 2, CENTCOM forces carried out five strikes against various targets, destroying an ISIS communications site, a critical logistics center and weapons facilities, according to a Wednesday statement from the command. The Nation: UN official warns of rising ISIS attacks worldwide ISIS has intensified attacks worldwide over the past six months despite sustained international pressure, a senior UN counter-terrorism official told the Security Council on Wednesday. Natalia Gherman, executive director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), said the group continues to carry out and inspire “destructive attacks” across a wide geographic arc, from Syria and Iraq, to the Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin, East Africa and Australia.   CEP's ARCHER at House 88 The Auschwitz Research Centre on Hate, Extremism and Radicalization (ARCHER) at House 88 is sited at the former residence of Rudolf Höss, Commandant of the Auschwitz concentration and death camp from 1940-1944. We will transform it into a unique symbol of the fight against antisemitism, extremism, and terrorism. Follow ARCHER at House 88 on X, Facebook, and Instagram to stay updated on our progress.   CEP Mentions New Zealand Herald: NZ Muslim volunteers scour web for extremist content as Internal Affairs faces capacity constraints An Internal Affairs spokesperson said many of the NGO referrals are from larger and often international NGO agencies which specialise in identifying terrorist and violent extremist content. They say an increase in these referrals highlights their partnerships with international not-for-profit organisations, such as the Counter Extremism Project. Frankfurter Neue Presse: "Then there will be a military strike" – Expert calls Iran's action "suicidal": "They're not all there." "The Iranian regime wants to send two messages. Domestically: 'We are strong.' And internationally: 'We can also defend ourselves,'" explains Middle East expert Hans-Jakob Schindler, director of the Counter Extremism Project, in an interview with the Frankfurter Rundschau by Ippen.Media. In this tense situation, however, it's playing with fire: "It already has the potential to be suicidal. Or to put it another way: One has to ask whether they've lost their minds," says Schindler. "Flying a drone that close is quite clearly a provocation." Analysis Times of Israel: Hamas strengthens and the PA returns — this is no recipe for security and stability Israel went to war after the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, massacre with two essential goals: to get back the hostages, and to destroy Hamas and any other potential deadly threats to Israel. Among the subsequent conditions Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also vowed to impose was that there would be no role for the Palestinian Authority in a postwar Gaza unless the PA underwent radical reform. The Telegraph: Our prisons can’t cope with violent extremists – now even the Government admits it CEP senior advisor Ian Acheson writes: Dire management of ‘separation units’ for dangerous inmates is laid bare in damning report. United States NBC News: New terrorism charges filed against man accused of killing 2 outside Jewish museum A Chicago man accused of killing two Israeli Embassy staffers in a shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington in May has been charged with new terrorism-related counts, federal prosecutors said Wednesday. Jerusalem Post: New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft sponsors Super Bowl ad raising antisemitism awareness Football fans are gearing up for the Super Bowl this weekend, while many others eagerly await the high-profile commercials that are often talked about as much as the game, and Jewish billionaire and philanthropist Robert Kraft has chosen to use the event to send a strong message against antisemitism. WRGB: Albany man facing federal child porn charges is tied to extremist group, prosecutors say An Albany man is facing federal child pornography charges — and prosecutors say he’s part of a nihilistic violent extremist organization. They say Aaron Corey, also known as “Baggeth,” received images and videos between October and December of 2025. Prosecutors claim Corey is a member of a group called “764,” which they say targets vulnerable minors online and spreads images of child sexual abuse and gore. New York Times: Mamdani Chooses a Liberal Jewish Leader to Run Antisemitism Office When Mayor Zohran Mamdani entered City Hall in New York, his plans for the Office to Combat Antisemitism prompted curiosity and some suspicion, given his stance as a fervent defender of Palestinian rights. As the mayor navigated the complex world of Jewish politics in the city, he committed to keeping the office, which was created by his predecessor, Eric Adams. The Oklahoman: ISIS supporter behind terrorist plot found to be mentally incompetent The ISIS supporter who plotted from Oklahoma to carry out a terrorist attack in November 2024 on Election Day has been found to be mentally incompetent. Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 28, cannot be sentenced unless he regains competency. He pleaded guilty in June in Oklahoma City federal court to two crimes over the thwarted plot. Jerusalem Post: WATCH: 'F*** Israel, F*** Jewish people': Teen charged for kicking door of Michigan Jewish center An 18-year-old man has been charged for reportedly kicking the door of a Jewish resource center and yelling slurs outside. The teen is facing a misdemeanor charge of prowling, according to court records. He is not affiliated with the University of Michigan, said Chris Page, spokesperson for the Ann Arbor police. Radio Iowa: Governor’s bill requires Iowa schools to report actions to combat antisemitism A House subcommittee has advanced the governor’s proposal to require annual reports from Iowa’s public school districts, community colleges and state-supported universities about how each complaint or incident of antisemitism was handled at the schools. David Adelman, president of the Jewish Federation Foundation of Greater Des Moines, told lawmakers there’s been a nearly 900% increase in antisemitic incidents nationwide over the past decade. “There’s been an 84% increase in antisemitic incidents on college campuses from 2023 to 2024,” Adelman said. Fox 5 Atlanta: NC neo-Nazi gets max sentence for antisemitic threats against Georgia official, rabbi A North Carolina man was sentenced Wednesday to five years in prison, the statutory maximum, for mailing antisemitic threats to a Georgia state representative and a Macon rabbi following the passage of the state's first bill defining antisemitism. Jewish News Syndicate: Florida city adopts IHRA definition of Jew-hatred in unanimous vote The city commission of Parkland, Fla., unanimously adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism on Wednesday, amending city provisions to guide how Jew-hatred and hate crimes are considered in enforcing local laws. Jerusalem Post: 'Cheap Jew': NJ police officer punished for reporting antisemitism, lawsuit says A Livingston, New Jersey, police officer has filed a lawsuit against the township, claiming he was punished after reporting other officers for making antisemitic remarks. Officer Christopher Wagner, who has been with the Livingston Police Department since 2005, claims that several officers have repeatedly made discriminatory remarks and jokes about Jewish people, according to court documents. WFTS: Wimauma teen tied to Neo-Nazi satanic group, charged with terrorism, child porn: HCSO The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) announced Wednesday the arrest of a 14-year-old suspect from Wimauma on terrorism and child pornography charges. According to HCSO, authorities received a tip on Jan. 31 about Jose Pagan Jr., claiming the teen had access to weapons and was planning to conduct a mass shooting at a church near his home in Wimauma. Canada CBC: Feds to replace offices combatting Islamophobia, antisemitism with advisory council The federal government plans to get rid of two key offices combatting religious discrimination, merging them into a single Advisory Council on Rights, Equality and Inclusion. The Offices of the Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia and the Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism will both be abolished. Canadian Press: Calgary man who joined ISIS gets 16 years in prison A Calgary man who joined the Islamic State terrorist group in the Middle East has been sentenced to 16 years in prison. Jamal Borhot was convicted in late 2025 on three counts of participating in a terrorist group in Syria, where he participated in violent acts, actively recruited others to join the cause and was prepared to kill for his beliefs. CBC: Quebec teen faces terrorism charge after allegedly promoting ideology of neo-Nazi group A teenager from the Quebec city area has been charged with a terrorism-related offence. The RCMP said in a statement Thursday the teen allegedly used social media to promote the violent ideology of a group known as Atomwaffen Division. France Asharq al-Awsat: France Tells Syria Anti-ISIS Fight is Its 'Absolute Priority' France's foreign minister said Thursday that sustaining the fight against the ISIS group is an "absolute priority" for Paris, after meeting his Syrian counterpart in Damascus. Jean-Noel Barrot is on the first stop of a regional tour as France reassesses how to tackle militants after Kurdish allies in Syria, who were guarding detained ISIS militants, were forced to disband under pressure from Damascus, AFP reported. Germany DPA: Pariah no more: Far-right AfD returns to Munich Security Conference Shortly before Christmas, members of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) received an invitation to an elite global gathering. For the past two years, the far-right party — founded in 2013 and now more popular than ever — had been frozen out of the Munich Security Conference. This time, it made the cut. EU Today: AfD Deputy Detained After Saxony Parliament Lifts Immunity in Belarus Sanctions Case German prosecutors have opened an investigation into an AfD lawmaker in Saxony on suspicion of helping to bypass EU sanctions by arranging the export of machinery to Belarus via a third country. The Leipzig public prosecutor’s office and the Dresden customs investigation office are investigating Jörg Dornau, a member of the Saxon state parliament (Landtag) for the Alternative for Germany (AfD), on suspicion of violating Germany’s Foreign Trade and Payments Act (Außenwirtschaftsgesetz, AWG). The case centres on an export declared in August 2022, when a telescopic loader was allegedly registered for shipment to Kazakhstan but was in fact destined for Belarus. Netherlands Dutch News: Extremist links emerge on Forum local election candidate lists A number of people with links to extremist organisations are running on behalf of far right party Forum for Democracy in the local elections on March 18, according to investigations by NRC and the antifascist research group Kafka. The organisations include the Nederlandse Volks-Unie (NVU), Voorpost, the Geuzenbond, Erkenbrand and Pegida, all of which are considered to be far right and extremist. United Kingdom Jerusalem Post: UK quietly repatriates 'ISIS brides,' children from Syria's Al-Roj detention camp – report Britain in recent years has quietly repatriated six "ISIS brides" and nine children from the Al-Roj refugee camp in northern Syria, the Times reported, citing Rasheed Afrin, a director of the camp. The Telegraph: Tories call for retrial of Palestine Action activists The Tories have called for a retrial of Palestine Action activists acquitted of a raid on an Israeli defence company’s British factory. Six people were cleared of aggravated burglary on Wednesday over an incident that caused more than £1m of damage and left a police officer with a fractured spine. Afghanistan Afghanistan International: Taliban Deny Militant Presence At Home, Blame Neighbours For ISIS Threat The Taliban have rejected claims that foreign militant groups are operating in Afghanistan, instead alleging that Islamic State fighters have established bases in neighbouring countries. Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesperson, made the remarks in response to a meeting of the United Nations Security Council, where several countries voiced concern about militant activity in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Afghanistan International: China, Pakistan Raise Alarm Over Militant Activity In Afghanistan China and Pakistan voiced strong concern at the United Nations Security Council over the presence and activities of militant groups in Afghanistan, urging the Taliban to take action. Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan’s representative, said militants had gained a “new lease of life” under Taliban rule and were operating freely from Afghan territory. He said the groups were responsible for deadly attacks in Pakistan and stressed that his country remains on the front line of the fight against terrorism, having suffered more than 90,000 casualties and heavy economic losses. Gaza Strip/West Bank Associated Press: The Gaza ceasefire began months ago. Here’s why the fighting persists As the bodies of two dozen Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes arrived at hospitals in Gaza on Wednesday, the director of one asked a question that has echoed across the war-ravaged territory for months. “Where is the ceasefire? Where are the mediators?” Shifa Hospital’s Mohamed Abu Selmiya wrote on Facebook. Times of Israel: IDF says it killed terror operative who threatened troops on Israeli side of ceasefire line The IDF says it killed a Palestinian terror operative who approached troops near the Gaza ceasefire line in the Strip’s south earlier today. According to the military, the operative was identified on the Israeli side of the Yellow Line approaching troops of the 188th Armored Brigade, “in a manner that posed an immediate threat.” Times of Israel: Hamas terrorist who murdered IDF surveillance soldier Noa Marciano killed in strike A Hamas terrorist who murdered IDF surveillance soldier Cpl. Noa Marciano in captivity at the start of the war in Gaza was killed in an airstrike earlier Wednesday, the military announced. Muhammad Issam Hassan al-Habil, a Hamas cell commander, was targeted in Gaza City’s Shati Camp in response to an overnight attack on troops in northern Gaza, during which a reservist officer was seriously wounded by Palestinian gunmen, the IDF said. Iran Jerusalem Post: Iran's IRGC seizes two vessels in Persian Gulf, official threatens US with 'massacre and hell' Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy claims it seized two vessels near Farsi Island that were carrying smuggled fuel, Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) reported on Thursday. The IRGC Navy’s Public Relations Department alleged that more than one million liters of fuel were found on the ships. The 15 foreign crew members were referred to the judicial authorities. Israel Jerusalem Post: Shin Bet chief's brother indicted for aiding Hamas during wartime in Gaza smuggling case Bezalel Zini, brother of Shin Bet (Israeli Security Agency) Chief David Zini, was indicted on Thursday for his role in the organization smuggling goods into Gaza. Zini, along with other defendants, was charged with aiding the enemy during wartime, prohibited dealings in property for terror purposes, obtaining something by aggravated fraud, and accepting bribes. Lebanon Naharnet: Barrack says Hezbollah can't be disarmed militarily, urges direct talks with Israel U.S. envoy Tom Barrack has again described Lebanon as a “failed state,” noting that “the confessional system does not work.” “A Maronite president, a Sunni prime minister and a Shia speaker; a 128 parliamentary seats split equally between Islam and Christians; everything is a deadlock,” said Barrack at a seminar organized by the Milken Institute. Yemen Jerusalem Post: Houthis prepared to strike Israel, US warships in event of attack on Iran – KAN There is a strong likelihood that the Houthis will resume their attacks on Israel and on US ships if the US strikes Iran, Israeli public broadcaster KAN News reported on Wednesday. According to KAN, Israeli security forces are operating under the assumption that Yemen's Houthi terrorists will be prepared to strike back against Israel if the US attacks Iran first. Pakistan Reuters: Pakistan military says it concludes week-long fight against Baloch separatists Pakistan's military said on Thursday it had concluded a week-long operation against separatists in Balochistan who stormed more than a dozen locations, taking hostages, setting off explosives and waging gun battles with security forces. Balochistan, Pakistan's largest and poorest province, was brought to a virtual standstill on Saturday when the separatist Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) launched a coordinated sunrise attack. Nigeria Reuters: Nigeria deploys troops after 170 killed in deadly Kwara village attack Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu has deployed an army battalion to Kaiama district in the central Kwara state after suspected jihadist fighters killed 170 people in an overnight attack, his office said on Thursday. Tuesday's assault on Woro village was the deadliest this year in the state bordering Niger, a hotspot where Islamic State West Africa Province and other armed groups have stepped up village attacks and mass kidnappings. Reuters: All 166 kidnapped churchgoers now rescued in northern Nigeria, Christian group says Security services have now rescued all 166 worshippers who were kidnapped by gunmen during attacks on two churches in northern Nigeria last month, a Christian group said on Thursday. The Christian Association of Nigeria credited the power of prayer and the military for the success of the operations in Kaduna state, but did not go into details on how the churchgoers were freed or when. Associated Press: Nigeria sets up new military command to slow spread of Islamic militants after deadly attack The Nigerian government has announced a new military operation to tackle Islamic militants following the killing of more than 160 people in western Kwara state, many of them reportedly for resisting extremist ideology. Local officials said 162 people were killed during the Tuesday attack in the villages of Woro and Nuku, one of the deadliest attacks in the country outside of the known conflict hot spots. The gunmen razed homes and looted shops in what Amnesty International’s Nigeria office called “a stunning security failure.” Business Day: Kwara killings linked to Islamist extremism, not banditry, kidnapping, says Gov. Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, governor of Kwara State, has blamed Islamic fundamentalists for the deadly attack on Nuku and Woro communities in the Kaiama local government area, where at least 75 residents were killed and dozens of houses were razed. The governor said the victims were targeted and massacred for refusing to abandon their moderate Islamic practices and submit to what he described as a “perverted” and extremist doctrine. Australia The Telegraph: Aboriginals targeted in ‘terror attack’ on Australia Day rally Aboriginals were the target of a terror attack on an Australia Day rally, police said on Thursday. More than 2,500 people had gathered at a rally in Perth, which was protesting against Britain’s “invasion” of Australia, when a man allegedly threw a bomb filled with screws and ball bearings into the crowd. Jewish News Syndicate: Posters of alleged Bondi attacker appear across Melbourne Dozens of posters of one of the alleged terrorists in last month’s Chanukah mass shooting on Bondi Beach, Sydney, have appeared in Melbourne. The posters were of alleged jihadist Naveed Akram, 24, who on Dec. 14 was seen with his father, Sajid Akram, shooting men, women and children attending the Chanukah by the Sea event, where 15 people were murdered. Law enforcement killed Sajid on the scene. Australian Broadcasting Corporation: Lakemba Mosque receives second 'threatening letter' weeks out from Ramadan Muslim leaders are calling for urgent talks with the premier to discuss security concerns, as police confirm an investigation is underway into a second "threatening letter" sent to a Sydney mosque. The letter was sent to Lakemba Mosque in Sydney's south-west on Wednesday afternoon. International Federation of Journalists: Australia: Media union expresses concern for new anti-hate bill Australia’s media union says the government is attempting to stifle public debate and reduce press freedom with the passage of new legislation on January 20 aimed at combatting antisemitism, hate speech and extremism in the country. The International Federation of Journalists, with its affiliate the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) condemn the passage of any bill that prohibits vital press freedoms. 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. 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