Weeks of continued calm in and around Baghdad’s Green Zone were disturbed
Tuesday when several rockets were fired toward the U.S. Embassy, located

 

 


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Eye on Extremism


November 20, 2020

 

Voice Of America: Iran-Backed Militias Resume Rocket Attacks Toward US Embassy
In Iraq
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“Weeks of continued calm in and around Baghdad’s Green Zone were disturbed
Tuesday when several rockets were fired toward the U.S. Embassy, located in the
fortified area that houses key government offices and other diplomatic
facilities. Iraqi officials say at least three of the seven rockets fired were
intercepted by the Counter Rocket, Artillery and Mortar (C-Ram) system
installed near the U.S. Embassy, but some of them fell in nearby civilian
areas, killing at least one child and injuring several others. The attack did
not kill or wound any Americans. Initially, a new pro-Iran group called Ashab
al-Kahf or “the cave companions,” which Iraqi intelligence sources describe as
a subgroup of Kataib Hezbollah, the usual suspect in attacks on U.S. interests
in Iraq, claimed responsibility for the attack on social media. But after news
of civilian casualties broke, KH and its political ally in the Iraqi
parliament, the Fatah Coalition, issued separate statements denying the
involvement of Shiite militias in the attack. They both blamed it, without
evidence, on President Donald Trump’s election performance. “The shelling of
the embassy came to cover up Trump’s loss in the elections through exporting
his internal crises and trying to ignite a full-scale war,” the KH statement
said.”

 

The Wall Street Journal: Outside Nigeria’s ‘Green Zone,’ Jihadists Rule The
Road
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“Traveling by road into Maiduguri, the capital of Nigeria’s northeast, has
become one of the most dangerous journeys on earth. Vehicles entering the
sprawling, sun-baked city pass under banners that welcome visitors to the “Home
of Peace,” a nickname coined in happier times. But in the past six months
alone, more than 200 people have been murdered or kidnapped on the four main
highways that head into a town now more famous as the birthplace of the Boko
Haram insurgency, according to analysis from the Armed Conflict Location and
Event Data Project, interviews with soldiers and state officials. The attacks
are conducted by militants fighting for Boko Haram and a splinter group loyal
to Islamic State. With each passing month they become more brazen, targeting
civilians, aid workers, soldiers and even the state’s most powerful
politicians. In September, jihadists attacked the heavily armed convoy of the
governor of Borno state, Babagana Zulum, on the road from his Maiduguri office
to Baga, near the border with Chad, leaving 20 people dead and forcing one of
Nigeria’s most powerful men to be rushed into an armored vehicle amid a hail of
bullets.”

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United States

 

The Washington Times: Dealing With Terrorism Threat Will Dominate New
Administration's Agenda
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“If there’s one thing we learned from the last two presidential election
cycles, it’s that the United States has become more politically partisan and
divided than at any time in its modern history. Vigorous debate is a hallmark
of democracy, but bipartisanship is essential to protecting our nation from
foreign adversaries. Bearing in mind President Kennedy’s admonition that while
“domestic policy can only defeat us, foreign policy can kill us,” the stakes
could not be higher. Following a bitter and acrimonious campaign, the incoming
Biden administration will be on the hook to grapple with a wickedly complex
range of threats, including Iran, nuclear proliferation, North Korea, Russia
and China. But it is the threat of terrorism that is arguably the national
security threat with the shortest fuse. The Trump administration decimated
Islamic State’s so-called “caliphate” and eliminated terrorists such as ISIS
leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Hamza bin Laden, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula
leader Qassim al-Raymi and AQAP’s chief bomb-maker, Ibrahim al-Asiri, whom
former CIA Acting Director Michael Morell called the “most significant
international terrorist removed from the battlefield since Osama bin Laden.”

 

Syria

 

Associated Press: Top US General In The Mideast Says ISIS In Iraq And Syria
Still Long-Term Threat
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“Although the Islamic State extremist group is battered and scattered, it
cannot be fully defeated until the world finds a way to reconcile and resettle
the thousands of people displaced by years of war in Iraq and Syria, the
general overseeing American military operations in the Mideast said Thursday.
Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, commander of U.S. Central Command, said there is no
military means of solving the problem of Mideast refugees and internally
displaced persons, or IDPs, who await repatriation or resettlement and
represent what he called an unfortunate byproduct of armed conflicts. “Today,
across vast swaths of Syria and Iraq, the systemic indoctrination of IDP and
refugee camp populations who are hostage to the receipt of ISIS ideology is an
alarming development with potentially generational implications,” McKenzie said
in remarks to the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations. He said a solution
must come from a joint effort by diplomatic, security and humanitarian
organizations. “Unless the international community finds a way to repatriate,
reintegrate into home communities, and support locally grown reconciliation
programming of these people, ... we are buying ourselves a strategic problem 10
years down the road when these children grow up radicalized.”

 

Turkey

 

Reuters: Turkey Issues Detention Warrants For 101 People On Alleged Terrorism
Links
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“Turkish authorities have issued detention warrants for 101 people including
lawyers and doctors as part of what they called terrorism-related
investigations, a security source and state-owned Anadolu news agency said on
Friday. Authorities launched the operation from the southeastern province of
Diyarbakir and sought suspects across four cities and a total of 106
residential addresses, the source said. Seventy-four suspects have already been
detained, the source said.”

 

Afghanistan

 

The Wall Street Journal: Afghanistan Braces For Worst As U.S. Troop Withdrawal
Accelerates
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“Even before President Trump’s drawdown of U.S. troops in Afghanistan goes
into effect, there are clear signs the national government is losing its grip.
Streets empty out at dusk on the edge of the capital, as security forces gird
for a rising wave of hit-and-run assassinations. Taliban insurgents have stuck
letters on shop fronts, warning that the Islamic Emirate, as the movement calls
itself, will arrest or summarily execute kidnappers, looters and robbers. “When
U.S. forces leave Afghanistan, the Taliban will implement our law on the Afghan
government, either by dialogue or by force,” said Azizi, a young Taliban
fighter, who traveled from his home just outside the capital to give an
interview. He gazed out of a third-floor apartment overlooking a middle-class
neighborhood in Kabul bustling with students and modern coffee shops. “We will
follow the same Shariah system in Kabul as we do in the provinces.” For years,
Afghans have agonized over what happens after U.S.-led coalition troops pull
out for good. They may find out soon. The Pentagon this week announced plans to
reduce the number of American troops in Afghanistan to about 2,500 before
Inauguration Day, down from about 12,000 in February and far off the peak of
some 100,000 a decade ago.”

 

Pakistan

 

Reuters: Pakistani Islamist Found Guilty On Two More Charges Of Terrorism
Financing
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“A Pakistani court on Thursday sentenced Islamist leader Hafiz Saeed, founder
of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the militant group blamed by the United States and
India for the 2008 Mumbai siege, to 10 years in prison on two charges of
terrorism financing, his lawyer said. The sentences for the two charges - five
years each - will run concurrently. Saeed is already in jail serving two
sentences of five-and-a-half-years each, handed down to him in February this
year, which means he will not serve any extra jail time. “An anti-terrorism
court in Lahore sentenced ten-and-a-half years imprisonment to chief of
Jamaatud Dawa Hafiz Saeed, his deputy Zafar Iqbal, and spokesman Yahya Mujahid
on charges of terror financing,” Saeed’s lawyer Imran Fazal Gill told Reuters.
Jammaat ud-Dawa is a charity run by Saeed. “Since the convict has already been
convicted ... by this court vide judgment dates 12.02.2020, so the punishment
awarded to him in this case shall also run concurrently with punishment in said
cases,” said the court order which was seen by Reuters. Appeals have been filed
against previous sentences, Gill said. Saeed has been arrested and released
several times over the past decade. He denies any involvement with militancy,
including the 2008 Mumbai siege in which 160 people were killed, including
Americans.”

 

Middle East

 

The Jerusalem Post: Man Indicted For Planned Terrorist Attack At Temple Mount
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“An indictment was issued Thursday against a 20-year-old resident of Rahat who
is suspected of planning a terrorist attack on the Temple Mount, Israeli media
reported. According to the indictment, the man was planning the stabbing attack
because of anger he felt towards Israeli security forces. The man went to
Jerusalem's Old City and was apprehended near the Lion's Gate by security
forces who thought he was acting suspiciously.”

 

The Times Of Israel: Palestinians Mull Cutting Payments To Some Terror Convicts

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“In an attempt to build new ties with the incoming administration of US
President-elect Joe Biden, the Palestinian Authority is considering changing
its policy of paying stipends to Palestinian security prisoners, including
those convicted of terror attacks. Israel has long sought to clamp down on the
practice, which it says constitutes incitement to terrorism. Israeli officials
have called it “pay-for-slay,” saying that it incentivizes terror by increasing
payments depending on the sentence — meaning that those whom Israel has
convicted of more serious crimes receive more money from the PA. But Ramallah
has repeatedly defended the policy, describing the payments as a form of social
welfare. It is also popular domestically: In addition to those who unabashedly
support armed terror against Israeli civilians, many ordinary Palestinians do
not trust Israel’s military justice system. Some reforms are already being
implemented for prisoners which Israel has already released.  The main reform —
which is already in the stages of implementation — involves employing around
7,000 released prisoners by the PA in the security services and government
ministries.”

 

Egypt

 

Reuters: Blast Hits Natural Gas Pipeline In Egypt's North Sinai
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“A blast hit the Al Arish-Al Qantara natural gas pipeline in Egypt’s Sinai
Peninsula on Thursday, witnesses and local authorities said. Witnesses said
flames and thick plumes of smoke rose from the pipeline, describing the scene
from vantage points in and around the city of al-Arish. Islamic State claimed
responsibility for the blast on its Telegram channel without providing
evidence. North Sinai local authorities said in a statement the fire had been
extinguished and it had not affected gas supplies. The scale of the damage was
not immediately clear.”

 

Nigeria

 

Daily Post Nigeria: Boko Haram: Troops Kill 3 Terrorists, Rescue Women,
Children In Northeast
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“Troops of Operation Fireball have killed three Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in
different clearances they conducted in Borno State. Acting Director, Defence
Media Operations, Brigadier General Benard Onyeukoin, a statement released on
Thursday, indicated that the troops also rescued two women and three children
kidnapped by the terrorists. He recounted that, on 17th November, 2020, troops
of 251 Task Force Battalion deployed in Strong Response Area Molai while acting
credible intelligence intercepted some Boko Haram criminals and relations of
some kidnapped persons making efforts to pay a ransom of Two Million naira cash
(2,000,000.00) to the terrorists. “In a swift reaction, the gallant troops
engaged the Boko Haram criminals forcing them to abort the collection of the
payment as well as abandon their captives. “In the aftermath of the decisive
encounter, One Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist was neutralized while others escaped
with gunshot wounds. One AK 47 Rifle and one Motorcycle were recovered. “The
victims including 2 women and 3 children were all rescued unhurt”, he said.”

 

Somalia

 

Shabelle Media Network: Somalia: Bomb Kills 3 Soldiers In Southern Somalia
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“At least three soldiers died and several more people, including civilians,
have been wounded in a blast at a security checkpoint outside Somalia's capital
on Thursday morning, officials said. The attack took place in Lafole town, some
22 kilometers (13 miles) southwest of Mogadishu. Explosives were planted by a
roadside and detonated while soldiers were carrying out security checks during
the morning rush hour, according to Abshir Hussein Mohamed, a police officer in
the nearby town of Afgoye. “At least three soldiers have died and several more
injured people, including soldiers and civilians, have been shifted to a
hospital in Mogadishu,” he told Anadolu Agency over the phone. Somalia-based
al-Shabaab, affiliated with the al-Qaeda terror group, claimed responsibility
for the attack via its propaganda radio service Andalus. The blast comes days
after at least five people were killed and eight more wounded in a suicide
bombing at a busy restaurant in Mogadishu.”

 

The National Interest: How Ethiopia's Civil War Emboldens Jihadis In Somalia
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“Observers could be forgiven for thinking these days that East Africa is on
the verge of unraveling. An ongoing conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray province is
affecting the entire region, with its consequences being felt most keenly in
Somalia. In the Tigray there exists the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, a
political party that governed the country up until recently but has since been
sidelined following the ascension of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in 2018.
Discontent with this change, among other factors, resulted in tensions between
the TPLF and the federal government under Ahmed. On November 4, forces loyal to
the TPLF launched a surprise attack on an Ethiopian military base. Shortly
after, the Ethiopian government initiated a counteroffensive, prompting what is
now a low-level but tense civil war. The clashes have put regional stability in
peril, with neighbors such as Eritrea and Sudan considering whether to
intervene. But to the east, it is jihadist-stricken Somalia that is mostly
feeling the impact of Ethiopia’s recent hostilities. The crisis has already
diverted Ethiopian counterterrorist forces from Somalia, and a protracted
conflict may spell disaster for Somalia’s security.”

 

United Kingdom

 

BBC News: Gloucestershire Man Arrested On Suspicion Of Terrorism Offences
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“A 43-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences.
Counter Terrorism Policing South East detained the man, from Gloucestershire,
earlier and he remains in custody. Officers are searching three locations in
the county and another in the West Mercia Police force area as part of their
inquiry. A spokesman said people may see officers in protective suits, but
there is believed to be no wider threat to the public at this time. The man has
been arrested on suspicion of encouragement of terrorism contrary to section
one of the Terrorism Act 2006; dissemination of terrorist publications contrary
to section 2 of the Terrorism Act 2006; and collection of information contrary
to section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000. He has also been held on suspicion of
intentionally encouraging or assisting the commission of serious crime contrary
to section 44 of the Serious Crime Act 2007.”

 

BBC News: Lincoln Man Charged With Right-Wing Terrorism Offences
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“A man from Lincoln has appeared in court charged with seven offences relating
to right-wing terrorism. The accusations against Ben John, 20, relate to
possession of a document or record likely to be useful to a person committing
or preparing an act of terrorism, said police. Mr John, of Addison Drive,
appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday and was released on
bail. He is due to appear at the Old Bailey in London on 4 December.”

 

Europe

 

The Wall Street Journal: EU Leans Heavily On U.S. Program Tracking Terror
Financing
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“A new review by a civil-liberties watchdog has revealed the extent to which
European governments have come to rely on a U.S. surveillance program that
monitors global financial transactions for ties to terrorism. The Treasury
Department’s Terrorist Finance Tracking Program, or TFTP, was created after the
Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. New data shows it is now widely used by European
authorities—even as European Union institutions, concerned about the privacy of
their citizens and possible surveillance, move to more strictly control
transfers to the U.S. of data they gather. Some 40% of the database searches
performed by Treasury were on behalf of EU member states or Europol, the EU’s
law-enforcement arm, according to information gathered as part of a review by
the U.S. Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, an independent federal
agency that advises the president on intelligence and counterterrorism
programs. As a result of the audit, which covered three years, the board
submitted classified recommendations to improve the program while its chairman,
Adam Klein, issued a statement offering new details about the extent of U.S.-EU
cooperation on counterterrorism efforts. Both sides of the Atlantic are
grappling with the future of data sharing between the U.S. and Europe.”

 

Bloomberg: Belarus KGB Puts Social-Media Channel Creators On Terrorist List
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“The Belarusian security service put the founder of the country’s most popular
Telegram channel and its former chief editor on a terrorist watch list as
President Alexander Lukashenko tries to stamp out continuing protests against
claimed landslide re-election three months ago. Nexta-Live founder Stsiapan
Putsila, 22, and Raman Pratasevich, 25, are the only two Belarusian citizens on
the list of more than 700 “individuals involved in terrorist activities” drawn
up by the State Security Committee, still known as the KGB. Pratasevich left
the channel in September. Nexta-Live, with more than 1.8 million subscribers,
was instrumental in covering the police brutality against protesters nationwide
in August and demonstrations that regularly gathered more than 100,000 people
in the capital alone. The channel was designated as “extremist” in October,
according to the state news agency Belta, making it illegal to distribute its
content or display its logo in Belarus. The authorities are seeking to
extradite Putsila and Pratasevich from Poland, Belta reported this week. Almost
1,300 people were arrested on Sunday at the weekly rally in the capital, Minsk,
according to human-rights center Viasna, which isn’t officially registered in
the country.”

 

Reuters: Greek Police Arrest Islamic State Suspect After Migrant Camp Brawl
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“Greek police arrested a Syrian Islamic State suspect on Thursday after a
brawl at a migrant camp where he has been staying with his wife and children
and said he was believed to have been involved in a number of killings. The
27-year old man, who arrived in Greece in March 2018, was detained after an
argument on Wednesday between two groups at the camp, a police official said.
He was arrested on Thursday, accused of being a member of a terrorist group and
participating in homicides. He is expected to appear before a prosecutor later
in the day, according to a police statement. Police said such arrests were
rare. Greece, on the front line of migration into Europe, promised on Wednesday
to build new reception centres for asylum seekers and cut the maximum stay in
camps on its now-overcrowded islands. The country bore the brunt of a large
influx of refugees and migrants into Europe in 2015 and 2016, many arriving via
its outlying Aegean islands close to Turkey.”

 

Pledge Times: CEP Study: “Transnational, Apocalyptically Minded” Right-wing
Extremists – WELT
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“E.t was not just Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU), who in July
declared right-wing extremism the “greatest threat to security”. The FBI also
named 2019 the “deadliest year since 1995 due to domestic extremism”. This year
the American Federal Police raised the danger level for the threat of
right-wing extremism and “racially motivated, violent extremism” to the same
level as for foreign terrorist organizations such as the terrorist militia
Islamic State. It has been known for years that the right-wing extremist scene
organizes itself at least across Europe through music events, martial arts and
shooting training. But how the scene is networked internationally has so far
only been insufficiently illuminated … In order to maintain their “warlike
mentality and attitude”, they need financial means. This is another reason why
music and martial arts events are an important characteristic of the scene
across borders. The goal is sustainable financing. The co-author of the study
and Senior Director of CEP, Hans-Jakob Schindler, described the income as
“exorbitant”. This is also possible because events of this kind are often
declared as political events and entrance fees are given as donations.”

 

Australia

 

The Canberra Times: Far-Right Extremist Jailed For Terror Plot
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“A far-right extremist convicted of plotting a terror attack against his
ideological enemies has been jailed for at least nine years. Phillip Galea, 36,
was last year found guilty by a jury of planning to target venues including the
Melbourne Anarchist Club and Melbourne Resistance Centre. Involved in far-right
groups including Reclaim Australia, Galea spent enormous amounts of time at
home alone, drinking excessively and fuelling his conspiracy theories online.
He spoke of wanting to witness the mass extermination of “the left” and Muslim
people. Galea researched ingredients and methods for making explosive devices
and unsuccessfully tried to recruit others to assist with the planned attacks.
He also tried to make a document he dubbed the “Patriot's Cookbook”, to
instruct others about how to carry out acts of violence. It was based on the
1971 Anarchist Cookbook and Galea continued working on it in jail following his
August 2016 arrest. He was sentenced in Victoria's Supreme Court on Friday to a
maximum of 12 years' jail, and must serve nine of those before he can be
considered for release on parole. Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth noted some of
his ideas appeared to be “fanciful, immature rubbish” fuelled by alcohol during
late-night ramblings.”



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