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Eye on Extremism
February 1, 2021
The New York Times: U.S. Airstrike Kills Top ISIS Leader In Iraq
“American airstrikes in a joint mission with Iraqi forces have killed the top Islamic State leader in Iraq, an attack aimed at stemming the group’s resurgence and exacting retribution for a deadly double-suicide bombing in Baghdad last week. The ISIS commander, Jabbar Salman Ali Farhan al-Issawi, 43, known as Abu Yasser, was killed Wednesday near the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, American-led military coalition and Iraqi officials said Friday. The Islamic State no longer holds territory in Iraq but has continued to carry out deadly attacks. The question of what kind of force is required to keep the group in check has been at the heart of American and Iraqi negotiations over reducing the number of U.S. troops in Iraq, and the American role in the raid this week illustrates Iraq’s continued reliance on the U.S. military. A coalition spokesman, Col. Wayne Marotto, called Mr. al-Issawi’s death “a significant blow” to the Islamic State’s efforts to regroup. Mr. al-Issawi coordinated the group’s operations in Iraq, counterterrorism experts said. Colonel Marotto said he was responsible for developing and relaying guidance to ISIS fighters and for helping to expand the ISIS presence in Iraq. He said that nine other ISIS fighters were killed in the operation.”
Al Jazeera: Several Killed As Bomb Blast Hits Afrin In Northern Syria
“At least five people have been killed and more than 20 wounded when a car bomb detonated in the northern Syrian town of Afrin, according to the Turkish defence ministry. The ministry said in a statement the explosion took place on Saturday in an industrial site at the centre of the town and wounded 22 people. Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency said the death toll was six, citing local sources in the region, adding that at least 25 people have been wounded. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the Turkish defence ministry blamed the attack on Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) fighters. Ankara regards the YPG as a “terrorist” group tied to the outlawed armed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) group inside its own borders, and has staged multiple incursions into Syria in collaboration with Syrian rebels it backs to push YPG and ISIL (ISIS) fighters from the Turkish frontier. Afrin was largely cleared of YPG fighters in 2018 through a military operation by Turkey, but the town and other parts of the region are regularly rocked by such bombings. Ankara now retains a large military presence in the area, deploying thousands of troops in the last rebel enclave in Syria. The PKK, designated a “terrorist” group by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, took up arms against the Turkish state in 1984. More than 40,000 people have been killed in the conflict, focused in southeast Turkey.”
United States
NPR: Pipe Bombs Believed To Have Been Placed Night Before Attack On U.S. Capitol
“The FBI believes the pipe bombs placed outside of the Democratic and Republican party headquarters in Washington, D.C., were staged on Jan. 5, the night before the attempted insurrection at the Capitol. On Jan. 6, U.S. Capitol Police responded to multiple reports of what appeared to be two separate pipe bombs at approximately 1 p.m. Both devices were disabled and turned over to the FBI, an USCP release said. A $50,000 reward was initially offered by the FBI for information about the incident. The reward has since doubled to $100,000 and new information has been released about the suspect. The FBI announced Friday that the bombs were staged the day before the riots at the Capitol, between the hours of 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. The individual who staged the devices wore a face mask and a grey hooded sweatshirt. More specifically, the FBI said the suspect was wearing Nike Air Max Speed Turf shoes; yellow, black and grey in color. He or she also had a backpack. While sweeping for additional explosives after finding the two pipe bombs, law enforcement came across a what appeared to be firearm in a red pickup truck, registered in Alabama to a Lonnie L. Coffman, a Department of Justice statement said.”
Iraq
Asharq Al-Awsat: Iraqi Forces Thwart Terrorist Plot In Nineveh
“The Iraqi National Security announced Saturday it apprehended seven wanted militants plotting a terrorist attack in Nineveh, north of Iraq. The terrorists were wanted by the judiciary under Article 4 on terrorism and were planning to form a cell to attack the governorate. They confessed to carrying out armed attacks against the Iraqi security forces during the liberation operations. The Iraqi Ministry of Interior announced its new procedures to curb terrorist operations and handle intelligence information on terrorists. The spokesman Saad Maan said that measures were tightened at checkpoints based on security or intelligence information. Maan pointed out that the number of fixed checkpoints was reduced in the recent period, while mobile ones were being used at different times and places. The security and defense parliamentary committee announced that it has allocated part of this year's budget to ensure the security of the Iraqi Syrian border. A member of the committee, Abdul Khaliq al-Azzawi, said that securing the border is crucial for general security, especially as it faces great challenges in light of the increased activity of terrorist organizations in Syria that try to transfer their operations into Iraq. Azzawi added that the committee supported a proposal to allocate a sum in the 2021 budget to finance the security plans for the Iraqi Syrian border, which would boost general security and reduce challenges, especially in the western regions.”
Afghanistan
Associated Press: US Watchdog: Taliban Attacks Increased In Afghan Capital
“Taliban attacks in the Afghan capital of Kabul are on the rise, with increasing targeted killings of government officials, civil-society leaders and journalists, a report by a U.S. watchdog said Monday. It comes as the Biden administration plans to take a new look at the peace agreement between the U.S. and the Taliban signed last February under President Donald Trump. The report said Taliban-initiated attacks across Afghanistan during the last quarter of 2020 were slightly lower than in the previous quarter, but exceeded those of the same period in 2019, according to numbers provided by U.S. forces in Afghanistan. “Enemy attacks in Kabul were higher than during the previous quarter,” the report quoted U.S. forces. “They were much higher than in the same quarter last year.” The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, known as SIGAR, monitors the billions of dollars the U.S. spends in war-ravaged Afghanistan. The Taliban unleashed a wave of attacks in Afghanistan in December, including strikes in northern Baghlan and southern Uruzgan provinces over a two-day period that killed at least 19 members of the Afghan security forces. In Kabul, a roadside bomb struck a vehicle, wounding two, and a lawyer was shot in a targeted killing.”
Al Jazeera: Eight Afghan Security Personnel Killed In Taliban Attack
“A suicide bomber drove a vehicle loaded with explosives into a base for Afghan defence forces in the country’s east, killing at least eight security personnel in an attack claimed by the Taliban. The pre-dawn assault on Saturday took place in the restive province of Nangarhar where the Taliban has claimed several deadly assaults targeting government forces. It came two days after the Pentagon said the Taliban was not living up to promises made in a deal signed with Washington last year, including reducing violence and cutting ties with al-Qaeda. The eight were killed when the bomber hit the base with a Humvee, the office of Nangarhar’s governor said in a statement. The deputy head of Nangarhar’s provincial council, Ajmal Omar, confirmed the attack but put the number of dead soldiers at 15 with five wounded. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said his group carried out the attack. The governor’s office said security forces seized another vehicle loaded with explosives near the city of Jalalabad, capital of Nangarhar. Nangarhar province has seen several recent deadly attacks carried out by the armed group ISIL (ISIS). Separately, two roadside bombs exploded in Kabul on Saturday but there were no casualties, police said.”
NBC News: Biden Signals A Tougher Line With The Taliban
“President Joe Biden is signaling a tougher line with the Taliban than his predecessor, with top officials warning that a planned U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in May could be delayed if the insurgents fail to live up to their promises. A flurry of statements and comments from the White House, State Department and Pentagon this week left no doubt that the Biden administration had a skeptical view of a shaky peace process launched by former President Donald Trump and the Taliban's willingness to sever ties with Al Qaeda and other extremists. The administration, which said it was carrying out a review of the situation in Afghanistan, faces a series of difficult choices that will force officials to weigh the risk of a Taliban takeover. Any delay in a U.S. troop pull-out could trigger an escalation of violence and prompt the Taliban to abandon peace negotiations with its adversaries in the Kabul government, former U.S. officials and military officers say. Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said on Friday that the administration is “taking a hard look at the extent to which the Taliban are in fact complying” with provisions of a U.S.-Taliban deal signed last year. The February 2020 agreement called for the withdrawal of U.S.-led troops by May 2021 in return for the Taliban breaking with terrorist groups, sharply reducing violence and entering into peace negotiations with the Afghan government.”
“When Bilal, 24, joined the Afghan security forces six years ago, his motivation went beyond receiving a monthly paycheck – he wanted to serve his country. Ironically, that commitment has been severely put to the test lately with a months-long delay to his salary despite a surge in violence across Kandahar. “I haven’t been paid in eight months but if I don’t fight, who will do it, who will fight for my country?” he says from the roof of a police station in the Zhari district of Kandahar now acting as a front line following the capture of several police checkpoints further ahead. That morning, fifteen 950mm mortars were fired from the same rooftop into Taliban territory beyond the now-deserted homes directly in front of the building. Both police and Afghan National Army soldiers are stationed here – currently on a month-long deployment fighting the Taliban, despite stints normally lasting for a maximum of 72 hours before men head back to base. Almost 40 men in this unit alone have been killed in the recent escalation of fighting, despite ongoing Doha power-sharing negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan government that began in September. Bilal, who gives only his first name, is engaged and needs to earn money to fund his wedding, in addition to having a family that already relies on his financial support.”
India
The Jerusalem Post: Terror Group Claims Responsibility For Attack On Israeli Embassy In India
“A terror organization called Jaish-ul-Hind, believed to be affiliated with Iran, has taken responsibility for Friday’s attack near the Israeli embassy in New Delhi, according to Indian media. An explosion occurred near the embassy, Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed Friday. There were no casualties in the incident, and no damage was caused to the embassy building, the Foreign Ministry said. The explosion damaged the window panes of three nearby parked cars, a Delhi police spokesman said in a statement. The site of the blast was quickly cordoned off by police. Indian police said the explosion was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) and the impact from the blast is said to have been felt within a 20-25 meter radius, Indian media reported. On Saturday afternoon, Indian security forces investigating the explosion issued a request from the country’s Bureau of Immigration for any information on Iranian citizens who had recently entered the country, local media reported. A few hours later, the India Today TV network reported that Indian security forces had interrogated several Iranian citizens suspected involvement, according to Walla. On Saturday night N12 reported that an Israeli intelligence official said that the attack was undoubtedly meant to hurt Israelis.”
Nigeria
ABC News: More Chibok Girls Have Escaped From Boko Haram Almost 7 Years Later, Parents Say
“Nearly seven years after Boko Haram militants snatched them from their dormitory beds in the northeast Nigerian town of Chibok, more of the missing schoolgirls are said to be returning home. Emmanuel Ogebe, a Nigerian human rights lawyer who practices in the United States and has previously worked with some of the freed girls and their families, said a parent told him that his daughter and others have escaped their captors. “Mr. Ali Maiyanga's two daughters were part of the few Muslim schoolgirls taken with the majority Christian Chibok girls. Information currently available to us indicates that there are other escapees with the army whom parents are anxiously waiting to identify,” Ogebe said in a statement to ABC News late Thursday. “We spoke and confirmed from Mr. Ali Maiyanga moments ago that he in fact spoke with his daughter today, who informed him that she along with others were rescued. Her sister who escaped four years ago and is on school break was overjoyed at the news of her sibling's escape.” Lawal Zannah, secretary of the Chibok Parents Association whose daughter was among those abducted, also relayed the news. “We heard that some of our girls have escaped from the forest, but we are yet to get the detail about their number,” Zannah told reporters Thursday evening.”
“About 48 hours after Boko Haram invaded Dikwa town in Borno State, killing at least three soldiers and abducting two female police officers, neither the Nigerian Army nor the Nigeria Police Force has officially spoken on the incident. SaharaReporters had on Friday reported how Boko Haram terrorists engaged the Nigerian military in a four-hour battle to take control of Dikwa, a community that also houses over 75,470 internally displaced persons. The attack happened few hours after Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai handed over to Major General Ibrahim Attahiru as the Chief of Army Staff. The gun battle, which started at around 6:00pm, lasted till about 10:00pm however claimed many casualties, including soldiers. Two female police officers and many IDPs were also abducted by the insurgents. Authorities of the Nigeria Army and the Nigeria Police Force have however been silent on the incident. “The situation in Dikwa has caused tension within the operation. About three of our people were killed by the gunmen, some police officers and IDPs were also abducted by the gunmen. It’s really a sad one. “The Army authorities yesterday contacted the families of the dead soldiers to inform them,” a senior military officer told SaharaReporters.”
Somalia
The New York Times: Militants Storm Hotel In Somali Capital And Blasts Rock Area
“Militants stormed a major hotel in the capital of Somalia on Sunday evening, the authorities said, raising fears of growing violence in the Horn of Africa nation as it faces a bitterly contested election season and the withdrawal of American troops. The attack in Mogadishu, attributed to the Shabab, an extremist group, took place at the Afrik Hotel, which is on the road to the city’s major international airport and is a popular meeting place for politicians, lawmakers and members of the security services. Images and video shared on social media showed smoke billowing into the blue skies. Heavy gunfire and blasts were heard in the hotel’s vicinity, according to Ismael Mukhtar Omar, the spokesman of Somalia’s ministry of information. The authorities said that the Shabab, which is Al Qaeda’s most powerful ally in Africa and has wreaked havoc across East Africa, carried out the attack, which began about 5 p.m. Security forces were continuing to engage them inside the hotel on Sunday night. The Somali police spokesman, Sadiq Adan Ali, said in a statement that most of the people who were at the hotel had been evacuated. He also confirmed the deaths of nine people, including five civilians and four militants, along with dozens of injuries.”
United Kingdom
Arab News: Muslim Boy, 4, Referred To UK Anti-Extremism Program Over Video Game Comment
“The British government’s anti-extremism program Prevent is under fire after it was revealed that a Muslim boy aged 4 was flagged by his after-school club for talking about the video game “Fortnite.” UK newspaper The Observer newspaper reported on Sunday that the boy was referred to the program in September 2019 after saying his father had “guns and bombs in his shed.” Following the child’s referral to Prevent, it was quickly established that he was with his father the night before he made his comments. His cousin was playing the video game “Fortnite,” which has more than 350 million registered players and involves characters collecting guns and bombs. After making the comment, he told a worker at the care club about his cousin playing the game. His mother, in the first anonymous interview of a parent of a child aged 6 or under referred to Prevent, said: “The office sent me all the information, including the transcript of that conversation. It’s quite clear he mentioned Fortnite.” She added: “He’s just a little boy with an imagination. The teachers should know in this setting that (children) have imagination. They know exactly what kids are like, and what young boys are like. I do think that if it was a white boy, they wouldn’t have actually gone to that extreme of referring him to the Prevent scheme.”
Australia
Voice Of America: Neo-Nazis Cause Outrage In Australia
“Campaigners are calling for a white supremacist group that allegedly burned a cross in the Australian state of Victoria to be prescribed as a terrorist organization. Campers have described seeing a group of 30 masked men displaying swastikas and chanting racist slogans. Images online show a group of bare-chested men wearing balaclavas standing next to a burning cross. The pictures are believed to have been taken during the Australia Day public holiday earlier this month. The men are thought to belong to the National Socialist Network, a small white supremacist neo-Nazi organization with members in most major Australian cities. They were allegedly performing Nazi salutes and shouting offensive slogans in the Grampians National Park, 250 kilometers northwest of Melbourne. “They were chanting ‘Ku Klux Klan’ over and over,” said local resident Luke Baker. “So, that went for quite a while and then it was repeated and then ‘White power’ and then there was sort of these Heil Hitlers.” Experts say that such provocative behavior could be an attempt to generate media attention to attract new members and spread messages of bigotry. Victorian state Premier Daniel Andrews has warned that “evil” and “wicked” anti-Semitism was on the rise in Australia and overseas.”
Technology
The Wall Street Journal: Facebook Knew Calls For Violence Plagued ‘Groups,’ Now Plans Overhaul
“Facebook Inc. FB -2.52% in 2019 redesigned its flagship product to center on what it called Groups, forums for like-minded users. Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg called them the new “heart of the app.” Now the social-networking giant is clamping down on Groups. The effort began after Facebook’s own research found that American Facebook Groups became a vector for the rabid partisanship and even calls for violence that inflamed the country after the election. The changes, which Facebook escalated after the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, involve overhauling the mechanics of a product that was meant to be central to its future. Facebook executives were aware for years that tools fueling Groups’ rapid growth presented an obstacle to their effort to build healthy online communities, and the company struggled internally over how to contain them. The company’s data scientists had warned Facebook executives in August that what they called blatant misinformation and calls to violence were filling the majority of the platform’s top “civic” Groups, according to documents The Wall Street Journal reviewed. Those Groups are generally dedicated to politics and related issues and collectively reach hundreds of millions of users.”
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