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Eye on Extremism
May 19, 2021
Sahara Reporters: Nigerian Army Strikes Boko Haram Terrorists During Meeting In Borno, Kills 40
“The Nigerian troops of Operation Hadin Kai bombarded a mass gathering of Boko Haram members in Dawuri village at the weekend. The attack, which followed intelligence gathering, happened within the Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State, with no fewer than 40 insurgents planning to execute a coordinated storm in Maiduguri and its environs killed. Nigerian troops are fighting jihadist insurgency in the northeastern part of Nigeria. The army reportedly deployed a massive artillery gun against identified Boko Haram camps and hit the target. A military source said the pre-emptive operation was ordered after getting a report on the movement of the fighters and their communication was also intercepted by the troops. “The strike hit the mass gathering of the terrorists killing at least 40 of them while others escaped with various degrees of injury,” the source said. It was learnt that the acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division, Brigadier General Abdulwahab Eyitayo subsequently sent words of commendation and encouragement to the soldiers for the feat.”
Reuters: Germany Bans Hezbollah-Linked Groups, Conducts Raids - Ministry
“Germany has banned three associations that are accused of donating to Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, the Interior Ministry said on Wednesday. Police conducted early morning raids at several premises in seven German states, a spokesman for the ministry said on Twitter. “Those who support terror will not be safe in Germany. No matter in what guise our supporters appear, they will not find a place of refuge in our country,” the spokesman said. Germany banned Hezbollah on its soil and designated it a terrorist organisation last year. The three associations that have been banned are “Deutsche Libanesische Familie” , “Menschen für Menschen” as well as “Gib Frieden”, which had already been banned on 15 April. The associations are accused of collecting donations for Hezbollah's “martyr families” in Lebanon under the guise of religious and humanitarian goals in Germany, ultimately promoting attacks on Israel. As a legacy of the Holocaust, Germany feels a special responsibility towards protecting Israel.”
United States
Cleveland.com: Ohio Supporter Of ISIS Pleads Guilty In Attempted Attack On Jewish Synagogue
“A Northwest Ohio resident admitted Tuesday that he planned to carry out a mass shooting at a synagogue to show his allegiance to ISIS. Damon Joseph, 23, of Holland pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Toledo to charges of attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization and attempting to commit a hate crime. He faces 20 years in prison when Judge Jack Zouhary sentences him Sept. 14. Authorities arrested Joseph on Dec. 7, 2018, moments after he grabbed a duffel bag that contained two semi-automatic rifles from an undercover FBI agent’s car. Unbeknownst to Joseph, agents disabled the weapons. Jewish community leaders condemned the plot and praised federal authorities for stopping it before anyone was hurt. After Joseph’s arrest, the Anti-Defamation League cited the fact that the plot came just weeks after 11 people were killed at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. “It’s shocking to hear another attack was being planned,” Jeremy Pappas, then-the director of the Anti-Defamation League’s Cleveland regional office, said. The investigation began when the FBI learned of Joseph’s postings on social media. Undercover agents, posing as sympathizers, connected with Joseph online about ISIS, and he sent videos about the terrorist group.”
“House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy was briefed Tuesday on a classified memo regarding his request last month for information about suspected terrorists apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border, and told Fox News he's “even more concerned for America’s security” than he was before. McCarthy, R-Calif., was not able to share details about the memo due to its classified status, but told Fox News the “border crisis has spiraled into a national security crisis.” “When House Republicans traveled to the southern border earlier this spring, Border Patrol agents told us firsthand that individuals on the Terrorism Watch List had been apprehended trying to enter our country,” McCarthy told Fox News. “Since then, numerous public reports confirmed these accounts.” “Although the briefing I received today was classified, I can tell you that I'm even more concerned for America's security than I was before,” he said. “The border crisis has spiraled into a national security crisis, and with public reports showing that more than 1,500 individuals evade law enforcement at the border every day, it must be immediately addressed.” McCarthy continued, “Every congressional leader and Vice President Harris should receive this same briefing to help them understand the extent of the security risks we face because of the border crisis.”
“The Pentagon is preparing to launch a program that will screen the social media posts of military members for “concerning behaviors” amid a broader crackdown on domestic extremism, according to a report on Tuesday. Bishop Garrison, a senior adviser to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, is leading development of the program, the Intercept reported, citing internal documents. The program would “continuously” track social media content for extremist views. The Pentagon is expected to tap a private firm to run the program to avoid potential First Amendment violations, the outlet reported, citing a senior Pentagon official. The program will reportedly utilize keyword searches to identify potential extremist views. Officials are attempting to compile a list of keywords that would not violate freedom of speech protections. Pentagon officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report. Austin announced the establishment of a Countering Extremism Working Group, or CEWG, in April in a bid to crack down on extremism within the military. At the time, the Pentagon said the working group “will make recommendations on further development of such capabilities and incorporating machine learning and natural language processing into social media screening platforms.”
Afghanistan
NBC News: Taliban Ramped Up Attacks Against Afghans As Peace Talks Faltered, Pentagon Watchdog Says
“During the first three months of 2021, the Taliban stepped up attacks against the Afghan people, maintained close ties with Al Qaeda and actively planned for large-scale offensives — all while peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government failed to make any progress, according to a new report by the Defense Department's Office of Inspector General. “U.S. Forces-Afghanistan reported a historic increase in enemy-initiated attacks since the signing of the U.S.-Taliban agreement, with nearly 37 percent more enemy-initiated attacks this quarter than during the same period in 2020,” the report from the Pentagon's internal watchdog said about Operation Freedom Sentinel, the name of the U.S. counterterrorism mission in Afghanistan. Citing information provided by Resolute Support, the NATO mission in Afghanistan, the inspector general found that enemy-initiated attacks in the first and second quarters of fiscal year 2021 remained above historical averages, with 11,551 reported this quarter and 10,431 last quarter. Enemy-initiated attacks for the past three quarters have been at the highest levels since Operation Freedom Sentinel began in January 2015, “indicating that the Taliban intensified attacks” against the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces “after the signing of the February 2020 U.S.-Taliban agreement,” the inspector general found.”
Reuters: U.S. Eyes International Effort To Help Secure Kabul Airport After Withdrawal
“The United States and its NATO allies are exploring a possible international effort to help secure the airport in Afghanistan’s capital after American troops withdraw from the country, the top U.S. general said on Tuesday. U.S. Army General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said a secure airport would be essential to ensuring that the United States and European allies could maintain embassies in Afghanistan. “We are working out the details of how to secure the airport, how to support the Afghan military securing the airport, and what countries are willing to contribute to do that,” Milley told reporters shortly before landing in Washington after talks with NATO allies in Brussels. President Joe Biden’s April order to pull out all troops by Sept. 11 could inflame Afghanistan’s internal conflict between the internationally backed Afghan government and the Taliban insurgency. The Biden administration has stressed that the United States will remain committed to Afghanistan, shifting its focus to diplomacy while continuing robust financial support to Kabul. But such diplomacy - including efforts to foster a so-far elusive peace agreement between Kabul and the Taliban - would suffer greatly if the United States and its European allies can’t keep embassies open because of security threats inside Afghanistan.”
Pakistan
Asia Times: Why Pakistan Is Changing Its Tune On The Taliban
“In a strategic shift, Pakistan’s security establishment appears to see more geopolitical upside to an inclusive rather than Taliban-dominated Afghan government in Kabul when US troops fully withdraw by September 11. That marks a distinct flip of Pakistan’s previous position in favor of a Taliban total win over Kabul, one that violently ousts President Ashraf Ghani’s government and establishes a new Islamic emirate to the exclusion of non-Taliban and non-Pashtun groups. Like the Taliban, Pakistan authorities are known to view dimly Ghani’s elected government, both as a US-backed puppet regime and one that is dangerously close to rival India. Islamabad’s shift became apparent a fortnight ago when the security establishment renewed its efforts to push the Taliban to rejoin peace talks with Ghani’s government. Informed sources say the Taliban was told in clear terms that not doing so could invite “tough action” from Pakistan. In a meeting between Pakistan’s top security officials and Afghan Taliban representatives on April 28 in Istanbul, Turkey, the latter was reportedly given an “enough is enough” message, with Pakistan emphasizing that the Taliban’s seizure of power through the sheer use of force and violence would not be viable.”
Lebanon
France 24: All Eyes On Hezbollah As Tensions Rise On Israel Border
“Israel's deadly Gaza offensive has many eyes trained on the Lebanese border for a Hezbollah reaction, but observers argue the Iran-backed movement is unlikely to risk an all-out conflict. Incidents at the border in recent days have raised the temperature but, with Lebanon already on its knees amid a deep political and economic crisis, the Shiite group seems intent on refraining from an escalation. “There is nothing that currently suggests escalation,” said Sadiq al-Nabulsi, a Lebanese academic close to Hezbollah. “But the decision to go to war traditionally falls on Israel.” Hezbollah and the Palestinian Hamas, both designated as terrorist groups by Israel and much of the West, have mended fences after ending up on opposing sides of the Syrian war a decade ago. Hezbollah, founded in the 1980s to fight Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon, has grown into Iran's main regional proxy with operatives in Syria, Iraq and Yemen. The only Lebanese faction to have kept its weapons after the 1975-90 civil war, Hezbollah now has a more powerful arsenal than the Lebanese national army. It justifies this by emphasising its role of “resistance” against the Israeli enemy, a theme that still occupies a central place in the rhetoric of the movement.”
Middle East
Voice Of America: Israel, Palestinian Militants Carry Out Cross-Border Attacks
“Israel carried out airstrikes early Tuesday in the Gaza Strip, while Palestinian militants fired rockets into Israel, continuing a wave of violence between the two sides that has stretched on for more than a week. There were no immediate reports of casualties from the latest attacks. The Israeli strikes were again focused on Gaza City, while militant rocket fire set off sirens in southern Israel. The fighting has brought statements of concern from the international community and diplomatic efforts to halt the violence. European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell is holding talks Tuesday with EU foreign ministers to discuss how to best support de-escalating the conflict. U.S. officials have spoken about efforts to work behind the scenes to calm the situation, including coordinating with other countries in the region. White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Monday, “We want to deescalate as quickly as possible,” and that actions would be required from both Israel and Hamas to end the violence. “The most effective way we feel we can do that is through quiet and intensive diplomacy, and that is what our focus is on at this point in time,” Psaki said.”
Nigeria
All Africa: Nigeria: Boko Haram Exploiting Covid-19 To Push Back Into Nigeria - Buhari
“President Muhammadu Buhari says Boko Haram terrorists have taken advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to push back into Nigeria, while still launching raids in Chad, Cameroon, and Niger Republic. President Buhari said this in an opinion article titled “Post-Covid-19 Pandemic, Nigeria and France Must Seize the Chance to Strengthen Military and Economic Ties”, published on Tuesday by the leading Paris-based magazine, Le Point. The President underscored the need for Nigeria and France to deepen anti-terror cooperation to overcome the scourge, especially after the murder of the late President of Chad. President Buhari, who focused on the post-COVID 19 opportunities in Nigeria-France relations especially in areas of security and economy, underscored the need for the leaders of Sahel countries to present a unified front to lobby other Western nations, particularly Great Britain and the United States and the European Union, for further military and humanitarian assistance. He said: “Today, leaders from across Africa meet in Paris to discuss plans to recover from the impact of a common enemy - COVID-19.”
Africa
Bloomberg: Mozambique’s Response To Insurgency Perplexes Neighbors
“Mozambique’s reticence to enlist the help of its neighbors to quash an Islamist insurgency runs counter to a regional assessment of how best to speedily halt the violence, South Africa’s state security minister said. While the 16-nation Southern African Development Community is willing to intervene, Mozambique has yet to extend an invitation to the regional trading bloc to deploy troops, Ayanda Dlodlo said. “We have been clear from day-one on what needs to be done,” Dlodlo said in an interview on Tuesday. “Mozambique is engaging a number of countries outside the SADC to seek assistance in quelling the insurgency in Mozambique, so that it does not spread to the rest of the region. SADC does however have the political and military will to intervene once invited.” Mozambique’s military has so far failed to contain the jihadist group that’s pledged allegiance to Islamic State and claimed responsibility for attacks in the northern Cabo Delgado province, which have been growing in frequency, size and sophistication. The violence has claimed at least 2,838 lives and forced more than 700,000 from their homes.”
Yahoo News: DR Congo Army Says Killed 22 Militiamen In Under-Siege East
“DR Congo's army said Tuesday its troops have killed 22 rebels since May 6 when it launched an offensive against the notorious ADF militia in the restive east of the country. A historically Ugandan Islamist group, the Allied Democratic Forces is the bloodiest of scores of armed militias that roam the mineral-rich zone, many of them a legacy of two regional wars from 1996 to 2003. The army has also seized eight AK47 machine guns, regional army spokesman Antony Mualushayi told AFP. He said the army arrested 60 ADF collaborators including about a dozen foreigners, mainly Ugandans. The ADF -- which the United States brands a “terrorist” organisation” affiliated to Islamic State group -- has been accused of murdering more than 1,000 civilians since November 2019 in and around the major city of Beni in North Kivu province. “We have the support of the people, a population that is sick of the lack of security and wants peace to return,” Lieutenant Mualushayi said. The government of DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi placed North Kivu and neighbouring Ituri province under a 30-day “state of siege” on May 6. The move is allowed under the former Belgian colony's constitution “if severe circumstances immediately threaten the independence or integrity of the national territory, or if they interrupt the regular functioning of institutions.”
Star Tribune: Chad Says Libya Fighters Risk Undermining Terrorism Fight
“Chad's deputy foreign minister warned the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday that mercenaries and foreign fighters from Libya are crossing into the Sahel, threatening to undermine gains in fighting terrorism by five West African nations and plunge the region into violence that will be difficult to control. Oumar Ibn Daoud also said a worsening situation in the Sahel would be harmful to Africa as a whole and could turn the continent into “a battlefield and base for international terrorism.” The incursion of mercenaries from Libya into Chad that led to last month's death of the Chadian president of three decades, Idriss Deby Into, “is a perfect illustration of what could happen throughout the Sahel” if appropriate measures aren't taken by the international community. He said more than 400 people have been killed in attacks in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger since March. One instrument “to defeat the terrorists in the Sahel” is the five-nation African force fighting terrorism in the region, which Daoud said needs sustained financing and a U.N. logistical and operational support office financed by assessed contributions from the U.N.'s 193 member nations.”
United Kingdom
“Two men accused of spreading “far-right extremist material” have been arrested in dawn raids at their homes in south and east London. Officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command arrested two men, aged 38 and 33, on suspicion of dissemination of terrorist publications. The Met said Tuesday’s arrests were made under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) and were both part of the same terror probe. A spokesman for the force told the Standard that the arrests were “right-wing terrorism-related”. The men were taken to a south London police station where they are still being questioned. Police added searches of the homes they were found in are currently ongoing. The arrests come after Michael Nugent, who shared explosives and firearms manuals while expressing his far-right views online, was convicted of terrorism offences. The 37-year-old from Ashford, in Surrey, ran and was active on a number of extreme right-wing chat groups on the Telegram app. Using different personas, he expressed racist views and a hatred of ethnic minorities while also sharing terrorist-related documents. Nugent also shared manuals on how to make explosives and homemade firearms and told group members about how to deliver bombs in Amazon packages.”
The Guardian: What Links Cybercrime, Terrorism And Illegal Trade? Dark Money
“In March, the government published its review of all the threats facing this country, and how it would respond to them, from hostile autocracies and cybercrime to terrorism and trade. Running through the pages of this huge and complex document, like lead through a pencil, is one consistent vulnerability: dark money. No matter who you identify as our adversaries – mafia groups, al-Qaida, whoever – they all hide their wealth in the shadows of the financial system: by obscuring ownership with shell companies, or using dodgy banks, or by holding wealth in the form of physical assets, such as fine art. And shining light on those shadows will expose their secrets and help make us all safer. It will also make us more prosperous: more than 2,200 acts of fraud are reported every day in Britain. Those crimes cost us billions upon billions of pounds, and often most affect older and vulnerable people. For those concerned about the damage wrought by rampant fraud and corruption, this absence was depressing. We hadn’t been expecting much either. Officials had managed expectations downwards before the speech, insisting Johnson’s top priority was to repair the damage caused by Covid-19. And it’s true that many of the proposed measures in March’s review were qualified with the usual “when parliamentary time allows.”
Europe
Associated Press: Belgian Search For Man On Terror List Goes Into Second Day
“The search for an armed man who is on a Belgian terror watch list because of his extreme right sympathies and who had threatened several people, including a top virologist, entered a second day on Wednesday. Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne described the man as an “acute threat” and is known for his extreme right sympathies. Earlier this month, he had threatened several people, including Marc Van Ranst, one of the best-known virologists working on containing the COVID-19 pandemic. In a Twitter message early Wednesday, Van Ranst said that “let one thing be clear: such threats do not make an impression on me.” Authorities were centering their efforts to look for the man, who has a military background, in the northeastern part of Belgium in Limburg province. His name wasn’t disclosed in line with Belgian privacy rules.”
Southeast Asia
Reuters: Malaysian Police Say Five Suspected Abu Sayyaf Militants Killed In Raid
“Malaysian police said on Tuesday five suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf militant group were killed in a shootout in the state of Sabah on the Malaysian portion of Borneo, state news agency Bernama reported. The Abu Sayyaf group, whose members pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in 2014, is based in the southern Philippines and is notorious for bombings, beheadings, extortions and kidnap-for-ransom activities. Authorities in Malaysia have stepped up efforts to crack down on militant activity in recent years after an attack linked to Islamic State in the capital Kuala Lumpur in 2016 and others in neighbouring countries. The five men killed in a Monday night shootout in a squatter area included Mabar Binda, an Abu Sayyaf sub-commander on the Philippine government's wanted list, the Sabah state police commissioner Hazani Ghazali said. Hazani said police responded with gunfire after one of the suspects opened fire during the raid. Officers found two pistols, 20 rounds of ammunition and three machetes. “With the fall of these five, the police are confident we have crippled one Abu Sayyaf cell hiding out in Sabah,” Hazani was quoted as saying in the report. The police had detained 83 people in Sabah between 2014 and 2020 for suspected links to Islamic State, Hazani said.”
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