“The Taliban have seized the city of Taloquan in northeastern Afghanistan,
marking the fifth provincial capital to fall under their control in just a

 

 


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Eye on Extremism


August 10, 2021 

 

CNN: Taliban Seize Fifth Afghan Provincial Capital Since Friday
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“The Taliban have seized the city of Taloquan in northeastern Afghanistan,
marking the fifth provincial capital to fall under their control in just a
matter of days, a local journalist confirmed to CNN on Monday. Taloquan, the
capital of Takhar Province, is just the latest in a string of victories that
come as foreign forces, led by the United States, complete their withdrawal
from Afghanistan. The speed of the militants' gains, which include the major
city of Kunduz, has compounded concerns about the civilian toll. At least 27
children have been killed and 136 injured over the past 72 hours in
Afghanistan, the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) said in a
statement Monday. UNICEF said the bulk of the casualties were in Kandahar
province, where fierce fighting between Taliban forces and the Afghan army
continues. “These atrocities are evidence of the brutal nature and scale of
violence in Afghanistan which preys on already vulnerable children,” UNICEF
said, adding that there are reports that children are “increasingly, being
recruited into the conflict by armed groups.” On Friday, the first provincial
capital, Zaranj, near the Iranian border, fell to the Taliban. The next,
Sherberghan, near the Turkmenistan border, fell on Saturday.”

 

International Business Times: 5 Richest Terrorist Groups In The World: Isis Is
Only Top 5
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“Terrorist groups around the world are seen as a constant threat due to their
power and ambitions. Many of the most infamous groups have massive wealth that
allow them to fund their endeavors, but which of these groups is the richest?
In 2017, which many considered to be one of the deadliest years in terms of
terrorist attacks, eight large-scale attacks were executed. Al-Qaeda, ISIS or
the Taliban group have been responsible for planning, financing and carrying
out six of them. In total, the events resulted in the deaths of nearly 1,500
people in Syria, Libya, Afghanistan, Egypt and Somalia. About 70% of the
worldwide terrorist attacks in 2016 was carried out by these three major
terrorist groups, as per the University of Maryland’s Global Terrorism
Database. A group’s deadliness and wealth go hand-in-hand. “There is a clear
connection between the two factors,” Maj.-Gen. (Res.) Amos Gilead, the
chairperson of the Institute for Policy and Strategy and former director of the
Defense Ministry’s Political-Military Affairs Bureau, said in an interview with
Forbes Israel. A list of the richest terrorist groups in the world in 2018 was
compiled by the outlet. Find out how these groups actually make money to fund
their terrorist attacks.”

 

United States

 

U.S. Army: Preventing Domestic Violent Extremist Attacks Starts With The 'See
Something, Say Something' Army Initiative
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“As August gets into full swing, so does Antiterrorism Awareness Month for
Soldiers, their families, civilians and everyone else in the Fort Leonard Wood
community. August is about continuing education and training for all persons to
increase antiterrorism awareness and vigilance. The emphasis this year is on a
wide range of extremes — from insider threats to cybersecurity awareness — and
this week, the focus is on domestic violent extremists. Sometimes referred to
as homegrown violent extremists, a domestic violent extremist is a person who
lives or operates primarily inside the United States or its territories; can be
of any citizenship; and advocates, is engaged in or is preparing to engage in
ideologically motivated terrorist activities to further political or social
objectives promoted by a foreign terrorist organization. The threat posed by
DVEs has increased and decreased over the course of U.S. history, reflecting
their time period’s ideological motivations. Today’s domestic terrorists are
motivated from a variety of topics. One current key motivator is racial, ethnic
and religious hatred. This hatred can be directed to a variety of individuals,
but most DVEs focus on persons of color, immigrants, Jews, Muslims, other
religious minorities, females, LGTBQI+ and others.”

 

Fox News: Pompeo: We Need To Protect The Homeland From Future Terrorist Attacks

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“Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discusses the Biden administration's
response to Taliban advancement in Afghanistan after U.S. troop withdrawal on
'The Story.' MIKE POMPEO: We spent 20 years building up the Afghan forces
there, giving them training and weapons, all the skill sets that they need.
It’s their time. Everyone knew this day would come. Eventually, Afghan security
forces had to stand up to protect their own, their children, their women, their
sovereignty, their nation. I hope they’re able to regroup. I hope President
Ghani can lead them forward. Our mission was set — we’re a month short of the
attacks in New York City. Our mission set was twofold. One was to make sure
that we took out Al-Qaida and destroyed it and second to make sure that
something like what happened in New York that day could never happen again. We
need to be focused on that. We have to be focused on the American interests
there. I don’t know what the Biden administration is doing, how they’re
handling it. President Trump’s mission to me was to negotiate peace and
reconciliation and get our kids back home—That is the right thing to do, and
this is now the Afghan fight.”

 

Turkey

 

Daily Sabah: Police Kill Terrorist Attempting To Blow Himself Up In SE Turkey
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“Police killed a terrorist who had a bomb-laden vest and was planning to
detonate it on Monday. The suspect, identified as a Syrian national, was
attempting to detonate his vest despite warnings by the police, who then
fatally shot him near Ziyapaşa Street in Mardin’s Nusaybin district. Bomb
disposal units detonated the vest, which had two kilograms of explosives, after
the terrorist died, Ihlas News Agency (IHA) reported. The terrorist had entered
the country illegally through Syria, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported. The
terrorist's affiliation was not identified, but there are PKK/YPG and Daesh
terrorists across the border in Syria. Turkish security forces have ramped up
their efforts against PKK/YPG and Daesh terrorists at home and across the
country's borders and have been carrying out successful operations to eliminate
senior terrorists. Turkey recognized Daesh as a terrorist organization in 2013.
Since then, the country has been attacked by Daesh terrorists numerous times,
including 10 suicide bombings, seven bombings and four armed attacks that
killed 315 people and injured hundreds more. In response, Turkey has launched
military and police operations both inside the country and abroad.”

 

Afghanistan

 

The New York Times: Fear Sets In As Taliban Seize Former Bastions Of Resistance

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“The families flooded out of northern Afghanistan by the thousands, standing
for hours in overcrowded buses and cramming into taxis to escape the Taliban’s
swift advance. By Monday morning, many had arrived at a makeshift shelter in
Kabul, the country’s capital. They huddled together, recounting how they had
watched bombs ravage their neighborhoods while running battles consumed the
streets outside. The Taliban’s relentless march across northern Afghanistan has
sent panic rippling across the country, as Afghans watched a region that was
once the heart of resistance to the southern Taliban insurgency collapse at a
terrifying pace. In just four days, the insurgents have seized five provincial
capitals across the north and one in the southwest, and they continue to press
on in their brutal offensive. The Taliban’s breakthrough victories have further
stoked fears that the insurgents could envelop Kabul, and have shattered many
Afghans’ last hopes that government forces could somehow reverse the onslaught.
With the Taliban encroaching on Kabul — a bastion of government control amid
the insurgents’ onslaught — many fear that no corner of the country will be
spared.”

 

Lebanon

 

Voice Of America: In Lebanon, Discontent Grows With Hezbollah's Political,
Military Might
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“There is growing discontent among Lebanese with political and military
powerhouse Hezbollah calling the shots in the country. Analysts say a
2006-style confrontation with Israel, which bolstered its militia image then,
is not an option for Iran-backed Hezbollah now, as it's seen as part of the
problem. Even Lebanon's influential Maronite Catholic Patriarch is calling on
the beleaguered country's army to “confront Hezbollah for the sake of
Lebanon.”  Lebanese analyst Dania Koleilat Khatib, with the Issam Fares
Institute at the American University of Beirut, said that as “Hezbollah has
been accumulating and projecting power, it has simultaneously increased
discontent among its opponents and positioned itself as a threat to others,”
seen most recently in a revenge killing involving a Sunni Muslim Arab tribe.
Writing in the Saudi Arab News daily, she said the incident “showed that
Hezbollah is not as invincible as it once seemed, and that it can be
intimidated. This encouraged protesters to chant anti-Hezbollah slogans at the
commemoration” last week of the deadly 2020 Beirut bombing, Khatib said, with
“fingers pointing at the group for illegally bringing tons of ammonium nitrate
into Beirut port.”    

 

Middle East

 

The Times Of Israel: Al Qaeda Re-Appears With Extended Terrorist Plot
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“With the withdrawal of US and NATO troops from Afghanistan and the country
gradually slipping into grips of the Taliban, global terror network Al Qaeda
has started increasing its terrorist agendas. According to media reports, in
India, security at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) has been beefed up
following a bomb blast threat received by Delhi Police. Delhi Police has
received threats through e-mail that the terror outfit is plotting an attack on
al-Qaeda airport. IGI Airport said in an official statement that additional
alerts have been issued after receiving the email and all security measures
have been beefed up. On Saturday, the IGI police station informed the Airport
Operation Control Centre about an email received by the al-Qaeda chief about
the bomb blast threat, the airport said in a statement. “It said Karanbir Suri
alias Mohammad Jalal and his wife Shaili Shara alias Hasina are arriving in
India from Singapore on Sunday. They are planning to plant bombs at the airport
in one to three days”. Meanwhile, according to Long War Journal, Hurras al Din
(the “Guardians of Religion” organization, or HaD) has claimed responsibility
for a bus explosion in Damascus. In a one-page statement posted on social
media, the al Qaeda group says that an improvised explosive device targeted the
bus, which was carrying members of the Syrian Republican Guard.”

 

Nigeria

 

Pulse Nigeria: Terrorists Come Under Troops' Heavy Fire During Attempt To
Attack Borno Town
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“Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have thwarted an attempted attack by the
Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists on Damboa
town in Borno, Nigerian Army says. The Director, Army Public Relations,
Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.
Nwachukwu said the troops of 25 Task Force Brigade successfully quelled a dawn
attack attempt on the town in the early hours of Sunday by terrorists. He said
the criminals made a futile effort to infiltrate the town, but were met with
heavy fire from the vigilant troops. He said the terrorists attempted to
infiltrate the town with unconfirmed numbers of foot soldiers and some mounted
on motorcycles. He added that the terrorists suffered debilitating gunshot
wounds from troops’ fire, forcing them to beat a retreat in disarray. The Army
spokesperson said the troops were currently on the trail of the fleeing
terrorists. He disclosed that two vehicles belonging to the Civilian Joint Task
Force were razed by fire in the exchange of fire that ensued. “They are also
encouraged not to allow any form of distraction from the marauding terrorists,
whose ranks have suffered enormous depletion in manpower as a result of ongoing
air and artillery bombardments.”

 

Mali

 

Al Jazeera: At Least 51 Killed In Mali Rebel Attacks: Officials
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“Gunmen have attacked several villages in northern Mali, “shooting at anything
that moved” and killing at least 51 people in apparent retribution for the
recent arrest of several rebel leaders, authorities said. The latest violence
took place in the volatile area along the borders of Mali, Niger and Burkina
Faso where fighters linked to ISIL (ISIS) and al-Qaeda are active. A note from
the Asongo district administrator to the governor of the Gao region, seen by
the Reuters news agency, said houses were ransacked and burned to the ground
and herds of livestock carried away. “Provisional toll is 51 killed, several
other injured,” the note said. No group has yet taken responsibility for the
attacks. Mali’s army spokesman Colonel Souleymane Dembele confirmed the attacks
on Monday but gave no further details. The attackers arrived on Sunday around
6pm local time (18:00 GMT) in the communities of Ouatagouna and Karou, local
official Oumar Cisse said. “Most of the victims were in front of their houses;
others were going to the mosque,” he told The Associated Press. A local
official, who asked not to be identified for security reasons, told the AFP
news agency that “20 civilians were massacred in Karou. Fourteen civilians were
killed in Ouatagouna, and other civilians were killed in the hamlet of
Daoutegeft.”

 

Africa

 

Deutsche Welle: Mozambique: 40% Spike In Children Fleeing Violence — Report 
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“Growing numbers of children have been forced to flee fighting in Mozambique's
northern Cabo Delgado province, according a new report released Monday by aid
group Save the Children. The report shows a 40% increase in the number of
unaccompanied children arriving at refugee camps. “The crisis in Cabo Delgado
is a children's crisis. As such the needs of children must be front and center
of any regional response. These children rely on the adults in their lives —
including their political leaders — to protect them,” the organization's
director in Mozambique, Chance Briggs, said in a statement. According to
figures in the report, Save the Children said it had seen an increase from 395
children arriving unaccompanied at camps at the end of June, to 550 at the end
of July. The report added that staff were seeing 5 unaccompanied children
arriving at camps on a daily basis. They had either been separated from their
parents while fleeing, or their parents had been killed in violence. In total
over 336,000 children have been displaced by fighting in the province.
Mozambique is battling an Islamist insurgency being carried out by a group
known locally as al-Shabab. It is not connected to the Somali militant group of
the same name. It is is widely reported to have links with the so-called
Islamic State.”

 

Navy Times: 17 Months Later, Congress Still Waits For Details About Deadly
Al-Shabab Attack In Kenya
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“Nearly a year and a half of waiting with no response to “repeated” requests
for information from the Defense Department is prompting lawmakers to press
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for answers to questions about the Jan. 2020
attack by al-Shabab militants in Manda Bay, Kenya, that took the lives of three
Americans. “It is simply unacceptable for the Department to withhold
information from Congress about a terrorist attack that killed three American
citizens,” Rep. Steven Lynch D-Mass. and Rep. Glenn Grothman R-WI of the House
Oversight Committee wrote to Austin. Congress first requested a briefing on the
jihadi attack on Feb. 5, 2020, one month to the day after it occurred. However,
according to lawmakers, DoD has provided no briefing and “has not provided any
substantive information” regarding the attack or the “security lapses that
contributed to it.” “Congress has a solemn constitutional duty to conduct
oversight of US military operations, including and especially when a terrorist
attack claims the lives of American citizens overseas,” the legislators wrote.
The absence of information provided to lawmakers comes despite the DoD
launching at least two investigations into the attack on Manda Bay.”

 

Germany

 

Deutsche Welle: Berlin Christmas Market Attack Made Possible By 'Serious'
Errors, Report Finds
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“A special committee of the Berlin state parliament released its comprehensive
report into the December 2016 Christmas market terror attack on Monday. The
attack at the Breitscheidplatz market was the most serious act of Islamist
terrorism in Germany to date. The attacker, Anis Amri, drove a truck into the
market, killing 12 people. He was later shot dead by police while on the run in
Italy. The 24-year-old Tunisian national, a small-scale drug vendor and
rejected asylum-seeker, was known to police and had been monitored by
authorities. More than 1,200 pages of records and 92 witness interviews were
used in the report. The investigative committee found serious errors on the
part of security authorities ahead of Amri's attack, Berlin's Tagespiegel
newspaper reported. The committee report said it was “the sum of these errors
and failures that made the attack possible and facilitated it.” A lack of
staff, insufficient exchange of information between city offices and an
incorrect assessment of Amri's behavior were among the criticisms levied at
authorities by the committee. The Berlin House of Representatives' report adds
to previous assessments at the federal level of how the Christmas market attack
could have been prevented, if authorities had taken action.”



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