Eye on Extremism

September 28, 2021

The Wall Street Journal: U.S. Asked Russia About Offer Of Bases To Monitor Afghan Terror Threat

“The Pentagon’s top military officer discussed with his Russian counterpart an apparent offer from Russian President Vladimir Putin to use his military’s bases in Central Asia to respond to any emerging terrorist threats in Afghanistan, U.S. officials said. Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, raised the subject at the request of President Biden’s National Security Council staff in his meeting last Wednesday with Russian Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov, the U.S. officials said. Gen. Gerasimov was noncommittal during the Helsinki meeting, the U.S. officials said. A Kremlin spokesman declined to comment. The previously unreported exchange comes as the Biden administration is searching for ways to strengthen its capability to monitor and respond to potential terrorist dangers in Afghanistan now that U.S. forces have left the country. While the U.S. and Russia share concerns about the threat of terrorism, the idea of working with Russia on counterterrorism is fraught with challenges, particularly politically. Congress enacted legislation several years ago that precludes close cooperation between the U.S. and Russia militaries as long as Russian troops are in Ukraine, unless the secretary of defense issues a special waiver.”

Reuters: Gunmen Kill 22 Nigerian Security Personnel, Says State Lawmaker

“Gunmen killed at least 22 security personnel at a remote army base in a northwestern Nigerian state plagued by bandits and kidnappers, a lawmaker said. Aminu Gobir and another security source said bandits attacked the base in Sokoto State close to the border with Niger on Sunday, killing 14 soldiers, five police officers and three members of a civil defence force. The army had said earlier that troops had repelled an attack by militants from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and killed scores of them. Armed forces spokesperson Major General Benjamin Sawyerr said the security forces had suffered casualties but gave no details. Reuters could not independently verify either account. The clash took place in an area where it is unsafe to travel due to the risk of attacks and abductions, and where the authorities have shut down telecoms networks to help an ongoing military crackdown on bandit camps. Northwestern Nigeria has been hit by a wave of mass abductions this year which the authorities have blamed on bandits seeking ransoms. Sawyerr did not respond to repeated requests for comment on the different accounts of the clash. In his statement, he said the crackdown in the northwest had disrupted both bandits and ISWAP.”

United States

Vice: A White Supremacist Is Organizing Fight Clubs Across The US

“…A judge dismissed the charges the following year, concluding that their activities were protected by the First Amendment. This year, a federal appeals court reinstated the charges. (He was briefly wanted by authorities, and then he bought time by appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court, who have not ruled on whether they will hear his case.) “Whereas RAM was a group, there is the claim of plausible deniability in the active club movement model,” said Joshua Fisher-Birch, a terrorism researcher at the Counter Extremism Project. “Rundo can tell people to go out and organize, train, and spread propaganda, but he is not necessarily the functional leader of active clubs around the country.” In a blog posted to his site, Rundo himself says he hopes to achieve a “brush-fire effect” by encouraging supporters to mobilize others in their communities and form their own “Active Clubs.” “The system and media will waste tons of energy and resources to put out one small fire as another catches a spark elsewhere,” he wrote. “Even if the system and their dogs manage to put out one fire, it will lead to minimal results because these clubs are generally small and local, helping to shield it from infiltrators and broader law enforcement actions.”

Syria

Stars And Stripes: US-Led Coalition Says Raid Killed 3 ISIS Militants As War In Syria Continues

“Recent raids by the U.S.-led coalition battling the Islamic State group in Syria resulted in the killing or capture of several people affiliated with the terrorist group, officials said. The raids and other recent operations highlight the ongoing fighting by the international coalition in Syria, even as U.S. officials seek to emphasize a shift to noncombat support in neighboring Iraq. In a raid over the weekend, coalition forces killed three ISIS terrorists and detained two associates, Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman Col. Wayne Marotto said Sunday on social media. A couple of days earlier, the coalition captured one known ISIS terrorist and two associates in eastern Syria, Marotto said in an earlier post. Hundreds of U.S. troops remain deployed to help the Syrian Defense Forces battle ISIS. Marotto said the coalition also provided reconnaissance support during raids in the eastern city of Raqqa on Sunday. The combat operations come on the heels of President Joe Biden’s remark Tuesday at the United Nations General Assembly that the U.S. is not at war “for the first time in 20 years.” Officials were working to provide further details in response to a query Monday, Marotto said in a message to Stars and Stripes, but further information wasn’t available by press time.”

Iraq

Kurdistan 24: Iraqi FM Calls For Extradition Of Terrorist Families With Foreign Citizenship

“Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein called on countries to live up to their responsibility for extraditing family members of detained terrorists in Iraq who hold foreign citizenship during a meeting with his Belgian counterpart Sophie Wilmès on Sunday. “In the meeting held on the sidelines of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Foreign Minister Sophie Wilmès praised the efforts made by Iraq to communicate with many countries to facilitate the return of the terrorists’ families detained in Iraq, including their children who were born in Iraq,” read a statement in Arabic published on the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs website on Sunday. According to the official statement, many of these countries have only taken back children of detained terrorists’ families to date, often leaving their mothers behind. “Hussein stressed the importance of concerted international efforts for solving this problem,” the statement added. The foreign minister called on these countries to understand Iraq’s circumstances and also to understand that Baghdad “is obligated to deal with them [terrorists’ families] according to Iraqi laws and legislations.” Following the defeat and destruction of the Islamic States’ (ISIS) self-styled caliphate, many family members of detained ISIS terrorists remained in Iraq and Syria.”

Afghanistan

Al Jazeera: Taliban Takes On ISKP, Its Most Serious Foe In Afghanistan

“After taking over Afghanistan last month, the Taliban claimed that security “has been assured” and that the county was taken out of the “quagmire of war”. But a series of attacks carried out by an affiliate of the ISIL (ISIS) group in recent weeks has shattered the claims of security. In the six weeks since the Taliban came to power, there have been reports of Islamic State in Khorasan Province, ISKP (ISIS-K), attacks and activity in the cities of Kabul, Jalalabad and Mazar-i-Sharif. On the evening of August 26, just 11 days after the Taliban takeover of the country, ISKP claimed responsibility for a bombing at Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport. That attack led to the deaths of more than 180 people and injuries to hundreds of others. In the last several weeks, several attacks have been reported in the city of Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar province, and one of ISKP’s most common targets. The recent attacks, including IED explosions, killed civilians and purported Taliban fighters. In a Telegram message, ISKP claimed to have killed up to 35 Taliban fighters in Jalalabad, a figure the Taliban denies. Each of these instances has been met with harsh words from the Taliban, who continue to pledge to eradicate any forces loyal to the ISIL group.”

Yemen

Arab News: Yemen FM Urges UN To Put Financial Pressure On Houthis

“Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmad Awad bin Mubarak on Monday urged the international community to put more financial pressure on the Iran-backed Houthi militia, in an address at the UN General Assembly in New York. He thanked UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on behalf of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi for his efforts to bring peace to Yemen, and congratulated its people on the anniversary of the 1962 revolution. Bin Mubarak reminded the assembly that Yemen has been at war for seven years, with the Houthis supported logistically and militarily by Iran which, he added, aims to destabilize both Yemen and the wider region by backing armed sectarian proxy groups. “This proves,” he said, “that Iran has been, and continues to be, part of the problem in Yemen, rather than the solution.” He added that the Houthis have presided over a humanitarian crisis in their bid to enrich themselves, calling their coup an “autumn of suffering, injustice, oppression, destruction of political participation, suffocation of public freedom, raids on houses, explosion of schools and places of worship, chasing of opponents, torture of citizens and transforming of Sanaa — a city of history and coexistence — into a large prison for the Yemeni people.”

Middle East

The Times Of Israel: Large Explosives Cache Belonging To Hamas Cell Said Found In West Bank Town

“Israeli security forces early Monday carried out further operations in the West Bank to disrupt alleged plans for major terror attacks, using new intel gained following the arrest of some 20 suspected members of a Hamas cell. It was the second straight night Israeli troops operated in the town of Bidu, near Jerusalem. Three Hamas gunmen were killed in a shootout with soldiers the night before. In the latest raids, forces found a significant cache of explosive devices intended to be used in a terror attack in the capital in the coming days, according to television reports Monday. The “kilograms of explosives” were hidden in a well whose exact whereabouts were determined after the Shin Bet internal security service interrogated the cell’s mastermind and other members, the reports said. A spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces declined The Times of Israel’s request for further information, citing the ongoing investigation. Clashes were reported between Palestinians and Israeli troops during the operation in Bidu. There were no reports of injuries. The reported mastermind of the Hamas cell was wounded during a separate gun battle early Sunday in the town of Burqin, near Jenin. According to the IDF’s initial investigation, as troops approached the house in which the suspect was hiding, the Hamas operative opened fire at them from close range from the yard of the home.”

Nigeria

Reuters: Ten Nigerian Students Kidnapped By Bandits Freed After Ransom Paid

“Ten more students who were kidnapped by gunmen from a school in Nigeria two months ago have been released after ransom was paid, the school administrator said. About 150 students were missing after armed men raided the school in Kaduna state in the northwest in July, the 10th mass school kidnapping since December, which authorities attributed to criminal gangs seeking ransom. The bandits have been releasing the students in batches after getting ransom payments. Administrator of the Bethel Baptist High school Reverend John Hayab said after the latest release, 11 students remained in captivity and the school was working to ensure they were freed soon. “I am happy to tell you that 10 of our abducted students of Bethlem Baptist High school have regained their freedom but had to pay ransom,” he told Reuters late on Sunday. He declined to say how much was paid. Such kidnappings at schools in Nigeria were first carried out by jihadist group Boko Haram, and later its offshoot Islamic State West Africa Province, but the tactic has been adopted by other gangs seeking ransom.”

Somalia

All Africa: Somalia: Al-Shabaab Says At Least 15 Kenyan Soldiers Killed In Lamu Attack

“A massive bomb attack was reported in Lamu County near the Somali border targeting a Kenyan military convoy in the latest incident in the porous region. The landmine explosion struck a convoy of Kenyan troops traveling between Kayunga and Shangani in Lamu County with witnesses saying KDF opened fire after the IED assault. Al-Shabaab took the responsibility for the attack, saying it killed 15 Kenyan soldiers and destroyed a BG vehicle. There were no independent sources confirming the claims. The Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) continued their march, conducting mine-clearing operations on the road between Kayunga and Shangani in Lamu County. The Kenyan troops face direct attacks and bombings from al-Shabaab during their travels in the North Eastern Province, and occasionally suffer heavy casualties in the IED raids.”

All Africa: Somalia: Bahrain Slams Al Shabab Suicide Bombing In Somalia

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain condemns the terrorist bombing that took place near a security checkpoint in the Mogadishu in the Federal Republic of Somalia, resulting in the death and injury of a number of people. The Ministry extends its condolences to the family of the victims to the Somalian people and Government, wishing those injured a speedy recovery. The Ministry affirms Bahrain's support for the measures taken by the Somalian government to stop terrorist organizations, stressing the Kingdom's solid position in rejecting all forms of extremism and terrorism and calling for the importance of concerted efforts to combat terrorism.”

Africa

The National: Political Turmoil In Sahel Could Undermine Anti-Terror Gains, France Warns UNGA 2021

“France's Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told the UN General Assembly on Monday that French engagement in the Sahel would continue after Paris ends its seven-year military mission, but said that continued political turmoil risked unravelling any counter-terrorism gains. The Sahel region has experienced four coups in 13 months, two of them in Mali. France has, since 2013, led military missions seeking to root out extremism in West Africa. Initially focused on Mali, then-president Francois Hollande broadened the scope of the operation to the whole of the Sahel under Operation Barkhane in 2014. French President Emmanuel Macron announced in July that the mission would wind down early next year. Mr Le Drian said however that France would continue “to remain fully available to our international partners” in the Sahel. He warned the UN General Assembly that French military efforts to combat terrorism in the Sahel would not be “sustainable without political stability and respect for the democratic process”. “I particularly have in mind the timetable for elections in Mali, which must be strictly observed,” he said in a video statement. Mr Le Drian said France’s military presence in the region had paid off, pointing to the recent killing of Adnan Abu Walid Al Sahrawi, the leader of ISIS's Sahara affiliate.”

France

AFP: Bataclan Attack Survivors To Testify At Paris Trial

“Survivors of the November 2015 Paris attacks will testify at a historic trial from Tuesday, reliving the most traumatic events of their lives as they try to put the horror into words. One by one over the coming weeks, 300 survivors as well as family members of the victims of the murderous assault on November 13 are to take the stand. The suicide bombing and gun assaults by three teams of jihadists on bars, restaurants, the Bataclan concert hall and the national stadium -- planned in Syria and later claimed by the Islamic State group -- left 130 people dead and around 350 physically injured. Some of the survivors told AFP that, as daunting as it was to tell their stories in a packed courtroom with the accused present, they felt it had to be done. “I want to go through with this, it's part of my reconstruction effort,” said 31-year old Marko, who sat on a terrace at the Belle Equipe cafe in central Paris with a group of friends when the gunmen attacked, killing one of them, Victor. “I want to face these people, I want them to see who their victims were -- What happened to us, and to those who are gone,” Marko told AFP. That night, 39 people were killed on terraces of bars and cafes. A total of 14 defendants are being tried in person at the biggest trial in modern French history, and six others will be judged in their absence, with most of them facing life sentences.”

Europe

Reuters: Poland Says It Found Evidence Of Extremism On Migrants' Phones

“Poland's interior minister said on Monday material related to Islamic extremism had been found in the phones of migrants crossing its border with Belarus and he called for a 60-day extension to a state of emergency along the frontier. The European Union member state declared the emergency at the start of September over a surge in migration that Polish and EU officials blame on Belarus. But Poland's nationalist government has drawn criticism from rights groups over its treatment of migrants, five of whom have died on the frontier. “(The situation is) extremely tense...I will apply to the Council of Ministers (cabinet) for an extension of the state of emergency by 60 days,” Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski told a news conference. During the briefing Polish officials showed material which they said were text messages and other images linked to Islamic extremism found on some of the migrants' electronic devices. Reuters could not independently confirm the veracity of the messages or images. Poland's opposition and human rights groups have accused the ruling right-wing nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party in the past of stoking prejudice against immigrants for political gain. During the 2015 migrant crisis, the PiS leader said refugees from the Middle East could bring disease and parasites to Poland.”