Eye on Extremism

January 28, 2022

  

Reuters: U.S. Cites Missile, Drone Threat In Latest UAE Travel Warning

 

“The U.S. State Department on Thursday urged Americans who may be considering travel to the United Arab Emirates to reconsider, citing the threat of missile or drone attacks. The department retained the highest level warning for the UAE in its updated travel advisory. It had already urged Americans against traveling to the country because of COVID-19. Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement launched a missile attack at the UAE on Monday that targeted a base hosting the U.S. military, U.S. and Emirati officials said. It was the second attack in a week. A Houthi military spokesperson said the group had fired Zulfiqar ballistic missiles at al-Dhafra airbase, used by U.S. forces, and other "sensitive targets". Houthis had also launched drones towards Dubai, the spokesperson said.”

 

Associated Press: UN: Syria Prison Attack Shows Need To Deal With IS Detainees

 

“The attack by Islamic State militants on a Syrian prison holding around 3,000 of its fighters and about 700 children is a predictable tragedy spotlighting the need for urgent international action to deal with those allegedly linked to the extremist group in prisons and camps in the country’s northeast, the U.N. counter-terrorism chief said Thursday. Undersecretary-General Vladimir Voronkov told the U.N. Security Council that the Islamic State group “has been highlighting and calling for jail breaks,” and “there have been previous instances in Syria and elsewhere in the world.” Most of the men, women and children with alleged links to IS who are held in Syrian prisons and camps “have never been charged with a crime, yet remain in prolonged detention, uncertain of their fate,” the head of the U.N. Office of Counter-Terrorism said. Using the Arabic acronym for the IS extremist group, he said, “It is a reminder also of why Da’esh continues to embed itself in Syria.”

 

United States

 

KPNX NBC: Arizona Lawmaker Wendy Rogers Tops Advocacy Group's Extremist Politician List

 

“A prominent national organization that advocates for acceptance and equality singled out Arizona State Senator Wendy Rogers for her extremist views. “We’ve just released an analysis of extremist rhetoric in the elections this year, and Wendy Rogers is at the top of that list,” said Tammy Gillies, Anti-Defamation League Regional Director for San Diego and Phoenix. The analysis comes after Rogers recently shared a message on Martin Luther King Jr. Day that stated, “Celebrate Lee-Jackson Day.” The tweet contains photos of confederate leaders Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee who fought against the Union and to preserve slavery. Rogers represents legislative District 6, which includes parts of four counties in the central and northern portions of Arizona. She is a Vice-Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Chair of the Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Study Committee. Rogers did not respond to requests by 12 News for an interview. The first-time state lawmaker routinely rails on social media against what she calls “cancel culture” with incendiary tweets that appear intended to shock. “Merry Christmas to Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben, the Washington Redskins, and the Land O Lakes Indian – all whom the racist communists have cancelled,” Rogers wrote on December 25.”

 

Syria

 

The New York Times: ISIS Beaten? Not Yet. U.S.-Backed Forces Still Fighting At Syria Prison

 

“Forces from a Kurdish-led militia traded fire from the rooftops with dozens of Islamic State fighters still holed up in an embattled prison in northeastern Syria on Thursday, despite claims by the U.S.-backed militia a day earlier that it had regained full control of the entire complex. The Syrian Democratic Forces militia announced Wednesday that it had retaken Sinaa prison in the city of Hasaka, which held thousands of former ISIS fighters, nearly a week after their fellow militants attacked the prison to try to free them. But when New York Times journalists arrived Thursday, the first international reporters on the scene, the fight was still on. The Kurdish-led forces fired rocket-propelled grenades at the partly destroyed prison complex, and the sound of truck-mounted antiaircraft guns rang out as they confronted up to 90 ISIS militants still fighting from inside. An official with one of the Syrian Kurdish paramilitary groups battling ISIS said most of the holdouts were among those who stormed the prison, but some were prisoners who had joined forces with them.”

 

Reuters: Jordan Says 27 Drug Smugglers Killed At Border With Syria

 

“Jordanian soldiers killed at least 27 armed smugglers on Thursday and wounded others as they crossed the border from Syria during a dawn snowstorm with a large quantity of amphetamines, the army said. Others also carrying drugs fled back into Syria during the attempted crossing, the latest among a growing number of such incidents over the past year, many involving firefights, that have prompted the army to toughen its rules of engagement with smugglers. Several others among the smugglers, who were "supported by other armed groups", were wounded, the army said in a statement in the largest number of casualties inflicted by smugglers in many years. "We will strike with an iron fist..those who dare think of tampering with our national security," the army statement said. It did not specify where along the 370-km (230-mile) border with Syria the incursion took place but Syrian sources said the incident occurred in an area northeast of the city of Mafraq in Jordan.”

 

Afghanistan

 

Voice Of America: Afghanistan Tops 2021 Global Survey Of Islamic State Casualties

 

“A survey of the Islamic State group’s attacks around the world in 2021 indicates the group killed and injured more people in Afghanistan last year than it did anywhere else, and experts warn the terror group is on the rise following the U.S. military withdrawal from the country. Widely known as ISIS, the group conducted its most deadly attack in 2021 last August at the Kabul International Airport when a suicide bomber killed 170 Afghan civilians and 13 U.S. military personnel. During 2021, Islamic State carried out 365 terrorist attacks in Afghanistan that caused 2,210 casualties, a significant increase compared with 2020 when 82 IS attacks that caused 835 casualties were reported, according to an Israeli think tank, the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center. Globally, IS operatives carried out 2,705 attacks resulting in 8,147 casualties. Iraq stood second to Afghanistan in casualties with 2,083. The Meir Amit group uses Islamic State’s claims of responsibility, as published in public sources, to attribute responsibility for attacks.”

 

Voice Of America: UN, Amnesty Decry Latest Taliban Crackdown On Afghan Journalism

 

“The United Nations and press freedom advocates Thursday criticized Afghanistan’s Taliban for allegedly banning a journalist organization from holding news conferences without permission from the ruling Islamist group. “Blocking the media from holding a press conference is a disturbing restriction on free expression,” the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan tweeted. “The Taliban are urged to support dialogue among Afghans and not to try and gag those they think may have different views.” Officials at the Afghanistan Federation of Journalists and Media said they had organized a press conference in Kabul on Wednesday to share findings of a survey on the status of journalists and media workers in the country, but they were forced by Taliban authorities to cancel the event. Ali Asghar Akbarzada, a senior member of the federation, told local media the Taliban also verbally instructed his group not to hold any future press conferences without permission from the Ministry of Information and Culture. Amnesty International denounced attempts by the Taliban to limit access to information and suppress free media were “a blatant attack” on journalism. “Media plays a pivotal role in informing the world about the situation in Afghanistan. Media workers & journalists must be allowed to work freely & protected,” Amnesty said on Twitter.”

 

Pakistan

 

Associated Press: Pakistani Army Says 10 Soldiers Killed In Militant Raid

 

“Militants attacked a security post in a remote area of southwest Pakistan, triggering a firefight that killed 10 soldiers and an assailant, the military said Thursday. The predawn attack happened Wednesday in Kech, a town in Baluchistan province, according to a statement released by the military. It said the troops returned fire, killing one attacker. No group or individual claimed responsibility for the attack. The military said security forces later arrested three insurgents and that a search for those who launched the attack was still underway. Baluchistan has been the site of a long-running insurgency, with an array of separatist groups staging attacks, mainly on government troops and police. The separatists in the province have been demanding independence from the central government in Islamabad. Although Pakistani authorities say they have quelled the insurgency, violence in Baluchistan has persisted. The latest violence comes days after a Baluchistan-based separatist group claimed responsibility for a bombing in the city of Lahore that killed three people.”

 

The Print: No One Allowed To Raise Funds For ‘Jihad’ In Pakistan: LHC

 

"Inciting public to raise funds for ‘Jihad’ (holy war) is not allowed to individuals or any organisation in Pakistan and is considered as treason, the Lahore High Court has ruled as it dismissed appeals of two terrorists convicted for raising funds for a proscribed terror outfit. The court ruling came on Wednesday on the appeals of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists, Muhammad Ibrahim and Ubaidur Rehman, who were arrested in Sargodha, some 200-km from Lahore, and handed down five-year imprisonment each by an anti-terrorism court for terror financing early this month. “Inciting public to raise funds for ‘Jihad’ is not allowed to individuals or any organisation in an Islamic state (Pakistan) as it is considered treason,” a two-judge bench headed by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi said while dismissing the appeals. “It is the job of the state to collect national funds for a declared war, if essential. The same cannot be raised by a person or any organization,” it said. The court said TTP is a defunct and proscribed organisation that has caused damage not only to the state institutions and targeted the state high functionaries but also intensified the wave of terrorism in the country in the past, which would not have been possible without financial support.”

 

Yemen

 

Al Jazeera: Saudi-Led Coalition Announces Probe Into Yemen Prison Attack

 

“A Saudi-led coalition accused of a deadly attack on a prison in northern Yemen last week has said it is investigating the incident after denying it launched an air raid. The coalition has said it was not behind Friday’s attack on a detention centre in the Houthi rebel heartland of Saada, in which at least 70 people were killed, according to the medical charity Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres, or MSF). The Houthi movement said at least 91 people were killed and more than 200 others wounded in the air raid. The Joint Incidents Assessment Team (JIAT), set up by the coalition, which claims it operates independently, said it was following up on the matter in its “commitment to professionalism, transparency, impartiality and credibility”, according to the official Saudi Press Agency. “From the first hours after news of the incident broke, the relevant team began investigation procedures and collecting data and documents pertaining to it,” it said on Thursday. “The results will be announced as soon as the investigation wraps up.”

 

Saudi Arabia

 

Reuters: France Investigates Possible Second Blast At Dakar Rally In Saudi - French Radio

 

“French authorities are looking into a second potentially suspicious explosion at the Dakar sports car rally in Saudi Arabia last month, French radio station RMC reported on Thursday. According to RMC, a truck belonging to the team of Franco-Italian rally competitor Camelia Liparoti caught fire on Dec. 31 after the driver heard a "boom". A day earlier an explosion under a support vehicle at the rally seriously injured French race driver Philippe Boutron. French anti-terrorism prosecutors opened a preliminary investigation into the first explosion earlier this month. Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has said "there were hypotheses that it was a terrorist attack". However, Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry said on Jan. 8 that an initial investigation into the first blast had not raised any criminal suspicions.”

 

Lebanon

 

Reuters: Druze Leader Jumblatt Says Iran Gains In Lebanon As Arabs Abandon It

 

“Druze leader Walid Jumblatt said on Thursday that Iran had gained influence in Lebanon because Arab states had abandoned the country, stepping up criticism of the Iran-backed Hezbollah and suggesting Tehran wants to erase the Lebanese state. One of Lebanon's main politicians, Jumblatt was speaking days after leading Sunni Muslim politician Saad al-Hariri withdrew from political life, citing Iranian influence as one of the reasons he saw no hope of positive change. The move by Hariri, three times prime minister, has opened a new phase in Lebanon's sectarian politics, adding to uncertainties four months from a parliamentary election and as Lebanon faces a crippling financial crisis. Jumblatt and Hariri were both part of the Western-backed March 14 alliance that confronted the heavily-armed Hezbollah and its allies in Lebanon after the 2005 assassination of Hariri's father, Rafik al-Hariri.”

 

Egypt

 

Asharq Al-Awsat: UAE, Bahrain, Egypt Call For Firm Stance Against Terrorist Militias

 

“A quartet summit was held in Abu Dhabi between Dubai Ruler Prime Minister Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain, and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. The four leaders discussed consolidating cooperation and coordination over issues of common concern, the latest regional international developments, and the everyday challenges in the Arab region. The summit reviewed the terrorist attacks carried out by the Houthi militia on civil sites and facilities in the UAE and the launch of two ballistic missiles towards the UAE, according to Emirates News Agency (WAM). The leaders stressed that the terrorist militias' attacks threaten regional and international security and stability and violate all international laws and norms. They called on the international community to take a unified and firm position towards these militias and other terrorist forces along with their supporters. The King of Bahrain and the Egyptian President affirmed their countries' solidarity with the UAE and their support for all the steps the Emirates is taking to preserve its security and territorial integrity.”

 

Libya

 

AFP: Libya: Islamic State Attack Kills Three Security Personnel

 

“Fighters linked to the Islamic State group killed three of Libya’s security personnel in the country's southwest, the interior ministry said Thursday. The attack on Wednesday, in the desert some 430 miles south of Tripoli, "targeted a patrol of the Umm al-Aranib Martyrs' Brigade, killing three of its members," the ministry said in a statement. It added that government forces "killed four members of Daesh (an Arabic term for IS) and destroyed their vehicle." The department added that a search was underway for other "terrorists" who fled. It said the jihadists were attempting to "undermine stability and terrorize civilians." IS on Monday claimed it attacked the same brigade in the same area a week earlier, killing two members. The Umm al-Aranib Martyrs' Brigade is largely composed of members from the long-marginalized Tubu ethnic group. Libya has been roiled by lawlessness since the 2011 fall of despot Muammar Gaddafi, with an array of armed groups vying for control of the area.”

 

Mali

 

Stars And Stripes: Us Service Member Injured In Mali Mortar Attack

 

“A U.S. military member was hurt in the mortar attack that killed a French soldier on Saturday, U.S. Africa Command said Wednesday. The U.S. service member, whose injuries are not life threatening, was injured in a strike on a French military base in the city of Gao, AFRICOM said. The service member’s identity and unit were not released. AFRICOM said the servicemember was airlifted to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center on Sunday. French artilleryman Alexandre Martin, 24, died while serving with the anti-insurgent force Operation Barkhane, according to a French army statement Sunday. A small contingent of U.S. troops provides support to the French-led counterterrorism effort in Mali, where a mix of Islamic extremist groups have long operated. AFRICOM did not disclose how many troops are now supporting Operation Barkhane.”

 

Africa

 

BNO News: France Warns Of Imminent Terrorist Attack In Kenya

 

“The French Embassy in Kenya has urged people to exercise “extreme vigilance” during the next few days, saying there’s a threat of an imminent terrorist attack against Westerners. “There’s a real risk of targeting public places frequented by foreign nationals (restaurants, hotels, leisure venues, shopping malls), in particular in Nairobi,” the French Embassy said in a statement on Thursday. Other details about the threat or the source of the intelligence were not immediately released. “People in Kenya are advised to exercise extreme vigilance and avoid frequenting these public places in the coming days, including this weekend,” the statement added. Maarten Brouwer, the Dutch Ambassador to Kenya, said his French colleagues had informed his embassy about the threat. “The information is being assessed as credible,” he said. “Of course we all hope that this threat turns out to be a false alarm, but nonetheless we want to share this information with you so you can take your own precautions,” Brouwer said in a letter. “The information is, as usual, not specific: the time and place of the attack are unknown.” Kenya has experienced a number of attacks over the years, many of which were carried out by the al-Qaeda affiliate al-Shabaab, which is based in neighboring Somalia.”

 

Reuters: Denmark Pulls Mali Troops Out As Junta Takes Swipe At France

 

“Denmark will start pulling its troops out of Mali after the West African country's transitional junta government this week insisted on an immediate withdrawal, a blow to France as its counter-terrorism operations in the Sahel begins to unravel. The decision comes amid tension between Mali and its international partners including regional bodies and the European Union that have sanctioned Mali after the junta failed to organise elections following two military coups. Tensions have escalated also over allegations that transitional authorities have deployed private military contractors from the Russia-backed Wagner Group to Mali, which some EU countries have said was incompatible with their mission. "We can see that the Malian transitional government, or the coup generals, last night sent out a public statement where they again reiterated that Denmark is not welcome in Mali, and we of course will not put up with that," Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod told reporters on Thursday. "So therefore we have decided to withdraw our soldiers home." Denmark had sent 105 military personnel to Mali on Jan. 18 to join a European special forces mission, known as Takuba, that was set up to help Mali tackle Islamist militants. It said its troops had deployed after a "clear invitation" by Mali.”

 

Germany

 

Reuters: Germany Charges Russian Citizen Suspected Of Space Tech Espionage

 

“Germany last year arrested and charged a Russian citizen with spying for Russia, prosecutors said on Thursday, alleging he had passed information on Europe's Ariane space launcher vehicle to handlers from Russian intelligence. Federal prosecutors said the suspect, identified only as Ilnur N., worked as a researcher at a Bavarian university until his arrest in June last year. He has been in custody since and was charged on Dec. 9. The arrest casts a spotlight on Russian intelligence activity in Germany even as Berlin faces pressure from Western allies to take a more robust stance in support of Ukraine as Russian forces mass on its borders. Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) first approached the suspect no later than autumn of 2019, the prosecutors said in a statement, adding he had told the SVR he was prepared to cooperate with them.”

 

Associated Press: German Woman Allegedly Took 6yo Daughter To Watch IS Stoning

 

“A German who allegedly took her young daughter to watch a woman being stoned while in Islamic State-held territory in Syria has been charged with membership in the extremist group and other offenses, federal prosecutors said Friday. The woman, identified only as Romiena S. in keeping with German privacy laws, was arrested at Frankfurt airport when she arrived on Oct. 7 among a group of women and children repatriated from a camp in northeastern Syria where suspected IS members were held. She was charged at a court in the northern town of Celle with membership in a foreign terrorist organization, recruiting members for the group, a crime against humanity, the abduction of a minor, violating her duties of care and education, and approving of crimes, prosecutors said in a statement. The suspect traveled to Syria in late 2014 along with a 16-year-old girl she had persuaded to join her, prosecutors said. They said she took her 4-year-old daughter, against the wishes of the child’s father.”

 

Europe

 

The National: EU Commission Accused Of Giving €52m To Groups Linked To Muslim Brotherhood

 

“More than €52 million ($57.96m) in European Commission money was directly or indirectly given to organisations with alleged links to the Muslim Brotherhood between 2007 and 2020, according to a new report. The lion's share of funding from the EU's executive branch was received by controversial aid agency Islamic Relief Worldwide, with €36.2m, in a story first reported by French magazine Le Point. Heshmat Khalifa, the former director of Islamic Relief, quit his role in 2020 after anti-Semitic remarks were discovered on his Facebook profile. fter investigating Islamic Relief, the UK’s Charity Commission concluded the charity “has overseen significant improvements to the recruitment and oversight of trustees and senior staff”. Islamic Relief denies it is linked to the Muslim Brotherhood despite claims to the contrary by some European politicians. Islamic Relief is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the UAE and Israel accuses it of having links to Hamas. Commission data shows that nearly €1 million was given to Islamic Relief Worldwide, its international headquarters, in 2020 – the last year for which figures are available.”

 

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