“The Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS will hold its first ministerial meeting in
Marrakech on Wednesday, at the joint invitation of Moroccan Foreign Mi





 


 


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Eye on Extremism


May 11, 2022

 

Asharq Al-Awsat: Global Coalition To Defeat ISIS To Hold 1st Ministerial
Meeting In Marrakech
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“The Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS will hold its first ministerial meeting
in Marrakech on Wednesday, at the joint invitation of Moroccan Foreign Minister
Nasser Bourita and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The meeting aims to
address ISIS’s growing threat in Africa and efforts to combat this threat in
Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. Asharq Al-Awsat learned that Blinken will not
attend the meeting after he tested positive for COVID-19 last week. The meeting
is another step in the pursuit of international commitment and coordination in
the fight against ISIS, with a particular focus on Africa and the growing
terrorist threat in the Middle East and other regions, Morocco’s Foreign
Ministry stated. The ministers will review the stabilization efforts in areas
affected by ISIS, including the field of strategic communication against the
group and its supporters’ radicalization propaganda and the fight against
foreign terrorist elements. Earlier this year, the Coalition announced the
creation of the Africa Focus Group. This step will be followed up in the
upcoming meeting, with additional directives and concrete answers to confront
the rise of terrorism in Africa. As the host country of the annual meeting and
the co-chair of the Africa Focus Group, the meeting underscores Morocco’s
leading role at the regional and international levels in the fight against
terrorism and efforts to maintain peace, security and stability in Africa.”

 

The National: Trio Lose Appeals Over Iran Terror Attack Plot
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“Three accomplices of an Iranian intelligence chief who masterminded a
botched attack on a conference of dissidents in France on Tuesday lost their
appeals against conviction for the parts they played in the bomb plot. The trio
included a husband and wife, Amir Saadouni and Nasimeh Naami, who claimed they
had been pressured by Iranian intelligence services to plant an explosive
device at the meeting, which took place on the outskirts of Paris in June 2018.
The bombing attempt failed after a joint operation by German, French and
Belgian police led to the arrest of the couple in Brussels and the recovery of
the explosive device from their car. They had been on their way from their home
in Antwerp to the conference organised by the National Council of Resistance of
Iran, which was attended by European and American politicians including Rudy
Giuliani, the former mayor of New York. Undercover officers watched as the
couple were handed the explosive device at a pizza restaurant in Luxembourg by
the planner, Assadollah Assadi, a diplomat living in Vienna. Assadi was also
captured and sentenced to 20 years in jail in February last year. He was the
only one of the group who did not appeal against the verdict.”

 

Syria

 

Kurdistan 24: SDF Arrests Suspected ISIS Facilitator In Deir Al-Zor: Coalition
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“The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) captured a suspected ISIS
facilitator in an operation near the Euphrates River Valley in Syria's eastern
Deir al-Zor province, the US-led Special Operations Joint Task Force-Levant
(SOJTF LEVANT) announced on Tuesday morning. "The SDF continually lead in the
enduring defeat of Daesh (ISIS) mission in Syria," tweeted the official account
of SOJTF LEVANT. On Monday, SOJTF LEVANT also announced that the SDF carried
out an operation the previous day in Deir al-Zor's Busayrah, resulting in the
"capture and detention of Rashid al-Barzi, a terror facilitator wanted for
supplying weapons to Daesh (ISIS) across northeast Syria." The SDF and US-led
coalition regularly carry out operations against the militant group to prevent
it from making a resurgence in the region. ISIS recently stepped up its attacks
in April during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The US-backed SDF also
announced on Sunday that it arrested a suspected ISIS leader and two local
collaborators in Raqqa. The SDF also reportedly prevented an ISIS attack on the
coalition in Deir al-Zor. "The SDF remains committed to hammering Daesh (ISIS)
networks and denying them influence and resources to ensure their lasting
defeat," tweeted the official Twitter account of the Combined Joint Task Force
– Operation Inherent Resolve, the official name for the coalition, on Tuesday.”

 

Iran

 

Reuters: Iran's Revolutionary Guards Shell Militant Bases North Of Iraq's
Erbil - State Media
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“Iran's Revolutionary Guards shelled an area north of the Iraqi Kurdish
capital of Erbil on Wednesday, targeting what Iranian state television
described as terrorist bases. Iraqi Kurdish media reported that an artillery
shell had landed in a village in the Sidekan area near the Iranian border,
around 60 miles (100 km) northeast of Erbil. The Iranian state TV said no
casualties had been reported and details of the attack would be announced
shortly. Iran's Tasnim news agency said the Guards have previously targeted
Iranian Kurdish militants based in northern Iraq. A local official, quoted by
the Erbil-based Rudaw news website, said shells have occasionally hit the area
in the past. In March, the Guards carried out an attack against what Iranian
state media described as "Israeli strategic centres" in Erbil, suggesting it
was revenge for Israeli air strikes that killed Iranian military personnel in
Syria.”

 

Iraq

 

Asharq Al-Awsat: Iraq's President Calls For Vigilance Against Terrorism
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“Iraqi President Barham Salih discussed with Defense Minister Juma Inad and
Minister of Water Resources Mahdi Rashid al-Hamdani the two most significant
challenges facing the country: terrorism and water shortages. Iraq faces
terrorism linked to ISIS remnants almost five years after the government
announced the military defeat of the extremist organization, which took control
of four governorates in 2014. Iraqi security forces have been involved in a war
against the remnants, particularly in their strongholds of Salaheddin, Kirkuk,
Diyala and al-Anbar, and the deserts extending between the Badia to the
Iraqi-Syrian border. Salih discussed with Inad the security situation in the
country, focusing on the need to support the efforts of the armed forces to
fight ISIS cells. The minister briefed the president on the current military
operations on the front lines against ISIS remnants that are trying to threaten
peace, security, and stability in some parts of Iraq. Salih stressed: "We must
be vigilant against the terrorism," emphasizing that any flaws in the security
system, which could strengthen these cells to threaten Iraqi citizens and
safety and stability, must be addressed. The president commended the efforts of
the security forces in dismantling the terrorist cells and arresting prominent
terrorists.”

 

Afghanistan

 

Air Force Times: Afghan-Based Terror Groups Still A Year Away From Ability To
Strike US, Intel Leaders Say
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“Terrorist groups within Afghanistan are still about a year away from being
able to attack targets in western countries, but remain a significant concern
for U.S. military planners, intelligence officials told lawmakers on Tuesday.
Last fall, Defense Department officials said that groups like al-Qaida and
Islamic State Khorasan Province (known as ISIS-K) could strike at the United
States within six months if left unchecked by military forces, a timeline that
alarmed numerous lawmakers. But this week, Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier, director of
the Defense Intelligence Agency, said in testimony before the Senate Armed
Services Committee that his agency believes both groups are still a year away
from that kind of disruptive capability. U.S. Army trainers are using lessons
learned from the Russian war against Ukraine as they prepare soldiers for
future fights. “I’m more concerned about ISIS-K in Afghanistan, and the fact
that they have had some successful and catastrophic attacks within
Afghanistan,” Berrier said. “That does not portend well for the future. “Al
Qaida has had some problems with reconstituting leadership, and to a degree the
Taliban have held to their word about not allowing al Qaida [to] rejuvenate,”
he added. “But it’s something that we’re watching very, very carefully.”

 

Middle East

 

The Times Of Israel: Israel Said To Nix 1,100 Palestinian Entry Permits Over
Relatives’ Terror Ties
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“Israel has revoked the entry permits of over 1,100 Palestinians whose
relatives were involved in terror attacks, including several recent deadly
assaults, according to security officials cited by multiple Hebrew media
outlets Tuesday. The comments were made anonymously to a number of outlets
including Channel 12 and Walla news. There was no official confirmation from
authorities. The decision will reportedly prevent some 1,130 Palestinian
relatives of convicted terrorists from entering Israel for employment and
commerce purposes. “Any Palestinian who thinks of choosing the way of terror
should know that the attack he commits will critically harm his family,” an
official was quoted as saying. Another unnamed official was quoted as saying
that “Israel possesses quite a few civilian tools for addressing security
issues,” adding that “we can see families expressing anger toward the
terrorists in light of the permits being revoked.” “This is an effective tool
meant to deter potential terrorists from carrying out terror attacks… The
security establishment is working with all agencies and in full capacity. We
will exact a heavy toll from the terrorists, their accomplices and those who
incite terror,” the official added.”

 

Egypt

 

Asharq Al-Awsat: Saudi Leadership Condoles Egypt's Sisi Over Victims Of Sinai
Terrorist Attack
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“Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, offered
their condolences on Tuesday to Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi over
the victims of the recent terrorist attack in Sinai, reported the Saudi Press
Agency. In separate cables, King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed stressed the
Kingdom's strong condemnation of the attacks and its support for Egypt and its
people. They offered their condolences to Sisi, the families of the victims and
the Egyptian people, wishing a speedy recovery for the injured.”

 

Nigeria

 

Sahara Reporters: Over 51,000 ‘Repentant’ Boko Haram Fighters, Families
Surrender, Now In Custody – Nigerian Army Commander
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“More than 51,000 repentant terrorists and their families have surrendered to
troops serving in various theatres of operation in the North-East region, the
Nigerian military has said. The Commander of Nigerian Army’s Operation Hadin
Kai, Major General Chris Musa, disclosed this during an interview with Channels
Television, aired on Monday. He explained that residents in the region have
been helpful to the military, especially in the area of intelligence gathering
despite the communication barrier in some localities. “We get information as
quickly as things are happening,” the commander said. “Sometimes, the challenge
might probably be the way to communicate because we do not have network
everywhere; but as soon as they get to where they can send messages across to
us, they let us know. “That has assisted us greatly in subduing the insurgents
to such an extent that we have so much peace. We have over 51,000 insurgents
and their family members that have surrendered to us.” While many individuals
and groups perceive the laying down of weapons by insurgents as a sign that the
security forces are winning the war, others remain skeptical about the
intention of such persons. General Musa, on his part, believes Nigerians,
especially residents in the North-East, have nothing to fear as the military
will continue to ensure they are well protected from criminally-minded persons.”

 

France

 

The Guardian: Former Guantánamo Prisoner On Trial In France For Extremism
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“An Algerian preacher who spent eight years in the US-run Guantánamo Bay
prison has gone on trial in France for allegedly encouraging several young men
to join the Islamic State group. Saber Lahmar, a 52-year-old Algerian released
by the US in 2008 and taken in afterwards by France, has been charged with
encouraging jihadists to head to Iraq and Syria to fight for the extremist
group in 2015. Speaking mostly in Arabic at the start of his trial in Paris on
Tuesday, Lahmar denied having links to Islamist groups in France and suggested
he was being persecuted because of his religion. “Today I am being detained
because I knew someone who left for Syria,” he said, referring to Salim Machou,
a Frenchman who was sentenced to death in an Iraqi court for belonging to IS in
2019. “But he can go where he likes, on the moon or on Earth, that’s none of my
business. I am not responsible for anyone, only for myself … I am not the guide
of this or that person,” Lahmar added. French prosecutors believe Lahmar, a
former Arab language professor, acted as a spiritual guide to Machou and
another IS recruit, Othman Yekhlef, who is presumed dead in Syria. The trial,
which runs until the end of the week, is expected to hear evidence of his
radical preaching which allegedly included antisemitic rants and calls for
martyrdom and killing apostates.”

 

Canada

 

CBC: Canadian Online Searches For Far-Right Material Increased During
Pandemic, Mps Told
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“The number of Canadian online searches for material related to far-right
extremist groups spiked sharply during the pandemic, an expert in online
violent extremism told members of Parliament Tuesday. Vidhya Ramalingam is
co-founder of Moonshot, which monitors and researches violent extremism. She
said the number of such searches in the Ottawa area climbed even more after
Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government declared a state of emergency in
February in response to the truck convoy protest. Ramalingam said her
organization began tracking Canadian online engagement with violent far-right
extremist groups in February 2019. "In little over a year, we tracked over
170,000 individual searches for IMVE [ideologically motivated violent
extremism] content across Canada," she told members of the public safety and
national security committee. "As Canadians spent more time online as a result
of the COVID 19 pandemic and lockdown, the engagement increased. Searches for
far-right content increased 19 per cent weekly during lockdown measures. In
Ottawa, we tracked a 35 per cent increase after Ontario's state of emergency
was declared." Canadians also have been seeking out far-right conspiracy
theories online, Ramalingam said.”

  

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