“A U.S. move to allow some foreign investment in parts of northern Syria that
are outside government control is part of the Biden administration's str





 


 


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Eye on Extremism


May 13, 2022

 

Reuters: U.S. Syria Investment Move Aims To Ensure Defeat Of ISIS Through
Economic Stabilization -Officials
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“A U.S. move to allow some foreign investment in parts of northern Syria that
are outside government control is part of the Biden administration's strategy
to ensure the defeat of Islamic State by promoting economic stabilization,
senior administration officials said on Thursday. Washington has no intentions
to lift sanctions on the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad until
there is irreversible progress towards a political solution in Syria, U.S.
officials said in a call with reporters.”

 

BBC News: Afghanistan Pupils In Fear After Spate Of Islamic State Attacks
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“Milad is packing his rucksack for the first time since his school in the west
of Kabul was attacked by extremists last month. The 15-year-old pupil wasn't
hurt when the first bomb went off, but his father raced to the scene to try to
find him, only to be killed in a second explosion. A poster commemorating Mir
Hossein hangs outside the family home, along with a few verses of poetry.
“Through your blood, you gave meaning to love,” reads one line. “It feels
really hard to go back to school,” Milad tells us, walking alongside his older
brother and uncle. “My heart doesn't want me to.” Milad, and most of the
residents in his neighbourhood, Dashte-e-Barchi, are members of the Shia Hazara
minority. The area has been repeatedly attacked by the local branch of the
Islamic State group, who are suspected of being behind the bombing at Milad's
school. “I was in the classroom about to leave when the explosion happened. We
crouched down on the floor with our hands on our heads,” Milad told the BBC.
After a while, he and the other pupils went outside, jumping over a wall into a
neighbouring house. When he reached home, he heard his father had been injured.
A short while later they received his dead body. “My father was very kind and
caring, he was a great support to me,” he said ruefully. The school opened up
straight after the attack, but some pupils are yet to return, their families
too afraid.”

 

United States

 

Vice: The Far-Right Is Doxxing Judges And Calling For Their Assassinations
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“…First tipped to the channel’s existence by U.S.-based research group the
Counter Extremism Project, one source familiar with the channel said law
enforcement was aware of it and investigating. The FBI said it declined to
comment on the channel, and Telegram has yet to respond to questions about it
from VICE News. Earlier this week the GOP cried foul over several peaceful
protesters’ sitting outside the homes of conservative Supreme Court justices
who are supporting the overturning of Roe v. Wade, which was explosively
disclosed last week when a draft SCOTUS opinion leaked to the press. Republican
Sen. Susan Collins, who helped usher through the appointment of pro-life
Justice Brett Kavanaugh, also called the police on protesters in her home state
of Maine after they chalked a polite request for her to respect abortion rights
on the sidewalk in front of her home in Bangor. In light of those protests,
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland ordered additional security for those
justices from the U.S. Marshals Service, a spokesperson for the Department of
Justice said in a printed statement to the media.”

 

Reuters: Prevalence Of White Supremacists In Law Enforcement Demands Drastic
Change
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“A Reuters investigation on May 6 indicates that a significant number of U.S.
police instructors have ties to a constellation of armed right-wing militias
and white supremacist hate groups, a report that adds to a fast-growing body of
evidence showing a deadly threat inside U.S. police departments. The analysis
found that some of the instructional information presented by police trainers
was explicitly racist, and that some instructors endorsed and interacted with
white supremacist criminal groups such as the Proud Boys. The investigation
adds to mounting academic research, government audits and news reporting that
demonstrates the pervasiveness of white supremacy in U.S. law enforcement, and
a continuing series of incidents documenting the presence of extremist groups
and views among law enforcement. More and more, the evidence suggests the
“white supremacist infiltration of law enforcement” that the FBI warned about
back in 2006 is getting worse. And it points to a desperate need for policies –
departmental and legislative – to prohibit people who engage in racist conduct
or join white supremacist groups from becoming police officers or remaining on
the force.”

 

Syria

 

The National: ISIS Prison Camps 'Unsustainable' As Syria Terror Threat Grows
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“Keeping 10,000 ISIS detainees in prison camps in north-east Syria is not
sustainable as the terrorist group tries to regain strength in the region, the
US warned on Thursday. An ISIS prison break in January in Hassakeh, Syria, was
a “perfect example of the risk” posed by the many foreign fighters being kept
in the region, US deputy counter-terrorism chief Chris Landsberg said. There
were talks on Wednesday in Morocco between dozens of countries in a global
anti-ISIS coalition, stressing growing concerns about the threat of the group
in Africa. But ISIS retains a presence in Iraq and Syria despite the loss of
its territory three years ago. The group was described by France as
“disturbingly resilient” after ministers discussed its threat in those
countries. “While the group has been considerably weakened there, it remains a
threat and is still carrying out terrorist attacks at a concerning rate,” Mr
Landberg said. He said the January attack in Hassakeh, in which many fighters
from the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces were killed, was “a wake-up call
and a reminder of their intent to reconstitute in the region”. Mr Landberg said
about 10,000 fighters and 60,000 relatives were living in camps in that region,
despite attempts to repatriate them.”

 

Afghanistan

 

Foreign Policy: The Afghan Resistance Is Still Fighting
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“Embers of resistance against the Taliban’s brutality are flaring up in
Afghanistan, with clashes reported across the north and west of the country
this week as armed resistance groups frontally take on the Islamists. Fighting
has been reported in a number of provinces, including Panjshir, Ghazni, Herat,
and others, as anti-Taliban groups make good on pledges of a “spring offensive”
and Islamists deploy thousands of fighters to quell the uprisings. One
resistance source said the Taliban’s acting deputy defense minister, Mullah
Mohammad Fazl, has arrived in the Panjshir Valley, north of Kabul, to oversee
the fight, an indication of how seriously the extremists view the budding
resistance. Resistance groups are unlikely to defeat the Taliban’s superior
firepower—some of which is American war booty taken after the rushed withdrawal
last year—in the short term. But they could dig in for the long haul, embedding
among local populations and using knowledge of the terrain for a
guerrilla-style hit-and-run insurgency. This seems to be the Taliban’s greatest
fear, and the vicious response to the uprisings, including reported arbitrary
executions of civilians in some hotspots, is a clear attempt to stub out any
signs of support for the resistance effort.”

 

Pakistan

 

Voice Of America: Bomb Blast In Southern Pakistan Kills 1, Wounds 13
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“Police in Pakistan said Thursday that a bomb blast in the southern city of
Karachi killed at least one person and wounded 13 others. An improvised
explosive device planted on a motorcycle went off just before midnight in the
busy Saddar commercial area of the port city, said police and hospital
officials. The victims were mostly passersby. The bombing was apparently
targeting a van carrying Pakistani maritime security forces. The blast damaged
several vehicles, including the van, and two of the security personnel were
injured. Karachi Police Chief Ghulam Nabi Memon told local media an
investigation into the attack was underway. There were no immediate claims of
responsibility for the attack. Last month, a female suicide bomber wearing a
burqa blew herself up near a van carrying Chinese teachers in Karachi, the
capital of the southern Sindh province. The ensuing blast killed three
foreigners and their Pakistani driver. An outlawed insurgent group known as the
Baluchistan Liberation Army (BLA) took responsibility for the deadly bombing at
the entrance to the Karachi university campus. BLA militants have been waging
insurgent attacks against Pakistani security forces in the southwestern
Baluchistan province but lately have extended their violent activities to
Karachi, the country’s commercial center.”

 

Saudi Arabia

 

Asharq Al-Awsat: Saudi FM: ISIS Threat Remains
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“Saudi Arabia appreciates the significant and tangible role played by the
Global Coalition to defeat ISIS, announced Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin
Farhan bin Abdullah. Prince Faisal chaired the Saudi delegation at the
ministerial meeting of the Global Coalition to defeat ISIS, which was held in
Marrakesh, Morocco. “We should never forget that the threat of this
organization remains, which would require everyone to continue efforts and
continuous coordination to eliminate it completely,” he said. Prince Faisal
also affirmed that the Kingdom continues to maintain its firm stance towards
supporting the efforts of the Coalition, stressing the Kingdom's keenness on
the stability of Iraq and the extension of its influence and sovereignty over
its entire territory. He praised the efforts made by Iraq and its continuous
coordination with the Coalition. Prince Faisal announced the Kingdom's keenness
to support reconstruction projects in Iraq, support efforts to stabilize the
liberated areas in Syria, and create security and economic stability in the
country. He pointed out that the Kingdom has established several centers, the
most important of which is the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology
(Etidal), which works at the regional and international levels to combat
extremist messages. Prince Faisal reiterated the Kingdom's support for
establishing the focus group on Africa since its inception to confront the
growing threat of the spread of ISIS in the African continent.”

 

Middle East

 

The Times Of Israel: IDF Arrests 2 More Palestinians For Allegedly Aiding
Suspects In Elad Terror Attack
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“Security forces arrested two more Palestinians for allegedly aiding the two
suspects accused of a deadly terror attack in the central city of Elad last
week, the military said Thursday. The Israel Defense Forces said troops
arrested the two in predawn raids in the West Bank towns of Rummanah and
Burqin, near Jenin. The two Palestinians accused of hacking three Israelis to
death with an axe in Elad last Thursday were residents of Rummanah. They were
arrested on Sunday after a 60-hour manhunt. The two arrests on Thursday mean
four Palestinians have now been detained on suspicion of assisting As’ad Yousef
As’ad al-Rifa’i, 19, and Subhi Emad Sbeihat, 20. Elsewhere in the West Bank,
troops detained seven others over suspected involvement in terror activities,
the IDF said. A makeshift submachine gun was also seized. Troops did not
operate in Jenin itself overnight or Thursday morning, following the death of a
journalist amid a gun battle between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian gunmen a
day earlier. Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, 51, was shot in the head
amid clashes between Israeli troops and Palestinian gunmen while covering an
Israeli army operation in the West Bank city on Wednesday morning.”

 

Egypt

 

Africanews: Egypt: At Least Five Soldiers Killed In Fresh Jihadist Attack
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“Five Egyptian soldiers and seven jihadists were killed at dawn Wednesday in a
new attack in the Sinai region (east) plagued by a jihadist insurgency, the
Egyptian army reported. “A military officer and four soldiers were killed and
two other soldiers were wounded,” the spokesman for the armed forces said in a
statement. This is the second such attack in less than a week. On Saturday, the
army reported that 11 soldiers were killed and five others wounded in an
attempt to foil a “terrorist” attack near the Suez Canal in Sinai. The jihadist
group Islamic State (EI) claimed responsibility for the attack on Sunday via
its propaganda arm Amaq. The army and police launched in February 2018 a vast
“anti-terrorist” operation in the Sinai Peninsula, where radical cells, some of
which have pledged allegiance to the EI, are rampant. In Sinai, the attacks are
particularly concentrated on one point: the oil and gas pipelines that supply
Israel and Jordan. The army regularly announces that it has killed jihadists in
this area. Since 7 May, 23 jihadists have been killed according to the army. In
all, more than 1,000 jihadists and dozens of security forces have been killed,
according to official figures - but no independent figures are available and
North Sinai is closed to journalists.”

 

Asharq Al-Awsat: Egypt, US Agree To Intensify Cooperation In Combating
Terrorism
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“Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has met with US National Security
Advisor Jake Sullivan to discuss ways to enhance cooperation between the two
countries in combating terrorism and extremist ideology. The presidential
spokesman Bassam Radi said that Sullivan conveyed President Joe Biden's
greetings to Sisi and his assurances on the importance and strength of the
Egyptian-US alliance. Washington wants to develop partnerships with Cairo and
bring them to broader horizons during the coming period. He indicated that this
comes within the framework of close and extended cooperation relations between
the two countries, particularly in light of the essential Egyptian role under
Sisi’s leadership in the Middle East, as a mainstay for security and stability.
Sisi stressed Egypt's keenness to strengthen its extended strategic partnership
with the US, intensify cooperation and coordination between the two countries
at various levels since there are common interests between the two countries,
and support efforts to restore security and stability in the Middle East
because it suffers from tension and turmoil. The president affirmed Egypt's
firm position based on the need to strengthen the pillars and national
institutions of countries in crises to end the suffering of their peoples,
preserve their capabilities, and help fill the vacuum that allowed terrorist
groups to expand and spread.”

 

Nigeria

 

All Africa: Nigeria: Bomb Terrorists' Hideouts, El-Rufai Urges Armed Forces
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“The Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, has again called on the
Nigerian armed forces to facilitate aerial bombardment of terrorists' hideouts
and decimate them in order to save the country. The governor spoke as the guest
of honour at the ongoing five-day Combat Arms Training (CAT) Week 2022
organised by the infantry and armoured corps of the Nigerian Army (NA) in Jaji,
Kaduna State, yesterday. Represented by the Commissioner for Internal Security
and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, the governor called for sustained joint
operations against the enclaves of the terrorists. He said, “As we are all
aware, Nigeria is currently faced with numerous security challenges which have
impeded the pace of our national development. It is, therefore, expedient that
we collaborate to fight our real and perceived adversaries in order to restore
our national pride and dignity.” The governor commended the army for preventing
further damage during the March 28 terrorist attack on an Abuja-Kaduna train
where nine passengers were killed and 62 abducted. He urged security agencies
not to relent in their effort to find the perpetrators of the gruesome act and
bring them to justice.”

 

Africa

 

ABC News: Suspected Jihadi Attack In Togo Kills 8 Soldiers, Injures 13
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“At least eight soldiers have been killed and 13 other security forces members
wounded in an ambush by extremists in northern Togo near the border with
Burkina Faso, the government said. The incident was a worrying sign that
jihadis who are staging increasing attacks in neighboring countries are
expanding their activity into Togo. Early Wednesday, a group of heavily armed
men ambushed an outpost in the Kpinkankandi locality in the Kpendjal
prefecture, the Togolese government said in a statement. An armored vehicle was
damaged and a jeep burned in the deadly attack. By Thursday, no group had
claimed responsibility. Togo’s government blamed “terrorists” for what it
called a “cowardly and barbaric attack.” The government said it wanted to
reassure “(Togo’s) entire population of the determination of the defense and
security forces to protect our country and to seek out and disable armed
terrorist groups.” It appealed for the assistance of the civilian population.
It was the second such attack in Togo in the past year. An attack in November
2021 in the same area was repelled by military and security forces and caused
no casualties. Groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State Group have been
carrying out increasing attacks in the Sahel region, especially in neighboring
Burkina Faso.”

 

Germany

 

Deutsche Welle: Germany: Police Launch Terrorism Probe Against Pupil
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“Police tactical units in the German city of Essen on Thursday carried out
searches at two schools and an apartment after they received information that a
16-year-old male pupil might have been planning violent crimes at his current
or former school. Both schools were closed during the searches. A spokesperson
for the state prosecutor's office in Düsseldorf said the pupil, who was
arrested in the early hours of Thursday morning, was now the subject of a
terrorism investigation. Joachim Stamp, the deputy premier of the state of
North Rhine-Westphalia, where Essen is located, wrote on Twitter that a
“suspected Nazi terror attack” had been foiled. What do we know? At a press
briefing, the state's interior minister, Herbert Reul, said police had
“possibly prevented a nightmare.” He said they had found explosive and
bomb-building materials at the pupil's apartment, located near his current
school, where he lived with his parents. The materials were “functional but not
yet ready for use,” he added. Reul said there were indications that the pupil
had psychological problems, saying notes had been found that could “be read as
an urgent cry for help by a desperate young man.”

The pupil appeared to be acting alone, he said.”

 

Canada

 

CBC: Threat Of Violent Extremism Rising In Canada, MPs Told
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“The threat of violent extremism has increased in Canada during the pandemic —
fuelled by misinformation and resulting in threats to politicians and public
servants — top security and policing officials told members of Parliament on
Thursday. But while police and intelligence agencies are taking steps to detect
extremists and prevent them from carrying out attacks, the government must also
work proactively to counter the extremism in the first place, they added.
Testifying before the public safety and national security committee, Cherie
Henderson, assistant director, requirements for the Canadian Security
Intelligence Service (CSIS) described the rise of ideologically motivated
violent extremism (IMVE) over the past two years. “Since the beginning of the
COVID-19 pandemic, IMVE activity has been fuelled by an increase in extreme
anti-authority and anti-government rhetoric, often rooted in the weaponization
of conspiracy theories,” Henderson told the committee. “CSIS has noted a marked
increase in violent threats addressed at elected officials and public
servants.” Henderson said CSIS has moved more resources to monitor IMVE.”

 

Europe

 

The Brussels Times: Few Terrorism Convicts Undergo Anti-Radicalisation Process
After Release
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“Just one in three terrorist suspects or convicts is effectively followed up
by courts in Flanders as judges rarely impose deradicalisation counselling as a
condition after the end of the sentence. Since 2018, 102 terrorism convicts
have been released after serving their sentences, but an anti-radicalisation
process was initiated by a judge in just 32 of those cases, or around one in
three cases, according to Flemish Justice Minister Zuhal Demir. “The recent
past has shown what kind of tragedies terrorist attacks can lead to,” she said,
referring to the double attack on 22 March 2016, at Brussels airport in
Zaventem and at the Brussels metro station of Maelbeek in the European quarter,
where a total of 32 people died. She stressed that these were “shocking
figures,” and that the attacks in 2016 “left huge wounds.” “A deradicalisation
path will never be a panacea that can eliminate all future risks, but it should
be the logic itself so that we can prevent such atrocities to the maximum
extent in the future,” Demir said. In Belgium, the regions are responsible for
sentencing and the follow-up of release conditions imposed by the court,
however, if no conditions are imposed, the Flemish justice cannot take
additional steps of action.”

  

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