“The U.S. military carried out a drone strike in Syria on Tuesday that
officials said killed a top Islamic State commander, the third major American c











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Eye on Extremism


July 13, 2022



The New York Times: U.S. Military Says Senior ISIS Leader In Syria Killed In
Drone Strike
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“The U.S. military carried out a drone strike in Syria on Tuesday that
officials said killed a top Islamic State commander, the third major American
counterterrorism operation in the country’s northwest in the past month. The
attack killed Maher al-Agal, the leader of the terrorist group’s Syria branch
and one of its top five leaders worldwide, and seriously injured another
militant, according to statements from the White House and the military’s
Central Command. Mr. al-Agal was responsible for “aggressively pursuing the
development of ISIS networks outside of Iraq and Syria,” the military said.
“His death in Syria takes a key terrorist off the field and significantly
degrades the ability of ISIS to plan, resource and conduct their operations in
the region,” President Biden said in a statement. “It sends a powerful message
to all terrorists who threaten our homeland and our interests around the
world,” he added. “The United States will be relentless in its efforts to bring
you to justice.” The drone strike was the latest in a series of American
military operations against ISIS and Al Qaeda in Syria, which have been
relatively rare since the fall of the Islamic State’s so-called caliphate in
2019. On June 16, Army Delta Force commandos seized Hani Ahmed al-Kurdi, a top
Islamic State bomb maker and operations facilitator also known as Salim, in a
ground raid in Aleppo, Syria.”



Reuters: Nine EU States Reject Israeli 'Terrorist' Designation For Palestinian
NGOs
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“Nine European Union states said on Tuesday they would continue working with
the six Palestinian civil society groups that Israel designated terrorist
associations last year, citing a lack of evidence for that claim. Israel
designated the Palestinian groups as terrorist organisations and accused them
of funneling donor aid to militants, a move that drew criticism from the United
Nations and human rights watchdogs. The groups include Palestinian human rights
organisations Addameer and Al-Haq, which document alleged rights violations by
both Israel and the Western-backed Palestinian Authority in the
Israeli-occupied West Bank and which reject the charges. In a joint statement,
the foreign ministries of Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy,
the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden said they had not received “substantial
information” from Israel that would justify reviewing their policy. “Should
evidence be made available to the contrary, we would act accordingly,” they
said. “In the absence of such evidence, we will continue our cooperation and
strong support for the civil society in the oPT (occupied Palestinian
territories).” The Israeli foreign ministry did not immediately reply to a
request for comment.”



Syria



Kurdistan 24: SDF Arrests 12 ISIS Suspects In A Large Operation In Hasakah
Province
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“The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Tuesday announced the arrest of 17
ISIS suspects in the northeastern Hasakah province. The SDF said it arrested 12
ISIS suspects in Hasakah, al-Hol, Tal Hamis, Tal Brak, and Derik in
coordination with the International Security Forces (Asayish). They confiscated
a large quantity of ammunition and weapons during the operation. “The terrorist
organization of ISIS is trying to take advantage of the threats launched by the
Turkish occupying State against north and eastern Syria,” the SDF media centre
said. The SDF earlier warned that the Turkish threats will negatively affect
their operations against ISIS. Since May, Turkey has repeatedly said it is
ready to launch a military operation in northern Syria. Nevertheless, the SDF
has continued operations against ISIS suspects with support from the US-led
coalition. “Coalition Forces & our SDF partners remain united in their pursuit
of ridding NE Syria (Northeast Syria) of ISIS remnants so that local
communities can rebuild & flourish,” the official Twitter account of the US-led
coalition tweeted on Tuesday.”



Turkey



Daily Sabah: Top PKK Terrorist Killed In Anti-Terror Op: Surrendered Terrorist
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“A PKK terrorist who surrendered to Turkish security forces during Operation
Eren Blockade-2 confessed that a "senior" terrorist has been killed, which has
led many other terrorists to panic. In his testimony, the unidentified
terrorist, who surrendered in the Hakkari province, told security forces that
top PKK terrorist Rıdvan Alkan, codenamed “Bager Erdal,” who is in the Red
Category of the Interior Ministry’s Wanted List, was killed in a
counterterrorism operation. He noted that Alkan’s death has been kept a secret
from other terrorists to prevent panic and further dissolution. Alkan was among
the eight terrorists killed in the counterterrorism operation that took place
in the Yüksekova district on Aug. 19, 2021, the surrendered terrorist said.”



India



The Hindu: Police Officer Killed, 2 Injured In Srinagar Militant Attack
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“A police officer was killed and two others were injured in a militant attack
in Srinagar city on Tuesday evening. “Terrorists fired upon a police naka party
at Lal Bazar area of Srinagar city. Three police personnel were injured and
they have been shifted to hospital,” police said. One of the injured policemen,
identified as assistant sub-inspector Mushtaq Ahmad, succumbed to his injuries.
“The other two injured personnel are being treated,” they said. There is a
heightened security in Kashmir due to the ongoing Amarnath yatra. Habbal
Crossing, which is just 2.5 km from the attack site, is one of the key routes
for pilgrims to reach the Baltal camp in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal area.
Police have set up multiple checkpoints in and around Lal Bazaar area and the
movement of two-wheelers was being monitored closely amid Eid celebrations in
the city.”



Nigeria



Al Jazeera: Latest Nigerian Jailbreak Could Usher New Era Of Insecurity –
Experts
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“Moments after an attack on the advance convoy of the president in Katsina
state in northwest Nigeria, another set of gunmen stormed Kuje medium-security
prison, 50km (31 miles) outside of Nigeria’s capital city last Tuesday. Almost
four hours later when they left, they had released more than 900 inmates,
including 64 Boko Haram members in detention. The attack, claimed by the
Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), an offshoot of Boko Haram now
allied with ISIL (ISIS) group, is the latest instalment in the escalating
attacks on prisons across the country. Nigeria’s prisons are usually
overcrowded well beyond official capacity. Available statistics on the Nigerian
Correctional Services portal, the agency responsible for the management of the
prison system, as of July 4, 2022, show that two-thirds of the entire prison
population – in 240 prisons across the country – have yet to be convicted for
any crime. So apart from being a target for armed groups, the country’s prisons
have always been susceptible to outbreaks of riots due to the poor treatment of
inmates and congested, delapitated facilities. Still, analysts say the attack
is different from the others the country has witnessed in the past 24 months
and that it could be a new chapter in Nigeria’s long-running war with Boko
Haram and other elements fuelling insecurity nationwide.”



Somalia



All Africa: Somalia: At Least 12 Al-Shabaab Members Killed In Army Raid -
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“Somali army carried out a planned operation against Al-Shabaab bases on the
outskirts of Mahas district in the Hiran region, officials said. The leading
Commander of the SNA's 27th Division Mohamed major Hassan Bakaay confirmed the
troops regained control of Al-Shabaab strongholds. Speaking to the local media,
the officer said the operation led to the murder of at least 12 Al-Shabaab
fighters and destroyed a major base. Meanwhile, Al-Shabaab has not yet
commented on the military claims. In recent days, Somali government forces have
been conducting stepped-up military operations in several areas of the central
region to ensure security.”



Africa



Associated Press: Genocide Survivors Welcome Rwandan’s Conviction In France
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“Genocide survivors in Rwanda welcomed the conviction of Laurent Bucyibaruta,
the highest-ranking Rwandan to have faced trial in France over the 1994
genocide. Many in this East African country support President Paul Kagame’s
efforts to get France and other countries to arrest and try all genocide
suspects still at large in Europe. Bucyibaruta, 78, was sentenced to 20 years
in Tuesday’s decision following his trial on genocide charges. The Paris court
convicted him of complicity to commit genocide and crimes against humanity, but
acquitted him of charges of war crimes and genocide, saying there was no proof
that he was the main perpetrator.”



United Kingdom



Reuters: Right Wing Terror Threat Rising, Groups Recruiting From Military - UK
Committee
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“Britain's parliamentary intelligence committee said on Wednesday that the
threat from extreme right-wing terrorism was on the rise, with individuals
often seeking to join the military and groups looking to recruit from within
the military. "Individuals often seek to join the military, groups seek to
recruit within the military, and military experience is a source of legitimacy
among ERWT (Extreme Right-Wing Terrorism) groups," parliament's Intelligence
and Security Committee said in a statement.”



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