“In a televised speech Tuesday night, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
announced that his government will launch a “total war” against al-Qaida-
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Eye on Extremism
August 25, 2022
Voice Of America: Somalia's President Vows 'Total War' Against Al-Shabab
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“In a televised speech Tuesday night, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
announced that his government will launch a “total war” against
al-Qaida-affiliated militant group al-Shabab, after the group staged a deadly
hotel siege in Mogadishu on Friday, killing at least 21 people and wounding
more than 100. Mohamud said that it is time to come together to defeat the
enemy and said the military’s recent operations in parts of the country gained
significant ground, including in central Galmudug state and Southwest state.
His remarks were made after he met with the country’s security council to
discuss the latest attack on Hotel Hayat in the capital. He said that he knows
that the Somali people are tired of the endless mourning and that people lose
their loved ones in every attack carried out by the terrorists. He urged people
to be prepared for an all-out war against the ruthless terrorists who are
hostile to the country’s peace. He added that al-Shabab's only principle is
killing, intimidation, humiliation and carrying out atrocities against the
civilians. He said when he assumed the office of the presidency, he promised
that he would launch a fight against al-Shabab to end the scourge of terrorism.
There have been tangible victories, especially in Galmudug, Southwest and
Hirshabele, he said.”
Associated Press: US Airstrikes Target Iran-Backed Militia In Eastern Syria
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“The U.S. military said early Wednesday it carried out airstrikes in eastern
Syria that targeted areas used by militias backed by Iran’s paramilitary
Revolutionary Guard. Opposition war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human
Rights and activist collective Deir Ezzor 24 said the airstrikes targeted the
Ayash Camp run by the Fatimiyoun group made up of Shiite fighters from
Afghanistan. The war monitor reported that at least six Syrian and foreign
militants were killed in the airstrikes, while Deir Ezzor 24 reported 10
deaths. A few hours later, Syrian state media reported that two U.S. bases in
that part of Syria had been shelled by artillery. Deir Ezzor 24 said unnamed
Iran-backed militias were behind the attack. No casualties were immediately
reported. Neither the U.S. nor Iran immediately confirmed the attack. Colin
Kahl, the U.S. undersecretary of defense for policy, told reporters the U.S.
airstrikes demonstrated that “the United States will not hesitate to defend
itself against Iranian and Iran-backed aggression when it occurs.” He said the
U.S. decision to launch the strikes was based on both the nature of the militia
attacks and the fact that, based on recovered drone parts, “we believe we have
Iran dead to rights on attribution” for an Aug. 15 attack at the al-Tanf
Garrison, where U.S. troops are based in the south.”
Iraq
Kurdistan 24: Two Suspected ISIS Militants Killed In Series Of Iraqi Airstrikes
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“A number of airstrikes by the Iraqi forces in different areas killed at
least two alleged ISIS militants in Kirkuk province, the military announced.
The killed militants were targeted by a “series of airstrikes” in Mount Ma Ma
in Kirkuk early on Tuesday, Major General Tahseen Al-Khafaji of the Security
Media Cell announced. Two more airstrikes hit a hideout in a remote area of
Anbar province, killing those inside it, according to the military official. He
did not disclose further details on the number of casualties. In Anbar’s
Al-Rutba district on early Wednesday, the Iraqi fighter jets conducted six
airstrikes on five hideouts, the official added. Later on, the special forces
were airdropped to the targeted sites, the official added. Following the end of
the US-led coalition’s combatant role in late December last year, the Iraqi
forces have accelerated airstrikes against alleged positions of ISIS across the
country, particularly in the remote areas, where they are believed to have
numerous hideouts. Iraqi forces regularly conduct operations to target the
remnants of the group. Although the group has been territorially announced
defeated since 2017, it is still capable of launching a low-level insurgency.
At least three police and a civilian were killed in numerous suspected ISIS
attacks in Kirkuk on Monday night.”
Afghanistan
National Review: Taliban Taps Former Gitmo Detainee To Crush Afghan Resistance
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“Afghanistan’s Taliban government tapped a former Guantanamo Bay detainee to
lead the group’s campaign to counter a resistance movement in the country’s
Panjshir Province, a spokesman announced yesterday according to MENAFN. That
commander, Mullah Abdul Qayyum Zakir, will be in charge of snuffing out
resistance efforts in Panjshir and part of Baghlan province. After the
Taliban’s return to power in the country last year, resistance forces led by
Ahmed Massoud’s National Resistance Front (NRF) continued their fight. In the
immediate aftermath of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, a few U.S.
lawmakers called on the Biden administration to assist Massoud’s forces, but
those calls have mostly gone unanswered. Massoud has since fled Afghanistan and
is reportedly leading the fight from Tajikistan. Zakir’s case is particularly
interesting, as he was a detainee at Guantanamo Bay from 2001 until 2007 when
the U.S. transferred him to the custody of the Afghan government. He was
released the following year. Although the Panjshir resistance claimed to have
captured some Taliban fighters, they reportedly control little territory and
are waging an insurgency against the government.”
Pakistan
Reuters: Pakistan Court Extends Former Premier Khan's Pre-Arrest Bail On
Terrorism Charges
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“A Pakistani court on Thursday extended former Prime Minister Imran Khan's
pre-arrest bail for one week in a terrorism case over a speech, his lawyer
said, shortly after the former premier appeared in court in person amidst tight
security. Khan's lawyer and political aide Babar Awan told Reuters bail had
been granted until Sept. 1, after which they will apply for another extension.
The former premier maintained after the hearing he had said nothing wrong in
the speech last week. Police filed charges on Saturday against former cricket
star and national team captain Khan over what they said was a threat when he
spoke about police torture of an aide who faces sedition charges for inciting
mutiny in the military. Political tensions in Pakistan remain high as Khan
rallies support for elections that are not due until October next year. The
former premier, who has attracted large crowds in gatherings across the country
since being ousted in April, said his opponents were spooked by his popularity.”
Lebanon
The Times Of Israel: In Beirut, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad Heads Discuss ‘Next
Stage’ Of Anti-Israel Action
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“Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah met with Palestinian Islamic Jihad chief
Ziyad Nakhaleh in Lebanon on Wednesday and discussed regional developments,
including in Gaza and the West Bank, according to the Hezbollah-affiliated
Lebanese news outlet Al Mayadeen. The meeting was held in a southern suburb of
Beirut, the report said, with the two sides reviewing recent events in the
Palestinian territories and the results of this month’s round of fighting
between Israeli forces and PIJ terrorists in Gaza, dubbed by Israel Operation
Breaking Dawn. Nasrallah and Nakhaleh assessed the battle on the field, as well
as its “political and media levels,” the report said. The report also suggested
potential future cooperation between the two terror organizations, saying the
pair discussed “the expected roles of the various parties in the axis of
resistance in the next stage.” The report did not elaborate on what that “next
stage” could entail. The meeting comes amid heightened tensions between Israel
and Hezbollah over offshore fields thought to hold natural gas deposits and
repeated threats by Nasrallah that have raised concerns in Israel over a
potential flare-up on its northern border. Israel and Lebanon have been engaged
for over a year in US-brokered talks aimed at resolving the dispute over some
860 square kilometers (330 square miles) of the Mediterranean Sea that both
countries claim for themselves.”
Reuters: Lebanon Investigates Recorded Death Threats Against Saudi Embassy
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“Lebanon's interior minister on Wednesday asked security forces to
investigate death threats against the Saudi embassy in Lebanon after Saudi
Arabia's ambassador to Lebanon shared a recording containing such threats on
his Twitter account. Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi said his order was based
on his "concern for Lebanon's interest and security and good relations with
brotherly nations, especially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia", a ministry
statement said. Saudi Ambassador Walid al-Bukhari earlier shared a tweet from a
pro-Saudi account containing a recording by a man, who the interior ministry
believes to be a Saudi national living in Beirut's southern suburbs, a
stronghold of Iran-backed Hezbollah. The interior ministry statement said he
was "wanted by Saudi authorities for terrorist crimes".”
Middle East
Associated Press: Gaza Militants Hold Parade After Latest Battle With Israel
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“Dozens of Islamic Jihad militants displayed life-sized replicas of their
rockets during a parade in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, in a show of defiance
after three days of heavy fighting with Israel earlier this month. The flare-up
left 49 Palestinians dead, including the militant group's top two commanders
and 10 other fighters, before an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire took effect. The
militants fired some 1,100 rockets, but no one on the Israeli side was killed
or seriously wounded. It was the deadliest exchange of fire since last year's
war between Israel and Hamas, the militant group that has ruled Gaza for the
last 15 years — and which did not take part in the latest fighting. The
militants drove pick-up trucks with different sizes of rocket replicas and
posters of their slain commanders. People lined the streets, throwing flowers.
Israel and Western countries consider both Hamas and Islamic Jihad to be
terrorist groups because they have carried out scores of deadly attacks over
the years targeting Israeli civilians. Many Palestinians view the militants as
freedom fighters resisting Israel's 55-year military occupation of lands the
Palestinians want for their future state.”
The Jerusalem Post: Terrorist Weapon Cache Explodes In Gaza, 1 Dead, Several
Injured - IDF
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“A terrorist weapon cache in a home in Khan Younis, Gaza, exploded on
Tuesday, killing one and injuring several, according to IDF international
spokesperson Lt. Col. Richard Hecht and Palestinian media.
“Another tragedy in the Gaza Strip today,” tweeted Hecht. “Weapons stored
unsafely in the house of a member of a Palestinian terrorist group exploded and
killed a young child in the vicinity.” However, Palestinian media outlet Shehab
News reported the death caused by an “accidental explosion” near a house as
being that of Nidal al-Attal, a young man. A young girl was reportedly injured
in the incident. Terrorist organizations in Gaza such as Hamas have previously
been recorded storing munitions in civilian objects and within residential
areas. In late July, the IDF revealed a target list that included a weapons
warehouse next to Shifal Hospital, and an ammunition depot in a mosque. A
munition production facility was identified in a residential building and
another next to a public library. “An explosion, an accident or even a fire in
the warehouse could result in injuries to civilians, from worshipers in the
mosque to people who come to receive humanitarian aid,” the IDF warned of one
of the ammunition storage sites. “These are the sad consequences of
militarizing civilian areas for terrorist activity.”
Nigeria
Punch Nigeria: Foreign Suspects Linked To B’Haram Nabbed In Benue
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“Members of the Community Volunteer Guards in Benue State have arrested five
suspected foreign fighters known as Ambazonian Fighters in the state. The
Special Adviser on Security, Lt. Col. Paul Hemba (retd), in a statement, said
the foreign fighters linked to Boko Haram were arrested on Monday afternoon at
Jato Aka roundabout, near a drinking joint. The suspects were identified as
Stanley Vincent, 25; David Ojong, Ronado Njeke, 42; Emmanuel Ngum, and Samuel
Obem, 26. Hemba said one of the suspects, Stanley, when questioned, disguised
to be personnel with the Nigerian Army serving at Ojo, Lagos State. The special
adviser stated that Stanley said he was assigned by his boss to escort them to
Cameroon, adding that they became suspicious when his identity card was not
found on him. The statement read in part, “On August 22, 2022, around 3pm at
Jato Aka roundabout, near Dzoho Aondofa Drinking Joint, Kwande LGA, BSCVG
arrested Five Ambazonian Fighters suspected to have had linked with not only
Boko Haram but also Ambazonians fighting the Republic of Cameroon for years.
“Further checks revealed that chemical weapons which carry a labels ‘DANGER’,
military uniform, charms, and ammunitions were found on the Amazonians who
further disclosed to have stayed at Agogo Hotel, Jato Aka, for a period of six
months uninterruptedly, a hotel owned by one Dooorun Agogo.”
Somalia
All Africa: Somalia: The Army Chief Calls On Troops To Continue Offensive On
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“The Minister of Defense Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur and the Chief of the Somali
National Army, General Odowaa Yusuf call for the Liberation of the Hiran
region. They thanked the armed Forces for fighting Al-Shabaab and the capture
of key areas in the central region from Al-Shabaab. The SNA boss urged the Govt
forces to make sure that Al-Shabaab will not return to the areas they were
liberated from in the Hiran region. He said that it is also necessary to remove
the militants from other areas that are still under their control so that the
aid agencies will assist the people hit by the drought. The Minister of Defense
and the Commander of the Armed Forces are on their trip to the Hiraan Region
amid a war against the Al-Shabaab. The President and Prime Minister have
declared an all-out offensive against Al-Shabaab after deadly hotel attack in
Mogadishu early this week which killed 21 people.”
Germany
Associated Press: Top German Court Rejects Appeals In Far-Right Killing
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“Germany’s top court on Thursday dismissed appeals in the killing of a
regional politician who had advocated helping refugees, confirming the life
sentence handed to a far-right extremist convicted of carrying out the
execution-style slaying that shocked the country. Walter Luebcke, a member of
then-Chancellor Angela Merkel’s party who led the regional administration in
the Kassel area of central Germany, was shot dead on his front porch in 2019. A
Frankfurt regional court last year convicted neo-Nazi Stephan Ernst and ruled
that he would not automatically be eligible for release after 15 years due to
the severity of his crime. The Federal Court of Justice rejected an appeal by
Ernst’s lawyers challenging that decision. Judges also dismissed an appeal by
Luebcke’s family against the Frankfurt court’s decision to acquit an
acquaintance of Ernst’s of accessory to murder in the case. Markus H., whose
surname wasn’t released for privacy reasons, was instead convicted of weapons
violations and sentenced to 18 months probation.”
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