Eye on Extremism
December 1, 2022
The Wall Street Journal: Islamic State Leader Is Killed in Fighting, Terrorist Group Says
“Islamic State said Wednesday that its top leader died recently in fighting, less than a year after the terrorist group’s previous commander was killed during a U.S. military raid in Syria. The group’s spokesman said that leader Abu al-Hasan al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi is dead but gave no other details, according to an audio statement transcribed by SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors extremist organizations. The successor to the leadership role is Abu al-Husayn al-Husayni al-Qurayshi. Both names are noms de guerre. The U.S. military’s Central Command said the operation that killed the former Islamic State leader was carried out in mid-October by the rebel Free Syrian Army in Daraa province in southern Syria. CENTCOM spokesman Joe Buccino said the killing was “another blow to ISIS,” using an acronym for Islamic State. The White House said the U.S. wasn’t involved in the operation. “It was not the result of any U.S. action,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Wednesday in Washington.”
Reuters: Over 30 Militants, Two Soldiers Killed In Insurgent Clash In Mozambique
“Over 30 militants and two soldiers were killed during a clash in Mozambique's northern province of Cabo Delgado, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission to Mozambique (SAMIM) said on Wednesday. The soldiers belonging to the SAMIM forces were killed by Islamic State-linked insurgents on Tuesday and were from Tanzania and Botswana, the mission said. The insurgency in Mozambique has claimed thousands of lives and disrupted multibillion-dollar natural gas projects since it broke out in 2017. "SAMIM Force can confirm... terrorists in excess of thirty (30) were killed and a sizeable number of weapons, ammunition and equipment confiscated," it said in a statement.”
United States
NBC: DHS Warns Of Domestic Terror Threats To LGBTQ, Jewish And Migrant Communities
“In a terrorism advisory bulletin, the Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday raised concerns about potential threats to the LGBTQ, Jewish and migrant communities from violent extremists inside the United States. Americans motivated by violent ideologies pose a “persistent and lethal threat,” a senior DHS official told reporters in a briefing on the bulletin. Intelligence officials across the federal government have consistently highlighted the growing threat of American extremists in recent years, while explaining that foreign threats such as the Islamic State terrorist group and Al Qaeda are no longer as persistent as they once were. The bulletin was the latest summary of national terrorism threats, a document that has been updated about every six months since the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Some extremists have been inspired by recent attacks, including the shooting at the LGBTQ bar in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the bulletin said. The report also highlighted an “enduring threat” to the Jewish community.”
Turkey
Reuters: Embassies In Turkey Warned Against Security Threats, Sources Say
“At least two Western embassies have been warned against fresh security threats in the Turkish capital Ankara and Serbia warned its citizens against travelling to the country, two weeks after a bomb exploded in the heart of Istanbul. Six people were killed in the attack on a busy pedestrian avenue, which Turkish authorities blamed on Kurdish militants. The PKK and YPG-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) denied involvement. Three Western European embassies and one major international organisation told Reuters they were warned by Turkish authorities against potential threats, asking not to be named due to sensitivity of the issue. The major organisation, in an email to staff seen by Reuters, highlighted risks at shopping malls, bus stations, airports due to the potential for retaliatory attacks by militants. The Turkish defence and interior ministries declined to comment on the warnings.”
Afghanistan
The Washington Post: At Least 10 Students Killed In School Bombing In Northern Afghanistan
“A midday bombing at a religious school for boys in the northern Samangan province of Afghanistan on Wednesday left at least 10 students dead and scores injured, government officials said. “The blast at noon caused 10 deaths and an unknown number of injuries. Our security and intelligence forces are trying to find authors of this attack,” a spokesman for the Interior Ministry, Abdul Nafi Takor, said in an online message to news outlets. The provincial director of the Ministry of Information and Culture, Imdadullah Mohajir, said in statement that the blast took place during a gathering of all students for midday prayers at the Al Jihad madrassa, in the provincial capital of Aybak. He did not say how many had been wounded or killed but said the “number may increase.” According to the website of the Etilaat Roz, a longtime Kabul newspaper now based abroad, the seminary had recently been opened by local Taliban officials in the building of a former training college for teachers.”
Reuters: U.N. Tell Taliban To Investigate Reports Of Extrajudicial Killings In Daikundi
“The United Nations' mission to Afghanistan said on Thursday they had asked the Taliban to hold a 'credible investigation' into reports of extrajudicial killings, including of children, in northern Daikundi province. The Taliban have said that a gunfight in Daikundi between security force members and suspected armed rebels had resulted in deaths but denied that children had been killed. The U.N. mission (UNAMA) said it was working to establish what had happened. "(There are) very serious reports of civilian casualties, with extrajudicial killings, at least eight fatalities, including children," the mission said in a tweet. "UNAMA has engaged Taliban on the need for credible investigation and accountability." A Taliban ministry of information spokesperson did not immediately respond a Reuters request for comment on the U.N statement.”
Middle East
The Times Of Israel: Officials Said Bracing For Gaza Rocket Fire After Top Islamic Jihad Terrorist Killed
“Security officials were concerned Thursday that terror groups in the Gaza Strip could launch rockets at Israel after two senior terrorists were killed in overnight clashes in the West Bank, including a top Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) field commander, Hebrew media reported. The two fighters were killed in heavy clashes with Israeli troops that broke out during a predawn arrest raid near the northern West Bank’s Jenin refugee camp. Palestinian media reported that as many as 20 other people were wounded. Both PIJ and the Hamas terror group that rules the Gaza Strip threatened to hit back over the deaths. Palestinian Islamic Jihad spokesman Tariq Ezz El Din said in a statement that the “massacre” of people and deaths of its fighters in Jenin “will not pass without a response.” Hamas declared a general strike in the camp and also threatened to take action."
Africa
France 24: Ivory Coast Trial Set To Begin Over 2016 Terrorist Attack On Tourist Beach
“Eighteen people go on trial in Ivory Coast on Wednesday accused of involvement in one of West Africa's bloodiest jihadist attacks -- a machine-gun assault on a beach resort in 2016 that left 19 dead. But only four of the 18 will be physically present for the long-awaited proceedings in Abidjan, Ivory Coast's economic hub. The others are either on the run or being held in Mali, said Aude Rimailho, a lawyer for civilian plaintiffs. On March 13, 2016, three men wielding assault rifles attacked Grand-Bassam, a tourist complex 40 kilometres (25 miles) east of Abidjan popular with foreigners. In an operation echoing a jihadist massacre the previous year in Tunisia, they stormed the beach and then attacked several hotels and restaurants. The 45-minute bloodbath ended when the three were shot dead by Ivorian security forces. Al-Qaeda's North African affiliate, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), claimed responsibility the same day.”
Europe
Reuters: Spain's PM Sent Letter Bomb Similar To Device That Injured Ukraine Embassy Official
“Spain has stepped up security at public and diplomatic buildings after a spate of letter bombs, including one sent to Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and another to the Ukrainian embassy in Madrid, where an official suffered minor injuries. The Interior Ministry revealed on Thursday that an "envelope with pyrotechnic material" addressed to Sanchez had been received on Nov. 24 and disarmed by his security team. The device was "similar" to packages subsequently received by the Ukrainian embassy and a Spanish arms firm on Wednesday, it said, and a device intercepted at Spain's Torrejon de Ardoz air force base in the early hours of Thursday morning. A fifth device was received at Spain's Defence Ministry on Thursday morning and defused by specialist police officers, a defence ministry spokesperson told Reuters.”
Technology
AXIOS: Tech Firms Send Supreme Court A Warning
“Tech firms are warning the Supreme Court that weakening liability protections for online speech could put all types of service providers — including those operating offline — at risk of costly, business-wrecking litigation. The big picture: A key law governing online speech is facing its first-ever fundamental tests before the high court. Driving the news: Companies and parties to the suits made early filings and statements this week in two cases that will test long-held practices in the tech industry based on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which largely protects platforms from liability for people's posts. Twitter, Inc. vs. Taamneh asks whether platforms can be held to violate anti-terrorism laws if they have policies against pro-terrorist content but fail to remove all such messages. Twitter, Meta and Google filed briefs in the case this week.”
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