“Two jihadist groups have for weeks been engaged in deadly clashes in their
northeast Nigeria strongholds according to security sources and residents, who
said hundreds of fighters had died. Boko Haram militants have been fighting
government troops for almost 14 years in a bid to establish an Islamic
caliphate in the region. But they have also been fighting against rival
jihadists from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) group, who
emerged in 2016. Clashes initially started over ideological differences, with
ISWAP objecting to Boko Haram's indiscriminate killings of Muslims.”











<[link removed]>
<[link removed]>



Eye on Extremism



March 17 2023



AFP News: Nigeria Rival Jihadists Locked In Deadly Infighting
<[link removed]>



“Two jihadist groups have for weeks been engaged in deadly clashes in their
northeast Nigeria strongholds according to security sources and residents, who
said hundreds of fighters had died. Boko Haram militants have been fighting
government troops for almost 14 years in a bid to establish an Islamic
caliphate in the region. But they have also been fighting against rival
jihadists from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) group, who
emerged in 2016. Clashes initially started over ideological differences, with
ISWAP objecting to Boko Haram's indiscriminate killings of Muslims.”



Unherd: The Sahel Now Accounts For Nearly Half The World’s Terrorism
<[link removed]>



“The Sahel region in Sub-Saharan Africa is now the epicentre of terrorism
worldwide, constituting nearly half (43%) of the global death toll, according
to the latest edition of the Global Terrorism Index (GTI). Up from 1% of the
global total in 2007, incidents in the Sahel have increased by over 2000% in
the last 16 years. As of this year, it accounts for more terror fatalities than
South Asia and the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) combined, with the latter
region experiencing a 32% fall this year — its lowest figure since 2013. The
report, produced by the Institute for Economics and Peace, uses data from
sources including TerrorismTracker to study trends relating to terrorist
activity across the world. The global death toll caused by terrorist attacks
fell by 9% last year and is now 38% lower than its 2015 peak, with a 2022 total
of 6,701. The number of attacks worldwide declined by 28% to 3,955, and 121 out
of 163 countries surveyed — roughly three-quarters — recorded no deaths from
terrorism. That is the highest number of fatality-free nations since 2007.”



United States



Reuters: Blinken Brings U.S. Aid To Sahel For Fight Against Islamist
Insurgencies
<[link removed]>



“U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced $150 million in new
humanitarian aid for Africa's Sahel region during a visit on Thursday to Niger,
a country Washington views as an important ally in the fight against Islamist
insurgencies. Blinken's visit to Niger is the first by a U.S. Secretary of
State and a strong show of support for an impoverished nation that has had
relative success in containing rebel groups and managed a democratic transition
in a coup-prone region. ‘It will help provide life-saving support to refugees,
asylum seekers, and others impacted by conflict and food insecurity in the
region,’ Blinken said in a statement about the new aid, which will go to Niger,
Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Mauritania as well as Sahelian refugees in Libya.
Blinken's trip is the latest in a series of visits to Africa by U.S. government
figures as Washington seeks to boost ties with a continent where China's
influence is strong and many countries maintain cordial relations with Russia.”



Iran



Voice Of America News: Iranian-Born Belgian MP: EU Ministers Working Toward
IRGC Terrorist Designation
<[link removed]>



“The only European Union lawmaker of Iranian origin who lived in Iran until
adulthood says EU foreign ministers are working to resolve obstacles to
designating Tehran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist
organization. The 27-nation EU bloc has already had sanctions in place for
years against Iran’s top military force and its senior personnel in response to
their perceived malign activities. But the EU has stopped short of applying the
terrorist designation to the IRGC — a step taken by the United States in 2019.
European members of parliament, or MEPs, overwhelmingly approved a resolution
on January 19 urging the executive EU Council to add the IRGC to its terrorist
list. MEPs cited Iran’s violent crackdown on peaceful nationwide protests that
erupted in September against the nation’s Islamist rulers and Tehran’s
provision of drones to Russia for its war on Ukraine.”



Afghanistan



U.S. News: U.S. Commander: ISIS In Afghanistan 6 Months Away From Foreign
Attack Capability
<[link removed]>



“…The non-profit Counter-Extremism Project noted in a March analysis note
that the number of attacks carried out by ISIS-K appeared to drop earlier in
the year, as did its propaganda initiatives to build international cache for
its organization. The project attributes the drop to weather conditions as
Afghanistan experiences the coldest winter in 15 years, as well as some
successful Taliban operations to target and contain the group.”



Associated Press: UN Seeks Independent Ideas On Tackling Afghanistan’s Taliban
<[link removed]>



“The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution
Thursday calling for independent recommendations on how a united international
community should address the enormous challenges confronting Afghanistan —
above all the Taliban’s drastic curtailment of education and work for women and
girls, but also terrorism and the country’s dire humanitarian and economic
situation. The resolution, co-sponsored by Japan and the United Arab Emirates,
asks U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to establish an independent panel
to assess the situation in Afghanistan and make proposals for a ‘coherent
approach’ for key players inside and outside the United Nations dealing with
the political, humanitarian and development issues. It ordered the assessment
to be provided to the Security Council no later than Nov. 17. United Arab
Emirates Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh was asked afterward whether the Security
Council and the U.N. Secretariat have run out of their own ideas to address the
future of Afghanistan. She called the Afghan situation very complex and said
council members hope the ideas from the independent assessment will help
bolster the council’s thinking ‘and the thinking of the international community
around an international strategy.’”



Pakistan



Pakistan Today: Imran Charged With Terrorism, Attempted Murder In Violent
Police Raid On Home
<[link removed]>



“Imran Khan and members of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party have been
charged with attempted murder and terrorism during violent clashes between
police and former prime minister’s supporters that occurred in the aftermath of
an attempted arrest at his residence in Lahore. The standoff on Tuesday
resulted in four separate cases being filed against the former prime minister.
These complaints have been registered under charges of terrorism, attempts to
murder, burning and damaging government property, and other provisions.
According to the first information report (FIR) filed at Lahore’s Race Course
police station, the violent riots were orchestrated by a criminal conspiracy
led by Imran Khan himself. The FIR alleges that PTI workers, incited by Khan
and other party leaders, attacked police with batons, bricks, stones, and
petrol bombs, resulting in injuries to Shehzad Bukhari, the deputy chief of
operations for the Islamabad police team.”



Tribune: Terrorists’ Hideout Located In IBO
<[link removed]>



“The security forces on Wednesday identified a location of the terrorists and
recovered huge cache of arms and ammunition after launching an
intelligence-based operation (IBO) in general area Boghra Road, Chaman, the
military’s media wing said on Thursday. A statement issued by the
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that the IBO was carried out to
search a suspected hideout of terrorists who were linked with recent firing
incidents on law enforcement agencies and civilians in the Chaman area besides
planting of improvised explosive devices in surrounding areas. As a result of
continuous technical surveillance and reconnaissance of the area, a location of
terrorists was identified and security forces along with CTD were inducted, the
statement added. ‘Resultantly, while terrorists had already escaped, a huge
cache of arms and ammunition including rockets, improvised explosive devices
and other accessories has been removed."



Lebanon



LBC International: Lebanese Army Thwarts ISIS Plot, Arrests Two Brothers
Linked To The Group
<[link removed]>



“After the Dawn of the Outskirts battle in 2017, which defeated ISIS and
Al-Nusra fighters in the outskirts of Arsal, Ras Baalbek, and Al-Qaa, the
influence of these terrorist organizations diminished within Lebanon. However,
their activities have not entirely ceased, particularly within Palestinian
camps and those belonging to Syrian refugees. In a recent development, the
Lebanese Army's Intelligence Directorate carried out a preemptive operation in
one of the Palestinian camps in Tyre, Lebanon. On March 3, 2023, the operation
led to the arrest of two Palestinian brothers with Syrian nationality, proven
to be in contact with an ISIS leader in Syria's Daraa. Following months of
security monitoring, information obtained by the Intelligence Directorate
indicated that the brothers, Abdul Rahman and Mustafa Khalil, were linked to a
terrorist cadre in the ISIS organization known as Abu Hafs. This prompted a
lure operation resulting in their arrest.”



Middle East



CNN: At Least 4 Palestinians Killed In IDF Operation In Jenin
<[link removed]>



“At least four Palestinians were killed on Thursday and 23 others injured
after an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) operation in Jenin, in the occupied West
Bank, according to the Palestinian Authority Health Ministry. At least five of
the injured are in critical condition, the health ministry added. In a
statement the Israeli security forces said they ‘neutralized two operatives of
the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist organization who are suspected of
significant terrorist activity.’ A third person ‘was neutralized after he tried
to attack the fighters with an iron crowbar,’ the statement continued. ‘During
the operation, the forces fired at armed men who fired at them, injuries were
detected. Also, violent disturbances developed during which suspects threw
stones at the forces.’ Hamas announced in a statement that two of the
Palestinians killed in Jenin were its members.”



Somalia



Garowe Online: US Signs Deal To Continue Training Somalia's Special Forces
<[link removed]>



“The United States has signed an agreement with the federal government of
Somalia on strengthening of Danab Brigade, a move which comes at the time the
elite forces are fighting to reclaim most parts of the country from Al-Shabaab.
Al-Shabaab militants have been fighting to topple the fragile UN-backed federal
government of Somalia for almost two decades but their penetration to most
parts of the country has often been thwarted by security forces. The militants,
however, control most parts of central and southern Somalia. Thursday's
agreement will enable Somalia to benefit from advanced training of the national
army particularly the Danab Special forces which are critical in the fight
against Al-Shabaab. The Danab Special forces are trained by the US Africa
Command in the Ballidogle Airfield in Lower Shabelle.”



Africa



Morocco World News: Morocco Arrests ISIS-Affiliated Suspect Plotting Terror
Acts
<[link removed]>



“Morocco’s security services arrested on Thursday an ISIS-affiliated suspect
in Safi, 138 kilometers away from the city of Marrakech. Morocco’s security
services arrested on Thursday an ISIS-affiliated suspect in Safi, 138
kilometers away from the city of Marrakech. The suspect was plotting terror
attacks aimed at undermining Morocco’s security, a statement from the Central
Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ) said, adding that preliminary
investigations confirmed that the suspect pledged allegiance recently to the
emir of ISIS. The suspect was planning to use the ‘lone wolf’ strategy to
attack his targets, including civil servants. A lone wolf attack is when an
individual carries out heinous crimes alone, such as committing murder. BCIJ
said that security services seized video evidence containing the suspect’s
pledge of allegiance to ISIS as well as his confession to join Daesh conflict
zones and camps.”



The North Africa Post: Morocco: Arrest Of Daesh Sympathizer In Safi
<[link removed]>



“Judicial police in Safi on Wednesday arrested a Daesh-sympathizer, allegedly
involved in preparing a terrorist plan in an individual project to seriously
undermine public order. This operation was carried out based on detailed
information provided by the Directorate General of Territorial Surveillance
(DGST), said a statement released on Thursday by the Central Bureau of Judicial
Investigations (BCIJ). The investigation revealed that the suspect had pledged
allegiance to the alleged emir of Daesh, said the statement, adding that he has
effectively started to locate and identify targets of his criminal plan, mainly
officials, using the operational modes of lone wolves. Sweep operations
conducted at the suspect’s home led to the seizure of a video containing his
alleged allegiance to the Daesh organization and his intention to join the
fighting camps of the said organization. The defendant will be tried at the end
of the investigation process conducted by the BCIJ under the supervision of the
terrorism and extremism prosecutor, the statement said.”



Europe



Anadolu Agency: 10 Terror Suspects, 1 Convicted DHKP-C Terrorist Released From
Prison In Greece
<[link removed]>



“At least 11 people, including one convicted DHKP-C terrorist, have been
released from prison in Greece, according to local media on Thursday. Out of
11, only one of them was sentenced to 18 months after being found guilty for
possession of weapons, while 10 others were acquitted, the EFSYN newspaper
reported. However, that convict was released as he was remanded in custody for
three years. In March 2020, Greek counter-terrorism police carried out
operations against the terror group in Exarcheia and Sepolia regions in the
capital Athens.”



The Counter Extremism Project depends on the generosity of its supporters. If
you value what we do, please consider making a donation.

DONATE NOW
<[link removed]>
 




Click here to unsubscribe.
<[link removed]>