“Members of the Islamic State group have kidnapped dozens of people in a
central province and the bodies of some have been found with their throats
slit, an opposition war monitor and pro-government media reported Friday. The
Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the extremists kidnapped
about 40 people Thursday and killed at least 15 people whose bodies were
discovered Friday in the central province of Hama. The Observatory said the
dead included seven civilians and eight armed tribesmen. The pro-government
Sham FM radio station said the extremists attacked farmers who were collecting
truffles in the eastern countryside of Hama province. It added that some of the
kidnapped ‘were martyred’ while contact was lost with others. Despite their
defeat in Syria in March 2019, the militant group’s sleeper cells still carry
out deadly attacks both in Syria and Iraq where they once declared a
‘caliphate.’”











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Eye on Extremism



March 27, 2023



Associated Press: Reports: Islamic State Kidnaps Dozens In Syria, Dead Found
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“Members of the Islamic State group have kidnapped dozens of people in a
central province and the bodies of some have been found with their throats
slit, an opposition war monitor and pro-government media reported Friday. The
Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the extremists kidnapped
about 40 people Thursday and killed at least 15 people whose bodies were
discovered Friday in the central province of Hama. The Observatory said the
dead included seven civilians and eight armed tribesmen. The pro-government
Sham FM radio station said the extremists attacked farmers who were collecting
truffles in the eastern countryside of Hama province. It added that some of the
kidnapped ‘were martyred’ while contact was lost with others. Despite their
defeat in Syria in March 2019, the militant group’s sleeper cells still carry
out deadly attacks both in Syria and Iraq where they once declared a
‘caliphate.’”



The Guardian: Troops Neutralise 12 Boko Haram Terrorists In Borno
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“Troops of 222 Battalion, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), have neutralised seven
Boko Haram terrorists in Konduga Council of Borno State. The insurgents were
killed, while attempting to attack a military formation near Konduga trenches,
40 kilometres East of Maiduguri, the state capital. A counter-insurgency expert
in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, disclosed, yesterday, in Maiduguri,
that the terrorists launched an attack with heavy gun fire on soldiers guarding
the trenches at 06:45 p.m. on Friday. According to him, the troops swiftly
engaged the terrorists in a fierce gun battle, forcing them to withdraw in
disarray. On how the terrorists were neutralised, he said: ‘In a show of
gallantry, the troops, led by their Commander, chased the insurgents, who
attempted to escape into the Sambisa Forest axis, and neutralised seven of
them.’”



United States



Daily Mail: Joe Biden 'Took FOURTEEN HOURS To Tell Congress Iran-Backed
Militants Had Launched Strike On US Base In Syria That Killed US Contractor' -
As GOP Claims It's Because He Wanted Bill Pushed Through First
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“Republicans are accusing Joe Biden of taking nearly 14 hours to tell
Congress about the strike by Iran proxies that killed an American contractor
and injured US troops. The GOP sources, speaking to NBC News, believe the
president waited to alert them to the strike - which he authorized a
retaliation for - to push through amendments to a proposed repeal of the AUMF
bill which allows him to authorize military force. The drone attack took place
at around 6:38 a.m. ET on Thursday. Congress did not learn about it until about
8 p.m. that evening, the insiders claimed.”



New York Times: Stolen Valor: The U.S. Volunteers In Ukraine Who Lie, Waste
And Bicker
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“…Internal documents show that the Legion is struggling. Recruitment has
stagnated. The Washington-based Counter Extremism Project wrote in March that
the Legion and affiliated groups “continue to feature individuals widely seen
as unfit to perform their duties.””



Syria



The National: US-Iran Conflict In Syria Intensifies After Heavy Air Strikes
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“Conflict has escalated in the past several days between US forces and
Iranian-aligned militias in eastern Syria, which has been at the centre of the
12-year international struggle in the country. The outcome will also affect
Russia and Turkey, which have troops at the site of the conflict and interests
in seeing a US defeat, and Damascus, which has had Arab and Turkish efforts for
a rapprochement with President Bashar Al Assad. Washington has made it clear
that treating Damascus like any normal government will embolden the regime,
which it blames for the failure to implement UN resolutions on a political
transition and the safe return of millions of refugees. The US has also acted
as the xxxxxx against a Turkish drive to take territory in northern and
eastern Syria captured by a Kurdish militia known as the People's Protection
Units, or YPG, which helped to defeat ISIS there four years ago. On Thursday, a
drone attack killed an American contractor at a US base in Hasakah governorate,
which is largely under YPG control. The killing drew US air strikes on
Iranian-aligned militia in the nearby governorate of Deir Ezzor. More
retaliations followed, although the violence lessened on Sunday.”



Iraq



The Meghalayan: Airstrikes In Iraq Kill 3 IS Terrorists
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“Three Islamic State (IS) terrorists were killed in airstrikes in Iraq’s
eastern province of Diyala, a security source said on Saturday. Iraqi warplanes
on Friday carried out the airstrikes on IS hideouts in the northern part of
Diyala, destroying the hideouts and killing the three terrorists, Major Alaa
al-Saadi from Diyala police said. The security situation in Iraq has improved
since the defeat of the IS in 2017. However, its remnants have since melted
into urban centres, deserts and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla
attacks against security forces and civilians despite repeated military
operations against them. (IANS)”



Middle East



Outlook India: Israel: 2 Soldiers Injured In West Bank's Hawara In Shooting,
Says Military
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“…Both PFLOP and Hamas are committed to the destruction of Israel and the
establishment of a singular Palestinian state in the region. Hamas is the
largest and principal Palestinian terrorist organisation. Think tank Counter
Extremism Project says, ‘The group’s ideology blends Islamism and Palestinian
nationalism and seeks the destruction of Israel and the creation of an Islamic
state between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River...Hamas’s preferred
methods include suicide bombings, rocket and mortar attacks, shootings, and
kidnappings.””



The Jerusalem Post: Lebanese Meggido Terrorist Used Electric Scooter In Israel
- Report <[link removed]>



“The Lebanese terrorist who managed to infiltrate Israel and make it as far
as Meggido to commit a terror attack made use of an electric scooter when
inside Israeli territory. Security forces are now examining the possibility
that the terrorist may have had help inside the country. The bombing has been
the source of significant concerns for security officials, due to the fact that
a terrorist was able to infiltrate the country and make it as far as he did. An
IDF official revealed last week that the terrorist behind the bombing managed
to cross into Israel using a ladder at a specific location that required
considerable intelligence gathering to utilize.”



Nigeria



Vanguard: Troops Storm ISWAP Hideout In Borno Kill Commander, 41 Others
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“Special Operation by troops of ‘Operation Hadin Kai’ North East in
collaboration with Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) has stormed the hideout of
ISWAP terrorists in Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State, killing 41 of
the terrorists including a Commander, Abu Zahra while others flee for their
lives. This is coming less than 24 hours when Troops of 222 Battalion,
Operation Hadin Kai succeeded and killed several members of the Islamic State
West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the North East of Konduga local government area
in Borno state, which triggered wild jubilations by residents. An Intelligence
Source has said, which has also been confirmed by a counter-insurgency expert
in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama on Sunday morning. Sources said that
the troops eliminated the terrorists in a silent intelligence-led midnight
Offensive, Coordinated by Maj. Gen. Shaibu Waidi, the General Officer
Commanding the 7 Division and Commander of Sector 1, in Mukdolo and Bone
village, located between Dikwa and Ngala.”



Somalia



Garowe Online: Exclusive: Somalia To Launch 2nd Phase Of Offensive Against
Al-Shabaab
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“President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is set to announce the launch of the second
phase of the Al-Shabaab crackdown after the group liberated from many villages,
a source has confided with Garowe Online, in what comes at the time Somalis are
observing the Holy Month of Ramadan fasting. The announcement, the source said,
will be sooh following the conclusion of the first phase which saw several
Al-Shabaab militants killed across the country. The Somali National Army [SNA]
with the help of US Africa Command, the African Union Transition Mission in
Somalia [ATMISI, and local militia managed to liberate several villages.
Already, the president has arrived in Aden Yabal in the Middle Shabelle region
which was the epicenter of battles between the Somali National Army and
Al-Shabaab militants. The region recorded one of the historic victories for the
national army which managed to topple the militants after several years of
control which was coupled with intimidation of locals.”



Mali



AFP News: New Calls To Free South African Hostage Held In Mali
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“The family of a South African held hostage by jihadists in Mali for over
five years launched a fresh appeal for his release Saturday, just days after a
French journalist was freed. Gerco van Deventer, 47, was kidnapped in Libya on
November 3, 2017 on his way to a power plant construction site around 1,000
kilometres (600 miles) south of the capital Tripoli. Three other Turkish
engineers seized at the same time were freed seven months later, but Van
Deventer remained in captivity and was moved to Mali. ‘I'm launching a fresh
appeal... we desperately need him home,’ his wife Shereen van Deventer, told
AFP in an online interview. ‘He's a father of three children,’ she added,
referring to their children aged between 12 and 18 years. His parents, in their
80s miss him, so do his siblings, she said. ‘I miss him. It's time, it's been
too long.’”



France 24: Niger's Army Entered Mali In Hunt For 'Terrorists': Ministry
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“Troops from the army's anti-jihadist Almahaou operation began the search
after they were attacked by an ‘armed terrorist group’ in the western town of
Tiloa on March 10, the ministry said. It also came after at least 17 Nigerien
soldiers were killed last month in Intagamey, another town in the vast western
region of Tillaberi, one of several areas currently under a state of emergency
due to jihadist attacks. The pursuit, carried out by air and land forces, led
to the Hamakat area of Mali, the hideout of the alleged perpetrator of the
February 10 attack, the ministry said. A security source contacted by AFP said
the operation's extension into Mali was ‘unprecedented’.”



Africa



CNN: ‘Hotel Rwanda’ Hero To Be Freed After 25-Year Terrorism Sentence Commuted
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“Paul Rusesabagina, who inspired the Hollywood film ‘Hotel Rwanda,’ was
released from prison in Rwanda after his prison sentence was commuted Friday by
the country’s President Paul Kagame. US senior administration officials told
reporters Friday that Rusesabagina, who is a US legal permanent resident, had
been transferred to the residence of the Qatari ambassador in Kigali. ‘He will
be spending a limited period of time hosted by the Qataris,’ likely a couple of
days, one official said, and then will travel to Doha and on to the United
States Rusesabagina, an outspoken critic of President Paul Kagame, is best
known for saving hundreds of Rwandans during the country’s genocide by
sheltering them in the hotel he managed. He was arrested by Rwandan authorities
while he was traveling internationally in 2020 in what his family has claimed
was a kidnapping. Rusesabagina was found guilty on terrorism-related charges in
September 2021 and was sentenced to 25 years in prison.”



Reuters: Burkina Faso Suspends France 24 Broadcasts In The Country After Al
Qaeda Interview
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“Burkina Faso's military government on Monday suspended France 24 broadcasts
in the country after the TV station aired an interview with the head of al
Qaeda's North African wing AQIM. Relations between Paris and Ouagadougou have
deteriorated sharply since Burkina Faso's military seized power in a coup last
October. In January, Burkina Faso gave France one month to withdraw its troops
as it ended a military accord that allowed French troops to fight insurgents,
including on its territory. France 24 earlier this month aired an interview
with Yezid Mebarek, also known as Abu Ubaydah Yusuf al-Anabi, who claimed the
title of ‘emir of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb’ in 2020 after a French raid
killed his predecessor.”



Garowe Online: Reprieve For Suspected Garissa University Attackers As Court
Acquits Them Of Being Al-Shabaab
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“A court sitting in Nairobi has acquitted two suspected attackers of Garissa
University of being members of the Al-Shabaab terrorist group, consequently,
reducing their sentences in what many analysts have termed as a betrayal in the
fight against terrorism in the Horn of Africa nation. High Court Justice
Cecilia Githua has acquitted Hassan Edin Hassan and Mohamed Abdi Abikar of the
crime of being members of the al-Shabab militant group, but she upheld the
convictions of conspiracy to commit a terrorist act. The action lowers their
prison sentences from 41 years to 25-and-a-half years. Richard Tuya, a security
analyst based in Nairobi, terms the decision a ‘blow in the fight against
Al-Shabaab’. Kenya has embarked on a serious mission in the fight against the
militants to an extent of even deploying more troops to the Horn of Africa
nation.”



United Kingdom



Spiked: How Blasphemy Trials Returned To Britain
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“Liam Duffy – strategic advisor for the Counter Extremism Project – joins
Chris Snowdon and Tom Slater for the latest episode of Last Orders. They
discuss the Islamist threat to free speech, the panic over young people vaping,
and the Portes-Snowdon wager.”



Daily Mail: EXCLUSIVE: British Terrorist Who Tried To Join ISIS And Whose
Nephew Planned To Massacre US Airmen Is Released From Jail
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“A British terrorist who tried to join ISIS and whose nephew planned to
massacre US airmen in the UK has been released from jail. Shazib Khan, then 23,
was described as ‘absolutely committed to the Jihadi creed’ by a judge who
sentenced him to eight years jail in 2016. In a chilling summing up, judge
Justice Edis said Shazib genuinely intended to do harm and he frequently
expressed a desire for martyrdom. And the judge at Kingston Crown Court said
Shazib was more dangerous than his nephew Junead Khan, also jailed at the time.
The judge’s words are more shocking as Junead was convicted of plotting to
knife US personnel outside of airbases in the UK.”



Germany



Associated Press: German Extremist Jailed For Driving Into Police Officer
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“A German anti-government extremist was convicted of attempted murder and
sentenced to 10 years in prison on Friday for deliberately driving into a
police officer during an attempted traffic check while intoxicated. The verdict
delivered by the Stuttgart state court comes amid persistent concern over the
activities of supporters of the Reich Citizens Movement, a loose far-right
grouping whose backers deny the legitimacy of the present-day German
constitution and government. The 62-year-old man, a German whose name the court
didn’t give in line with local privacy rules, was convicted of attempted
murder, bodily harm, resisting and attacking enforcement officers, leaving the
scene of an accident without authorization and drunk driving. His driving
license was withdrawn and his car confiscated. He was ordered to pay the
injured police officer 30,000 euros ($32,600) in compensation.”



CNN: The Far Out, Far-Right Plot That Germany Is Still Trying To Unravel
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“An extremist and until recently almost unheard-of network in Germany is back
in the spotlight after police carried out nationwide raids against it. The
Reichsbürger movement – made up of small groups and individuals spread across
the country – peddles a number of bizarre views and rejects the legitimacy of
the state. In December last year, 25 people were arrested on suspicion of
plotting to attack Germany’s parliament building, overthrow its constitutional
order and install the group’s central figure – aristocrat Heinrich XIII Prince
Reuss – as leader. Raids linked to the group continued this week, with German
officials on Thursday saying they had placed one person who was a suspected
member and supporter under formal arrest after a police offer was shot and
wounded on Wednesday. Germany’s Justice Minister Marco Buschmann said the
shooting ‘shows how dangerous the missions are. It is the duty of the
authorities to disarm Reichsbürger.’ As the crackdown continues, CNN takes a
look at what exactly the movement is and the danger it poses.”



Technology



World Geostrategic Insights: Cryptocurrencies As A Tool For Terrorist
Financing: An Interview With Hans-Jakob Schindler
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“World Geostrategic Insights interview with Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler on how
terrorists operate and finance their activities through cryptocurrencies, the
extent to which this phenomenon has been spreading in Europe and the United
States, and the prospects for imposing robust regulation on the cryptocurrency
industry and preventing the misuse of digital currencies for criminal
activities, such as money laundering and terrorist financing.”



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

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