Counter Extremism Project

Eye on Extremism February 23, 2016 Counter Extremism Project Voice Of America: Europe’s New Counterterror Center Unlikely To Make Quick Impact “Officials and analysts hope the new European Counter Terror Center will prove valuable both in the short and long term, though they admit it alone will likely not be enough to deter Europe’s next major terror attack. ‘It’s part of a menu of things that need to be done both at the government level and cross governments to deal with the extremism threat,’ said Mark Wallace, CEO of the U.S.-based Counter Extremism Project. ‘I wouldn’t call it a panacea but, certainly, a positive step,’ he said.” Wall Street Journal: U.S., Russia Agree To Implement Syria Cease-Fire “The U.S. and Russia agreed to implement a cease-fire in Syria beginning Saturday, in what the two sides again said they hoped would be a crucial step toward ending the country’s five-year war. However, officials cautioned that significant hurdles to peace remained, including outstanding questions about whether the agreement can be enforced and which combatants will be covered by it.” Reuters: Syrian Rebels See Flaws In U.S.-Russian Truce Plan “The United States and Russia announced plans for a "cessation of hostilities" in Syria that would take effect on Saturday but exclude groups such as Islamic State and al Qaeda's Nusra Front, a loophole Syrian rebels immediately highlighted as a problem. Monday's agreement, described by a U.N. spokesman as ‘a first step towards a more durable ceasefire,’ is the fruit of intensive diplomacy between Washington and Moscow, which back opposing sides in the 5-year-old civil war that has killed more than 250,000 people.” Associated Press: ISIS Releases 42 Kidnapped Christians After Receiving Ransom Money “ISIS on Monday released the last of some 230 Assyrian Christians kidnapped a year ago in Syria after receiving millions of dollars in ransom, Christian officials said. Younan Talia, of the Assyrian Democratic Organization, told The Associated Press that about 40 remaining Christian captives were released early Monday and are on their way to the northeastern town of Tal Tamr. Younan said the release came after mediation led by a top Assyrian priest in northern Syria.” Newsweek: Is ISIS capable of mounting a nuclear attack? “The apocalyptic ideology that propels ISIS is by now well known. Much less widely known are the use of chemical weapons by ISIS in Iraq and Syria and the disappearance of radioactive materials in Iraq that could be used in a “dirty bomb,” a radiological weapon of mass destruction (WMD). Reuters reported the disappearance of 10 grams of a “highly dangerous” radioactive isotope used to test oil and gas pipelines in southern Iraq, which Iraqi authorities fear may have fallen into the hands of ISIS.” Reuters: The US Military Believes ISIS Is 'In A Defensive Crouch' “U.S. estimates of the number of Islamic State fighters in Iraq and Syria have been reduced while cuts in their pay are evidence they are on the defensive, a spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition fighting the group said on Monday. But the task of defeating Islamic State is complicated by Russian air strikes in Syria which are 90 percent targeted at opposition fighters and not at the jihadist group, U.S. Army Colonel Steve Warren said.”  Wall Street Journal: Italy Quietly Agrees To Armed U.S. Drone Missions Over Libya “The Italian government last month quietly began allowing armed American drones to fly out of an air base in Italy for military operations against Islamic State in Libya and across North Africa—a breakthrough for Washington after more than a year of negotiations, U.S. officials said. But Rome’s green light came with the kind of caveat that has crimped U.S. attempts to win allies’ help in fighting the extremist group: The Italians granted permission for the drones to be used only defensively, to protect U.S. special-operations forces in Libya and beyond, the officials said.” Associated Press:  Libyan Troops Claim Major Gains In War-Torn Benghazi “Libyan troops loyal to the internationally-backed government have made major advances against Islamic extremists, clearing a strategic port and a main hospital in the eastern city of Benghazi, the army spokesman said Monday. Khalifa al-Obeidi told The Associated Press that the port of Mraissa had served as the largest “supply line for the terrorists” but is now held by forces led by Gen. Khalifa Hifter. He said the troops were supported by fighters defending their own neighborhoods, and that at least 30 rival militants were killed in the fighting.” The Daily Caller: Trial Of Leading ISIS Recruiter Starts In Austria “The trial of a 34-year-old man who allegedly recruited 160 European teenagers for Islamic State started Monday in Graz, Austria. Mirsad O., better known under his Islamic name ‘Ebu Tajma,’ pleaded not guilty to charges that he convinced 160 young Europeans to join ISIS in Syria. He is further said to be the leader of the “Bosnian cell” in Vienna, which is one of the most important logistical and financial support centers for jihadist activities in Europe.” Reuters: U.S. Government, Apple Take Encryption Case To Court Of Public Opinion “Apple Inc on Monday urged the creation of a government panel on encryption, the latest salvo in a standoff over a locked iPhone linked to the San Bernardino shooting that has escalated into a public relations battle between the revered technology company and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation. Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook also sent a letter to employees Monday morning, making clear the company's hardline stance refusing to make software to unlock the phone addresses broader issues, not just a single device linked to a grisly attack.” Al Bawaba: Israel Demolishes Two Palestinian Homes Following Attacks “Israel has demolished the homes of two Palestinians, following separate accusations of attacks that left five people dead, according to reports provided by the Israeli army on Tuesday. The razing of the family houses come as the latest in a series of punitive demolitions that have drawn criticism from rights groups. The two targeted victims of the demolitions are suspects of the November 19 stabbing and car-ramming attacks which took place in Tel Aviv and at a crossroads in the occupied West Bank.” Wall Street Journal: Police Arrest Militants Over Bangladesh Beheading “Police on Monday arrested three people they described as local militants over the beheading of a Hindu priest in northern Bangladesh, the latest in a series of deadly attacks on foreigners and minority faith groups in the Muslim-majority country. Jogeshwar Roy, a 55-year-old priest, was killed just before Sunday prayers at the Deviganj temple in Panchagar district, about 300 miles north of the capital, Dhaka, said Monirul Islam, head of Bangladesh’s Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit.” Saudi Arabia Washington Post: Concerns In Saudi Arabia Over Signs Of More Military Involvement In Syria “Saudi Arabia is flexing its muscles as pro-government forces in Syria’s civil war make sweeping advances, but concerns have mounted about its expanding military involvement in the conflict. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s military, backed by Iranian-led militiamen and Russian airstrikes, has pressed a major offensive in the northern city of Aleppo, even as talks to broker a ceasefire have made some progress.. The move threatens rebel groups that have received cash and weapons from Saudi Arabia, a Sunni powerhouse and U.S. ally that opposes Assad because of his alliance with Shiite rival Iran.” The Guardian: Saudi Arabia Leads Surge In Arms Imports By Middle East States “The international transfer of weapons to the Middle East has risen dramatically over the past five years, with Saudi Arabia’s imports for 2011-15 increasing by 275% compared with 2006–10, according to an authoritative report. Overall, imports by states in the Middle East increased by 61%; imports by European states decreased by 41% over the same period. Britain sold more weapons to Saudi Arabia than to any other country. Saudi Arabia is also the biggest US arms market and buys more American arms than British, the report shows.” Yemen BBC News: Yemen Conflict: Al-Qaeda Joins Coalition Battle For Taiz “The BBC has found evidence in Yemen that troops from a Saudi-led coalition force and al-Qaeda militants are both fighting Houthi rebels in a key battle. On a visit to the frontline near the city of Taiz, a documentary maker filmed jihadists and pro-government militiamen, supported by UAE soldiers. The coalition of 10 mostly Sunni Arab states is backing Yemen's government in its war against the Shia rebels.” Turkey Reuters: Turkish Army Presses Crackdown On Kurdish Militants, Europe Worried Over Rights “Turkey's military said on Monday it had killed 14 militants in a drive against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in the southeast as an envoy from the European parliament denounced what she said were rights abuses by Ankara. Four PKK militants were killed on Sunday in the Sur district of the mainly Kurdish region's largest city Diyarbakir, much of which has been under a round-the-clock police curfew since early December, the army said in a statement.” Voice Of America: Turkey's Pro-Kurdish Party Accuses Security Forces Of Massacre “Turkey's main pro-Kurdish party is calling for an investigation into what it says was a massacre of dozens of people by Turkish forces during recent security operations against the Kurdish rebel group, the PKK, in the densely populated town of Cizre. The government has dismissed such allegations and pledged to continue its operations against the PKK in Turkey's predominantly Kurdish southeast.” Syria Marketwatch: Scores Killed In Series Of Bomb Attacks In Syria “A series of bomb attacks on Sunday killed close to 130 people in areas of Syria loyal to President Bashar al-Assad, as his Russia- and Iran-backed forces moved closer to encircling rebels in the northern city of Aleppo and the U.S. sought to salvage attempts to implement a cease-fire. The deadliest attacks occurred on a congested residential and commercial street in the town of Seyda Zeinab on the outskirts of the capital, Damascus.” CNN: Partial Truce In Syria To Start At Midnight Friday, Putin Says “A truce among some -- but not all -- of the groups fighting inside Syria will go into effect at midnight Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday in address posted on the Kremlin website. The cessation of hostilities is the result of talks between the United States and Russia as co-chairs of the International Syria Support Group, the two countries said in a joint statement. Diplomatic sources had talked about a possible ceasefire but specifics were not public until Putin's address.” Newsweek: ISIS Father Sends Son To Commit Suicide Bombing In New Video “The Islamic State militant group (ISIS) has released a propaganda video showing a father sending his son on a suicide mission near the Syrian city of Aleppo. The 23-minute video, circulated by the radical Islamist group on Friday, shows the father interviewing the boy, named as Abu Imar al-Omari, about the martyrdom operation, as well as his training for the car bomb attack.” Afghanistan AFP: At Least 13 Dead In Bombing North Of Kabul “At least 13 people, including nine civilians, were killed Monday in a suicide bombing targeting Afghan police which was claimed by Taliban insurgents in a remote area northwest of Kabul, authorities said. The bomber targeted a local police chief, injuring him on the eve of the latest round of quadrilateral talks to be held in Kabul in a bid to revive the peace process with the Taliban and end more than 14 years of war.” Iraq Reuters: Islamic State Rigs Currency Rates In Mosul To Prop Up Finances “Islamic State militants in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul are manipulating the exchange rate between U.S. dollars and Iraqi dinars to squeeze money out of local people as coalition bombers attack the group's finances. The U.S-led coalition has said that in addition to attacking Islamic State's fighters and leaders it will go after financial infrastructure too. Air strikes have reduced Islamic State's ability to extract, refine and transport oil, a major source of revenue that is already suffering from the fall in world prices.” AFP: Iraq Deploys Reinforcements For New Anbar Push: Officer “Iraq deployed reinforcements to a military base in Anbar on Monday for an impending operation against the Islamic State group in the western province, a senior officer said. IS overran large parts of Anbar province in 2014, but Iraqi forces recaptured provincial capital Ramadi from the jihadists and are now setting their sights on areas farther up the Euphrates river valley.” Middle East Times Of Israel: IDF Releases Smartphone App That Warns Of Attacks “The Israel Defense Forces Home Front Command has released a mobile application to warn Israelis of local security threats. The application, detailed in a call with reporters Monday, was developed by a staff of some 15 people in the Home Front Command, which oversees civilian preparedness. It was launched this month on Android and Apple devices. Called ‘Home Front Command,’ the application aims to improve on several civilian-developed counterparts that alert Israelis to the warning sirens that blare ahead of incoming missiles.” Libya Reuters: Libya Could Soon Run Out Of Life-Saving Medicines: U.N. “Libya faces severe shortages of life-saving medicine and about one million people will soon be in dire need of help, a U.N. humanitarian official warned, as warring factions hamper efforts to end chaos and form a unity government. ‘Our estimation is that by the end of march, Libya may run out of life saving medications which will impact about one million people.’ said Ali Al-Za'tari, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator for the North African country.” Europe Daily Mail: ISIS 'Are Beginning To Crack' Under Weight Of Western Airstrikes But Could Hit Back With Renewed Attacks In Europe, Says Coalition Spokesman “ISIS are 'beginning to crack' under the weight of western airstrikes in Syria and Iraq - but could hit back with renewed Paris-style attacks in Europe, a top coalition spokesman has warned.    The terror group, also known as Daesh, are being 'squeezed' in their so-called caliphate due to counter-terror measures, which has seen them lose around 40 per cent of their territory. They are also losing the flow of foreign fighters into Iraq and Syria as would-be jihadis realise 'this caliphate isn't all unicorns and rainbows'.” Arabic Language Clips Combating Terrorist Financing Entazer: Bahraini Actions To Reduce Iranian Interference Bahraini Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa announced yesterday that the Kingdom has started to take measures to curb Iran's intervention in its domestic affairs. These include monitoring donations and effecting controls on travel. Speaking before clerics, members of the House of Representatives and the Shura Council, editors of local newspapers and media personalities, he stressed "the scope and seriousness of Iranian interference in (Bahrain's) internal security." Al Khalifa stated, "We have started to take a series of actions to deal with the dangers of terrorism, including the formation of a committee to monitor the collection of money and fundraising operations as part of the fight against the financing of terrorism and harming of security." Sheikh Rashid spoke also about imposing "controls on travel by young people aged 14-18 years old and other citizens traveling to unsafe countries." ISIS Elwehda: Difficulties In The Return Of 600,000 Displaced People To Ramadi After Its Liberation From ISIS More than 600,000 residents of Ramadi are facing tremendous difficulties in returning to their city after its liberation from the grip of the extremist ISIS organization. The first reason for this is the huge extent of destruction caused during the battles for the liberation of this Iraqi city. Sheikh Abdul-Latif al-Himaim, Iraq's head of Sunni Religious Endowments and Chairman of the Committee for Reconstruction of Ramadi, claimed that most of the areas of the city will be reconstructed and inhabitable soon. He added, "Everyone here has an interest in accelerating the clean-up of the city from the vestiges of the military operations and in the swift removal of mines, improvised explosive devices and debris. Al-Himaim asserted that "the scale of the disaster caused by ISIS in Ramadi is huge. To date, we’ve dismantled 450 roadside bombs and car bombs in a single neighborhood of the city." Muslim Brotherhood Veto: Amr Mostafa: The Money Of Brotherhood Returns To The Media To Incite The Public Amr Mostafa, an Egyptian singer and composer, claimed that the Muslim Brotherhood's funds are once again being pumped into the Egyptian media through a well-organized campaign to incite the public. Mostafa wrote on his personal Facebook page yesterday: "Brotherhood money has resumed being pumped into the Egyptian media in a systematic campaign designed to achieve popular incitement ... and dissemination of false facts … the same trumpets playing the same cacophonous tune." Masr Alekhbaria: Video ... Brotherhood In America Incites [Egyptians Abroad] Not To Transfer Dollars To Egypt Egyptian artist Hala Fakher showed a video clip of a Brotherhood activist residing in the USA. In the clip, he urges Egyptians abroad not to transfer dollars to Egypt. Fakher, during her show on "Hayat" satellite TV channel, presented another video of an Egyptian expatriate, responding to the Muslim Brotherhood's calls to halt the transfer of dollars to Egypt. The Egyptian said in this clip: "The Brotherhood abroad converts the earnings of Egyptians into Egyptian pounds for anyone who wants to wire his money home, with the aim of destroying the Egyptian economy. But this will never happen. No one can defeat the Egyptian armed forces. The Muslim Brotherhood wants Egypt to become like Syria and Iraq, but this will never happen. Furthermore, they will never return to rule again." The speaker urged Egyptians to support their country, and send at least $100 to the "Tahya Misr (Long Live Egypt) Fund." The Seventh Day: Founder Of Muslim Brotherhood RNN To Mahmoud Hussein: You Squandered The Money And Lives Of The People Amr Farrag, Chairman of RNN (Rassd News Network), unleashed a harsh verbal attack on Dr. Mahmoud Hussein, former Secretary General of the Muslim Brotherhood. Farrag accused him of squandering the group's funds. Farrag, on a post on his official Facebook page, wrote to Hussein: "What we see is that the one who wastes people’s money, life and dreams has the audacity to preach to others. First behave the right way and do what you recommend others to do, so that you will earn at least a modicum of respect from others, Mr. Former Secretary.”