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Eye on Extremism
March 31, 2016
Reuters:
Nuclear Terrorism Fears Loom Over Obama's Final Atomic Summit
“Just as fears of nuclear terrorism are rising, U.S. President Barack
Obama's drive to lock down vulnerable atomic materials worldwide seems to
have lost momentum and could slow further. With less than 10 months left
in office to follow through on one of his signature foreign policy
initiatives, Obama will convene leaders from more than 50 countries in
Washington this week for his fourth and final Nuclear Security Summit, a
high-level diplomatic process that started and will end on his watch. A
boycott by Russian President Vladimir Putin, apparently unwilling to join
in a U.S.-dominated gathering at a time of increased tensions between
Washington and Moscow, adds to doubts that the meeting will yield major
results. Deadly militant attacks in Brussels have fuelled concern that
Islamic State could eventually target nuclear plants and develop
radioactive ‘dirty bombs,’ a topic that may well be uppermost in leaders’
minds as they meet. Despite significant progress by Obama in persuading
dozens of countries to rid themselves of bomb-making materials or reduce
and safeguard stockpiles, much of the world's plutonium and enriched
uranium remains vulnerable to theft.”
ABC
News: Russia Is Maintaining Most Of Its Military Aircraft And Equipment
In Syria, US Officials Say
“Taken at face value, most of Russia’s troops and aircraft were
supposed to be out of Syria by now, but that’s not the case, as Russia
has kept more than two dozen of its military aircraft in Syria and
continues to send military equipment to that country, U.S. officials said
today. The moves raise questions about what Russia may be planning for a
longer-term presence in Syria. At its peak, there were 42 Russian
fighters and bombers based at the airbase outside of Latakia in western
Syria, according to U.S. military officials. And it was estimated that
Russian troops had grown to as many as 5,000 to support the air mission
and to help Syrian forces with helicopters, tanks and artillery to
support the Syrian Army’s ground offensives.”
Los
Angeles Times: How Turkey's President Went From Washington Darling To
'Toxic Asset'
“Turkey and its president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, once were the
darlings of Washington, the cherished ally and a strategic barrier
between Europe and the turmoil in the Middle East. But diplomats say
Erdogan's increasingly aggressive and undemocratic behavior in Turkey,
plus what they describe as his mercurial role in the conflict in
neighboring Syria, have diminished his standing in the Obama
administration. Unlike several other global leaders arriving in
Washington on Thursday for the two-day Nuclear Security Summit,
Erdogan has not been invited for a private sit-down with President
Obama, something many here view as a major diplomatic snub. U.S.
officials cannot write Turkey's leader off entirely because of Turkey's
strategic importance, its willingness to house U.S. military bases and
the challenge it poses to Russian air power. But there has been little
doubt about Washington's displeasure with Erdogan.”
Voice
Of America: IS 'Cyrillic Jihadists' Create Their Own Community In Syria
“Over 5,000 jihadists from the Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan are fighting in the
ranks of the so-called Islamic State militant group in the Middle East.
These Russian-speaking Muslims not only play a major role within the IS
leadership, but also have built a community of their own in the areas
controlled by the extremist group. In fact, they are now raising
their children to be a second generation of jihadists, sources say.
Russian-speaking Jihadists are the second largest group of foreigners
fighting for IS. The number of jihadists from Central Asia and Russia joining
IS has increased by as much as 300 percent since June 2014, according to
a report by the New York City-based Soufan Group. While their rituals,
customs, race, and ethnic background may vary, members of this group have
at least one thing in common that distinguishes them from other
jihadists: they can read and write fluently in Cyrillic script, given
that the now-independent countries of their birth were for decades
dominated by the Soviet Union, which used Russian as its lingua
franca. Most of these so-called ‘Cyrillic Jihadists’ have settled
near the Syrian city of Raqqa, the de facto IS capital, and their areas
have developed into real communities with certain habits and rituals.”
NPR:
Tunisia's Fragile Democracy Faces A Threat From Chaotic Libya
“The spillover from the conflict in Libya is setting off alarm bells
in Tunisia, threatening a fragile democracy in the one place that emerged
from the 2011 Arab revolts as a bright spot. Meanwhile, Libya is a nation
in chaos with three battling governments, a plethora of militias and a
security vacuum being filled by a growing presence of the Islamic State
extremist group on Tunisia's border. And even more ominously, many of
those Islamic State fighters now in Libya are actually from Tunisia. On
March 7, Islamic State fighters tried to seize Ben Guerdane and claim it
for ISIS. If the extremists had succeeded, it would have given the group
free movement between Tunisia and Libya. But the Tunisian security forces
prevailed in bloody fighting that left more than 50 dead.”
Politico:
France’s ‘If Only’ Syndrome On Terrorism
“Since the Brussels attacks a week ago, the French government hasn’t
missed an occasion to trumpet its frustrations at the failure of European
institutions to tackle the terror threat. Central to the message is
a lament: ‘If only …’ If only Europe had listened to France. If only the
European Commission and the European Parliament had acted fast enough to
implement the measures Paris advocated. If only other European
intelligence services had shared information with their French colleagues
…The frustrations of the French government and police services are real.
But they tend to paper over the fact that much remains to be done in
France itself to avoid a repeat of the past few months’ terror attacks.
Some of the reforms Paris is calling for are opposed in the European
Parliament by the French socialists. And some of the measures France is
pushing for would not have been of much use to thwart the Brussels
attacks.”
BBC:
Libya's Unity Government Leaders In Tripoli Power Bid
“Leaders of Libya's new unity government have arrived in the capital,
Tripoli, by boat in an attempt to take control. Over recent days, Tripoli's
airspace has been intermittently closed to stop the Presidency Council,
which has been based in Tunisia, from arriving by air. Libya's UN envoy
called for ‘a peaceful and orderly handover’. But hardliners in the
coalition that controls Tripoli are opposed to the UN-brokered deal aimed
at reconciling a nation split by five years of conflict. Libya has been
in chaos since the 2011 overthrow of long-serving ruler Muammar Gaddafi
by Nato-backed forces. From 2014 it has had two competing
administrations, one in Tripoli backed by powerful militias and the other
about 1,000km (620 miles) away in the port city of Tobruk.”
The
New Yorker: Lessons From Apple Vs. The F.B.I.
“It’s welcome news that the Federal Bureau of Investigation
has dropped its legal effort to force Apple to help it create a
method of accessing data on a locked iPhone 5C used by Syed Rizwan
Farook, one of the perpetrators of the massacre that took place in
December in San Bernardino. Not that the Bureau, which ultimately found
another means of getting into the phone, didn’t have a legitimate
interest in knowing what was on the phone: only an ardent libertarian
would argue otherwise. But the case raised a number of important issues
and conflicting interests that judges alone can’t be, and shouldn’t be,
expected to resolve. Curiously enough, the F.B.I. and Apple agreed on
this point, if nothing else. ‘That tension should not be resolved by
corporations that sell stuff for a living,’ James Comey, the director of
the Bureau, said in a post published in February at the
national-security blog Lawfare. ‘It also should not be resolved by the
FBI, which investigates for a living. It should be resolved by the
American people deciding how we want to govern ourselves in a world we have
never seen before.’”
Wired:
It’d Be Great To Kick ISIS Offline—If It Were Possible
“ISIS is notorious for its alarmingly effective use of social media to
recruit fighters, inspire acts of terrorism, and project an image of
unwavering confidence to the West. That requires a sophisticated public
relations strategy. It also requires a working Internet connection. Even
as you’re struggling to get a strong enough LTE signal to refresh your
Twitter feed in a coffeeshop downtown, ISIS operatives are uploading
propaganda videos, updating Facebook profiles, and tweeting from the
war-torn regions it controls in Iraq and Syria. But how? While ISIS’s
social media strategy has been widely studied, far less is known about
how the organization gets and stays online.”
United
States
CNN:
Obama's Vision Of A Nuke-Free World Is Tested By ISIS, Russia
“President Barack Obama launched the first Nuclear Security Summit in
2010 to pursue a world without nuclear weapons. But as delegations from
almost 60 countries reconvene in Washington on Thursday and Friday, the
world only seems farther from that goal. Wildcard North Korea is edging
closer to its goal of building a viable nuclear device, Pakistan
continues to amass nuclear material at unmatched rates, and Russian
officials openly discuss pre-emptive nuclear strikes on Europe. And the
sharpening skills of computer hackers mean cyber threats to nuclear
facilities are increasing, too.”
CBS
News: At Nuclear Summit, World Leaders To Take Closer Look At ISIS Threat
“At the fourth Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, D.C. this week,
world leaders will have a unique opportunity to consider the threat of
ISIS (or ISIL) in the context of nuclear security. The recent terrorist
attack in Brussels, Belgium -- carried out by brothers who were part of a
plan uncovered earlier this year to try and target a Belgian nuclear
facility -- underscores the significance of this meeting, members of the
Obama administration said Tuesday. ‘Having this many leaders together at
once provides us an important opportunity, in the wake of the recent
attacks in Brussels and other countries, to address how we can enhance
our capabilities to work together to confront the threat posed by ISIL,’
Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes told reporters on a
conference call.”
New
York Post: ISIS May Be Losing, But The Big Winners Are America’s Enemies
“With the retaking of Syria’s ancient city of Palmyra, we seem to
finally have made tangible, on-the-ground gains against ISIS — that is,
if “we” refers to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Russia, Iran and
Hezbollah. President Obama and several of his would-be successors are
satisfied: The terrorists of ISIS are losing ground. America exerts
little treasure and sheds no blood. Our allies in Syria are on the march.
What’s not to like? Wait, ‘allies’? During the half-decade Syrian civil
war, the White House has repeatedly deemed Assad unfit to lead the
country.”
Syria
UN
News Centre: Grim Conditions In Syria Despite Greater Access, UN Aid
Chief Warns Security Council
“There are signs of humanitarian progress in Syria with more aid
reaching those in urgent need, but conditions remain ‘dire’ throughout
the country with only 30 per cent of people in besieged areas reached and
even fewer in hard-to-reach areas, the top United Nations humanitarian
official said. Addressing the Security Council in New York, the UN
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief
Coordination, Stephen O'Brien said that inter-agency convoys have reached
150,000 people in the 11 of the 18 besieged areas in Syria, and welcomed
the commitment by the Government of Syria to simplify administrative
procedures for cross-line convoys. He cautioned, however, that ‘we are a
long way from the sustained, unconditional and unimpeded access that is
required of the parties under international law and was and is demanded
by this Council in its resolutions.’”
Reuters:
Assad Says He Can Form New Syria Government With Opposition
“President Bashar al-Assad said it would not be difficult to agree on
a new Syrian government including opposition figures, but his opponents
responded on Wednesday that no administration would be legitimate while
he remained in office. Assad, bolstered by military victory in the desert
city of Palmyra, was quoted by Russia's RIA news agency as saying a new
draft constitution could be ready in weeks and a government that included
opposition, independents and loyalists could be agreed. While the
distribution of portfolios and other technical issues would need to be
discussed at Geneva peace talks, which resume next month, ‘these are not
difficult questions’, Assad said. Opposition negotiators immediately
dismissed Assad's remarks, saying that a political settlement could be
reached only by establishing a transitional body with full powers, not
another government under Assad.”
Iraq
Reuters:
Iraqi PM To Present New Cabinet Lineup To Parliament On Thursday
“Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said he would present to
parliament on Thursday his new cabinet lineup aimed at fighting
corruption, in keeping with a deadline set by the legislature earlier in
the week. Abadi announced more than six weeks ago that he wanted to
replace current ministers with independent technocrats but has faced
resistance from rivals who fear it could weaken the political patronage
networks that have sustained their wealth and influence for more than a
decade. Failing to deliver on long-promised anti-corruption measures
could weaken Abadi's government just as Iraqi forces are gearing up to
try and recapture the northern city of Mosul from Islamic State
militants.”
Reuters:
Obama Could Decide On Greater Troop Presence In Iraq Soon: General
“President Barack Obama will have the chance to decide on whether to
increase the number of U.S. forces in Iraq in the ‘coming weeks,’ the top
U.S. general said on Wednesday. The extra troops would bolster the
capabilities of Iraqi forces preparing for a major offensive against the
Islamic State militant group in Mosul, U.S. Marine General Joseph
Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a news briefing.
U.S. and Iraqi military officials have been discussing a plan to retake
Mosul, which fell to Islamic State in June 2014, and how U.S. forces
could support their efforts, Dunford said. Dunford said last week he
expected an increase in the level of U.S. forces in Iraq from the current
3,800, but that those decisions had not been finalized. U.S. officials
have said they hope to capitalize on recent battlefield successes against
Islamic State, such as the retaking of Ramadi by Iraqi forces late last
year.”
Turkey
Politico:
Turkey's President Faces A Scolding In Washington
“Turkey's president, a man used to steamrolling his critics at home,
is in for a rough visit to Washington. As Recep Tayyip Erdogan began
making the rounds in the U.S. capital Wednesday, dozens of foreign policy
thinkers, including former ambassadors to Turkey, released a letter
warning that the situation in the country is ‘deeply troubling.’ Erdogan,
who leads a party with Islamist roots and is in town in part to attend
the Nuclear Security Summit, also is slated to speak at the Brookings
Institution on Thursday. A Q&A is planned, during which the Turkish
leader may face some tough questions about the direction he's taking his
country. Turkey is a key Middle East ally for the U.S. It borders Syria,
has sheltered millions of refugees from the war-torn Arab state and
allows the American military to use an airbase on its soil to launch
airstrikes against the Islamic State. But Erdogan, who has served as
prime minister or president of Turkey since 2003, has become increasingly
autocratic, disappointing U.S. leaders who'd hoped Turkey could prove a
model of Muslim democracy.”
The
Wall Street Journal: Turkey Tries Journalists As Its President Visits
U.S.
“Two high-profile Turkish journalists facing life in prison head to
court this week as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visits Washington,
which has signaled its keen interest in a case that has become a
bellwether for press freedom in Turkey. Can Dundar, editor in chief of
Turkey’s opposition Cumhuriyet newspaper, and Erdem Gul, the paper’s
Ankara bureau chief, are bracing for the possibility that they could be
sent back to jail when they appear in court later this week to face
espionage charges over a story they published last year. The prosecution
has become a high-profile test case in Turkey, where the government has
been targeting journalists, professors, and average citizens who have
been critical of the president.”
Afghanistan
The
Daily Caller: US Special Investigator: Corruption Is The Greatest Threat
To Afghanistan Rebuilding Effort
It is not the resurgence of the Taliban, al-Qaeda or Islamic State
elements popping up that are hampering U.S. efforts to rebuild
Afghanistan, it is corruption, said Special Investigator for Afghanistan
Reconstruction (SIGAR) Wednesday. John Sopko serves as the head of
SIGAR, and has arguably one of the hardest jobs in the country: rooting
out corruption in the reconstruction effort of a country that essentially
runs on dishonesty. For Sopko, corruption, mostly in the form of
bribery of Afghan officials, is a massive threat. ‘I would
submit to you that nothing is a greater threat to the United States’
efforts to rebuild Afghanistan and other countries like it,’ said Sopko
in a speech to graduate students at University of the Pittsburgh’s
Graduate School of Public and International Affairs.”
Yemen
Associated
Press: Yemen Says Dozens Of Al-Qaida Fighters Detained In Aden
“ Yemeni pro-government forces have carried out a series of raids
against al-Qaida in the southern port city of Aden, arresting dozens of
suspects and causing the militants to flee from key areas, a top security
official said Wednesday.Maj. Gen. Shalal Shayaa, Aden's security chief,
said that southern fighters backing the government have set up
checkpoints across the al-Mansoura neighborhood, a former militant
stronghold. Shayaa later toured al-Mansoura on foot, reassuring residents
and checking security patrols, according to witnesses. Shayaa said the
raids are part of a campaign aimed at consolidating the
internationally-recognized government's control over Aden, its de facto
capital. Shiite militias known as Houthis seized the Yemeni capital,
Sanaa, in 2014. Aden was plunged into lawlessness after government forces
backed by a Saudi-led coalition drove the Houthis out last year. Al-Qaida
in the Arabian Peninsula, long seen by Washington as the most dangerous
branch of the global network, has exploited the turmoil in Yemen and
expanded its reach, seizing entire cities along the coastline of the
Arabian Sea.”
Saudi
Arabia
The
Jerusalem Post: Report: Saudi Arabia Buys drones from Israel through
South Africa
“A Saudi political analyst who is well known for leaking exclusive
information about the royal family of Saudi Arabia on Twitter has
recently reported that the kingdom buys drones from Israel, in
cooperation with South Africa. In a series of remarks he wrote on his
Twitter page Wednesday, the Saudi analyst suggested that the official
report released by the Saudi Defense Ministry according to which the
kingdom would build a drone factory in collaboration with South Africa is
false. ‘The report aims to hide the fact that Saudi Arabia intends to
purchase drones from Israel via South Africa,’ the analyst, calling
himself ‘Mujtahid’, claimed. He further stated: ‘Notwithstanding the
political controversies between Israel and South Africa, the military
cooperation between both states strongly continues, enabling South Africa
to purchase drones from Israel.’”
Egypt
The
New York Times: EgyptAir Hijacking Suspect Says He Acted Out Of
Desperation
“Seif Eldin Mustafa, the Egyptian man who grabbed the world’s
attention by hijacking an EgyptA ir flight and diverting it to Cyprus,
has admitted his crimes to Cypriot investigators but insisted that he
acted out of desperation, prosecutors said on Wednesday during his first
court appearance. Mr. Mustafa, 59, boarded EgyptAir Flight 181 on Tuesday
morning, wore a fake explosives belt and demanded that the pilot take him
to Cyprus, Turkey or Greece, prosecutors said. When the plane landed in
Larnaca, on the southern coast of Cyprus, Mr. Mustafa made various
demands, including that a letter be delivered to his former wife, a
Cypriot citizen, they said. ‘When someone hasn’t seen his family for 24
years and wants to see his wife and children, and the Egyptian government
won’t let him, what is he supposed to do?’ Mr. Mustafa told the
authorities, according to a statement by prosecutors. Prosecutors requested
that Mr. Mustafa remain in detention, arguing that if freed he might try
to influence the testimony of his passengers and relatives or he might
try to flee. The judge, Maria K. Loizou of Larnaca District Court,
ordered that Mr. Mustafa remain in custody for eight more days.”
Middle
East
The
New York Times: Israel Polarized Over Soldier Who Killed Wounded
Palestinian
“The case of the Israeli soldier who shot a Palestinian assailant in
the head as he lay wounded and subdued on the ground is whipping up a
public and political storm and posing a rare challenge to the military’s
high command, usually the most popular body in the country. In a letter
sent to commanders and soldiers on Wednesday, Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot, the
chief of staff, underlined the predicament facing the army as it contends
with a surge in Palestinian violence — and faces a hardened public mood
fanned by some politicians who say Palestinian assailants must not be
left alive. After six months of Palestinian stabbing, shooting and
vehicular attacks against Israelis, a simmering debate has burst into a
heated argument over what constitutes appropriate use of force and what
is excessive. While many Israelis have denounced the shooting last week,
which was caught on video, as a grave breach of proper military conduct,
many others call the accused soldier a hero. By Wednesday nearly 57,000
Israelis had signed an online petition demanding he be given a merit
citation.”
U.S.
News & World Report: The Saudi-Iranian Tensions Playing Across The
Region May Push Lebanon To A Tipping Point
“Ever since the streets of Tunis and Cairo were occupied with
protesters five years ago, the Arab world has been witnessing a turning
of tides and overhaul of policies that seems sure to dictate regional
dynamics for decades. No country is more emblematic of the pre-2011
status quo than Lebanon. Since the endorsement of the Taif Agreement of
1989 that ended its brutal civil war, Lebanon has maintained a tricky
power-sharing balance between political factions, based largely on
religious, sectarian divides and reaffirmed by political dynasties.
Importantly, this tricky balance was embedded in a regional power structure.
While Iran ramped up its support for the Islamist Shia Hezbollah and its
allies, Saudi Arabia became the primary backer of the Sunni political
parties, primarily that of the assassinated former Prime Minister Rafik
Al Hariri, and allies of various denominations. This balance was rooted
in a Syrian hegemony that has been eroded as its own civil war enters its
sixth year.”
Nigeria
BBC:
Boko Haram Attack In Niger Kills Six Soldiers
“Six soldiers from Niger's army were killed in an ambush by Boko Haram
militants, the country's interior ministry said. The attack happened near
the town of Diffa close to the border with Nigeria early on Wednesday. It
comes two weeks after a Boko Haram assault on a military convoy in the
same area that left one soldier dead. The Islamist group is based in
Nigeria but is being tackled by a multinational force, including soldiers
from Niger. In the latest attack, three other soldiers were wounded.
Niger's military deployed aircraft to try and track those responsible
soon afterwards. Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou has been praised in
the West for rallying neighbouring countries to fight Boko Haram.”
United
Kingdom
Telegraph:
Britain To Spend £10m Making Nuclear Sites Across World More Secure Amid
Terrorism Fears
“David Cameron will on Thursday announce a new drive to protect
nuclear facilities across the world from cyberattack amid fears
terrorists are increasingly considering targeting vulnerable sites.
Speaking ahead of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington DC, a
government source said Britain will invest £10 million into making sure
nuclear material overseas is kept securely. Government officials will
also launch a joint exercise with US counterparts identifying weaknesses
in Britain’s nuclear industry next year and train experts from countries
including Turkey, South Korea, Japan and Argentina.”
France
The
Washington Post: The Latest: Paris Suspect Charged With Terrorism
Offenses
“The Paris prosecutor says that a Frenchman arrested last week has been
charged with a string of terrorism offenses for allegedly plotting an
‘imminent’ attack. Francois Molins said Wednesday that the suspect, Reda
Kriket, is accused of participating in a terrorist group with plans for
at least one attack, possessing and transporting arms and explosives, and
holding fake documents. Molins says Kriket is believed to have traveled
to Syria in 2014 and 2015 and made several trips between France and
Belgium. At least three other people are in custody in the case in
Belgium and the Netherlands.”
Europe
Reuters:
Turkey, Greece Scramble To Start EU Deal As Migrant Arrivals Rise
“Five days before Turkey is due to begin taking back illegal migrants
from Greece under a deal with the European Union, neither side is fully
ready, with officials scrambling to be able to make at least a symbolic
start as new arrivals rise. Turkey agreed with the EU this month to take
back all migrants and refugees who cross illegally to Greece in exchange
for financial aid, faster visa-free travel for Turks and slightly
accelerated EU membership talks. The returns are supposed to begin on
April 4 under the plan, which aims to close the main route by which a
million migrants and refugees poured across the Aegean Sea to Greece in
the last year before heading north mainly to Germany and Sweden. But
uncertainty remains over how many will be sent back, how they will be
processed, and where they will be housed. The plan risks being
overwhelmed by the continued flow of migrants to Greece, where arrivals rose
sharply on Wednesday.”
Arabic
Language Clips
Terrorist
Financing
Al
Wafd: Diplomats: Qatar's Halting Terror Financing Is A Precondition For
Reconciliation
Ambassador Ahmed Abul Khair, Egypt's former Assistant Foreign
Minister, said that Cairo would like to improve its relations with all
countries and does not have a problem with restoring its relations with
Qatar. However, he stressed that the dispute between Cairo and Doha is
over Qatar's aggressive stance against Egypt after the June 30th
Revolution. Qatar is not satisfied with the ruling regime in Egypt. Abul
Khair added that Qatar financed terrorist groups and, in fact, has served
as a chief source of funding for terrorism all over the world. The former
ambassador disclosed that Egypt had set conditions for the reconciliation
and establishment of good relations with Doha. The most important ones
are that Doha stop all terror financing, return to the Arab unity, and
stop all criminal acts that might harm Egypt and other Arab states. He
predicted that Qatar would reject these conditions. Ambassador Adel
Safty, Egypt's former foreign minister agrees. He stated that in the past
Qatar had played a major role in the financing of terrorism and even
today continues to fund extremist groups opposing current regimes and
acting in violation of the law.
ISIS
Al-Jazirah
Online: Cultivation And Promotion Of Drugs Are Essential For The
Financing Of ISIS, Hezbollah And Al-Qaeda
A report issued recently indicates that Hezbollah, al-Qaeda and ISIS
have been exploiting drug trafficking in the Middle East and North Africa
for financial gain to support their militias in addition to various
operations and acts of aggression. The report added that ISIS has
resorted to drug trafficking to supplement much-needed funds for its war
machine in Iraq and Syria. The report noted that the Captagon industry is
widespread in Syria. The jihadist organization smuggles Captagon and
imposes taxes on its production to gain added revenues.
Muslim
Brotherhood
Al
Wafd: Terrorist (Brotherhood) Demands 100 Million Pounds From (Egyptian
Ministry Of) Education
The crisis is still raging between the owners of 174 Muslim
Brotherhood-affiliated schools and the Egyptian Ministry of Education. The
dispute is over the money obtained by the ministry through the students'
fees, following the ministry's seizure of the schools with the ousting of
former president Mohammed Morsi. Since the ouster, the ministry has
controlled these schools financially, administratively and legally. The
schools, dubbed "June 30 Schools", were originally owned by
leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood. Among those owners are now-jailed
Muslim Brotherhood Deputy Supreme Guide, Khayrat al-Shater, who owned
three international schools, and leading Muslim Brotherhood member,
Mohsen Rady. The former school-owners have recently called on the
ministry to return all the money obtained from fees paid by students of
their schools. These funds are estimated at 100 million pounds ($12.8 million)
per year.
Al
Jazeera: Brotherhood Wins Elections At Jordanian Teachers' Union
The Muslim Brotherhood and its allies won the elections at the
Jordanian Teachers' Union, according to unofficial results. Note that
this is one of the largest trade unions in the Kingdom. The figures
indicate that Islamists won just over 52% of the 360-seat Central
Commission, which will later select the Union's Council and its
President. This outcome came at a time when relations between the
Jordanian authorities and the group are extremely tense, particularly after
the government decided to ban internal Brotherhood elections early next
month claiming the group is unlicensed.
Hamas
Gulf
Eyes: Iran Refrains From Financing Hamas Satellite TV Channels
A reliable Lebanese source claims that the Iranian authorities have
stopped financing Quds TV and Palestine Al Yawm (Palestine Today)
channels, which broadcast out of Lebanon on behalf of the Palestinian
movement of Hamas. The source, who asked to remain anonymous, noted that
the two channels did not receive their usual financial transfers from the
Iranian regime during January and February 2016. This has caused a delay
in the payment of employees' salaries and broadcasting expenses.
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