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Arrow Eye on Extremism - October 17, 2018

Eye on Extremism - October 17, 2018
RE: https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ta...pPpRhQzMLGplKh

Eye on Extremism - October 17, 2018

NBC News: Trump Administration Has New Plan To Drive Iran Out Of Syria

“The Trump administration is developing a new strategy for the war in Syria that would focus more heavily on pushing Iran's military and its proxy forces out of the country, according to five people familiar with the plan. The new strategy would not involve the U.S. military directly targeting and killing Iranian soldiers or Iran's proxies, however, since that would violate the current U.S. authorization for using force in Syria. The U.S. military does have the right of self-defense under the authorization, and could strike the Iranian military if it felt threatened. The plan would emphasize political and diplomatic efforts to force Iran out of Syria by squeezing it financially. It would withhold reconstruction aid from areas where Iranian and Russian forces are present, according to three people familiar with the plan. The U.S. would also impose sanctions on Russian and Iranian companies working on reconstruction in Syria.”

Military Times: Dod Knows Future Terror Groups Will Seek To Copy ISIS, Turn Social Media Into A Weapon

“The Islamic State’s 2014 invasion of Iraq, military futurist Peter Singer writes, “was launched with a hashtag.” #AllEyesOnISIS became a viral propaganda machine that inspired followers, generated bots and is credited in part with driving enough fear to lead thousands of U.S.-trained and equipped Iraqi forces to abandon their posts. The organization fed that fear and gained followers by broadcasting terrifying orange suit-black hood beheadings, terror attacks or the obscene cruelties awaiting anyone in their path. Four years later, the coalition of nations that rose up against ISIS in Iraq and Syria sees conventional operations coming to a close, and ISIS' ability to manipulate social media has also been largely dismantled, said Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford. Dunford spoke to reporters as he hosted defense chiefs from more than 80 nations at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, to discuss what needs to be done to keep other terror groups around the world from making a similar rise.”

The Independent: ISIS Kidnaps Dozens Of Women And Children As It Makes Desperate Last Stand In Syria

“Isis fighters have kidnapped dozens of women and children in the eastern Syrian province of Deir ez-Zor, where the group is making a desperate last stand. The captives were among some 250 civilians taken from the al-Bahra displacement camp, near the town of Hajin, after Isis fighters stormed the area on Friday and forced Kurdish fighters to flee, according to a war monitor. The string of towns and villages on the eastern banks of the Euphrates river comprise the last populated areas under the control of Isis, in either Iraq or Syria, and are thought to contain some 15,000 people. The area has been under attack by the US-led coalition and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) for the last month, but the offensive has been met with heavy resistance from around 5,000 hardened Isis fighters with nowhere else to run. The tented camp in al-Bahra is in an area controlled by the SDF, and housed hundreds of civilians who had fled Isis-controlled territory, including families of Isis defectors and relatives of fighters who had been killed.”

The Wall Street Journal: U.S. Sanctions Iran Finance Network In Bid To Sever Tehran’s Global Ties

“The U.S. sanctioned a multibillion-dollar network of Iranian companies, banks and funds accused of financing the country’s elite paramilitary unit, ratcheting up global pressure on Tehran and sending a warning to governments and companies considering continued engagement with Iran. By targeting the Basij militia’s financing network and citing the group’s alleged use of child soldiers and other human-rights abuses, the U.S. hopes to not only choke off funding to the prominent Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps unit, but also scare off any business dealings with the country. “The IRGC is pervasive within the Iranian economy,” a senior administration official said. “This is precisely the kind of activity that we have warned other companies and governments about extensively.” Many firms are pulling out of Iran as the U.S. rolls out an escalating and economy-crippling sanctions campaign meant to force Tehran to negotiate a new nuclear and security deal that addresses an array of U.S. concerns.”

The New York Times: U.S. Military Airstrike Kills 60 Shabab Fighters In Somalia

“The Pentagon’s Africa Command said on Tuesday that it had carried out the deadliest attack against the Islamist extremist group Shabab in nearly a year, killing about 60 fighters in central Somalia. The strike took place Friday in the vicinity of Harardhere, about 300 miles northeast of Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, the military said in a statement. Africa Command officials offered no other details except to say it did not kill or injure any civilians, suggesting the militants were in a camp or massing for an attack. The strike came after a recent spate of attacks that the Shabab have conducted against Somali security forces and their American advisers across the country. On Sept. 21, Shabab fighters attacked American and Somali troops 30 miles northwest of Kismayo. Ten days earlier, militants struck Somali and American forces in Mubarak, in central Somalia, killing one Somali soldier.”

Euractiv: Study Finds Rising Illicit Cigarette Trade On Social Media

“Social media and delivery services have become new outlets for organised crime activities when it comes to illicit cigarette trade, according to a new study that has raised eyebrows among EU policymakers. The study published on Wednesday (17 October) was conducted by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), the world’s oldest independent think tank on international defence and security, and focused on the UK, Germany and France. "RUSI’s findings confirm a direct link between illegal tobacco trade and terrorism financing. Illegal tobacco trade is not only damaging to governments’ revenues and consumers’ health but also to national security. Combatting radicalisation in our society is vital but it won’t be enough if we don’t tackle terrorist financing. Social media platforms have been hosting illegal terror content on their platforms for years. Now it turns out that they are not just a medium that helps to spread harmful ideologies but indirectly finances the deadly terror attacks as well," commented David Ibsen, Executive Director of Counter Extremism Project (CEP).”

United States
Voice Of America: US General: Fight To Defeat Islamic State Facing ‘Danger Of Complacency’

“A key U.S. military official is warning world leaders not to mistake progress against the Islamic State and other terror groups for victory. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford called progress in the fight against IS in Iraq and Syria “particularly encouraging," but urged U.S. allies to maintain pressure on Islamic State, as well as al-Qaida across the Middle East and beyond. “Perhaps the greatest challenge facing us today is the danger of complacency,” Dunford told the Chiefs of Defense Conference on Countering-Violent Extremist Organizations, just outside of Washington, Tuesday. “A misreading of our progress to date and a misunderstanding of the character of the threat may cause political leaders to lose focus on violent extremism while they move on to other pressing challenges,” Dunford said. “There’s many examples over the last few years when we have relieved pressure, they have reconstituted only to grow more virulent.”

The Hill: Department Of Justice Right To Go After Hezbollah

Attorney General Jeff Sessions made clear yesterday that Hezbollah is not just an Iranian-backed terrorist organization, but also one of the most dangerous crime syndicates in the world. In his remarks announcing the creation of a new Transnational Organized Crime Task Force, Sessions identified five criminal groups as America’s “top transnational organized crime threats.” The list includes Hezbollah alongside four Central American cartels known for their brutality, such as MS-13.Yesterday’s announcement follows the Department of Justice’s decision, almost a year ago, to form a Hezbollah terror finance task force to combat the organization’s illicit financial flows. Yet Hezbollah’s crimes are not just financial; they are an active participant at every stage of the drug supply chain, including — ominously — significant sales to the U.S. market, as a case recently tried in Miami reveals. Thus, the identification of Hezbollah as a Transnational Criminal Organization, or TCO, is more than justified. Over the past fifteen years, Hezbollah’s involvement in transnational organized crime has evolved into a multi-billion dollar global enterprise endorsed and coordinated by the group’s top leaders. Hezbollah’s production and sale of counterfeit medicines such as Captagon — a powerful amphetamine — is well documented. So are its growing involvement in cocaine trafficking, and its extensive and enduring ties with drug cartels.”

Syria
Elle: Justice For ISIS Slaves: The Plight Of The Yazidi Women

“The killings began before dawn the morning of August 3, 2014. As the convoys of men closed in on Hala’s Iraqi village, fear coursed through the 13-year-old’s veins. Her family piled into her father’s car and sped north, across an arid plain, through clouds of dust kicked up by an exodus of tires and pounding feet. At first, no one noticed the black flags rising up from the cars ahead: the symbol of ISIS militants who had spent the summer terrorising Iraq. By the time Hala’s father realised his mistake and slammed on the breaks, masked men—more than a dozen of them, armed and dressed in black—emerged from their cars, and ordered Hala’s family to follow them to an abandoned house. 'We were the first family there,' Hala recalls. 'But by night the house was full.' The home was one of dozens of collection depots ISIS fighters were using in a genocide against members of Iraq’s minority Yazidi faith: Yazidi men, destined for execution, were sent into one room, while women and children destined for slavery, into another.”

The Hill: Russia Giving Syria The S-300 Is More Message Than Menace

“It may seem strange that Moscow has delivered its S-300 anti-aircraft system to Syria this month. The decision came after the Assad regime accidentally downed a Russian reconnaissance IL-20 plane in northern Syria on Sept. 17 using the less sophisticated S-200. Why give a more advanced version of that weapon to an incompetent ally who just shot down your plane? Wouldn’t the delivery only raise the risk for Russians operating in Syrian airspace? Perhaps. But for the Kremlin, the delivery of the S-300 is about one thing: assertion of further dominance in Syria. It is a political statement to the West, and everyone else in the region: Russia is here to stay. To be sure, the IL-20 incident was embarrassing for Moscow. It exposed the incompetence of both Russia and its Syrian ally. Moscow’s claim – that during the incident Israel intentionally used the Il-20 as cover for its F-16s to attack in Syria and informed their Russian counterparts “only one minute” prior to the strike was an absurd accusation. It was a clumsy attempt to save face.”

The National: Chemical Weapons Used More Than 100 Times In Syria: BBC

“Chemical weapons have been used in Syria more than 100 times since 2013, a significantly higher figure than previous official estimates, according to research by the BBC. Analysis of reported attacks suggested that the banned weapons were used 106 times since Syria agreed to scrap its stockpile of the deadly weapons. Casualties were reported in more than half of the cases identified with the most deadly single incident the attack on the town of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib in April 2017 which health officials said killed 80 people. A UN panel blamed the Syrian government for the attack on the town that led to the first US military strike against regime after Barack Obama drew back from direct action in favour of striking a diplomatic deal. The findings come six months after the US accused Syria of using chemical weapons at least 50 times during the seven-year civil war, which was also a significantly higher number than previously claimed.”

Washington Examiner: ISIS Fighting To The Death In Syria, Frustrating US-Backed Final Offensive

“Islamic State fighters trapped in Syria are putting up fierce resistance, using civilians as human shields, setting deadly booby traps, and hiding in underground tunnels, all the while frustrating efforts by U.S.-backed Syrian fighters to deal a final blow to the terrorist caliphate. It’s been six months since the start of “Operation Roundup,” an offensive designed to liberate the last swath of territory held by ISIS in the Middle Euphrates River Valley, or MERV, near Syria’s eastern border with Iraq. “ISIS, however, remains a deadly adversary. The remaining fighters in the MERV are hardened combatants and have shown every indication of being willing to fight until the end,” Army Col. Sean Ryan told Pentagon reporters in a briefing from Baghdad. The ruthless tactics of the remaining ISIS fighters have slowed the advance of the Syrian Democratic Forces, which has to be careful to protect the civilian populations who are often held hostage in their homes and prevented by ISIS from leaving the battle zone. “We're methodically going through that area, making sure they capture or kill all the ISIS fighters,” said Ryan, adding “our job there is to also help protect its citizens in that area, and I think the SDF's doing a pretty good job."

The National: Syria's Porous Borders

“Jordan opening its border with Syria could set a precedent for other neighbours of the war-torn country. But the current status of Syria's borders illuminates the complex web of alliances that have become entangled during the seven-year civil war. Of Syria's five borders, three remain partially or completely closed to Damascus. Outside of government-controlled areas, some crossings are managed by rebels or forces loyal to Iran. In some cases, neighbouring countries turn a blind eye to rebel-controlled crossings. Turkey and Iran have favoured backing non-state actors as a way to promote their interests in the war without direct state involvement. Governments opposed to Syrian President Bashar Al Assad fear that the reopening of official border crossings, like the Jordanian one, may signal recognition of his legitimacy and a willingness to ignore his regime's brutality in winning the war. On the other hand, reopening border crossings could allow the importation of greater humanitarian aid and provide the first step to normalcy for millions of Syrians both inside the country and abroad. Open borders would also boost trade networks across the Arab world, as Syria has long functioned as a hub with spokes spanning from the Mediterranean to the Gulf. The reopening of Jordan’s border earlier this week will be particularly welcomed by Damascus, as the Hashemite Kingdom is a major producer of pharmaceuticals, the import of which is likely to ease some of Syria’s humanitarian worries.”

The Atlantic: America’s Indefinite Endgame In Syria

“President Donald Trump speaks frequently about bringing U.S. troops home and avoiding costly wars in the Middle East. But last month, the administration changed its position in one key area: the Syrian civil war. America will remain in Syria, National Security Advisor John Bolton said, “as long as Iranian troops are outside Iranian borders.” He described the new policy as a strategic shift from countering ISIS to containing Iran. Today, NBC News reported that the new strategy will include ramped up diplomatic and political efforts, but stay within the limits imposed by the current congressional authorization for the use of force in Syria. Part of the Trump administration’s strategy will be to withhold reconstruction aid from areas where Iranian and Russian forces are operating, in an attempt to further choke off funds to Tehran. While the strategy appears to seek to avoid direct confrontation between U.S. and Iranian forces, Washington has made it clear that American forces will defend themselves as necessary. But while the contours of the containment strategy are emerging, many of the new policy’s components remain poorly defined. And history tells us that it will be harder to implement than many in the United States may expect. After all, a reluctant America—whose leaders have struggled to bring the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to an end—faces a determined adversary in Iran, a country whose leaders have committed their own blood, treasure, and thousands of fighters from across the region, to Syria.”

Iran
Newsweek: Iran Extends Missile Range, Compares Its Military Might To Russia, China And North Korea

“A senior Iranian military leader announced Tuesday that the country has extended the range of its naval missiles to about 435 miles, claiming it set Iran ahead of the region and among some of the world's top powers. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of the air force of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards, proclaimed that his nation "ranks first in the region and seventh or eight in the world and is ahead of the [North] Koreans in the missile field," according to the semi-official Fars News Agency. He claimed Iran was also in the top 15 drone-building powers, saying its armed forces "enjoy good capabilities in the air defense field and are in possession of equipment more advanced than those of Russia, France, China and Britain." "Today, we have managed to produce a coast-to-sea ballistic, not cruise, missile, which has a complicated technology," he said, as reported by the semi-official Tasnim News Agency. "We can target warships from a distance of 700 kilometers [345 miles]." "Today, all of our produced missiles with ranges from 200 kilometers to 2,000 kilometers [about 124 miles to 1,240 miles] have pin-point accuracy," he added.”

Voice Of America: Border Insecurity In Iran Amid Regime Crackdown On Minorities

“Armed conflict between Iranian security forces and separatist militants on the Iranian border is growing, as the government tightens its grip on the minority population. With a population of more than 80 million people, Iran is predominantly ethnic Persian. The country's religion is Shi'ite Islam, and it is home to millions of ethno-religious minorities, including Kurds, Azeris and Baluchis. Iran's media Tuesday reported that 14 members of the Iranian security forces were abducted by militants near the southeastern province of Sistan-and-Baluchestan, which shares a border with neighboring Pakistan. The Baluch separatist group Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice), claimed responsibility. In a statement, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) blamed "terrorist groups led and backed by foreign services" for the kidnappings. It asked Pakistan to protect its western borders and facilitate the release of the abducted Iranian forces. On Friday, the Kurdish separatist Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran said its fighters engaged in a "three-hour confrontation with the Iranian forces in Kermanshah province.”

Iraq
Agence France Presse: Islamic State Ahvaz 'Mastermind' Killed In Iraq Says Tehran

“An Islamic State mastermind, named as Abu Zahi and linked to a deadly attack last month in southern Iran, was killed along with ‘four other terrorists’ in Iraq Tuesday, the elite Revolutionary Guards said in a statement. The five were killed “during a reconnaissance and surprise operation by forces of the resistance this morning in Iraq’s Diyalah province,” northeast of Baghdad, the statement said. The “resistance” is a term used for militias operating in Iraq and Syria with Tehran’s support, and trained by the Revolutionary Guards. Abu Zahi was “the mastermind of the recent terrorist crime in Ahvaz,” the statement added. The attack on a military parade in the mainly ethnic Arab city of Ahvaz in southwestern Iran left 24 people dead last month. Claims of responsibility for that attack were posted by both the jihadists of the Islamic State group and by a separatist group calling itself Ahvaz National Resistance. On October 1, Iran said it had struck jihadists in Syria with ballistic missiles and combat drones in retaliation for the September attack.”

Iraqi News: Two Islamic State Members Arrested, Rest Houses Destroyed In Salahuddin

“Two Islamic State members were arrested, while two rest houses were destroyed, in Salahuddin province, the Federal Police command said on Tuesday. In a statement, Lt. Gen. Shaker Jawdat, Federal Police Commander, said troops “managed to arrest two militants, who were wanted for judiciary, in al-Hawish checkpoint in Samarra, Salahuddin province.” Troops, according to Jawdat, inspected regions on the banks of Tigris River , which resulted in “setting two rest houses on fire.” On Saturday, two civilians were killed as a bomb, planted by Islamic State militants, went off in Qayyarah district. On Friday, a senior Islamic State leader was killed in an explosion on borders between Diyala and Salahuddin provinces. Thousands of Islamic State militants as well as Iraqi civilians were killed since the government campaign, backed by paramilitary troops and the coalition was launched in October 2016. Islamic State continues to launch sporadic attacks across Iraq against troops. Security reports indicate that the militant group still poses threat against stability in the country."

Afghanistan
CBS News: U.S., Afghan Forces Troops Battle Taliban, ISIS Ahead Of Elections

“Parliamentary elections in Afghanistan are just days away, and the Taliban and ISIS fighters, countered by Afghan and U.S. troops, are doing all they can to disrupt voters. Nangarhar in Eastern Afghanistan was the deadliest province for Americans in 2017. Of the 11 American troops killed in Afghanistan last year, more than half died here. Not only is it Taliban territory, but it's also an ISIS stronghold. The terror group has launched at least 17 attacks this year, killing hundreds of people. Soldiers who were fifth graders when this war began in 2001 now direct Afghan forces in an operation to clear ISIS-held villages, under the command of Lt. Col. Brian Ducote. We asked if he was kicking the hornet's nest, expecting a fight back. "We want a fight back, and so do our partners. Because they know that they don't want to kick it and have them come back. They want to destroy them," Ducote said. The soldiers of Charlie Company are among 14,000 U.S. troops still serving in Afghanistan. We saw as they prepared to head "outside the wire," a military convoy being the only way U.S. forces can get around. The soldiers have been cautioned to be on the lookout for people opening fire, an IED, a roadside bomb or a vehicle bomb on route to the location.”

Yemen
Asharq Al-Awsat: Houthis Ramp Up Sanaa Violations, Expand Kidnap Spree

“Ideological, political, and economic challenges surged for Houthis running the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, after a funding crisis shook the coup’s administrative circles. Further biting on the coup’s unity are allies turned rivals such as tribes in the south and the former ruling party the General People's Congress. Human rights watchdogs note militias gradually losing control over Sanaa due to deterioration of the economic and humanitarian situation experienced by Yemenis living under their rule. The loss of control triggered large-scale arrests of citizens who did not pledge their unmatched loyalty. Yemeni Head of the National Committee on Investigation of Allegations of Human Rights Judge Ahmed al-Muflihi told Asharq Al-Awsat that the arrests and house demolitions are happening at a rate higher than previously recorded. Sanaa is a military bastion, he said when describing the Houthi-run city which is witnessing an unwarranted arrest campaign against civilians.”

Al Arabiya: Yemen Minister: Houthis Forcing Female Teachers To Take Part In Armed Protests

“Houthi militias have forced teachers from Ma’ain district of Sanaa to attend an armed protest on Tuesday, according to Yemen’s information minister. “The militia prepared a program for the armed protests, which included female participants, in districts and governorates under their control for one month. The female teachers were told to participate otherwise they would be dismissed from their jobs,” Yemeni Information Minister Muammar al-Eryani said on Twitter. “The practices of the Iranian-backed militia against the citizens in their areas of their control and the destructive policies of the educational process in detail reveal their true intentions toward Yemen and Yemenis,” he added. The Houthi militias’ military recruitment of children has increased after many of their members have been killed and many others refuse to fight on their frontlines and on behalf of Iran. The Houthis have so far recruited more than 23,000 children in a stark violation of international agreements and laws that protect children’s rights. Of those, 2,500 children have been recruited since the beginning of 2018.”

Xinhua: Yemen's Rebels Claim Killing 13 Gov't Soldiers In Hodeidah Attack

“Yemen's Houthi rebels fighting government forces backed by the Saudi-led coalition in the Yemeni Red Sea port city of Hodeidah claimed they have killed 13 soldiers during an attack on Tuesday. In a statement carried by the rebel-controlled Saba news agency, the rebels said they have also wounded 20 other soldiers during the attack on Tuesday morning against the government troops. They said they launched the attack on the government forces-controlled sites south of Kilo 16 highway, which links the port city with the capital Sanaa. Both cities are still under the rebel control. However, the rebels said they failed to retake the sites due to heavy airstrikes by the coalition that backed the Yemeni internationally recognized government forces. The Houthi rebels reported no casualties among their fighters. There was no immediate comment from the government side, which stations in the southern port city of Aden since the rebels stormed the capital Sanaa more than three years ago. The war has escalated in Hodeidah following the collapse of peacemaking efforts last month by the UN in Geneva after Houthi rebels refused to attend. The Hodeidah port is a main entry point of about 70 percent of Yemen's food, medicines, aid and fuel. Saudi Arabia is leading an Arab military coalition that intervened in Yemen on March 2015 to reinstate the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi in Sanaa after the Houthi rebels forced him into exile. The war has killed over 10,000 people and displaced nearly three million.”

Saudi Arabia
Saudi Gazette: Saudi Arabia Helps Free French Hostage From Houthi Militias

“Saudi Arabia has succeeded in releasing the French hostage Alain Goma, who was held by the Iran-backed Houthi terrorist militias for nearly four months, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said Tuesday. An official source said on Tuesday that in implementation of a royal directive and based on a request by the French side to facilitate the release of the French hostage Goma kidnapped by the Houthis since July 8 in Hodeidah Province, coordination was made with the joint forces to obtain a permit for a C130 aircraft belonging to the French Army. The source confirmed that on Tuesday evening permission for the aircraft was issued and the hostage was flown from Sana'a Province to Muscat, Oman. The Frenchman was held captive in Yemen for over four months after his boat ran into trouble near the port of Hodeidah. Goma, 54, dropped anchor in Hodeidah after running out of water while sailing to India. In a statement, President Emmanuel Macron thanked authorities in Saudi Arabia and Oman for helping obtain his release.”

Egypt
The Cipher Brief: The Forgotten Affiliate: The Islamic State In The Sinai

“Earlier this year, the Egyptian military launched Operation Sinai 2018 to clear its territory of militants and insurgents seeking sanctuary and safe haven. Within the past few weeks, Egypt’s army claims to have killed dozens of fighters from the so-called Islamic State’s affiliate branch in the Sinai. Considered one of the world’s most lawless areas, the Sinai Peninsula is characterized by harsh terrain and a Bedouin culture that is nomadic and fiercely anti-authoritarian. The dedicated IS franchise group in the Sinai continues to gather momentum, particularly in the face of the ineptitude of Egyptian security forces. IS-affiliated militants have pursued a hybrid strategy of attacking both Egyptian security forces and civilian non-combatants, the latter part of the strategy introducing a highly sectarian dimension to the conflict. IS-affiliated fighters in the Sinai regularly clash with Egyptian security forces and have launched attacks over the past several years in which hundreds of Egyptian troops have been killed. IS’s Sinai franchise has also demonstrated a penchant for conducting spectacular attacks, evidenced by the downing of Metrojet Flight 9268, when a bomb killed all 224 people on board an airliner destined for St. Petersburg, Russia. Moreover, the group has launched attacks against Coptic Christian churches and fired rockets into Israel.”

United Kingdom
The Independent: Anjem Choudary's Assets Frozen Days Before Prison Release For Supporting ISIS

“Anjem Choudary has had his assets frozen as part of UN sanctions days before he is expected to be released from prison. Officials told The Independent that the Islamist leader, who was jailed for inviting support for Isis in 2016, will have to apply for permission even to pay his rent under the tight controls. “Every single economic resource that he owns has been frozen,” a government source said. “He can’t use money basically.” Choudary will have to apply for exemptions to the asset freeze for living expenses, and will be required to give details on the purpose of payments and recipients. His entry on to a UN list of sanctioned Isis and al-Qaeda terrorists was officially adopted by the Treasury on Tuesday. Giving the 51-year-old’s current address as HMP Frankland, where he has been held in a separation unit for extremists, the document notes his “tentative release” this month.”

Germany
Handelsblatt Global: Cologne Officials Hesitate To Label Attack 'Terrorism'

“German federal prosecutors are due to take over the investigation into the hostage-taking at Cologne’s main train station on Monday in a sign it is being treated as a possible terrorist attack. Authorities said they weren’t ruling out terrorism but are keeping an open mind after it emerged that the attacker, a 55-year-old Syrian asylum-seeker, may have been suffering from psychological problems, appeared dishevelled with unkempt long hair and a three-day beard, and was under the influence of alcohol. Police said he lived in Cologne and had come to Germany at the height of the refugee crisis in 2015. His residence permit is valid until 2021. The suspect amassed a lengthy criminal record in just two short years for various crimes including theft and causing injury.”

Europe
Haaretz: Czechs Shut Down Servers That Hezbollah Used For Espionage

“The Czech counterintelligence agency has identified and shut down servers that Hezbollah was using for cyberespionage, the website ZDNet reported Tuesday. A statement issued by the agency last week said the servers were discovered through an operation by the Czech Republic’s Security Intelligence Service, known as BIS, and unidentified partners. BIS said the servers were “almost certainly” operated by Hezbollah. “I cannot comment on the details, but I can confirm that BIS has played a significant role in identifying and uncovering the hackers’ system,” said Michal Koudelka, the agency’s director. “We identified the victims and traced the attack to its source facilities. Hacker servers have been shut down.” The agency said only some of the servers were in the Czech Republic. Others were in other European Union countries and the United States. According to a Czech media report, the hackers were based in the Middle East, which is presumably why the command-and-control facilities were also in that region. Many of the targets were Middle Eastern as well, though the statement did not mention Israel specifically. But some of the targets were in other places, including eastern and central Europe. Researchers from the Israeli cybersecurity firm Check Point reported in 2015 that Hezbollah had carried out a successful cyberespionage operation, even if it was not very sophisticated.”

Technology
Coin Rivet: Extremists Getting Caught Out By Fake Crypto Offers

“Order of Dawn, which claims to be based in either the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, or Slovakia, is crowdfunding the Monero (XMR) cryptocurrency to support a sickening planned wave of violence, according to the Counter Extremism Project (CEP), an international policy organisation formed to combat extremist ideologies. The group aims to create an armed militia and “repel or sink the boats of the invaders and the gigantic vessels of the collaborators” – apparently a reference to European naval forces. A CEP spokesman said: “The fact that the group is crowdfunding cryptocurrency on their website allows individuals to contribute with little effort or mobilisation needed. “Internet services companies, such as Cloudflare, should be on guard to make sure that they do not aid or assist terrorists.”

The Washington Post: Facebook’s Former Security Chief Warns Of Tech’s ‘Negative Impacts’ — And Has A Plan To Help Solve Them

“For two years, Alex Stamos was the Facebook executive tasked with defending the company’s systems against Russian interference and other critical threats. Now the former chief security officer, who left the social network in August, says Facebook — and the entire technology industry — needs a systems of checks and balances to help it weigh the complex decisions Silicon Valley companies are making in areas including security and democratic expression. On Tuesday, Stamos plans to announce the creation of an initiative to do that, in some of his first public remarks since leaving Facebook and joining Stanford University as an adjunct professor and Hoover fellow. “There aren’t processes to thoughtfully think through these trade-offs,” he said in an interview ahead of his talk at the university’s Center for International Security and Cooperation. “You end up with these for-profit, very powerful organizations that are not democratically accountable, making decisions that are in their best and often short-term interest … without there being a much more open and democratic discussion of what these issues are.”

ISIS
Sout Al-Omma: Egyptian Security Forces Dismantled ISIS Smuggling Networks Operating On The Border With Gaza

“Specialized Egyptian security forces uncovered a failed plan organized by the leaders of ISIS’s remnants in Sinai. The plan, which was foiled thanks to the siege imposed on the terrorist group by the Egyptian Army and agencies of the Interior Ministry, was to locate new funding sources to finance hostile attacks. Interrogation of the detained militants shows that ISIS's affiliate "The Sinai Province Group" had formed networks of smugglers that occupied underground tunnels along the Egypt-Gaza border. ISIS operatives in Sinai had been using these tunnels not only for trafficking weapons, explosives and logistical support but also for generating income by smuggling diverse commodities. One security report disclosed that a group of 33 officers of the National Security Agency, who tracked down and lay siege on the terrorists, succeeded in exposing five ISIS-linked smuggling networks along the border. These networks were being operated by Palestinian nationals and tribal groups on behalf of the Islamic State’s affiliate in the peninsula.”

Muslim Brotherhood
Egypt.24: Trial Of Hassan Malek And 23 Muslim Brotherhood-Affiliated Individuals On Charge Of Harming National Economy Postponed

“Chaired by Counsellor Mohammed Sherin Fahmy, Egypt’s State Supreme Security Criminal Emergency Court decided on Monday to postpone the trial of the prominent Muslim Brotherhood's businessman Hassan Malek till November 18th. The top financial figure of the outlawed group, along with his son, and another 22 co-defendants, including businessman Abdel-Rahman Al-Seoudi, face charges of belonging to and financing the banned Muslim Brotherhood, attempting to topple the regime, assaulting police, army personnel and public utilities, in addition to harming the national economy of Egypt.”

Seventh Day: Tajikistan's Top Muslim Cleric Warns Of Muslim Brotherhood-Affiliated Extremist Party

“Sheikh Saidmukarram Abdulkodirzoda, Tajikistan's top Muslim cleric, revealed that his country is currently suffering from {the actions of} an extremist party that is similar to the Muslim Brotherhood organization. This party, which is connected to the Muslim Brotherhood and Iran, aims to destabilize and topple the regime in Tajikistan, the chief mufti warned. The Nahda {Islamic Renaissance} Party, which was established in Iran one year following Khamenei's revolution, used to operate secretly in Tajikistan under the Communist government, Sheikh Abdulkodirzoda noted. However, the party recently started appearing in public, operating to indoctrinate and recruit the youth, according to Tajikistan's Grand Mufti. The party also played a key role in the Tajik Civil War where it received funds and arms from Iran, Sheikh Abdulkodirzoda added. Tajikistan's top Muslim cleric asserted that his country has been ardently following Egypt and Al-Azhar since its independence.”

Hezbollah
Bald News: Expert: New US Designation Of Hezbollah Meant To Curtail Its Foreign Activities

“Dr. Mounzer Sleiman, Director of the Center for American and Arab Studies, commented on the US decision to designate the Lebanese Hezbollah as a transnational criminal organization. He added that security coordination exists between those countries that have reciprocal agreements to hunt down Hezbollah activists following this US decision, stressing that the Lebanese state will be facing a big problem following this decision. "We are all familiar with the presence of Hezbollah in the Lebanese parliament and within Lebanese society," he stressed. Sleiman explained that the US decision against Hezbollah is tightening the screws and curbing its foreign activities, and that an effort is underway to dry up Hezbollah's money both abroad and inside the country.”

Houthi
Yemen Akhbar: Houthi Group Steals Gas Cylinders

“The Iran-backed Houthi group has turned cooking gas cylinders into landmines and explosive devices. Security sources confirmed that the Houthi group, through one of its militants, removed 24k gas cylinders belonging to citizens in the city of Dhamar last year. The sources pointed out that the Houthis stole a large number of empty gas cylinders, claiming they are intended for a charity which will give them to citizens free of charge. The sources claimed that the Public Prosecution, following the arrest of the leader of the gang who had stolen the gas cylinders, has delayed the case and prevented the investigation of others implicated in it, despite evidence proving their {alleged} culpability. According to the same sources, the value of the stolen gas cylinders at current prices is put at YR600 million ($ 2.4 million). In addition, the Houthis collected YR500 ($ 20) claiming this fee is needed to transport the gas cylinders.”
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Boats

O Almighty Lord God, who neither slumberest nor sleepest; Protect and assist, we beseech thee, all those who at home or abroad, by land, by sea, or in the air, are serving this country, that they, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore in all perils; and being filled with wisdom and girded with strength, may do their duty to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"IN GOD WE TRUST"
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