Eye on Extremism - May 29, 2019

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Eye on Extremism
May 29, 2019
RE: info@counterextremism.com

As of May 29, 2019:

CNN: Captured ISIS Fighter Says He Helped Imprison James Foley And Alan Henning

“Alexanda Kotey, a former ISIS fighter accused of forming one of the group's most notorious terror cells, admitted he was responsible for overseeing the imprisonment of western hostages James Foley, Alan Henning and John Cantlie. Foley, an American journalist, and Henning, a British aid worker, were beheaded on camera by the terror group in 2014. Cantlie's whereabouts are unknown. He was a British war photographer and correspondent before being captured by the group, and was featured as a presenter in several of ISIS' propaganda videos. Kotey is being held by Syrian Kurdish forces in Syria awaiting potential extradition to the US. The US State Department accuses him of engaging in ISIS executions and the “exceptionally cruel torture” of Western hostages. Speaking to the ITV News, Kotey explained that he joined ISIS as a regular fighter but was then given the job of extracting money from the hostages' families. He added that while there was little dialogue between the fighters and hostages -- they would “speak about Islam and speak about politics” if there were ever an opportunity to talk. Kotey was one of four Britons who started an ISIS cell nicknamed “the Beatles” for their British accents.”

Reuters: U.S. Calls Russian, Syrian Air Strikes 'Reckless Escalation' In Syria

“The United States continues to be alarmed by Syrian government and Russian air strikes in northwest Syria and believes they are a “reckless escalation” of violence, the State Department said on Tuesday. Government air strikes, backed by Russia, have focused on the south of Idlib province and nearby parts of Hama, uprooting nearly 250,000 people. The bombing has killed 229 civilians and injured 727 others, according to the UOSSM medical charity. “Indiscriminate attacks on civilians and public infrastructure such as schools, markets and hospitals is a reckless escalation of the conflict and is unacceptable,” said State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus. “The violence must end,” Ortagus said.”

The New York Times: Afghan Forces Hit With Wave Of Attacks On Eve Of Taliban Talks

“More than 40 people were killed across Afghanistan on Tuesday on the eve of talks between Afghan politicians and Taliban leaders in Moscow, as the militant group pursued a familiar tactic of intensifying its attacks before high-profile meetings. Thirteen Afghan soldiers were killed by Taliban fighters in Khost Province, and 23 people, including Afghan special operations forces, police officers, civilians and militia members, died in western Ghor Province. In northern Samangan, Taliban fighters nearly overran an Afghan military outpost, killing at least six Afghan police officers and soldiers, according to Afghan officials. But on Monday, Afghan soldiers wrested control of the Deh Yak district in southeastern Ghazni Province from Taliban fighters after a concerted offensive. The group had controlled the town for two years. The spurt of violence came as Afghan politicians, including one of the candidates vying to replace President Ashraf Ghani in elections in September, and members of the Taliban arrived in Moscow to celebrate 100 years of diplomatic relations with Russia. The ceremony serves as an excuse for informal peace talks between Afghan politicians and 14 Taliban negotiators.”

Fox News: Iran Seeking To Expand Military Program To Weapons Of Mass Destruction: German Intelligence

“While European powers still claim Iran's regime is in compliance with the nuclear deal, a new German intelligence report accuses the Islamic Republic of seeking to build weapons of mass destruction. Fox News obtained a May 2019 intelligence document from the state of Bavaria detailing Iran's nefarious weapons activities in the southern German state during the previous year. Iran is a "risk country" that is "making efforts to expand its conventional arsenal of weapons with weapons of mass destruction," wrote the Bavarian Office for the Protection of the Constitution in its intelligence report. The Bavarian agency is the rough equivalent of the FBI without arrest powers.”

Motherboard: Minds, The ‘Anti-Facebook,’ Has No Idea What To Do About All The Neo-Nazis

“A social network described as the "anti-Facebook" has become a haven for neo-Nazis connected to militant hate groups, Motherboard has found. Minds is a US-based social network that bills itself as being focused on transparency (its code is open source), free speech, and cryptocurrency rewards for users. Minds isn't quite as popular as Gab, but the far-right has burrowed into the platform in recent years. "The extreme right is always going to look for loopholes in content policies when it comes to propaganda and encouraging violence. The variable is where social media companies draw the line and decide that they don’t want to assist in this endeavor," Joshua Fisher-Birch, of the Counter Extremism Project, told Motherboard in an email. "Consistent Terms of Service and content policies paired with robust and consistent application across multiple platforms would prohibit violent and harmful actors from abusing these sites," Fisher-Birch said.”

Politico: Facebook’s Zuckerberg Faces Summons After Snubbing Canada

“Global frustration with Facebook was laid bare during an international hearing in Canada on Tuesday as lawmakers from several countries blasted top executives Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg for ducking a request to appear at the session. Lawmakers were so peeved by the no-show that a panel in Canada's House of Commons took the rare step of approving an open-ended summons for the duo: Next time either Zuckerberg or Sandberg set foot in Canada, they will be required to appear before a parliamentary committee with jurisdiction over tech issues. If they don't, Canadian lawmakers are threatening a vote to hold them in contempt of Parliament. "I am sick to death of sitting through hours of platitudes from Facebook and avoidance tactics," said United Kingdom MP Jo Stevens, one of many foreign lawmakers who attended the hearing. "I want the boss here to take responsibility.”

United States

The Sacramento Bee: ISIS Killer Or ‘Nicest Guy’? Lawyers Feud Over Sending Sacramento Man To Trial In Iraq

“The extradition hearing to decide whether accused ISIS killer Omar Ameen should be sent back to Iraq from Sacramento began Tuesday with his lawyers arguing there is no evidence Ameen killed a police officer there in 2014 or was even in Iraq at the time. Instead, federal defender Rachelle Barbour continued the defense’s assault on evidence being used to try to extradite Ameen, arguing that witness statements provided by Iraqi officials are contradictory and appear to include forged signatures. She also maintained that federal prosecutors have built their extradition case on only one witness who claims to have seen Ameen shoot a police officer in 2014 in Rawah, Iraq, and that the witness has given different statements to investigators about whether they actually were outside watching when the officer was gunned down. Federal prosecutors are seeking to extradite Ameen, who settled in Sacramento after coming to the United States in November 2014, to his homeland of Iraq to face murder charges in the slaying of the officer. Iraqi authorities have presented an extradition packet to the U.S. government claiming Ameen was among an ISIS convoy of pickup trucks that rolled into Rawah on a Sunday night and targeted the officer’s home because he was believed to have been helping American forces.”

The Wall Street Journal: Lawmakers Push For More Security At Houses Of Worship

“Local, state and federal lawmakers are pushing for funding to protect houses of worship following a series of deadly shootings, signaling that the days of the church with its doors propped open at all hours may be over. New York city council members want to include funding for security at houses of worship in the next budget, while state legislators in Connecticut are seeking $5 million to pay for measures such as cameras and shatterproof windows. In Washington, D.C., Sens. Rob Portman (R., Ohio) and Gary Peters (D., Mich.) introduced legislation earlier this month to authorize $75 million in grants to help secure religious gathering places and other nonprofit organizations—up from $60 million last fiscal year. The grants fund everything from surveillance cameras to active-shooter training, a step more religious organizations are taking.”

Fox News: Navy SEAL Accused Of Killing ISIS Prisoner Seeks To Toss Case Over Withheld Evidence

“Lawyers for a Navy SEAL accused of killing an Islamic State prisoner in Iraq in 2017 want the case thrown out because of alleged prosecutorial misconduct that include withholding evidence and conducting surveillance on the defense. Attorneys for Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher plan to ask a military court Wednesday in San Diego to dismiss the case or remove the prosecutor and, possibly, have the judge himself step aside. “Gallagher's case has been irreparably corrupted by a government campaign of outrageous and illegal conduct,” attorney Tim Parlatore said in the opening salvo of his motion to dismiss the charges. “This prosecution threatens to make an unequivocal farce of our justice system.” The motion comes with Gallagher's trial less than two weeks away and amid mounting pressure from the defense after lawyers discovered prosecutors planted tracking software in emails sent to the defense team and a journalist that may have violated attorney-client privilege and other constitutional rights. The Navy has said it did nothing wrong and has no plans to remove the prosecutor. A spokesman wouldn't comment on the motions.”

Syria

The New York Times: The Many Cruelties Of Syria

“Bashar al-Assad assassinated!” shouted a man as he cycled past Manaf Tlass, an exiled Syrian general once a member of Assad’s inner circle, as he sat in an outdoor cafe in Paris in 2017. A childhood friend of the Syrian president’s, Tlass had fled Syria five years earlier, denouncing the government that he expected to fall at any moment. The cyclist’s cry may have suggested that this outcome was finally at hand, but Tlass greeted the news with a pained smile. “That’s Ali, the guy I buy my newspapers from. He tells me this every time I see him,” he explained to Sam Dagher, the author of “Assad or We Burn the Country.” Tlass, the main insider source for this account of the Assad family’s half century in power, was one of many who underestimated the regime’s strength after the start of the Arab Spring uprising in Syria in 2011. “We’re coming for you,” one rebel threatened Assad in a television address the following year. Opposition forces attacked Damascus and Aleppo, the two biggest cities. Foreign governments assumed that Assad was on his way out and overconfidently discussed the best place for him to go — Africa or South America — after he had stepped down.”

Reuters: Exclusive: Islamic State Suspects Sent By U.S. From Syria To Iraq

“U.S. forces have quietly sent at least 30 suspected foreign Islamic State fighters captured in Syria last year and in late 2017 to stand trial in Iraq, interviews with the men, Iraqi sources and court documents show. Three of the men have been convicted of IS membership and sentenced to death by Iraqi courts, while five have been given life sentences. Four of them told Reuters they were tortured in prison, a claim Reuters was unable to verify. Iraq’s Counter Terrorism Service (CTS) denied that detainees were transferred to their custody from Syria in 2017 and 2018, and denied the detainees’ claims of torture. While the fate of thousands of IS fighters captured in Syria remains unresolved, the roughly 30 suspected foreign jihadists were transferred to Iraq in 2017 and 2018 after they were captured by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), according to Iraqi court files, U.S. detention records, intelligence and judicial sources as well as people familiar with the matter. The U.S. military’s Central Command, which oversees U.S. forces in the Middle East, declined to comment on Reuters’ findings, but acknowledged the challenges posed by detainees captured by Kurdish militias, whose authority is not internationally recognized.”

Al Jazeera: More Than 20 Civilians Killed In Attacks On Syria's Northwest

“More than 20 civilians were killed on Tuesday as the Syrian government continued its relentless bombardment against the last rebel stronghold in the country's northwest. The latest attacks came as the United Nations denounced world powers for doing nothing to halt the bloodshed and destruction. A month of intensified bombing of the region by Syria and its ally Russia has killed 229 civilians and wounded 727 others, according to the Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations (UOSSM) medical charity. Nine children were among the 21 killed in government fire on several towns in Idlib province and the countryside of neighbouring Aleppo on Tuesday, said the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor. Civil defence agency rescuers who work in opposition-held territory put the death toll at 24.”

Al Arabiya: France: Around 450 ISIS-Linked Nationals Detained In Syria

“Around 450 French nationals linked to ISIS are being held by Kurds or detained in refugee camps in northeastern Syria, the French foreign minister said Tuesday. “In the northeastern zone of Syria, we think that there are between 400 and 450 French people, some in camps, others held as prisoners, including children,” Jean-Yves Le Drian told parliament's foreign affairs committee. He said only the children could be repatriated if they were orphans or if their mothers gave permission. France has long insisted that it’s adult citizens captured in Iraq or Syria must face trial locally, refusing to repatriate them despite the risk they could receive death sentences. “Our position is still the same and we will not shift: fighters must be judged where they have committed crimes,” Le Drain said. A Baghdad court sentenced two more Frenchmen to death Tuesday for joining ISIS, raising the number of French ISIS members on death row in Iraq to six. Since March Paris has repatriated just five orphans and a three-year-old girl whose mother was sentenced to life in prison in Iraq. Le Drian said that more than 100 French fighters were still present in Idlib, the last militant stronghold in Syria’s northwest, which is being relentlessly bombed by President Bashar al-Assad’s troops.”

Iran

CBS News: Iran's Revolutionary Guard Says No Fear Of War With U.S., Top Diplomat Says No Interest In Talks

“Iran's influential Revolutionary Guard said Tuesday it doesn't fear a possible war with the United States and claimed that America hasn't grown in power in recent years -- the latest tough talk from Tehran amid escalating regional tensions and a crisis with Washington. “The enemy is not more powerful than before,” said the Guard spokesman, Gen. Ramazan Sharif. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif appeared unimpressed with Japan's offer to mediate in the crisis, saying Mr. Trump should make his intentions clear about any talks with Iran through actions, not words. Zarif accused the Trump administration of “hurting the Iranian people & causing tension in the region” with the sanctions, and added that “actions - not words - will show whether or not that's @realDonaldTrump's intent.” In Japan on Monday, President Trump said he'd back Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's efforts to open a communication with Iran. “I do believe Iran would like to talk and if they'd like to talk, we'll talk also,” he said. Iran has said it has no interest in negotiations with Washington following Mr. Trump's pullout from the nuclear deal and the re-imposing of sanctions on Iran.”

The New York Times: Bolton Says Iran Is Likely Responsible For Oil Tanker Attacks

“John R. Bolton, President Trump’s national security adviser, on Wednesday accused Iran of playing a key role in recent attacks on ships off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, the latest instance in which he has articulated a more hawkish view than his boss toward Iran. Ratcheting up his criticism of Tehran, Mr. Bolton tied the attacks this month on four oil vessels at the mouth of the Persian Gulf to “naval mines almost certainly from Iran.” President Trump withdrew last year from the 2015 nuclear accord that world powers struck with Iran and then reimposed broad sanctions, but in his comments to journalists during a visit to the emirates, reported by Reuters and The Associated Press, Mr. Bolton said there was “no reason” for Iran to breach the nuclear deal unless it were actually seeking atomic weapons. “There’s no reason for them to do it unless it is to reduce the breakout time to nuclear weapons,” he told journalists in Abu Dhabi, according to The A.P.”

BBC: Tankers Almost Certainly Damaged By Iranian Naval Mines, US Says

“US National Security Adviser John Bolton has said "naval mines almost certainly from Iran" were to blame for the damage to oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman earlier this month. Mr Bolton provided no evidence to support the allegation, which Iran said was "laughable". The attacks off the eastern coast of the United Arab Emirates on 12 May left holes in the hulls of four ships. The incident came amid an escalation in tensions between Iran and the US. Last Friday, US Vice Admiral Michael Gilday said he believed "with a high degree of confidence that this [attack] stems back to the leadership of Iran at the highest levels". Mr Bolton, a long-standing advocate for regime change in Iran, echoed the admiral's words during a visit to the UAE on Wednesday, telling reporters it was "clear that Iran is behind" the attack. "There's no doubt in anybody's mind in Washington who's responsible for this," he said. "Who else would you think is doing it? Someone from Nepal?"

The Jerusalem Post: Defying Iran, U.S. To Use Oman Ports For Persian Gulf Access

“The United States clinched a strategic port deal with Oman last week which US officials say will allow the US military better access the Gulf region and reduce the need to send ships through the Strait of Hormuz, a maritime choke point off Iran. The US embassy in Oman said in a statement that the agreement governed U.S. access to facilities and ports in Duqm as well as in Salalah and “reaffirms the commitment of both countries to promoting mutual security goals.” The accord is viewed through an economic prism by Oman, which wants to develop Duqm while preserving its Switzerland-like neutral role in Middle Eastern politics and diplomacy. But it comes as the United States grows increasingly concerned about Iran’s expanding missile programs, which have improved in recent years despite sanctions and diplomatic pressure by the United States. A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the deal was significant by improving access to ports that connect to a network of roads to the broader region, giving the U.S. military great resiliency in a crisis.”

The Washington Post: Iran Just Reached A New Low — And No One Noticed

“Last week the Islamic Republic of Iran reached a new low in its suppression of the press — and almost no one noticed. It’s already widely known that Iran is home to one of the most closed media landscapes on Earth. As the regime faces mounting domestic and foreign challenges, however, it’s becoming more cavalier than ever in its attempts to control how news gets covered. In recent months, more domestic news outlets are closing from a lack of funds. Others have shut down because they have lost their permission to publish. As a result, Twitter and other social media are increasingly where the most critical news-gathering is happening in the country. So when Masoud Kazemi, an experienced reporter charged with propaganda against the state for tweeting about government corruption, went to court on May 22, he didn’t expect anything good. But the reality surpassed even his pessimistic expectations.”

U.S. News: In UAE, Trump's Adviser Accuses Iran Of Seeking Nuclear Arms

“Donald Trump's national security adviser said Wednesday there was "no reason" for Iran to back out of its nuclear deal with world powers other than to seek atomic weapons, a year after the U.S. president unilaterally withdrew America from the accord. John Bolton, long a hawk on Iran, also claimed — without offering evidence — that the alleged sabotage of four oil tankers off the coast of the United Arab Emirates came from naval mines placed "almost certainly by Iran." Speaking in Abu Dhabi, the Emirati capital, Bolton told journalists that there had been a previously unknown attempt to attack the Saudi oil port of Yanbu as well. However, Bolton stressed that the U.S. has not seen any further Iranian attacks in the time since, something he attributed to military deployments — America recently sent an aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers to the Persian Gulf. He warned the U.S. would strike back if attacked.”

Iraq

Foreign Policy: How ISIS Still Threatens Iraq

“Each day, villagers in the hamlet of Abu Teban fear the arrival of darkness. “At night, they attack us,” said Dakhyl Ibrahim Ramayed, a local leader, referring to the return of the Islamic State to this desert region of Anbar province. He pointed to the arid land bordering the small clump of homes that make up the village and a nearby blown-up house. “Daesh”—the Arabic pejorative for the Islamic State—can spring out of nowhere, said Ramayed, who was imprisoned eight times under the militant group and knows its brutality first hand. “We put cameras on the house, guards on the roofs, and our people guard us until the morning because we need to sleep and there are no security forces,” he said. The Islamic State appears to be returning to an insurgency in Iraq—or trying to. Since the fall of Baghouz, the last Islamic State stronghold in Syria, in March, at least a thousand militants are suspected to have crossed into Iraq. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the spiritual leader of the organization, was believed to be in largely Sunni-dominated Anbar when he issued his first video in five years last month. Many militants live in tunnel networks built by the Islamic State and stocked with the necessary food and clothing, and they operate in cells of five to 10 people.”

Al Jazeera: Iraq Sentences Two More French ISIL Members To Death

“Iraq has sentenced two more French ISIL members to death and their execution is expected within three days. Tuesday's ruling brings the total number of French former members of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) to six. The men - identified as Karam el-Harchaoui and Brahim Nejara, both in their 30s - are among a group of 12 French citizens who were captured by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in neighbouring Syria and handed over to Iraq in January. Four other French ISIL members - identified as Mustapha Merzoughi, Kevin Gonot, Leonard Lopez and Salim Machou - were sentenced to death on Sunday and Monday. Iraqi courts have placed on trial hundreds of foreigners, condemning many to life in prison and others to death, although foreign ISIL members have not yet been executed. The trials have been criticised by rights groups, which say they often rely on evidence obtained through torture. They have also raised the question of whether suspected ISIL fighters should be tried in the region or repatriated, in the face of strong public opposition at home.”

The National Interest: Not Rip: How ISIS Is Going Virtual

“Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, the self-declared caliph of the Islamic State (ISIS) appeared recently in a short video to demonstrate he is alive, well and on duty. Gone are the days of his declaration of so-called Caliphate and control of territories in Iraq and Syria the size of Britain with a population of almost ten million. His modest attitude in the video was an attempt to revitalize his shattering organization with a message of thankfulness to those who lost their lives in defense of ISIS, his appreciation of the loyalties of Wilayahs (Provinces) and allegiance to their global cause. It is noteworthy that Baghdadi’s appeared right after the U.S.-supported Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces captured the last territory of the ISIS in the Syrian town of Baghouz. Baghdadi now has two options. One is to take advantage of the chaotic situation in Syria and Iraq to lead the insurgency. The Western interest in fighting, which was mobilized against the territorial caliphate, has waned and the U.S. forces are packing to come back home. In addition to a pool of thousands of supporters, entrenched Sunni frustration in Iraq promises ongoing recruitment opportunities for ISIS. Moreover, Sunni frustration is mainly provoked by the Iranian-led groups’ sectarianism and the lack of effective governmental authority in Baghdad and Damascus.”

Iraqi News: Iraqi Airstrike Kills 10 Islamic State Militants In Salahuddin

“Iraqi warplanes killed on Tuesday 10 Islamic State militants and destroyed two armored vehicles during an air raid in Salahuddin province. “The Iraqi Air Force, in coordination with Salahuddin Operations Command, carried out an airstrike targeting Islamic State terrorists in Allas district in Salahuddin,” Alsumaria News quoted the Security Media Cell as saying in a press statement. The air raids left 10 Islamic State militants killed and two armored vehicles destroyed, including a booby-trapped one, the statement read. The operation also resulted in destroying two oil tankers at the site. Iraq declared the collapse of Islamic State’s territorial influence in November 2017 with the recapture of Rawa, a city on Anbar’s western borders with Syria, which was the group’s last bastion in Iraq. IS declared a self-styled “caliphate” in a third of Iraq and neighboring Syria in 2014. A government campaign, backed by a U.S.-led international coalition and paramilitary forces, was launched in 2016 to retake IS-held regions, managing to retake all havens, most notably the city of Mosul, the group’s previously proclaimed capital.”

Daily Sabah: Daesh Terror Group Burns 5,000 Acres Of Crops Across Iraq: Official

“Daesh terror group has been setting fire to the livelihoods of Iraqi farmers in Kirkuk, Salahaddin, Mosul, Al-Anbar and Diyala provinces, an Iraqi government official said Tuesday. Iraqi Ministry of the Interior's Civil Defense General Director Kadim Salman told Anadolu Agency (AA) that the terror group has burned 5,000 acres of agricultural land, usually late at night. Salman said the government has formed crisis groups to prevent the burning of more crops. He said the resources of civil defense directorates in the affected cities were insufficient, and the directorates had requested emergency support from the government. The government responded by providing them with vehicles and equipment to aid their efforts to prevent and quickly intervene in crop fires. Efforts to quickly put out the fires have been successful in many areas, managing to save 11,000 acres of agricultural land from the flames, Salman said. Salman said Daesh has been setting the fires to take revenge on local residents and farmers who did not support them against the Iraqi military as they lost power in the country. He said Daesh is also attempting to cause wider damage by blasting power lines passing through the agricultural areas, noting that security forces have an important duty to prevent these attacks from happening.”

Afghanistan

The Washington Post: Taliban Co-Founder Emerges As The Group’s New Public Face In Moscow Peace Talks

“When members of the Taliban and Afghan politicians met Tuesday in the Russian capital for talks aimed at ending the war in their country, one face in particular stood out: Abdul Ghani Baradar, a co-founder of the Taliban and the head of its political office, who spoke publicly for the first time about the need for a peace deal. Baradar’s comments showed that the insurgency’s leadership was willing to advance peace talks and signaled that efforts to end the protracted U.S.-led war in Afghanistan could be gaining momentum despite continued deadly attacks by the Taliban across the country. ”The Islamic Emirate is firmly committed to peace, but the first step is to remove obstacles and end the occupation of Afghanistan,” Baradar said, referring to the Taliban by the group’s preferred name. The Taliban has repeatedly called for the full withdrawal of U.S. forces before any peace settlement can be agreed upon. The United States has 14,000 troops in the country. Sitting near Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at a large round table in a central Moscow hotel, Baradar addressed a room full of Afghan power brokers, many of whom are political rivals of President Ashraf Ghani. As with previous meetings involving the Taliban, no members of the government in Kabul, whom the Taliban views as American ”puppets,” attended.”

Voice Of America: Taliban, Russia Demand Foreign Troops Leave Afghanistan

“The Taliban and Russia have jointly called for the withdrawal of U.S.-led coalition troops from Afghanistan, with a top leader of the Islamist insurgent group denouncing the foreign presence in the country as a major obstacle to Afghan peace. Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the political deputy of the Taliban, made the remarks in Moscow to a gathering of Russian and Afghan government personnel, as well as representatives from prominent political groups from the war-torn country. Russia organized the meeting to mark the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Afghanistan. “The Islamic Emirate [Taliban] is truly committed to peace but the first step is to remove obstacles in the way of peace, meaning the occupation of Afghanistan must come to an end,” Baradar said in rare public appearance and speech. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in his welcome address to the group urged that foreign forces leave Afghanistan. He underscored the importance of bilateral relations, saying Russia is ready to offer more help to Afghanistan to fight terrorist groups led by Islamic State and drug-trafficking networks. “This conflict in Afghanistan has no military solution and the only way to settle this issue is to rely on diplomacy and politics.”

Pakistan

The Washington Post: In Pakistan, Clash Between Army And Protesters Turns Deadly

“A deadly confrontation between Pakistani army troops and ethnic Pashtun protesters in a remote tribal region this weekend left at least three civilians dead, sparking a nationwide furor and marking a dangerous turning point in the growing conflict between the military and the country’s largest ethnic minority. The incident Sunday came after months of rising antagonism between the military and the Pashtun Protection Movement, known as the PTM, which has been crusading since last year against alleged abuses of civilians during the extended military campaign against Islamist militants. The group’s leaders have been arrested at mass rallies and warned by the army to back off their anti-military crusade. Military officials and Pashtun nationalist leaders, including a member of Parliament, gave sharply different accounts of the clash near a military post in North Waziristan, a tribal area near the Afghan border where the army has long battled armed extremists. According to statements from the military press department, a mob of angry protesters attacked the army post after surrounding it and demanding the release of a man it described as a “suspected terrorist facilitator.”

Yemen

The Jerusalem Post: Yemen's Houthi Rebels Begin Raising Funds For Cash-Strapped Hezbollah

“A radio station broadcasting in support of the Houthi rebels in war-torn Yemen has launched a fundraising campaign for Lebanon’s Hezbollah which is facing increasing financial pressure from American sanctions on Iran. The radio station, SAM FM, called on its listeners on Friday to “support the masters of the mujahideen in this world, the purest people, Hezbollah,” and to donate to the “From Yemen the Faithful to the Resistance of Lebanon” campaign during the final 10 days of Ramadan. A report in The National reported that SAM FM Broadcaster Hamoud Mohammad Sharaf told the Houthi-run Saba news as saying that his station’s fundraising efforts for Hezbollah would “have a significant impact in strengthening the Axis of Resistance” in reference to groups like Hezbollah and Hamas. According to a Twitter post by Fatima Abo Alasrar, a senior analyst for the Arabia Foundation in Washington, they were able to raise $120,000 from the campaign in the past month alone. Yemeni activist Summer Nasser, who has previously testified before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva about Yemen’s humanitarian crisis, the amount of money raised by the campaign can help thousands of Yemenis in terms of food or health care.”

Saudi Arabia

The Wall Street Journal: Arms For The Saudis

“President Trump is taking heat for bypassing Congress and selling billions of dollars in arms to Middle Eastern allies. The President often undermines his own agenda by reducing American foreign policy to commercial interests, but in this case he’s on firm legal and strategic ground. On Friday the White House told Congress that it is declaring an emergency and selling $8 billion in arms to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Jordan will also receive precision-guided missiles. The decision overrides objections in Congress on arms sales to the Saudis after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents. Earlier this year Congress voted to end U.S. support for Saudi Arabia’s challenge to Iran-backed rebels in Yemen, a policy begun under Barack Obama. Mr. Trump vetoed the bill, which relied on the unconstitutional War Powers Resolution of 1973."

Lebanon

The Washington Examiner: Not Supporting The Lebanese Army Is Akin To Supporting Iran And Hezbollah

“As we mourn the loss of Maronite Patriarch Emeritus Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir, we are reminded of his legacy of being a courageous defender of the sovereignty of Lebanon in the face of Syrian occupation. It is striking that he passed at a moment when tensions between Iran and the United States are running high and threaten to drag Lebanon into an unwanted conflict. Lebanon is a unique experiment in religious pluralism with religious freedom, freedom of the press, and a rich Christian history. Entangling foreign influence jeopardizes Lebanon’s sovereignty and causes instability, which could wreck Lebanon’s multiconfessional society. The only institution with the strength to defend Lebanese sovereignty is the Lebanese Armed Forces. U.S. support for the LAF is crucial to the role they play in providing stability and displacing other armed groups within Lebanon. With Congress in the throes of appropriation season, now is the time to consider what more we can do to strengthen the LAF as part of U.S. policy to counter destabilizing foreign influence and maintaining religious pluralism in Lebanon. Lebanon, historically the heart of Christianity in the Middle East, is the last safe haven for Christians in the region.”

Middle East

The Financial Times: International Tribunal For ISIS Offers Route To Justice

“It is easy to forget that, just five years ago, an area the size of Britain was held by Isis. The terror group can still inspire and co-ordinate horrifying attacks. But it has now been dislodged from its urban strongholds across Iraq and Syria. Among the by-products of the collapse of the Isis pseudo-state has been an intensification of the geopolitical struggle between its foes in the region. Its demise has also left the fate of several thousand European citizens who volunteered to fight for it unresolved. A proposal by Sweden’s interior minister, Mikael Damberg, for an international tribunal based in Iraq is worth considering. If well-implemented, it might offer a path to accountability for those who committed crimes under Isis.”

Egypt

Egypt Today: Egypt Protects Arab Nations Against Terrorism: MP

“Member of Defense and Security Committee at the Parliament Yehia el-Kedwany said that Egypt plays an important and strategic role to protect Arab countries against terrorism, namely war-torn Libya, Sudan and Yemen. The visits paid by Arab leaders to Egypt during the last period ensure that Cairo is the leader when it comes to protecting the Arab countries from terrorism. The MP said that Arab leaders are impressed with “Egypt’s ability to contain and eliminate terrorist activity down the Nile”. El-Kedwany added that “other countries are perplexed by Egypt’s stability and the Egyptian state’s commitment towards developing projects that are beneficial for the Egyptian people”. He said that the “Egyptian state is the true leader when it comes to trying to achieve peace and stability in the region because of its commitment to combat any type of terrorism”. The MP added that the “Egyptian people are proud of the army and the police’s heroic efforts towards protecting Egypt from harm”. In April, Egyptian President Abdel-Fatah al-Sisi sat down with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in order to discuss coordination plans which seek to stabilize the political conflicts on Libya, Syria and Yemen.”

France 24: Wanted Egyptian Jihadist Transferred From Libya

“One of the most-wanted Egyptian militants who was captured in neighbouring Libya last year has been transferred to Egypt, state media reported on Wednesday. Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar handed over Hisham el-Ashmawy after meeting with Egypt's intelligence services chief in Benghazi, his office said in a statement late Tuesday. Egyptian pro-government media broadcast footage of Ashmawy arriving in Egypt on a military aircraft early Wednesday morning. “The Libyan armed forces handed over the terrorist Hisham Ashmawy to the Egyptian general intelligence Tuesday evening,” state TV said on its website. A former officer with Egypt's special forces, Ashmawy left the army in 2012 and later joined Ansar Beit al-Maqdis which is based in the Sinai Peninsula. Ashmawy is believed to have gone to Libya in 2013, before Maqdis pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group in November 2014, becoming one of Egypt's most wanted terrorists. He is accused of being behind attacks in Egypt's Western Desert region, operating alongside Emad al-Din Abdel Hamid, another army officer-turned-jihadist chief. Ashmawy was captured by Haftar's forces in October 2018 in the city of Derna, east of Libya.”

Nigeria

Daily Post Nigeria: Boko Haram: Army Kills Two Terrorists Attempting To Enter Sambisa

“The Army on Tuesday disclosed that it has killed two terrorists, who attempted to cross into the Sambisa forest from Gwoza-Dure road in Borno State. Col. Sagir Musa, the Acting Director Army Public Relations, confirmed this in a statement on Tuesday. He said that the incident occurred on Sunday as troops embarked on a fighting patrol under the newly inaugurated “Operation Hallaka Dodo’’ by the 7 Division, Maiduguri. Musa said that the terrorists were attempting to move into the forest with supplies for their fellow insurgents when the troops engaged them. He said that assorted drugs and medicines meant for supply to their fellow criminals in the forest were recovered from them. The Army spokesman added that although the situation within the general area of the Division was calm, Operation Hallaka Dodo was being conducted by all Brigades and Battalions in their areas of responsibility.”

The Punch Nigeria: Nigerian Army Moves Thousands Away From Boko Haram

“Nigeria’s army has moved nearly 10,000 people from areas attacked by Boko Haram jihadi fighters in northeastern Borno state, the International Organization for Migration said Tuesday. The area around has seen heavy fighting and ambush attacks against soldiers as they escorted civilians from villages into larger towns. “As of 27 May 2019, a total of 9,432 individuals from Sabon Gari community were moved by the military to Damboa town,” the IOM said in a statement. On Friday, fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province faction of Boko Haram opened fire on a column of civilian vehicles under military escort. Five Nigerian soldiers died in that attack, security sources said, and an unknown number are still missing. The civilians were moved in four batches since 23 May. The army has repeatedly moved large numbers of civilians away from areas, ahead of major military offensives. While some 1,400 people have basic shelter in tents or in school classrooms, over 8,000 are staying in open areas without shelter, IOM said. Boko Haram’s decade-long campaign of violence has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions across the region. The violence has spilled over into neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon, prompting a regional military coalition to battle the jihadist group.”

Somalia

Xinhuanet: Security Forces Kill 4 Al-Shabab Fighters In Southern Somalia

“Somali security forces on Tuesday killed a senior al-Shabab terrorist and three other fighters as they intensified assault against the insurgents in the Horn of Africa nation. "Al-Shabab leader in Adala district and three al-Shabab terrorist were killed in Gaharey, 40 km from Adale," the ministry of information said on Tuesday evening. The ministry did not provide the identity of the senior al-Shabab leader killed. There was no an immediate comment from al-Qaida allied group al-Shabab on the latest incident. Somali forces backed by African Union Mission in Somalia have stepped up operations on al-Shabab in central and southern Somalia, conducting consecutive operations to flush the militants out of those regions. The group still stages attacks against Somali and African Union peacekeeping forces, targeting their bases, hotels and other public places despite intensified operations from the allied forces.”

United Kingdom

The Independent: ISIS 'Beatle' Alexanda Kotey Admits He Helped Plan London Terror Plot

“A member of an Isis cell nicknamed “The Beatles” has admitted his part in a plot to kill soldiers, police officers and civilians in a series of drive-by moped shootings in London. Alexanda Kotey, who is now in a jail operated by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces jail in Syria, also admitted to helping to direct funds towards the attackers, Tarik Hassane and Suhaib Majeed, who were sentenced to life in prison in 2016. They had planned to shoot their targets from a moped in drive-by shootings at Shepherd’s Bush police station and the Parachute Regiment Territorial Barracks in White City. Kotey told ITV News the attack was intended to be part of a wider plan to create sleeper cells in European countries. He said: “The idea was to plant people in countries so that if there was any aggression from these countries they would have people who would conduct a mission.” Kotey, who is originally from London, also said he would arrange for donations made in Britain to reach the terror group in Syria. “When people would raise donations in Britain I would co-ordinate with them to send money to us,” he said. ”I used my phone to communicate.”

France

Kurdistan 24: France ‘Multiplying Efforts’ To Stop Executions Of 6 French Nationals Who Fought With ISIS

“The number of French nationals condemned to death in Iraq rose to six after an Iraqi court on Tuesday sentenced two more French members of the so-called Islamic State to death. The two men were identified as Karam Salam Mohammed El-Harchaoui and Brahim Ali Mansour Nejara, who had been involved in recruiting Europeans to join the Islamic State and encouraging others to carry out attacks in France. France’s Foreign Ministry has said it is opposed, in principle, to the execution of its citizens but accepts Iraqi sovereignty. Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian reiterated Paris’ position on Tuesday, underlining his country’s position that members of the terror group should be tried where they committed their crimes. “We are multiplying efforts to avoid the death penalty for these…French people,” he said on France-Inter radio, according to the Associated Press. On Sunday, the Iraqi Criminal Court in Baghdad’s Karkh district sentenced the first three of the six French nationals to death for being members of the Islamic State. A day later, on Monday, another one was handed the death penalty. The six are among 12 French Islamic State members who were arrested by the US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Syria and transferred to Iraqi custody earlier this year.”

Southeast Asia

Reuters: Freed Sri Lanka Buddhist Monk Vows To Expose Islamist Militancy

“A hardline Buddhist monk accused of inciting violence against minority Muslims in Sri Lanka said on Tuesday he planned to denounce Islamist militants after he was freed from prison last week by presidential pardon. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara, head of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) or “Buddhist Power Force”, was pardoned by President Maithripala Sirisena after serving nine months of a six-year sentence for contempt of court. Rights activists said his release sent a message that majority Buddhists could incite hate against minorities. Gnanasara has denied allegations that he encouraged violence against Muslims and Christians, saying he only highlighted threats from militants. His pardon came a week after rioters attacked Muslim-owned homes, shops, and mosques in apparent reprisal for Easter bombings, claimed by Islamic State, that killed more than 250 people. Police said Gnanasara’s group had no links to the attacks. At a news conference on Tuesday, Gnanasara said Sri Lankan followers of Wahhabism, a conservative branch of Islam, were indirectly responsible for the April 21 bombings on churches and hotels.”

Technology

The Atlantic: Facebook’s Dystopian Definition Of ‘Fake’

“Every time another “fake video” makes the rounds, its menace gets rehashed without those discussing it establishing what “fakeness” means in the first place. The latest one came last week, a doctored video of Nancy Pelosi. Unlike so-called deepfakes (machine-learning-made videos in which people appear to say or do things that never actually happened), this video is not technically sophisticated at all. It was altered by slowing down the playback and modifying the soundtrack. The result retains the pitch of Pelosi’s voice but makes it sound as if she is slurring her words, incoherent or drunk. Many news outlets called it a fake; others called it doctored or distorted. Whatever you want to label it, the video was created to spread, and that’s exactly what happened. The Facebook page Politics WatchDog posted a version that has been viewed millions of times, eliciting sneering comments about Pelosi, possibly from viewers who didn’t realize that the video had been manipulated. Others appeared on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and elsewhere.”

The Verge: Facebook Should Do More To Stop Malicious Propaganda Videos

“On Friday, the Washington Post reported that a video purporting to show House Speaker Nancy Pelosi slurring her words was racking up millions of views and shares on social networks, with Facebook leading the way on engagement. In reality, the (still unknown) creator of the video had slowed footage of Pelosi to 75 percent the speed of the original, while adjusting the pitch of her voice to make it sound more natural. The result was catnip for conservative partisans eager to paint the congresswoman as a drunken buffoon. The video’s rapid spread around the internet sparked new fears that our politics were on the cusp of being radically and irreversibly changed by the introduction of digitally altered propaganda. Over the weekend, the situation generated an extraordinary amount of commentary — on what it suggests about our future, and on what social networks should do about it. Facebook ran its standard misinformation playbook, labeling the video as false and offering anyone who tried to share the video an opaque pseudo-warning letting the user know that there is “additional reporting available.” Monika Bickert, who is in charge of policy at Facebook, went on Anderson Cooper 360 to defend this approach.”