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Arrow Eye on Extremism - October 8, 2019

Eye on Extremism
October 8, 2019
RE: info@counterextremism.com

As of October 8, 2019:


NOTE: Eye On Extremism will be suspended on Wednesday, October 9. It will resume on Thursday, October 10.


Politico: Congress Pressures Trump To Back Down On Syria 'Betrayal'

“President Donald Trump changed the conversation from impeachment — at least for a day — with his move to abruptly withdraw U.S. forces from Syria. But he also opened a front with Congress that may prove unsustainable. From steadfast GOP allies and liberal Democrats backing an impeachment inquiry, the blowback to Trump is coming from all angles, suggesting a real bipartisan pressure campaign that could force the president to reverse himself.”

The New York Times: Trump’s Green Light To Turkey Raises Fears About ISIS Detainees

“President Trump’s sudden blessing of a Turkish military operation in northern Syria and his announcement of an American troop withdrawal from that region raised questions about the fate of thousands of Islamic State detainees that the Turks’ targets, American-backed Syrian Kurds, have been holding in makeshift wartime prisons. Mr. Trump insisted that Turkey must assume responsibility for the captured ISIS fighters and their families. But it is far from clear what will happen to them, and a host of issues arose from Mr. Trump’s abrupt, if still murky, change in policy. The situation is deeply complicated. For now, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces control northern Syria. They have been the primary American ally inside Syria in the war against the Islamic State, carrying out the brunt of the ground-level fighting with support from American airstrikes and weapons. They operate prisons where ISIS members are detained. The Kurds are menaced from the north by Turkey, which has been fighting separatist Kurds inside its borders for years and considers the Syrian Kurds to be terrorists, too. Meanwhile, President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, backed by Russia, controls the southern part of the country and wants to eventually retake it all, raising the possibility of a deal with the Kurds.”

The Washington Post: The Taliban Still Hasn’t Broken With Al-Qaeda

“Late last month, Afghan and U.S. forces targeted Asim Umar, chief of al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), at a Taliban compound in Afghanistan’s Helmand province. While the fate of Umar is unknown, several militants were reportedly killed during the operation, including the Taliban’s local explosives expert and Umar’s courier, who transported messages to al-Qaeda’s leader Ayman al-Zawahiri. This development raises serious questions about the Taliban’s promises, made during the now-frozen U.S.-Taliban talks, to break ties with its longtime partner al-Qaeda. It suggests that the American hope of detaching the Taliban from its al-Qaeda allies, before making a deal with the Taliban, is nowhere near to being fulfilled. The unvarnished reality on the ground is that al-Qaeda remains an important factor in the Taliban insurgency. The two terrorist groups are codependent allies, and their partnership endured for nearly 23 years. Currently, the Taliban serves as the primary partner for AQIS, al-Qaeda’s regional affiliate, and almost all other terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan. The alliance is grounded in mutual cooperation, driven by common jihadist obligation, ideology and a shared hatred for the United States.”

BBC News: German Lorry Attack In Limburg Seen As 'Act Of Terrorism'

“An attack on motorists in the western town of Limburg is being investigated as terrorism, security sources have told German media. On Monday, a man hijacked a lorry and ploughed into eight vehicles waiting at a traffic light, injuring eight people. Seven were treated in hospital. A thirty-two year-old suspect has been arrested. Originally from Syria, he has been living in Germany since 2015, local reports say. Public broadcaster ZDF quoted sources as saying the incident was being treated by investigators as having a “terrorist background”, although Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said on Tuesday he could not yet say how the incident was being classified. Police searched a flat in Langen south of Frankfurt early on Tuesday and said it was linked to what had happened in Limburg, local reports said. The owner of the stolen lorry told the Frankfurter Neue Presse (FNP) newspaper that he had been dragged from his vehicle by the man, who had forced the door open. “What do you want from me?” the driver said he asked the man. “He didn't say a word. I asked him a again and then he dragged me out of the lorry.” Another witness, Bettina Yeisley, described talking to the hijacker afterwards without realising he had driven the lorry.”

Huff Post: Government Not Doing Enough To Tackle 'Hateful Extremism', Report Finds

“The government’s response to tackling extremism is “inadequate” and is in need of a complete transformation, a new report states. Sara Khan, leader of the Commission for Countering Extremism, called for better protection for victims and support for those working to tackle extremism. She also urged the Home Secretary to set up a new task force involving both government and public bodies to tackle the issue. The commission’s recommendations have been set out in its first major report since it was set up in the wake of the 2017 terrorist attacks in London and Manchester. The review – based on 3,000 responses to the inquiry, survey data and visits to 20 towns and cities – found another category of extremist behaviour, named by the commission as hateful extremism, which is different from terrorism and violent extremism. Hateful extremism has been defined as behaviour which can “incite and amplify hate” or make the “moral case for violence” and could put people at risk of harm, the report said. Such behaviour may direct “hateful, hostile or supremacist beliefs” to groups perceived to be a threat to “well-being, survival or success.” The report also found the general population have a “deep concern” about extremism, with 76% of those who responded to a consultation saying more needs to be done to tackle it and nearly 50% saying they have witnessed some form of this behaviour.”

Vice: How Telegram Became White Nationalists' Go-To Messaging Platform

“VICE News analyzed 150 public-facing far-right Telegram channels and found that more than two-thirds were created in the first eight months of 2019. And not only do white nationalists have a much more robust presence on Telegram than they did two years ago, but their channels have grown more sophisticated, violent and terroristic over time. “They’re building this infrastructure, and working on carving out their own little network for people who subscribe to far-right ideologies,” said Joshua Fisher-Birch, a research analyst at the Counter Extremism Project.”

United States

The Wall Street Journal: U.S. Adds Chinese Firms To Blacklist, Citing Repression Of Muslim Minorities

“The U.S. added 28 Chinese entities to an export blacklist Monday, citing their role in Beijing’s repression of Muslim minorities in northwest China, just days before high-level trade talks are set to resume in Washington. The action, which the U.S. said wasn’t related to trade talks, was nonetheless likely to disturb Chinese officials already incensed over what Beijing sees as U.S. support for an increasingly disruptive pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong. “I think the Chinese are probably going to see a connection, even if the administration says there isn’t one,” said Matthew Goodman, senior adviser for Asian economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank. “It’s going to complicate the discussions this week…the timing is going to be awkward for the Chinese.”

KTVB: Nampa Man Pleads Guilty To Terrorism Charge

“A Nampa man admitted last week to a terrorism charge as part of an agreement with prosecutors that allowed him to shed other counts. Grant Stevenson pleaded guilty to felony terrorism after sending online messages to Nampa Police threatening to release a deadly nerve agent at a Nampa apartment complex and set off bombs around town in March.”

Syria

The Wall Street Journal: Trump’s Call To Leave Syria Draws Fire From GOP Allies

“President Trump’s latest move to end U.S. involvement in Syria drew a burst of condemnation from dedicated supporters, who warned that abandoning a key ally, the Kurds, and walking away from the fight against Islamic State would cause irreparable damage to U.S. interests. Congressional leaders including GOP Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida, Ted Cruz of Texas and top Democrats sharply criticized Mr. Trump’s decision. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) urged Mr. Trump to “exercise American leadership” and keep U.S. troops in northern Syria, joining a chorus of lawmakers who warned against withdrawing from the area.”

Associated Press: Syria’s Kurds Stand To Lose All Gains From US Pullout

“Syria’s Kurds accused the U.S. of turning its back on its allies and risking gains made in the fight against the Islamic State group as American troops began pulling back on Monday from positions in northeastern Syria ahead of an expected Turkish assault. U.S. President Donald Trump’s abrupt decision to stand aside — announced by the White House late Sunday — infuriated Kurds, who stand to lose the autonomy they gained in the course of Syria’s civil war.”

The Wall Street Journal: With Friends Like the U.S.

“President Trump’s defeat of Islamic State as a territorial power was a major foreign-policy success, yet he may now undo it with a retreat from Syria that will also signal to U.S. allies that the White House can’t be trusted. That’s the risk of Mr. Trump’s abrupt decision late Sunday to abandon northern Syria to Turkey. Washington and Ankara had been negotiating to create a buffer zone to avoid a conflict there, but on Sunday the White House announced that American forces will cede the area to Turkish troops. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is now free to wage war on Syria’s Kurds, who were America’s most important allies against ISIS.”

U.S. News & World Report: Trump Administration Appears to Reverse Syria Decision Following Backlash

“A senior administration official on an organized call with reporters appeared to contradict President Donald Trump about Syria policy late Monday, refuting interpretations of his statements from earlier in the day that prompted broad outrage from supporters and opponents alike. The U.S. is not removing its forces from Syria in the face of a Turkish incursion, said the official, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Rather, the president ordered roughly 50 special operations troops in northern Syria to relocate to a different part of the country after he learned that Turkey has planned an offensive against U.S.-backed Kurdish forces in Syria. The official said that offensive had not yet begun.”

Fox News: Gen. Jack Keane: Trump's Syria Withdrawal Is A 'Betrayal' And Would Be A 'Strategic Blunder'

“As President Trump prepares to draw down U.S. troops from northeastern Syria to extricate America from what he called "endless wars," Gen. Jack Keane said the move is a "betrayal" of the Kurdish people, and strongly advised against it, on "America's Newsroom" Monday. "There's one word that describes this for me, betrayal," he said. "I think it's a strategic blunder that will have significant implications... We went into eastern Syria to defeat ISIS. The Syrian democratic forces, which the Kurds were a part of, had 60,000 ground troops. We provided 2,000 to help them. It took us two years. We fought every single day to defeat ISIS. The Syrian Kurds, who we're talking about here, lost over 11,000 in that fight.”

The Guardian: Australia Says It Won't Risk More Lives Trying To Rescue Citizens From Northern Syria

“The Australian government has no immediate plan to rescue its citizens – including 20 women and more than 40 children – stranded in dangerous and squalid camps in northern Syria, arguing it will not risk more Australian lives trying to get them out. But as Turkish troops mass on the border ahead of an expected invasion, a Sydney grandfather whose daughter and grandchildren are trapped in Al-Hawl camp argues Syria is “safer today than it will be tomorrow”. Kamalle Dabboussy said he had safely visited the camps recently, and urged Australia to repatriate its citizens while US troops are still providing a measure of security in the region.”

NPR: U.S. Officials Caught Off Guard By Trump's Shift In Northern Syria

“Two U.S. officials tell NPR that military leaders involved in countering ISIS were surprised by President Trump's sudden policy shift — pulling support for Kurdish allies from Northern Syria.”

The New York Times: U.S. Pullback In Syria Could Aid Assad And ISIS

“Before dawn on Monday, at a military base in northeastern Syria, an American general delivered the bad news to his Syrian counterpart. The United States was going to allow Turkish forces to move into the area, leaving the Kurdish-led Syrian militia vulnerable. “You are leaving us alone,” the Syrian commander, Mazlum Kobani, responded angrily, and accused the United States of complicity in a looming Turkish attack, according to a United States official and another person with knowledge of the meeting. President Trump’s surprise announcement that the United States would allow Turkey to take over a swath of northeastern Syria, at the expense of the militia that fought alongside the United States against the Islamic State, could alter the course of the country’s eight-year civil war. In addition to betraying the militia, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, analysts said, the move could empower Turkey, extending its control over another part of northern Syria. It could also create a void in the region that could benefit President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, Russia, Iran and the Islamic State, also known as ISIS. And it would likely further limit the United States’ influence over the conflict.”

The Washington Post: Syrian Kurds See American Betrayal And Warn Fight Against ISIS Is Now In Doubt

“For the past five years, Syrian Kurds have stood alongside the United States in its effort to vanquish the Islamic State, in the process securing control over a vast area of Syria they hoped would form the nucleus of an autonomous Kurdish region. The unexpected announcement by President Trump that he will draw down the U.S. military presence in Syria to make way for Turkish troops was greeted by the Kurds as a betrayal of the trust established during the fight, which has cost the lives of more than 12,000 members of the Syrian Democratic Forces, the joint Kurdish-Arab militia formed to battle the militants. It remains unclear how extensive the U.S. troop drawdown or a Turkish incursion will be. A small number of U.S. troops pulled out Tuesday from two observation posts on the Turkish border, in the towns of Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ain, that were established this year in an effort to create a buffer zone along the border in cooperation with Turkey. From Turkey’s perspective, the U.S. partnership with the Kurds has always represented an affront to its decades-old NATO alliance with the United States.”

Bloomberg: Graham Says Trump’s ‘Biggest Lie’ Is Of Islamic State’s Defeat

“One of Donald Trump’s biggest defenders in Congress rebuked the president’s decision to step aside from Kurdish allies in Syria while Turkey’s military advances, saying it would result in the re-emergence of ISIS. “ISIS is not defeated, my friend. The biggest lie being told by the administration is that ISIS is defeated,” Senator Lindsey Graham told “Fox and Friends” in a phone call Monday. “The Caliphate is destroyed, but there’s thousands of fighters” still there. Graham said he would sponsor a resolution urging Trump to reconsider the decision he called “shortsighted and irresponsible.” Graham said he and Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen will also introduce a resolution to impose sanctions on Turkey if it invades Syria. The sharp criticism from Graham, a South Carolina Republican who usually is one of Trump’s fiercest defenders in the Senate, signals the president’s plan could meet resistance on Capitol Hill. Other Republican lawmakers were joining in expressing misgivings on Monday, echoing the admonishment that prompted Trump to reverse course on a similar pullout announced last year. Senator Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican, said on Twitter that “the Trump administration has made a grave mistake that will have implications far beyond Syria.”

The Daily Beast: Trump To Kurds: We Paid You To Destroy ISIS, You’re On Your Own Now

“It’s clear that Donald Trump feels no remorse over his decision to abandon the U.S. military’s Kurdish allies in Syria to make way for an attack from Turkey. The White House announced late Sunday that U.S. troops will withdraw from northern Syria and leave the Kurds, who have carried out the majority of the fighting against ISIS and led the fight to take down the terror group’s “caliphate,” to face an invasion from Turkey. Writing Monday morning, Trump more or less said “tough luck” to the allies he’s abandoned, saying the Kurds “will now have to figure the situation out.” He wrote: “The Kurds fought with us, but were paid massive amounts of money and equipment to do so. They have been fighting Turkey for decades. I held off this fight for almost 3 years, but it is time for us to get out of these ridiculous Endless Wars, many of them tribal, and bring our soldiers home. WE WILL FIGHT WHERE IT IS TO OUR BENEFIT, AND ONLY FIGHT TO WIN.” The president added: “We are 7000 miles away and will crush ISIS again if they come anywhere near us!”

The Guardian: Kurds Have Been Preparing For Trump’s Syria Betrayal—With A Vengeance

“Late Sunday night in Washington, the White House announced it was pulling U.S. troops out of northeast Syria to clear the way for a Turkish invasion. The Kurds there who led the fight on the ground that defeated the so-called Islamic State had seen President Donald Trump’s betrayal coming. But still they hoped it could be avoided. “Don’t let the Turks disrupt my wedding,” our translator texted in September prior to our arrival in the region. For more than a year, we have been visiting almost monthly to interview captured ISIS cadres held by the Kurdish and Arab troops of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as part of a project for the International Center for the Study of Violent Extremism.”

Iran
The Jerusalem Post: Iran Charges Famous Kurdish Singer With Being Gay, Faces Execution

“Iran has alleged that a prominent singer is gay and under the Islamic Republic’s anti-homosexual laws he could face the death penalty. BBC journalist Ali Hamedani tweeted on Sunday that “A famous Iranian singer from the Kurdish province of Kermanshah has been ‘accused’ of being a homosexual and could face execution. Iran executes gay men.”

The National Interest: In A Conflict, Iran Would Wage A Missile War Against America

“Just when you thought you’d seen it all in the six-year-long Syrian civil war, the conflict took another turn when Iran launched a missile attack against Islamic State militants in the province of Deir ez-Zour last Sunday. Iran depicted the attack, which was reportedly the first time Iran used missiles since the Iran-Iraq War, as a response to the ISIS attacks on the Iranian parliament and mausoleum of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini earlier this month.”

The New York Times: Iran Unveils Kit To Convert Artillery Rockets Into Guided Missiles

“The Iranian military has unveiled what it claims is a conversion kit that converts artillery rockets into surface-to-surface missiles – technology that Israel has accused Tehran of trying to deliver to Hezbollah, according to a report. The Islamic Republic unveiled the new guidance system upgrade — called Labeik – last week at an event where several new military technologies were showcased, according to a report in Jane’s Defence Weekly.”

Iraq

Foreign Policy: In Iraq, Protesters Are Sick Of Corruption And Foreign Influence

“Few Iraqis relish widespread recognition and support as much as Lt. Gen. Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi. Though he’s relatively unknown outside of Iraq, Saadi’s contributions to fighting terrorism in Iraq have been highly significant in ridding the country of the Islamic State. Suddenly, late last month, Saadi was unceremoniously stripped of his position in the Iraqi Army and transferred to an administrative role in the Ministry of Defense. The demotion of the celebrated general outraged his many supporters and triggered some of the deadliest protests seen in Iraq and the Middle East in recent years.”

The Atlantic: How ISIS Returns

“This is the story of how the Islamic State could make its comeback. For weeks now, Iraq has been rocked by anti-government protests and violent crackdowns. Its prime minister, a U.S. ally, may resign. And now America’s local partners in Syria, the Kurds—who have done more than anyone to roll back ISIS there at the expense of thousands of lives—have been left on their own to face a potential invasion by their powerful, NATO-allied arch-nemesis, Turkey. In a sequence of events we have seen before, President Donald Trump abruptly announced a major decision on Syria after a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. This time, he said U.S. troops would withdraw from positions in northeastern Syria, exposing their partners in the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) by allowing Erdoğan to launch a long-wished-for invasion into their territory. (Erdoğan aims to remove the Kurds from their strongholds near the Turkish border because he regards them as terrorists.) Trump’s move sparked a bipartisan backlash in Congress today, prompting him to vow on Twitter that he would use his “great and unmatched wisdom” to ensure that Turkey didn’t do anything “off limits.”

Iraqi News: Seven IS Terrorists Killed During Counter-Terrorism Operation In Kirkuk

“An Iraqi counter-terrorism force said on Tuesday that seven Islamic State militants were killed during a security operation in the oil-rich province of Kirkuk. “A Counter-Terrorism Service force, in coordination with the U.S.-led international coalition, carried out a security operation in Daquq area in Kirkuk,” the Iraqi Security Media Cell said in a press statement. The troops killed seven terrorists and destroyed several hotbeds and tunnels in the operation, the statement added. 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. Despite the group’s crushing defeat at its main havens across Iraq, Islamic State continues to launch sporadic attacks against troops with security reports warning that the militant group still poses a threat against stability in the country.”

Turkey

CNN: Trump Threatens To 'Obliterate' Turkey's Economy If They Do Anything 'Off Limits' With ISIS

“President Donald Trump threatened to “obliterate” Turkey's economy if the country does anything he considers to be off limits pertaining to ISIS, as the country prepares to execute an operation without US support in northern Syria. “As I have stated strongly before, and just to reiterate, if Turkey does anything that I, in my great and unmatched wisdom, consider to be off limits, I will totally destroy and obliterate the Economy of Turkey (I've done before!),” the President tweeted Monday morning. “They must, with Europe and others, watch over the captured ISIS fighters and families. The US has done far more than anyone could have ever expected, including the capture of 100% of the ISIS Caliphate.” The threat comes after the White House released a readout of a call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. According to the White House, the two discussed the execution of a long-planned operation in Northern Syria which will not be supported by US Armed Forces, and the White House announced that the US would delegate the responsibility of ISIS fighters captured in the last two years to Turkey. The move marks a major shift in US foreign policy and effectively gives Turkey the green light to attack US-backed Kurdish forces.”

Afghanistan

BBC News: Afghanistan Taliban Commanders Freed 'In Swap For Indian Hostages'

“Several senior Taliban members have been released in exchange for three kidnapped Indian engineers, sources in the militant group told the BBC. The 11 Taliban reported freed included a member of the militant Haqqani group. The Indians released on Sunday were part of a group of seven engineers kidnapped more than a year ago with their driver in northern Afghanistan. The news came after the Taliban were said to have met the US peace envoy for the first time since talks collapsed. Zalmay Khalilzad reportedly met senior members of the group in Pakistan last week, almost a month after President Donald Trump cancelled secret plans to host a Taliban delegation in the US. The prisoner swap was one of the issues discussed at the meeting, sources told the BBC. Three key Taliban figures were released from prison in Afghanistan, according to the source within the militant group, including the former “shadow” governor of Nimroz province. The New York Times reported that Abdul Rashid Baluch was previously listed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the US Treasury Department. He was accused of deploying suicide bombers and helping finance the Taliban through the drugs trade in Afghanistan.

The Diplomat: The Taliban Go Global

“The Afghan Taliban has often been contrasted with al-Qaeda. While it might have hosted Bin Laden and his men in the 1990s, the Taliban never shared al-Qaeda’s interest in global jihad and stayed focused on Afghanistan. None of its members was involved in 9/11, and it has generally eschewed terrorist activity overseas. Indeed, the Taliban was in many ways cut off from the world during its rule in the 1990s. Only three governments recognized its regime – Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE – and, of those, only Pakistan had an embassy in Afghanistan. Added to that, the Taliban were placed under UN sanctions after the al-Qaeda embassy bombings in 1998. The original leadership of the Taliban hailed predominantly from the Afghan countryside and had seen little, if anything, of the outside world. Mullah Omar, for example, travelled abroad twice in his entire life, both times to Pakistan during the anti-Soviet jihad of the 1980s, according to journalist Bette Dam. This all started to change after 9/11. The Taliban was toppled by the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan and many of its members fled into exile, fanning out to Pakistan, the Gulf states, Iran, and even Turkey. This broadened the Taliban’s horizons, exposing the group to new ideas.”

Military Times: Taliban Say Afghanistan Has Freed Several Of Their Prisoners

“Taliban officials say several of their group’s members have been freed from Afghan jails, including former shadow governors, just days after a U.S. envoy met top Taliban leaders in the Pakistani capital following the suspension of U.S.-Taliban talks last month. The Taliban also said they released three Indian engineers they had been holding, though that has yet to be confirmed by New Delhi or the Afghan government. The Taliban officials spoke Sunday on condition of anonymity because they were not cleared by their leadership to speak to the media. The Taliban met with a U.S. envoy in the Pakistani capital, a Taliban official said Saturday, the first such encounter since President Donald Trump announced a month ago that a seemingly imminent peace deal to end Afghanistan's 18-year war was dead. Among the Taliban figures freed were the group’s shadow governors for northeastern Kunar province and southwestern Nimroz province, Sheikh Abdul Rahim and Maulvi Rashid, the officials said. The Taliban have established a shadow government in areas they control across Afghanistan and have even set up courts to try offenders and abide by their strict interpretation of Islamic law, or Sharia.”

Yemen

Xinhua: Security Forces Seize Terrorist Cell Linked To Assassinations In Yemen

“Newly-recruited security forces on Monday launched an anti-terror operation and managed to seize a terrorist cell linked to assassinations in Yemen's southern port city of Aden, a security official told Xinhua. The southern forces, acting on an intelligence tip-off, succeeded in arresting five terrorist elements who were residing in an apartment located in one of Aden's crowded neighborhoods, the source said on condition of anonymity. He said that initial investigations with the arrested terrorists revealed that they were active in drive-by shootings and assassinations in Aden. According to the source of Aden's security command, “the terrorist cell members admitted carrying out several assassinations against key officials and politicians in southern Yemen.” Another military official based in Aden confirmed to Xinhua that “our security forces aborted a well-prepared plot masterminded by the regional outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group.” “The plot was aimed at assassinating senior military leaders and key political officials loyal to the Saudi Arabia-led coalition in southern Yemen,” the source said.”

Lebanon

The Jerusalem Post: Lebanese Officials Speak Out Against Hezbollah's Control Over Country

“Head of the Lebanese Kataeb party MP Sami Gemayel and leader of the Christian Lebanese Forces political party Samir Geagea spoke out against the control that the Hezbollah terrorist group exercises over Lebanon as protests continued amid a deepening financial crisis in the country, according to Asharq Al-Awsat. Gemayel pointed to a settlement in 2016 that allowed Michel Aoun to be elected as president, claiming that this led Lebanon to its current “catastrophic” state of affairs. The MP added that this allowed Hezbollah to take control of the country. “The current political class is covering for Hezbollah and is implementing the party’s policies, whether in defending it at international arenas or justifying its internal policies,” said Gemayel. “We believe that a government which is clearly controlled by Hezbollah must not be granted confidence.” Hezbollah's control over the government embroils Lebanon in regional conflicts against the people's will, according to the MP. Gemayel lamented the fact that the country's president is not invited to visit the United States. “When the government remains silent over every challenge from Lebanese territory against Arab or foreign countries and all of Lebanon’s historic friends, then this means that this government is complicit,” said Gemayel.”

Middle East

Forbes: Qatar’s Soft Power Ambitions Suffer A Setback At World Athletics Championships

“Qatar’s quest to turn itself into a world class sporting venue of choice has suffered a setback with the hosting of the IAAF World Athletics Championships, which limped to the finish line on October 6. Meagre crowds and a lack of atmosphere during most of the 10-day track and field event was the most obvious problem, leaving competitors underwhelmed and TV broadcasters struggling to generate a sense of atmosphere and excitement for viewers at home.”

Egypt

Asharq Al-Awsat: Over 1,000 Teachers Sacked In Egypt For Terror Links

“Egypt announced on Monday that over a thousand teachers have been sacked for their affiliation to a terrorist organization. Deputy Education Minister for Teachers Affairs Mohammed Omar said the ministry had clear mechanisms to identify teachers who have joined terror groups. He told a press conference that 1,070 teachers have been dismissed. Egypt designated the Muslim Brotherhood group as terrorist in 2014. Hundreds of its members and leaders are on trial for incitement or committing acts of violence. Omar explained that given their affiliations, the sacked teachers are not qualified to teach or work in the education sector. The fired teachers are only a small fraction of the educators in Egypt, estimated at over 1 million, he went on to say. He stressed that the Ministry of Education was keen on pinpointing problems and addressing them at the core.”

Nigeria

The Punch Nigeria: Troops Rescue Three From Boko Haram In Bama

“Troops of Nigerian Army have rescued three kidnapped civilians from the Boko Haram terrorists at Firgi village in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State. Col. Aminu Iliyasu, the Nigerian Army Operations Media Coordinator, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja. Iliyasu said the troops safely detonated Improvised Explosive Devices planted on Bitta-Yamteke road in Borno State, by the terrorists. Iliyasu explained that the victims were rescued after the troops; acting on information blocked and engaged the terrorists in a fierce gunfight. He confirmed that a truck loaded with grains was recovered from the terrorists, adding that they succumbed to superior firepower by abandoning the truck and fleeing in disarray. According to him, the troops are still on the trail of the criminals, while the rescued victims have been escorted safely back to their destination. “Troops continue to dominate the area and deny the criminal elements freedom of action within the entire theatre of operation,’’ he said. Iliyasu also disclosed that troops have raided hideouts of some identified kidnap kingpins in Obio/Akpor, Tai and Gokana LGAs of Rivers State and arrested four high profile suspects.”

Somalia

Xinhua: 24 Al-Shabab Militants Killed In Somalia

“Somali army backed by Jubaland state forces on Monday killed 24 al-Shabab militants and injured more than 19 others in an offensive in Lower Jubba region, an official confirmed. Khiyar Abdi Mohamed, commander of one of Jubbaland units, told journalists that the joint offensive was conducted in the outskirts of Kismayo town after the forces got intelligence of the militants' presence in the area and the forces inflicted severe casualties on the militants. “There was a fierce fire exchange between our army and the militants, but the forces defeated the extremists and killed 24 of them and injured more than 19 others,” said the commander. He noted that among the dead including the militants' commander in the western villages of Kismayo. Locals reported heavy gun battle in the village. “As the militants were gathering in the town, they were suddenly attacked by government forces, both exchanged gunfire which caused casualties of warring sides and the residents,” Hafsa Elmi, a resident told Xinhua by phone. On Sept. 29, the Somali military army backed by African Union forces killed 20 al-Shabab militants in another offensive in the country's southern region of Lower Shabelle.”

BBC News: US In Somalia: Is It Still A Safe Haven For Al-Shabab?

“The US recently reopened its embassy in Somalia after 28 years, citing security improvements in the East African nation blighted by conflict for many years. The announcement came days after a US military base about 90km outside Mogadishu and an EU envoy in the capital were attacked by Islamist militant group al-Shabab. So has the situation really stabilised?President Trump's administration has vastly increased aid and military engagement in Somalia since assuming office in 2017, making it a priority in its global effort to defeat Islamist terrorism and increasing the use of airstrikes and drones to combat militants. This surge has been accompanied by a change in the classification of parts of Somalia to “areas of active hostilities”, which means commanders don't need high-level approval to conduct strikes. “Encouraged and supported by the Federal Government of Somalia, precision airstrikes support our partner security forces' efforts to protect the Somali people from terrorism,” the US military told the BBC. The US military has already conducted more airstrikes in 2019 than in any previous year.”

Africa

Bloomberg: Rwanda Searches For Motive After 14 Are Killed In Tourist Region

“Rwandan rebels staged a rare attack Friday night in the northern mountainous region known for gorilla trekking, killing at least 14 people, the National Police said on Sunday. Authorities killed 19 attackers and arrested five, who the police said are members of Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda or FDLR, a rebel group based in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo. All visitors to Volcanoes National Park, located in the region, “were and continue to be safe,” state-run Rwanda Development Board said in a statement. Thousands of guests have visited the park over the past two decades with no report of a security incident, according to the statement. Security has been restored in the area and the hunt for the attackers continues, the police said in a statement on its Twitter account. Rwanda’s economy is among Africa’s fastest-growing, partly driven by its tourism sector that President Paul Kagame helped build as part of a recovery programme after a genocide in 1994. While FDLR, accused of the ethnic-based attacks has remained in place, there hasn’t been reports of an attack by the group on Rwandan soil this year.”

Reuters: U.N. Peacekeeper Killed, Four Wounded In Mali Mine Attack

“A U.N. peacekeeper was killed and four others wounded on Sunday when their vehicle hit an explosive device in northern Mali, the U.N. mission (MINUSMA) said. The identity of the attackers was not immediately clear. U.N. peacekeeping and French forces are stationed in Mali to combat jihadist groups seen as threatening security across Africa’s Sahel region. The soldiers had been participating in a patrol near the village of Aguelhok when the blast hit, U.N. mission spokesman Olivier Salgado tweeted. Elsewhere on Sunday, peacekeepers in Mali’s central region of Mopti exchanged fire with members of an unidentified armed group after they came under attack, he said. “MINUSMA chief (Mahamat Saleh) Annadif strongly condemns the recent resurgence of this type of attacks, particularly in the centre of the country,” he said. The West African country has been in conflict since 2012 when Islamists hijacked an ethnic uprising by Tuaregs in the north. More recently the violence has moved to central Mali, where fighting between farmers and herders has also surged this year. Jihadist groups have exploited ethnic rivalries in Mali and its neighbours to boost recruitment and render swathes of territory ungovernable.”

The Defense Post: Niger Soldiers Killed In ‘Terrorist’ Attack In Southwestern Dosso Region

“Two soldiers were killed and five others wounded in a “terrorist” attack in southwest Niger, a region that until recently had been spared insurgent raids, the interior ministry said on Monday, October 7. “A detachment of the security and defense forces [FDS] clashed Sunday with heavily armed terrorists in a valley near Dogon Kiria,” the ministry statement said. “Following intense combat the enemy was pushed back,” it said, leaving two soldiers dead and five wounded, while the “enemy” casualties were not yet known. It was the second such attack in the Dogondoutchi department of Dosso region which until recently had been spared raids by armed groups. In February, two gendarmes and a civilian were killed in an attack by armed men at Bagaji, a village in the region. One of the world’s poorest countries, Niger lies in the heart of the fragile Sahel region. Niger faces insurgency on two fronts: the southeastern Diffa region near Lake Chad is increasingly frequently hit by Islamic State West Africa Province fighters whose insurgency began in Nigeria, while militants based in Mali, including al-Qaeda-affiliated fighters, are active in the west of the country and the wider Sahel.”

United Kingdom

Daily Mail: Activists Battling Islamist And Other Extremism Have Been Dubbed 'Uncle Toms', Shunned By Family And Friends And Received Death And Rape Threats Says Report

“The Government's response to tackling extremism is 'inadequate', 'unfocused' and urgently needs a complete overhaul, according to a report. Activists fighting extremism have been subjected to death threats, sexist abuse, and been abused as 'Islamophobic', a 'sell-out' and 'an Uncle Tom', a report by the Commission for Countering Extremism found. Sara Khan, who leads the commission, said victims need to be better protected, and those working to tackle extremism need more support, as she called for changes to the current strategy. She also said there needs to be a new task force led by the Home Secretary involving government and public bodies in a bid to address the problem. The independent advisory body to the Government makes the recommendations in its first major report since it was set up in the wake of the 2017 terrorist attacks in London and Manchester. Far-right figures like Tommy Robinson are using rallies to spread 'anti-Muslim agenda' and 'deliberately distort the truth' to incite 'discriminatory and hateful attitudes' among supporters, according to a report. The Commission for Countering Extremism looked at examples of protests to measure the effect of such behaviour. In 2016 tensions erupted in Sunderland when a woman claimed she had been gang raped by a group of Middle Eastern men.”

BBC News: Counter-Terror Police Arrest Four People At Luton Airport

“Counter terror police have arrested four people on suspicion of being members of a banned organisation. The Sri Lankan nationals were arrested after arriving at Luton Airport on Saturday and Sunday. The Metropolitan Police said the group were stopped under the Terrorism Act 2000 and arrested under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. The investigation is being led by the Met's Counter Terrorism Command. A 39-year-old man, a 35-year-old man and a 41-year-old man remain in custody at a south London police station. A 35-year-old woman has been bailed to a date in early November, pending further inquiries. Membership of a proscribed organisation is contrary to section 11 of the Terrorism Act 2000.”

Technology

CNBC: Twitter And Facebook Could Be Facing Billions In Fines After Ireland Investigations

“Ireland’s Data Protection Commission has concluded investigations into Facebook’s WhatsApp and Twitter over possible breaches of EU data privacy rules, a spokesperson for the agency revealed to CNBC Monday. The investigations will now move into the decision-making phase, according to Graham Doyle, head of communications for Ireland’s DPC. During this next phase, Ireland’s chief data regulator, Helen Dixon, will issue draft decisions, which are expected to come toward the end of the year.”

Forbes: Here Is What Facebook Won’t Tell You About Message Encryption

“In the world of individual privacy and data security, this could be the ultimate irony. Facebook, the company that has taken more fire than any other for misusing, abusing and losing user data, has become the last line of defence in the fight against government access to that same user data. Led by the U.S. and U.K., Facebook is under increasing pressure to delay plans to expand encryption across its platforms until backdoors can be added to enable government agencies access to user content.”
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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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