The Patriot Files Forums  

Go Back   The Patriot Files Forums > Military News > Terrorism

Post New Thread  Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 10-05-2018, 10:42 AM
Boats's Avatar
Boats Boats is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sauk Village, IL
Posts: 21,787
Arrow Eye on Extremism October 4, 2018

Eye on Extremism
October 4, 2018

CBS News: Hunt For Clues In Afghan Crash That Killed 6 U.S. Airmen

“A U.S. Air Force C-130J transport plane crashed overnight at an air base in eastern Afghanistan, killing six American airmen and 5 civilians, the U.S. military said Friday. The crash happened shortly after midnight Thursday at Jalalabad airfield, 80 miles from the capital, Kabul, said U.S. Air Force Maj. Tony Wickman, spokesman for the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing. The six U.S. service members who died comprised the plane's crew. The passengers were civilian contractors working with NATO's Resolute Support mission and were the only passengers on board, he said. The airmen were assigned to the 774th Expeditionary Air Lift Squadron, part of the 455th, Wickman said. The Taliban claimed they shot the plane out of the sky, but the group is prone to exaggeration. A U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to discuss the incident publicly, said there was no indication of hostile fire.”

Al Bawaba: Islamic State Leader Baghdadi’s Youngest Son Killed In Russian Airstrike

“ISIS mastermind Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s youngest son has been killed in a Russian airstrike, it has been claimed. Baghdadi’s son died in a bombing raid on a ‘terrorist hideout’ in a Syrian village on September 22, according to an Iraqi commander. It comes just months after ISIS said another of the terror chief’s five children was killed fighting for the jihadists as a group of fanatics stormed a thermal power plant in Syria. Sunday’s claim that another of Baghdadi’s sons had been killed was made by Jabbar al-Ma’mori, a commander in the paramilitary Popular Mobilization Forces, Iraqi News reported. He is said to have told Baghdad Today: ‘We received certain information that the youngest son of IS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed in an airstrike conducted by Russia on a terrorist hideout in a Syrian village two days ago.’ The commander did not name Baghdadi’s son or give his age. In July, ISIS claimed another of his sons, Hudhayfah al-Badri, was killed during an attack on a power plant in Homs. Al-Badri was killed in an ‘operation against the Nussayriyyah and the Russians’ the group said in a statement alongside a photo of a young man holding an assault rifle.”

The Wall Street Journal: Letters To Pentagon Held Castor Seeds, Not Ricin; Utah Man Is Held

“Federal agents and local police detained a man Wednesday in Logan, Utah, in connection with letters sent to the Pentagon that initially were believed to contain the deadly poison ricin, as well as with a letter sent to the White House, officials said. Authorities executed a search warrant at the home of William Clyde Allen III, 39 years old, taking him into custody after interviewing him following the search, said Melodie Rydalch, spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney’s office in Salt Lake City. Ms. Rydalch said Mr. Allen would be charged Friday. She didn’t specify a particular charge. A representative for Mr. Allen couldn’t be reached. The Pentagon said Wednesday that the letters sent there didn’t contain ricin, as initially believed, but instead contained castor seeds, from which the poison is derived.”

Middle East Monitor: Bahrain Begins Trial Of ‘Hezbollah’ Suspects

“The High Criminal Court of Bahrain yesterday began the trial of 169 suspects; including 111 in custody on charges of forming and funding the “Bahrain Hezbollah”. The Head of Terror Crime Prosecution, Dr Ahmad Al-Hammadi said the court has set 18 October for the hearing. The suspects are accused of establishing and joining a terrorist group, carrying out a bombing, attempted murder, training in the use of weapons and explosives, the possession, acquisition, manufacture and use of explosives and firearms without authorisation as well as funding a terrorist group, the Al-Ayyam newspaper reported. They are also accused of transferring, receiving and handing over funds to a terrorist group, hiding weapons, ammunition and explosives, and destroying government properties. According to Al-Hammadi, the Public Prosecutor’s Office received a report from the General Directorate of Criminal Investigations about the formation of a terrorist cell in Bahrain.”

Birmingham Live: ISIS Continue Online Terror Despite Brummie Hacker's Death

“The spectre of ISIS-linked material on YouTube has been revealed by a high-tech research project that has tracked the terror group's uploads to the channel. The US-based Counter Extremism Project (CEP) found that in a three-month period this year 1,348 videos were uploaded to the platform, garnering 163,391 views. Despite tech giants' pledges to clamp down on such content, 24 per cent of the videos remained online for more than two hours, receiving 148,590 views, according to the research. CEP senior advisor Lucinda Creighton referred to the case of ISIS cyber-hacker Junaid Hussain, who left his home in Birmingham to become a recruiting sergeant and propagandist for the terror group, as an example of how social media rules can be flouted. The 21-year-old, believed to have been the third most important person in ISIS, was killed in a US drone strike in August 2015. Ms Creighton, speaking at a Conservative conference fringe event, said: “He is somebody we have profiled at the Counter Extremism Project going back to 2015. “CEP was highlighting the horrendous content he was repeatedly uploading, the radicalisation of individuals online and directly contributing to some pretty extreme outcomes. “He was someone on our flagged list who repeatedly flouted Twitter and was occasionally taken down but was constantly reappearing.”

Washington Examiner: Pompeo Predicts Flurry Of Terror Threats From Iran

“Iran is going to intensify attempts at terrorism and other attacks against the United States in the coming weeks, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo predicted Wednesday. “Clearly, they see our comprehensive pressure campaign as serious and succeeding,” Pompeo told reporters at the State Department. “We must be prepared for them to continue their attempts to hit back, especially after our full sanctions are reimposed on the 4th of November.” Pompeo announced that expectation while blaming Iran for a recent flurry of threats to U.S. diplomatic facilities in Iraq. He reiterated his warning that the United States would hold the nation of Iran responsible for any attacks that emanated from the paramilitary militias that Iran can influence in Iraq. “Iran is the origin of the current threat to Americans in Iraq,” he said. “Our intelligence in this regard is solid. We can see the hand of the Ayatollah and his henchman supporting these attacks on the United States.” Pompeo was referring specifically to recent threats against the U.S. embassy in Baghdad and a diplomatic facility in Basra, which was the apparent target of rocket fire. He ordered the temporary closure of the U.S. mission in Basra on Friday. “These latest destabilizing acts in Iraq are attempts by the Iranian regime to push back on our efforts to constrain its malign behavior,” he said. Russia defended Iran from terrorism charges on Friday, even as Pompeo decided to close the facility at Basra.”

Syria
Associated Press: The Latest: Putin Urges EU To Help Rebuild Syria

“Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has strongly urged the EU to help rebuild Syria. Speaking after Wednesday’s talks with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz in St. Petersburg, Putin called for international assistance on reconstruction efforts, arguing that it would encourage refugees to return to their homes. Around half of Syria’s pre-war population of 23 million has been uprooted — nearly 6 million fled abroad, while 6.6 million are displaced within Syria — and entire cities lay in ruins. Russia helped turn the tide of the seven-year war in Syrian President Bashar Assad’s favor and pushed the West to help with reconstruction. Putin criticized the Western reluctance to provide assistance to areas under Assad’s control, arguing that “people shouldn’t suffer just because they live on a territory under control of certain political forces.”

Reuters: 'We Have To Help Them': Syrian Kurdish Leaders See New U.S. Interest

“President Donald Trump’s announcement in April that he wanted to pull U.S. troops out of Syria left the country’s Kurds fearing they would be abandoned by their most important military ally. Six months later, as the battle against Islamic State draws to a close, Syrian Kurdish leaders see signs of renewed U.S. interest in the oil-rich region they control in northern and eastern Syria. A spate of visits to Syria by U.S. diplomats in the past two months and a new readiness to discuss the country’s future point to a longer-term U.S. commitment, they say. U.S. forces are seen as a shield against attacks by Turkey from the north and protection against any attempt by President Bashar al-Assad to seize the region’s wheat and oil fields.”

Voice Of America: Syria's Assad Reaches 'Understanding' With Arab States

“President Bashar al-Assad told a little-known Kuwaiti newspaper that Syria had reached a "major understanding'' with Arab states after years of hostility over the country's civil war. The interview in the Al-Shahed newspaper, published Wednesday, was Assad's first with a Gulf newspaper since the war began in 2011. Assad didn't name the Arab countries but said Arab and Western delegations had begun visiting Syria to prepare for the reopening of diplomatic and other missions. Soon the civil war will be over, Assad told the paper's publisher, allowing Syria to resume its pivotal role in the region. Syria's membership in the 22-member Arab League was suspended in the early days of the war and Arab countries later imposed economic sanctions after they failed to mediate an end to the war.”

Middle East Monitor: Over 1,000 Bodies Discovered In Mass Grave In Syria’s Raqqa

“A mass grave containing thousands of bodies has been discovered in the former Daesh stronghold of Raqqa, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) revealed earlier today. Discovered by the initial response teams of the SDF in the Al-Panorama region, local sources confirmed that between 1,000 to 1,500 bodies have been pulled from under the rubble of destroyed buildings. The victims are thought to be civilians and fighters killed by both Daesh militants and the US coalition air strikes conducted in the campaign against the so-called Islamic State. “The initial response team of Reconstruction Committee of Raqqa Civil Council continues to retrieve bodies that have been randomly buried in homes, public facilities and schools, during a period, when the city was controlled by Daesh terrorists,” the SDF said in a statement Kurdish authorities have also recently uncovered 96 bodies from the courtyard of the old Al-Raqqa Mosque, after civilians turned it into a temporary cemetery due to the intensity of the US-led bombing on the city. Other locations where mass graves have been found include Al-Rashid football stadium, the city zoo, the Al-Qadim mosque and the Al-Badou residential district.”

Iran
The New York Times: U.S. Withdraws From 1955 Treaty Normalizing Relations With Iran

“Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced on Wednesday that the United States was pulling out of a six-decade-old treaty with Iran that had provided a basis for normalizing relations between the two countries, including diplomatic and economic exchanges. The largely symbolic move came hours after the International Court of Justice ordered the United States to ensure that a new round of American sanctions imposed against Tehran this year did not prevent food, medicine and aircraft parts from reaching Iran. The treaty bears little relevance to the current relationship between Washington and Tehran. The move is the latest in a broad effort by the Trump administration to isolate Iran, reversing a diplomatic drive embraced by former President Barack Obama. The ruling by the international court in The Hague was related to a complaint that Iran filed in July, arguing that the new sanctions violated the Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations and Consular Rights, which was signed in 1955. In essence, the ruling sought to protect Iran’s public and economy from what the court described as irreparable damage while justices continue to consider the case against the sanctions.”

The New York Post: Iran’s Bitter Lesson For France

“France just learned that President Trump had a point when he warned that the 2015 Iran nuclear deal “didn’t bring calm, it didn’t bring peace and it never will.” Paris this week publicly accused Tehran of plotting to bomb an Iranian opposition group’s rally near the French capital in June. As a first sanction, the French government froze assets belonging to two suspected Iranian intelligence operatives and to officials in Iran’s spy ministry. Two Belgian nationals of Iranian origin were caught with explosives and a trigger device in the foiled plot to terrorize the June 30 rally against the Iranian regime, at which 25,000 people showed. An Iranian diplomat was arrested soon after. Now Paris is certain the planning went all the way to Tehran. A plot of “such extreme seriousness on French territory could not be let go without a response,” France’s ministers of foreign affairs, interior and finance said in a joint statement.”

Radio Free Europe: Iran's Khamenei Promises To 'Slap' U.S., Defeat Sanctions

“Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said Iran will "slap" the United States by defeating U.S. sanctions targeting the country's economy. "With the grace of God, we will defeat sanctions. And the defeat of sanctions is the defeat of America," Khamenei said on October 4 in a speech at Tehran's Azadi stadium. Tensions have been escalating between Iran and the United States following a May decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to withdraw Washington from the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers. The U.S. administration last month started reimposing sanctions on the Iranian economy that were lifted under the deal in exchange for curbs on Tehran's nuclear program. A second round of penalties targeting Iran's oil exports is due to come into effect in early November. The U.S. moves sent Iran's economy into a downward spiral with the national currency, the rial, hitting record lows.”

Newsweek: Iran Says Missile Attack Next To U.S. Troops In Syria Was Reply To Trump Security Official's Threat

“A senior Iranian official has said that a missile strike by his country's elite Revolutionary Guards targeting jihadis just a few miles away from U.S. troops in Syria was a direct response to a warning voiced by President Donald Trump's national security chief. The U.S. and Iran are both battling the Islamic State militant group (ISIS) in Syria, but back different factions of a seven-year civil war and both have tried to undermine each other's influence in the country. Accusing Iran of conducting illicit activities and posing a threat to U.S. forces in the Middle East, national security adviser John Bolton said last week at the 2018 United Against Nuclear Iran summit that Tehran should "take me seriously when I assure them today that if you cross us, our allies or our partners, if you harm our citizens, if you continue to lie cheat and deceive, yes, there will indeed be hell to pay." Only days prior, militants opened fire on an Iranian military parade commemorating the Iran-Iraq War in the southwestern city of Ahvaz, killing soldiers and civilians in an attack claimed both by ISIS and local Arab separatists. Iran responded Monday by firing six ballistic missiles into ISIS territory in Syria, drawing condemnation from the U.S., whose troops were only three miles away from the strike zone, but Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani said Iranian forces were intending to answer his U.S. counterpart.”

Iraq
Iraqi News: Senior Islamic State Member Arrested In Operation In Anbar: Military

“A senior Islamic State member was arrested in an operation in Anbar, the military intelligence department said on Wednesday. A statement by the department said “troops managed in an operation, based on accurate information, to lure one of the militants, known as abul Khayl, along with two of companions to an ambush set up by security forces.” The forces, “followed the militants in the desert, north of the kilo 160 road in Anbar, and managed to arrest them and destroy their vehicles.” The militan, according to the statement, “used to be the group’s military official, south of Rutba. He was in charge of planting the bombs on the highway to target security personnel and civilians.” On Tuesday, the Interior Ministry announced arresting three militants in Anbar province. Thousands of Islamic State militants as well as Iraqi civilians were killed since the government campaign, backed by paramilitary troops and the coalition was launched in October 2016. Islamic State continues to launch sporadic attacks across Iraq against troops. Security reports indicate that the militant group still poses threat against stability in the country. The group still has dormant cells, through which it carries out attacks, across Iraq like it used to do before 2014. In December, the Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced gaining control on all the territories that were captured by Islamic State, since 2014.”

Turkey
Agence France Presse: Turkey Parliament Extends Mandate For Troop Deployment In Syria, Iraq

“Turkish parliament on Wednesday approved a motion to extend the deployment of troops in neighbouring Syria and Iraq for another year, the official Anadolu news agency reported. The mandate, first approved by parliament in October 2014, has been renewed every year since then. It allows military action in Turkey's two southern neighbours against Islamic State (IS) extremists and other groups deemed by Ankara to be terror organisations. The approved motion said it was "essential for Turkey's national security to take all necessary measures ... in the face of any threats." Ismet Yilmaz, head of parliament's defence committee, said there would be no let-off in Turkey's fight against terror. "We will not allow terror groups to shelter or be trained in our country's southern borders, or stage attacks against our country utilising the instable political situation in Iraq and Syria," Yilmaz was quoted as saying by Anadolu.”

Reuters: Turkey Says U.S. Stalling In Syria's Manbij Is A 'Growing Problem'

“The United States is stalling over the establishment of joint patrols with Turkey in the northern Syrian town of Manbij which the two countries agreed, and Ankara sees the delay as a growing problem, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s spokesman said. Speaking to reporters following a cabinet meeting, Ibrahim Kalin also said that de-escalation in Syria’s Idlib region had largely been achieved following a deal with Russia to set up a demilitarized zone around the region.”

Afghanistan
Associated Press: 19 Killed In Afghan Taliban Attacks

“At least 19 Afghan security personnel have been killed across three provinces in the war-torn country in the past 24 hours, officials say. At least five commando soldiers and five policemen were killed in the northern Faryab province after Taliban militants attacked a checkpoint on Tuesday evening, Rahmatullah Turkistani, the former police chief of Faryab, told dpa. Turkistani said that one commando soldier was taken hostage by the militants after the attack in Khwaja Sabz Posh district. The checkpoint was set on fire as the Taliban left after hours of fighting with security forces, Turkistani said. The incident was confirmed by provincial council member Abdul Ahad Elbek, who said 11 Afghan security personnel were killed. Meanwhile, six police officers were killed and four others wounded in a Taliban attack on a checkpoint in the Chakhansur district of the southern Nimroz province, provincial council member Baz Mohammad Nasir said. The attack took place at around 10pm, Nasir said. In the southern Kandahar province, three police officers were killed and six were wounded when Taliban militants attacked their checkpoint in the Maruf district on Tuesday night, provincial governor spokesman Aziz Ahmad Azizi said. Also in Kandahar province, a police officer and a civilian were injured after a police convoy hit a roadside bomb in Kandahar city on Wednesday, Azizi added.”

Defense World: Taliban Claims It Shot Down US C-130 Plane In Afghanistan

“A United States C-130 transport plane has crashed in Afghanistan, killing at least 11 people, including several US troops, civilian contractors and Afghan officials. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for shooting down the C-130, according to news outlets based in Afghanistan and Pakistan, a claim denied by US authorities. “Our mujahideen (religious fighters) have shot down a four-engine US aircraft in Jalalabad. Fifteen invading forces and a number of puppet troops were killed, various news outlets cited Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid as saying.” Six US service members and five civilian contractors on board died in the crash, according to a US military spokesman. AFP and NBC reported that the plane crash claimed the lives of 12 people, including five US servicemen, five contractors, and two Afghani civilians. A coalition spokesperson US Army Col. Brian Tribus has said the plane crashed shortly after midnight yesterday as per local time at Jalalabad Airport without specifying the cause of the accident.”

Pakistan
India Today: Nothing Justifies Terrorism: UN Chief Antonio Guterres's Message To Pakistan

“UN Secretary-General Antonio Gueterres, in an exclusive interview with India Today, gave a stern message to Pakistan over cross-border terrorism. He said "no political reason...no cause, no grievance" justifies terrorism. The statement of Antonio Gueterres assumes significance in the view that the United Nations has faced criticism for not taking concrete action against Pakistan despite its track record of an abettor of terrorism. Antonio Gueterres was in conversation with India Today Group Editorial Director Raj Chengappa. Terrorism has been a concern and Pakistan is seen as the terror hub of the world. India has suffered a lot due to cross-border terrorism particularly in Jammu and Kashmir in the past 30 years. Antonio Gueterres said, "We are making it very clear to all countries that nothing justifies terrorism. There is no political reason that justifies it. There is no cause, no grievance that justifies it.”

Yemen
Xinhua: Yemen's Houthi Rebels Release Sons Of Slain Ex-President Saleh

“Yemen's Shiite Houthi rebels on Wednesday released two sons of slain former President Ali Abdullah Saleh from prison, the group said in a statement carried by Saba news agency. "The sons of Ali Abdullah Saleh, Salaah and Madyan, were released upon an amnesty from the (so-called) President of the Supreme Political Council Mahdi al-Mashat (top Houthi official)," read the statement. The release came nearly ten months after Houthi fighters arrested them along with dozens of the former president's relatives following deadly clashes in the capital Sanaa that killed Saleh at the hands of Houthis. On Dec. 4, 2017, the Houthis said they killed Saleh, their once partner, after he sought peace with Saudi Arabia, the rich-oil Sunni Gulf country that led an Arab military coalition against Iranian-allied Shiite Houthi rebels. A senior Houthi source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that the release came following a "mediation from Oman" and that the sons of Saleh would be transported by an "Omani plane to United Arab Emirates (UAE), where they would join their exiled older brother Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh in Abu Dhabi.”

Associated Press: Houthis Force UN To Suspend Crucial Cash Aid To 9 Million Yemenis

“The UN children's agency on Wednesday suspended cash transfers to 9 million of Yemen's most impoverished citizens under pressure from Yemen's Houthi rebels. The move comes at a time when Yemen's local currency has been deteriorating, increasing prices of food and fuel, and sparking fears of a worsening humanitarian crisis. UNICEF said the decision came after it was unable to set up a call center to get feedback from beneficiaries, without providing further details. Two individuals familiar with the program said the Iran-backed Houthi militia who control northern Yemen hindered the launch of the call center because they feared it might reveal their manipulation of the cash transfers. The two spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing reprisals from the rebels. The militia have repeatedly been accused of diverting aid to their supporters. Last week, Houthi security authorities banned the country director of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency from returning to Yemen, according to two individuals familiar with the situation. The agency has been under pressure from Houthis to use the rebels' beneficiary lists in aid distribution and to use Houthi-linked staffers in ADRA-run health facilities. When ADRA chief Ephraim Palmero objected, he was notified that he wouldn't be allowed to return to the country, the individuals said.”

Al Arabiya: Yemeni Army Advances Further Into Saada Amid Violent Clashes With Houthis

“The Yemeni army liberated areas that extend four kilometers inside Baqim amid violent clashes with the Houthis on the outskirts of the district in Saada. Brigadier-General Yasser al-Harthi said the Yemeni army aided by the coalition’s fighter jets seized control of ranges of Al-Aswad mountains and Ghara mountains and other areas which include the town of Muhdayda. The army continues to advance in the path that links between Baqim and the international al-Alab border crossing. More than 25 Houthis, including field commanders, have been killed and others were injured and captured during this time. Some Houthi groups are still besieged in some posts in Baqim after the army cut their supply routes. Several Houthi militiamen fled and left behind weapons such as sniper rifles, mortars and B-10 rifles and three vehicles loaded with ammunition, RPG, thermal missiles, motorcycles and wireless communication devices.”

Lebanon
Ynet News: Beirut Residents Warned About A Hezbollah Site In Whatsapp Message

“Thousands of residents of the Dahieh suburb south of Beirut, an area controlled by Hezbollah, received anonymous mobile phone notifications warning them they live in close proximity to a weapons storage compound that has the potential of exploding at any moment, the Asharq al-Awsat newspaper reported on Wednesday, implying Israel is responsible for incident. "Important message, near your home, a Hezbollah site has been established, proceed with caution,” read the mysterious Whatsapp message. According to the Arab newspaper, Israeli political sources refused to comment on the claim that Israeli intelligence is behind the messages. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking at the United Nations last week, identified three locations near Beirut airport where he said the Shi'ite group Hezbollah was converting "inaccurate projectiles" into precision-guided missiles.”

Egypt
Reuters: Egypt's Security Forces Kill 15 Suspected Militants In A Sinai Shootout

“Egyptian security forces have killed 15 suspected militants in a shootout during a raid on their hideout near al-Arish, the capital of North Sinai province, state news agency MENA and security sources said on Wednesday. The men were suspected of planning attacks on security checkpoints ahead of the 45th anniversary of Egypt’s October 6 1973 war with Israel, the sources and MENA said, quoting an interior ministry statement. The news agency did not identify the suspects nor say whether there had been any casualties or injuries among the security forces. Police seized a number of automatic weapons in the raid on a farm West of al-Arish where the suspected militants were hiding, MENA said. The raid comes as the Egyptian army, backed by police, push ahead with a military operation to crush Islamist militants behind a wave of attacks on civilians and military personnel in Sinai. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ordered the armed forces last November to defeat Islamist militants within three months after an attack on a mosque in Sinai killed more than 300 people. Defeating the militants and restoring security after years of unrest has been a key promise of Sisi, who was re-elected in March in a landslide victory against no real opposition. Sisi’s critics accuse him of cracking down on all dissent, but supporters say tough measures are needed to stabilize Egypt, which was rocked by years of unrest after protests toppled veteran leader Hosni Mubarak in 2011. The media is not given direct access to cover high-security operations in Sinai.”

Libya
Reuters: Libyan State Oil Firm Delays Energy Conference After HQ Attack

“Libya’s state oil company National Oil Corp (NOC) said on Wednesday it had postponed a conference in the eastern city of Benghazi for 15 days following an attack on its Tripoli headquarters last month. The three-day conference, to be held in Libya’s second-largest city, is aimed at allowing local and foreign oil and gas companies to discuss the sector’s development. “The date was changed because of the circumstances that the (NOC) was exposed to recently, which caused the delay in the completion of some important preparations and equipment related to the event,” NOC said in a statement. The conference will be held from Oct. 24 to 26, two weeks later than planned, NOC said. In September, NOC headquarters were attacked by gunmen claiming to be Islamic State militants, killing two people and wounding 25. NOC has in recent years rarely held conferences inside Libya, especially in Benghazi, which was a battle zone until the expulsion of Islamist fighters last year.”

Nigeria
African Arguments: Losing My Religion? The Backlash To Boko Haram In Northern Nigeria

“Business is not going so well for Ibrahim Garki. A religious bookseller for 35 years, he had hoped that when he finally retires, his children would take over his corner shop in Monday Market in Nigeria’s northeastern city of Maiduguri. But that plan looks increasingly in doubt. On Garki’s bare wooden shelves, there is not much more than the set books of the primary school Islamic studies curriculum and copies of the Koran. He stocks hardly any of the classics of Islamic thought and has only a few copies of the book of daily prayer, which nearly all youths in Maiduguri once carried in their top pockets. “People are not reading Islamic literature anymore,” he laments. Garki attributes this partly to new technology − “everything is available on the internet”, he says − but that is only half the story. Here in Maiduguri, the birthplace of the jihadi-Salafist group Boko Haram*, many people seem much more ambivalent about religion than they once were.”

Africa
Mail And Guardian: Five Years After Westgate, Al-Shabab Is Weakened But Not Yet Defeated

“It’s been five years since four attackers made their way into Westgate, a popular shopping mall in the rich Westlands area of Nairobi, and unleashed a coordinated attack that left 71 people dead. Some of those deaths resulted from friendly fire as the small group of terrorists took advantage of Kenyan security agencies’ confused response. After the attack, videos emerged of members of some security agencies looting shops in Westgate during the siege. The attack, for which Al-Shabab claimed responsibility, struck a brutal blow against Kenya’s important tourist industry. Five years on, the threat is somewhat reduced. Al-Shabab remains undefeated. But there are several indications that Kenya, as well as several of its neighbours, such as Djibouti, Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia, have made important gains against the terror group and its local sympathisers.”

France
The Washington Examiner: Why And How France Just Fired A Warning Shot At Iran

“France this week got tougher on Iran, sanctioning Iranian assets and raiding an Iranian intelligence-linked Muslim center. The primary motivation for French action here is Iran's failed plot this summer to blow up delegates at a conference just outside Paris. Hosted by a group that seeks the overthrow of the Islamic revolutionaries in Tehran, that conference was attended by Rudy Giuliani. Allied intelligence services detected the plot and linked it to an Iranian intelligence officer operating out of Iran's embassy in Vienna, Austria. And on Tuesday, the French government directly blamed Iran's MOIS civilian intelligence service for orchestrating the failed attack. Simultaneously, French authorities also conducted a raid against an Iranian-supported front organization in northern France. But why, specifically, is France upping the ante against Iran? Primarily, because France recognizes that Iran is laying the groundwork for new terrorist attacks in Europe. It has become increasingly clear in recent weeks that the MOIS, the Iranian revolutionary guards Quds force, and its proxy the Lebanese Hezbollah are building capacity to conduct terrorist attacks if Tehran orders such action. Still, that development is not particularly surprising.”

Germany
Agence France Presse: Germany Says Shares US Goals On Iran

“Germany on Wednesday told the United States that it shared its goals on Iran even as the Europeans press ahead to save a denuclearization deal threatened by US sanctions. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas met in Washington with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who has voiced outrage over European plans to preserve commercial ties with Iran. "In the end, we pursue the same goals with respect to Iran," Maas told reporters after meeting Pompeo. "We just have different paths that we want to follow," he said. Maas said that Germany shared concerns about Iran's ballistic missile program and believed Tehran should withdraw from Syria, where the Shiite clerical regime is supporting President Bashar al-Assad. But Maas said that the end of the 2015 agreement would lead Iran to pursue a nuclear program with military purposes. "This would create the danger of a military conflict in the region," Maas said. The United States under former president Barack Obama negotiated the deal with Iran alongside Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia. UN inspectors say that Iran has complied with the agreement, under which it ceased sensitive nuclear work in exchange for sanctions relief. President Donald Trump withdrew from the accord, vowing instead to target Iran aggressively and roll back its role in the region. That European Union said last month that it was working on a legal entity through which businesses could trade with Iran and avoid US sanctions.”

Europe
Pan Armenian: ‘Islamic State Recruiter’ Allegedly Runs Free School In Sweden

“Sweden’s Security Police, SÄPO, reportedly identified the activities of the president of the so-called Science School in Gothenburg as one of the reasons why Sweden’s second-largest city stands out in the number of jihadists that it produces, Sputnik International says. Abdel Nasser El Nadi, the president and principal of the Gothenburg-based Science School, is a long-time recruiter for Muslim extremism and is present on SÄPO’s list of Islamist extremists, which numbers roughly 2,000 people, Swedish terrorism watchdog Doku revealed. While no formal charges have been brought against him, El Nadi (53) is considered one of the reasons for the rise of Islamist extremism in Gothenburg, which produced about a third of Sweden’s roughly 300 jihadists (or “foreign fighters,” to use the official parlance), Doku reported. The Science School has previously been reported for having ties with Islamism and employees who have expressed sympathies for Daesh (Islamic State). Abdel Nasser El Nadi rejected the accusations of Islamism, stressing that he has five children born in Sweden and claimed to be striving to protect its society.”

The Times: Greece Expels ISIS Recruiters From Refugee Camp

“Greece is taking urgent action to tackle Islamist extremists who have infiltrated a large refugee camp on Lesbos and are alleged to be coercing migrants into joining Islamic State. Greece has been increasingly criticised by other western nations for the dire living conditions that thousands of refugees endure in the camp of Moria as illegal migration from Turkey overwhelms its neighbour. It has long been feared that the conditions could become fertile ground for radicalisation. The crackdown comes amid lingering intelligence concerns that Isis militants are exploiting refugee flows from Syria and other parts of the Middle East to infiltrate Europe. “Suspected ‘baddies’ or people linked to them have entered the country, posing as refugees,” a top police official said.”

Technology

Business Insider: Facebook Is Now Making Users Wait Twice As Long To Delete Their Accounts

“Thinking of deleting your Facebook account? Not so fast. The social network has recently more than doubled the amount of time it takes before a user's account is actually deleted — it's now a month, up from 14 days before. The change comes as the Silicon Valley tech giant battles to contain the fallout of a massive hack affecting 50 million of its users, and as it attempts to move on from a chain of scandals, from Cambridge Analytica to the spread of fake news and Russian propaganda. The change to the deletion time was first noticed by The Verge. So what's going on? When a user decides to delete their Facebook account, it doesn't actually get deleted straight away. Instead, there's a "grace period," in which the account remains inactive but accessible — just in case the user gets cold feet and decides to stay on Facebook after all.”

The Washington Post: Facebook Blocked Many Gay-Themed Ads As Part Of Its New Advertising Policy, Angering LGBT Groups

“The advertisements all seemed innocuous at a glance. A ribald sendup of fairy tales hosted by a comedian in Los Angeles. A Spanish-language social group for Latino men, sponsored by a community center in Las Vegas. And a list of senior-friendly housing options distributed by a nonprofit group in Texas. But they were all blocked by Facebook. The company’s system, which uses automated and human monitors, determined that the advertisements were “political,” though they did not involve advocacy or any explicitly political views. The common thread between them all? LGBT themes. The Washington Post found dozens of advertisements mentioning LGBT themes and words that the company blocked for supposedly being political, according to a public database Facebook keeps.”

Associated Press: Child Experts File FTC Complaint Against Facebook App For Kids

“Children’s and public health advocacy groups say Facebook’s kid-centric messaging app violates federal law by collecting kids’ personal information without getting verifiable consent from their parents. The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood and other groups asked the Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday to investigate Facebook’s Messenger Kids for violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA. The complaint says the app does not meet COPPA requirements because it doesn’t try to ensure that the person who sets up the kids’ account and gives consent to have their data collected is the actual parent. In fact, the groups say, someone could set up a brand new, fictional account and immediately approve a kid’s account without proving their age or identity. Facebook said Wednesday it hasn’t yet reviewed the complaint letter. The company has said it doesn’t show ads on Messenger Kids or collect data for marketing purposes, though it does collect some data it says is necessary to run the service. But the advocacy groups say the privacy policy of Messenger Kids is “incomplete and vague” and allows Facebook to disclose data to third parties and other Facebook services “for broad, undefined business purposes.”

Terror Financing

Almustaqbal: Iranian Drugs Finance Terrorism In Iraq

“From exporter to producer, Iraq is being transformed by the armed groups dispersed across its borders, taking advantage of the “wide holes” in its open borders with Iran. These armed groups have been exploiting their influence and power, which the security forces are unable to match. Drugs have become a source of funding for many of the parties and their armed wings, earning them huge profits, ever since Iraq turned into a transit venue for Iranian drugs prior to their export to neighboring countries. The researcher on Iraqi affairs, Farhan al-Sadid, said that the "executive" armed groups which transport drugs from Iran to Iraq are also seeking to export them to the Gulf countries. "Drugs come from Iran in specially protected vehicles, so they can be stored in high-security facilities," the expert explained. He specifically mentioned the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (ISCI) and its affiliated Badr militia, saying they are involved in the drug trafficking and centers and stores owned for that purpose. "To avoid being kidnapped or killed, drug traffickers controlling the market are cooperating with the militias and coordinating smuggling operations in southern Iraq and Baghdad," al-Sadid added.”

National News Agency: Lebanese Security Detains Syrian Suspected Of Terror Financing

“A correspondent of the official Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) reported that a patrol belonging to Lebanon's General Directorate of State Security recently managed to detain "Ahmed H.", a Syrian national suspected of financing terrorist networks. It's noteworthy that a military investigations judge had previously issued an arrest warrant for the said individual on the same charge, NNA's reporter added.”

Combating Terrorist Financing

Alwatan: Saudi Arabia: 11 Regulations Designed To Combat Money-Laundering And Terrorist Financing

“Recently published statistics show that the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA), within the Central Bank of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has adopted 11 regulations intended to upgrade the anti-money laundering and terrorist financing systems in the Kingdom. The foremost of these measures include preparing an action plan to improve the legislative environment, reviewing the anti-money laundering and terrorist crime systems, issuing guidelines and rules consistent with international requirements, enhancing coordination with the regulatory authorities in the financial sector, and intensifying campaigns for {thorough} inspection and detection of violations.”

Muslim Brotherhood
Erem News: Egypt: Hideout For Muslim Brotherhood Funding Uncovered In Kerdasa

“The Egyptian Ministry of Interior Affairs announced on Wednesday that a security unit had stormed a hideout that was being used to finance the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood in Kerdasa. The hideout, which is an apartment owned by one of the banned organization's leaders in the area, served as an important gathering place and finance center for the Muslim Brotherhood, according to the ministry. The security forces captured an amount of money {in cash} estimated at EGP 2.5 million ($140,000) in the said apartment, the ministry further revealed. The police forces managed to detect this hideout by tracking a car carrying the funds from Mansoura to Kerdasa, the authorities said.”

Houthi
Yemen Akhbar: Traders Are Extorted By Houthis Via Double Customs Payments

“An agent of an international automotive company in Yemen confirmed that the illegal practices against merchants are exemplified by {imposing} double customs. He explained that customs are paid at the ports, whether land or sea, and then paid again before being allowed to enter the local markets. He gave an example of spare parts for a shipment of vehicles his company received in the Port of Aden. The company paid the customs at the port. Later the shipment was stopped at the entrance to the Houthi-controlled Dhamar governorate, under the pretext of a customs payment requirement. It took several days to release the shipment. Despite the follow-up intervention by the Customs Department and other relevant authorities in Sana’a, the automotive company was compelled to pay the customs again in Dhamar. Note that the Houthis have opened customs checkpoints for goods originating from the government-controlled areas to Sana'a in Dhamar and Al Bayda, and most recently, too, in the Bajil District of Hodeidah province.”
__________________
Boats

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

"IN GOD WE TRUST"
sendpm.gif Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

All times are GMT -7. The time now is 01:58 AM.


Powered by vBulletin, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.