News and Media

On January 31, 2020, the United States announced that they recently conducted an airstrike that is believed to have resulted in the death of Qasim al-Raymi, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula ’s (AQAP) leader. After having led al-Qaeda’s branch in Yemen since 2015, it is speculated that Raymi was next in line to succeed al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri. This strike comes from the United States’ continued campaign to target top al-Qaeda officials in an effort to weaken the terrorist organization. Officials have yet to confirm his death, as Raymi has been erroneously reported killed numerous times—including by a U.S. airstrike in June 2010.

The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) reports weekly on the methods used by extremists to exploit the Internet and social media platforms to recruit followers and incite violence. This week, ISIS’s spokesman called for attacks on Jews in an audio release. Additionally, a neo-Nazi music album was released on Dropbox that called for the murder and genocide of Jews, Muslims, and people of color.

The Muslim Brotherhood is celebrating the nine-year anniversary of the Arab Spring this year. Despite coordinating and executing terror attacks against fellow Egyptians, support for the Brotherhood has remained resilient across Egyptian society. This is in large part due to its investments the Brotherhood has made over decades to develop a robust infrastructure and social support networks that have ingratiated millions of Egyptians to its leadership.

The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) reports weekly on the methods used by extremists to exploit the Internet and social media platforms to recruit followers and incite violence. This week, an anti-Semitic Instagram account, that is a copy of a Telegram channel, was located. The Instagram account seeks to threaten and intimidate Jews, has posted content advocating for violence, and has denied the existence of the Holocaust. ISIS and Eco-Fascist content including propaganda news reports and photos of executions and captured weapons was located on Telegra.ph. Also, approximately 20 far-right Telegram channels that posted content praising mass shootings, and encouraged the intimidation of individuals based on their religion, race and ethnicity were blocked by Apple on January 20. Additionally, ISIS Amaq news videos including the execution of a Christian man in the Borno region of Nigeria were available on over nine different websites.

On January 18, 2020, ballistic missiles struck a mosque at the al-Estiqbal military camp in Marib, killing at least 116 people in what was reportedly one of the deadliest attacks in Yemen’s civil war. Although there was no immediate claim by the Houthi rebels, Yemen’s government condemned the Iran-backed extremist group for the attack. Two days later, government forces engaged Houthi rebels east of Marib and killed senior Houthi commander Jaber Al Muwaed. Attempts at any conflict resolution have made little progress since the Houthis began invading the country in 2014. Iran has historically supported the Houthi rebels with funding, training, and weapons, with some Yemeni officials believing Iran’s support has been ongoing since the Houthi uprising in 2004.

The safety of Europeans and the security of Europe in 2020 will be marked by four trends in terrorism: the resurgence of ISIS in the Middle East along with the increased risk of terrorist attacks, returning foreign fighters and jihadists facing trials, Internet platform rules on online terrorist content, and terrorist financing.

Neo-Nazi Group Planned On Ambushing Attendees; Denounces Arrest On Telegram (New York, N.Y.) – Last week’s arrest of Patrik Jordan Mathews and two other members of the neo-Nazi group the Base shifted to the courtroom Tuesday, as federal prosecutors outlined how the accused planned on...

Facebook has made claims that it refers to international sanctions lists when working to remove terrorist content from their sites. However, researchers at the Counter Extremism Project (CEP) have discovered that U.N.-designated persons and organizations maintain a robust social media presence.

The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) reports weekly on the methods used by extremists to exploit the Internet and social media platforms to recruit followers and incite violence. This week, seven suspected members of neo-Nazi group, the Base, were arrested for various charges including firearms related crimes and criminal intent to commit murder. A French National Socialist Black Metal (NSBM) event page was located for the Call Of Terror festival. Users on 8kun, successor to 8chan, continued to praise Christchurch shooter Brenton Tarrant. Additionally, ISIS Amaq News content was located on Telegram-affiliated message board, Telegra.ph. Also, a white supremacist Telegram channel posted a video calling for violence against African Americans. Finally, a popular Neo-Nazi Telegram channel celebrated 4,000 subscribers and urged viewers to arm themselves to work towards revolution.

Last Saturday, two U.S. servicemembers were killed by a roadside bomb in southern Kandahar , illustrating that Taliban activity continues to be prevelant in the Middle East as peace talks in Afghanistan remain on hold with U.S. diplomats. It follows a previous attack claimed by the Taliban on Bagram Airfield on December 11, 2019. In the aftermath, U.S. officials declared a “brief pause” on peace negotiations, a repeat of September of 2019, when the Taliban launched an attack on a foreign compound in Kabul that killed 12, including a U.S. soldier. Subsequently, U.S. President Donald Trump canceled a secret meeting at Camp David with Taliban leaders and the president of Afghanistan, effectively ending the U.S.-Taliban months-long peace negotiations.