Eye on Extremism: April 13, 2026
Top Stories
The year 2025 saw an alarming surge in violent attacks against Jews in a year when more Diaspora Jews were murdered in antisemitic incidents than in any other year in the previous three decades, a report published Monday by Tel Aviv University said.
A new study is highlighting how extremist groups are reshaping their messaging to better connect with Gen Z audiences, using language and digital strategies that mirror mainstream online culture. The research introduces the concept of “Gen Z extremist agency,” describing a shift in how propaganda positions young people—not as passive followers, but as active participants and central figures in ideological movements. According to the analysis, this approach emphasizes personal empowerment, identity formation, and a sense of purpose as key recruitment tools.
CEP Mentions
Süddeutsche Zeitung: Is Iran behind the attacks against Jewish institutions?
According to terrorism expert Hans-Jakob Schindler of the Counter Extremism Project (CEP)—who himself served at the German Embassy in Tehran from 2005 to 2011—the recent bombing attack on the Israeli restaurant "Eclipse" this past Friday fits the pattern of the new group "Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia" (HAYI): the attack took place at night, the target was a Jewish establishment, and no one was harmed. This would mark the first such act in Germany by the group—behind whose hybrid attacks an Iranian intelligence agency is suspected to be operating.
Terrorism expert Hans-Jakob Schindler works for the Counter Extremism Project in Berlin and New York and also advises German ministries in this capacity. He reviewed the report for the NZZ. Schindler says the veracity of Ataee's statements is partly questionable. Nevertheless, this case is "virtually typical" of Islamist radicalization and the methods of ISIS. "ISIS propaganda often resonates on social media with migrants who exhibit inconsistencies in their personalities," he says.
ZDF Morgenmagazin: Blockade is followed by counter-blockade
CEP Senior Director Hans-Jakob Schindler discusses the closure of Strait of Hormuz.
WELT TV: "Hold hostage to the Iranian regime"
Middle East expert Hans-Jakob Schindler analyzes the negotiations with Iran in Islamabad and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The regime sees itself as the victor and is setting new preconditions.
Unions Stiftung: Iran War: Trump, Netanyahu and the global consequences
Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler analyzes the strategic goals of the US and Israel and explains why, from the outset, the conflict has not only been about military strikes against Iran's missile and nuclear programs, but also about whether the regime could be undermined from within.
Analysis
Washington Institute for Near East Policy: Israel-Lebanon Peace: Will Berri Remain a Hindrance?
The two governments have agreed to direct talks that could (and should) turn into a wider U.S.-brokered peace process, but only if officials are prepared to counter potential spoilers like Hezbollah ally Nabih Berri.
United States
Fox News: US military conducts more deadly strikes against vessels of alleged 'narco-terrorists'
The U.S. conducted two deadly strikes on Saturday against "vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations," according to U.S. Southern Command. "Applying total systemic friction on the cartels," a Sunday night post on SOUTHCOM's X account declares.
Iran International: US terminates green cards of 3 Iranians tied to Islamic Republic
The United States revoked the permanent resident status of three Iranian nationals with ties to the Islamic Republic and placed them in immigration custody, the State Department said on Saturday. In a statement, the department said Secretary of State Marco Rubio had terminated the green card status of Seyed Eissa Hashemi, Maryam Tahmasebi and their son, who are now in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement pending removal.
Fox News: Hasan Piker calls Republican Party the 'biggest domestic terrorist' in the country
Far-left Twitch streamer Hasan Piker claimed on Sunday that the Republican Party was the world's "biggest terrorist" organization in both the U.S. and internationally. "I hate Republicans," Piker said on "Pod Save America." "I oppose them. I say that all the time. I think that the Republicans are far more damaging. The biggest terrorists, the biggest domestic terrorist in this country, the biggest terrorist internationally is the Republican Party. And not only that, but it's just like, they ... I want to fight against the growing fascist movement in this country."
Dan Bilzerian, the mega-influencer who’s spread conspiracy theories about Jews and said he wants to “kill Israelis,” is running for Congress. Bilzerian registered this week to run in the Republican primary against the Jewish far-right firebrand Rep. Randy Fine in Florida’s sixth district. Bilzerian initially gained fame for his Instagram photos alongside bikini-clad women but has since become a vocal critic of Israel and Jews — and has repeatedly called Fine a “fat Jew” in the lead-up to his campaign launch.
JTA: Temple Israel rabbi criticizes Michigan Senate candidate for ‘offensive’ remarks about attack
A rabbi at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan, has publicly chastised a candidate for U.S. Senate in her state who grew up near the temple, for what she said was an “offensive” response to the recent attack on her synagogue. Rabbi Jen Lader criticized Abdul El-Sayed, a physician and former county health executive, for “suggesting that violence against a synagogue in suburban Detroit could be understood through the lens of Israeli actions.”
Jersey Vindicator: New Jersey lawmaker proposes public database of extremist groups
A New Jersey lawmaker wants the state to create a public database of extremist organizations in response to the rise in violence and political attacks in the country. But some experts worry that the measure could hand the government broad power to label groups based on ideology, raising serious First Amendment concerns and potentially sweeping protected political activity into a public registry.
Nerdeen Kiswani, a Palestinian-American activist, blasted what she called Zionist aggression after investigators foiled a Molotov cocktail plot against her life — but refused to condemn political violence across the board. In the past, Kiswani’s organization, Within Our Lifetime (WOL), has drawn scrutiny for refusing to condemn U.S.-designated terror organizations.
Governor Kay Ivey on Friday signed into law House Bill 7, which strengthens criminal penalties for those who make terroristic threats in schools and other public spaces. “If Alabama is to remain the best place to live, work and raise a family, we must ensure all of our classrooms are the safest environments for learning,” Ivey said. “Terroristic threats made against our schools are meant to create fear among students and their parents and undermine security. The wellbeing of Alabama’s children must come first. Those who make such threats will be subject to the toughest penalties under the law.”
Washington Post: Heritage president toasted editor of controversial right-wing magazine
At a recent dinner, Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts toasted Paul Gottfried, the editor of a magazine that has published writers accused of espousing white supremacism. In his remarks, he spoke against “heritage Americans … [repudiating] their heritage.” He referred to Gottfried as having been “exiled” from conservatism but now being part of an “ascendant” movement.
Europe
CNN: A shadowy, pro-Iranian group claimed a spate of attacks in Europe. But it might be a façade
A shadowy, pro-Iran group has claimed responsibility for a spate of recent attacks on Jewish communities and American interests in Europe. The incidents, which the group posted about via social media accounts affiliated with pro-Iranian militias, include an arson attack on Jewish community-run ambulances in the United Kingdom, an explosive device detonated in front of a synagogue in Belgium and a foiled attack on a Bank of America office in France. The catch is that the group may be a mirage.
France
Le Monde: Lafarge ex-CEO sentenced to six years in prison for funding jihadists in Syria
A French court Monday, April 13, handed a six-year prison term to the former head of cement conglomerate Lafarge over paying jihadists to maintain business operations in war-torn Syria in 2013 and 2014. Bruno Lafont was sentenced to six years in prison for financing "terrorism", which a judge ordered him to start serving immediately, while former deputy managing director Christian Herrault received a five-year sentence.
Germany
Jerusalem Post: Almost half of young Muslims in Germany hold Islamist attitudes, study finds
Almost one in two, or 45.1 percent, of Muslims in Germany under the age of 40 hold Islamist attitudes, according to Germany’s Radicalization Monitoring System and Transfer Platform. MOTRA is run by the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA).
Hungary
The Guardian: Hungarian opposition ousts Viktor Orbán after 16 years in power
Hungary’s opposition Tisza party, led by Péter Magyar, has won the election, bringing an end to Viktor Orbán’s 16-year grip on power, in a result that is likely to rattle the White House and reshape the country’s relationship with the EU.
Spain
Independent: Spain accused of anti-Semitism after Netanyahu effigy blown up
A giant effigy of Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was blown up in the Spanish town of El Burgo during a decades-old local ceremony. The seven-meter (23-foot) figure, packed with 14 kilograms (31 lb) of gunpowder, was blasted on 5 April in the small town near Málaga, Mayor Maria Dolores Narvaez told local television.
United Kingdom
The Telegraph: British man charged with directing activities of Somali terror group Al-Shabaab
A British man has been charged with offences linked to an Islamist terror group based in Somalia. Jermaine Grant, 43, of no fixed address, has been charged with directing the activities of Al-Shabaab between 31 December 2007 and 1 January 2010, the Metropolitan Police said.
The Times: Neo-fascist leaders back Rupert Lowe’s Restore Britain and not Reform
Two of Britain’s prominent neo-fascist leaders have pledged their support to Restore Britain, the new political party that is threatening to stop Nigel Farage winning a majority at the next election.
Jurist News: UK police arrest over 500 during Palestine Action protest
The UK Metropolitan Police on Saturday arrested 523 people for supporting Palestine Action, a proscribed organization. Those arrested ranged in age from 18 to 87 years old. Hundreds of people gathered in Trafalgar Square on Saturday to peacefully protest the ongoing classification of Palestine Action as a terrorist organization under the UK Terrorism Act 2000. Starting at 1 pm, demonstrators arrived at the square, where they proceeded to sit silently and hold signs showing support for the organisation. According to Defend Our Juries, the organizers behind the event, the arrests began shortly after commencement. An elderly pensioner was arrested, marking the first arrest of the day. By early evening, the police stated that Trafalgar Square had been cleared.
JNS: UK topped per capita antisemitic assaults in 2025, report finds
The United Kingdom had in 2025 the highest per capita rate of real-life antisemitic assaults of any country with a large Jewish community, according to a report published Monday by Israel’s Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating antisemitism. The report, published on the eve of Israel’s national day of commemoration for the victims of the Holocaust, said that “high and sustained levels of antisemitic activity“ were recorded in several areas, “with a notable concentration in a select number of countries: the United States, the U.K., Australia, France, Canada and Germany.”
The Guardian: From Isis recruit to influencer: ‘People think: you’re that evil girl who ran away’
As a young mother, Tareena Shakil fled with her toddler from the UK to Syria and joined Islamic State. Now she’s giving dating advice on TikTok. How did she get here?
Afghanistan
Ahmad Massoud, leader of the National Resistance Front, said Afghanistan’s deadlock, once in the Taliban’s favour, is beginning to break, hinting at ongoing developments without giving details. Speaking at an online memorial on Saturday, April 11, for members of Afghanistan’s Freedom Front, Massoud said: “The only way to make proper use of opportunities is coordination.”
Afghanistan International: Witnesses Describe Deadly Attack On Shia Civilians In Herat
A day after a deadly attack on Shia civilians in Herat’s Injil district, witnesses say gunmen seized victims’ phones before opening fire, killing and wounding dozens. One eyewitness told Afghanistan International that families were eating when armed men took their phones. He said he had moved away from the scene and then heard gunfire and women screaming.
Gaza Strip/West Bank
Times of Israel: IDF says Hamas terrorists who abducted, held hostages were killed in Gaza strike
The Israel Defense Forces said a strike targeting a cell of Hamas gunmen on Saturday killed a terrorist involved in abducting hostages on October 7, 2023, and two others who held another hostage in captivity in the Gaza Strip.
Iran
AFP: Iran executed over 1,600 people in 2025, most since 1989, rights groups say
Iranian authorities executed at least 1,639 people in 2025, the highest number since 1989, two NGOs said Monday, warning it risked using capital punishment even more extensively after protests in January and the war against Israel and the US.
Kurdistan24: Iran's Qaani Reaffirms Unity While Iran Reports Multi-Province Arrests
Iranian officials on Sunday issued two major developments involving regional and domestic security. IRGC Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani said on social media that the “Resistance Front” remains “united, strong, and unparalleled,” adding that it is “stronger than at any other time,” according to his post on X.
Iraq
Reuters: Bahrain summons Iraqi charge d'affaires over drone attacks launched from Iraq
Bahrain summoned Iraq's chargé d'affaires in Manama on Monday to protest against what it called ongoing drone attacks launched from Iraqi territory against the kingdom and other Gulf Cooperation Council states, the foreign ministry said. Bahrain delivered a formal note of protest and urged Iraq to address the threats urgently and responsibly, adding that the kingdom reserved the right to take all necessary measures to safeguard its security and stability.
Long War Journal: Iraqi fundraising drives linked to militias channel support to Iran and Hezbollah
Efforts that Iran-backed Iraqi militias describe as humanitarian campaigns increasingly show signs of serving as a parallel financial pipeline that also fuels Iran’s current war effort and its regional proxy network. Across Iraq, groups aligned with Tehran are mobilizing these donation drives, framing them as a religious obligation and in wartime solidarity. While the campaigns have showcased footage of providing food assistance and other humanitarian aid, most of these initiatives evade regulated financial controls and include explicitly militaristic messaging, such as aiming to “turn money into a striking force.”
Israel
A Hezbollah rocket barrage wounded at least one woman in Nahariya, Magen David Adom said on Monday afternoon. Approximately seven rockets were launched towards the city as part of the barrage, with six being successfully intercepted.
Medics and rescue forces are responding to reports of a rocket impact in Nahariya, following a barrage launched by Hezbollah from Lebanon. According to the IDF, fewer than 10 rockets were launched from Lebanon in the attack, most of which were intercepted.
Times of Israel: Shin Bet chief said to downplay Jewish terrorism in West Bank as ‘friction’
Shin Bet chief David Zini has downplayed settler attacks on Palestinians, leading to a crisis in the agency’s Jewish Division, according to a Friday report, even as former security chiefs and some in the settler movement’s old guard warned of the need to crack down on the soaring violence.
Lebanon
Times of Israel: IDF says close to capturing Hezbollah’s historic Bint Jbeil stronghold
The Israeli military has nearly completed the capture of the Hezbollah stronghold of Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon, killing more than 100 members of the terror group in the area in the process, the Israel Defense Forces said Monday.
Jerusalem Post: IDF: Within a few days, there won't be major fights left in Lebanon
The IDF on Monday said that once it completes its operation against Hezbollah in Bint Jbail in southern Lebanon in the coming days, there will not be any remaining major fights for it to undertake in the area.
AFP: Khamenei adviser says ignoring 'Hezbollah role' exposes Lebanon to 'security risks'
Ali Akbar Velayati, an adviser to Iran's supreme leader, said on X that Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam "should know that ignoring the unique role of the resistance and the heroic Hezbollah will expose Lebanon to irreparable security risks." "Lebanon's stability rests exclusively on cohesion between the government and the resistance," he said.
Naharnet: Hezbollah MP slams planned Lebanese talks with Israel as strikes kill 10
Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah on Saturday reiterated his group's rejection of direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, where authorities reported 10 people killed in Israeli attacks in the south. The office of President Joseph Aoun said on Friday that officials from Lebanon, Israel and the United States would meet next week in Washington "to discuss declaring a ceasefire and the start date for negotiations between Lebanon and Israel under U.S. auspices."
Syria
Times of Israel: Five arrested as Syria says it foiled Hezbollah-linked plot to kill Damascus rabbi
Syria’s Interior Ministry said Saturday that five people were arrested over a plot to attack an unidentified religious figure in Damascus, alleging the cell was linked to the Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group.
Naharnet: Hezbollah denies link to cell accused of planning Damascus attack
Hezbollah denied on Sunday any link to a cell accused by Syrian authorities of planning an attack on a religious figure in Damascus, saying it conducts no activity in the country. Syria's interior ministry said Saturday that security forces had arrested a woman attempting to plant an explosive device in front of a house belonging to an unidentified religious figure in the Bab Touma area of the Syrian capital.
NPR: Wives and children of foreign ISIS fighters stranded in Syria with no way home
This isolated detention camp doesn't look like it would be a legacy of the once-powerful militant group ISIS. Children play in the bare spaces between tattered tents. A boy kicks a soccer ball. A little girl covered head to toe in an all-enveloping cloak furiously peddles a bicycle.
Yemen
Yemen Online: New Escalation as Houthis Impose Sectarian Summer Courses on Students
Educational sources in Yemen’s Ibb governorate revealed a new escalation by Houthi authorities to enforce sectarian-oriented summer courses in public schools, through measures described as “educational blackmail.”
Pakistan
Amu: Two killed in attack on Hazaras in Quetta, Pakistan
Gunmen killed two members of Pakistan’s Hazara community and wounded three others in an early morning attack in the southwestern city of Quetta on Sunday, according to local sources. The victims were traveling in a rickshaw in the Hazarganji area of the city when they were targeted by armed assailants, the sources said. All five passengers were from the Hazara community and residents of the Brewery neighborhood in Quetta.
Cameroon
Reuters: Cameroon separatists declare three-day ceasefire for papal visit
A separatist alliance in Cameroon's English-speaking regions said it would observe a three-day "safe travel passage" later this week to allowcivilians and visitors to move freely during a visit by Pope Leo. The pope left on Monday for a tour of four African countries - Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea - aiming to urge global leaders to address the continent's challenges. Africa is home to more than a fifth of the world's Catholics.
Nigeria
Reuters: Islamist militants raid Nigerian army base, kill commander and six soldiers
Islamist militants riding motorbikes stormed an army base near Nigeria's northeastern border with Chad, killing the commander and six other soldiers late on Sunday, two military sources said. The assault was by members of Boko Haram and its splinter group Islamic State West Africa Province, the sources told Reuters, and came days after a string of coordinated attacks on military positions in other parts of Borno State.
Stay up to date on our latest news.
Get the latest news on extremism and counter-extremism delivered to your inbox.