Eye on Extremism: April 14, 2026
Top Stories
Wall Street Journal: Saudi Arabia Is Pressing U.S. to Drop Its Naval Blockade
Iran’s Houthi allies in Yemen control a long stretch of coastline near the Bab al-Mandeb and severely disrupted the waterway for much of the war in the Gaza Strip. Iran is putting pressure on the group to close the chokepoint again, Arab officials said.
Addressing a delegation of more than 130 senior law enforcement leaders from the United States, Europe, and beyond, on Holocaust Remembrance Day at Auschwitz, Sylvan Adams, President of the World Jewish Congress – Israel Region, said that the Holocaust showed how ignoring hatred can lead to the breakdown of society.
CEP Mentions
Merkur: “Like drug dealers”: Terrorism expert warns of new algorithms from Meta and TikTok
“For extremists of all stripes – right-wing, left-wing, Islamist – algorithms are essentially worth their weight in gold,” says terrorism expert Hans-Jakob Schindler. He is the director of the Counter Extremism Project (CEP) in Berlin, and he observes: “Progress that was once made in the fight against extremist activities online is declining. Currently, things are getting worse again.”
Focus Magazine: Is Germany prepared? The Iranian terror trail through Europe
Hans-Jakob Schindler agrees with him. “It is not the case that Germany needs more capabilities than other countries,” says the terrorism researcher. Rather, the capabilities of German security agencies lag far behind those of their European allies. “Today, the world communicates via the internet,” says Schindler. “If you aren’t allowed access to that, you are at a real disadvantage.”
WDR5 Radio: Strait of Hormuz: "The absolute Achilles' heel of the Iranian regime"
US President Trump wants to block Iranian ships from entering the Strait of Hormuz. "The Americans want to strengthen their negotiating position by clarifying the actual power dynamic," says Middle East expert Hans-Jakob Schindler.
Analysis
Jerusalem Post: Iran's war crimes: Behind the IRGC's recruitment of 12-year-olds – analysis
In most of the world, being 12 years old means you cannot drive, vote, drink, marry, sign a contract, or join the military. The international community spent the better part of the 20th century constructing the legal frameworks required to protect those facts.
OIET: Analysis of Far-Right Violence Extremism – March 2026
In March 2026, the global landscape was marked by an alarming presence of terrorism and extremism linked to extreme right-wing ideologies. This analysis underscores the paramount significance of this issue in the contemporary world order.
Jewish Insider: As filing deadline hits, campaign cash shows the power of online extremes
Not long ago, candidates with extreme or exotic views — such as those affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America on the left or those embracing conspiracy theories on the far right — would have a hard time being taken seriously by rank-and-file donors, who typically want a back a winner and would shy away from those with far-out-of-the-mainstream views.
United States
A man linked to white supremacist movements pleaded guilty on Monday to setting a fire that destroyed an office at a historic social justice center in Tennessee, a court document shows. Regan Prater also pleaded guilty to attempting to aid a foreign terrorist organization for efforts to provide the militant group Hezbollah “a list of personally identifiable information for individuals purportedly affiliated with the government of Israel,” according to a criminal information filed in February.
The U.S. military carried out another lethal strike targeting suspected cartel operatives in the Eastern Pacific on Monday, killing two individuals believed to be involved in narcotics trafficking, according to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).
A measure aimed at rooting out Chicago police officers with ties to extremist, anti-government groups like the far-right Proud Boys or Oath Keepers is set for a City Council vote as early as Wednesday. That’s after the 17th version of the measure passed the council’s Workforce Development Committee by a 6 to 3 vote on Monday, with some debate.
Jewish Insider: Hasan Piker doubles down on Hamas support
Given the chance to walk back some of his most incendiary commentary on an episode of the “Pod Save America” podcast released Sunday, antisemitic streamer Hasan Piker instead doubled down on his support of Hamas and other inflammatory rhetoric.
The Senate campaign of Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) is calling on Minnesota’s Democratic Party to launch a formal investigation into a series of alleged instances of antisemitic activity among delegates in the lead-up to its state convention being held at the end of next month.
Europe
Reuters: Orban's defeat topples a pillar of Europe's far right, prompts scrutiny of MAGA links
Europe's far right has lost one of its biggest champions with the defeat of Hungary's nationalist leader Viktor Orban in Sunday's election. Orban's government provided a blueprint for right-wing populist and illiberal politicians, earning plaudits from the likes of U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Germany
An appeals chamber of the Berlin Regional Court has decided that a violent attack on Jewish student Lahav Shapira, 33, was not antisemitic. This changes the original ruling from April 2025, in which the judge determined that the assault was motivated by antisemitism.
Ukraine
Caliber: Ukraine enacts tougher penalties for anti-semitic crimes
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a new law aimed at strengthening penalties for anti-Semitic acts, in a move to reinforce protections against hate crimes in Ukraine. Under the legislation, individuals found guilty of inciting hatred, promoting discrimination, restricting rights, or committing public acts motivated by anti-Semitism may face fines, restrictions on liberty, or imprisonment for up to three years, Caliber.Az reports, citing Ukrainian media.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan International: Taliban Spokesperson Calls UN Sanctions ‘Clear Injustice’
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid has criticised the UN’s updated sanctions on its officials as unreasonable and ineffective, calling their continuation a clear injustice against Afghans.
Afghanistan International: Three Dead & Four Injured In Baghlan Shooting
Taliban police in Baghlan say three people were killed and four injured in an attack inside a mosque in Khwaja district, during evening prayers on Monday. According to the Taliban police command, the incident took place in Chokak village of Khwaja district while worshippers were performing prayers.
Afghanistan International: UN Updates Sanctions Information On Four Taliban Officials
The UN Security Council sanctions committee has updated information on four Taliban officials on its sanctions list, including Prime Minister Mohammad Hassan Akhund and Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. The updated entries also include Abdul Ghani Baradar, the deputy prime minister, and Hedayatullah Badri, the minister of mines.
Gaza Strip/West Bank
BBC: Hamas rejects Gaza disarmament plan, Palestinian official says
Hamas has rejected the disarmament plan of a top figure in President Donald Trump's Gaza peace efforts, a senior Palestinian official familiar with the negotiations has told the BBC.
Times of Israel: 4 Hamas tunnels demolished by troops in Gaza over the weekend, says IDF
The IDF says combat engineers demolished four Hamas tunnels in the Israeli-controlled portion of the Gaza Strip over the weekend. The tunnels on the eastern, Israeli-held side of the Yellow Line in total spanned some 800 meters, the IDF says.
A Hamas operative who participated in the deadliest attack on Israeli troops during the IDF’s ground offensive in the Gaza Strip was killed in a strike last week, the military announces.
Iran
Xinhua: Iran's IRGC says to use new capabilities if conflict continues
Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has vowed to use new military capabilities if the war with the United States and Israel continues, the semi-official Fars news agency reported Monday.
Kurdistan24: IRGC Claims Full Control of Strait of Hormuz Amid Escalating Tensions with U.S.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Sunday that its forces have full control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, warning of severe consequences if adversaries take hostile action, following a major escalation ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Iraq
Al Arabiya: Iraq hands over two cleared ISIS suspects to US, Finland
Iraq’s judiciary said Tuesday it had handed over two detained foreigners, from Finland and the United States, to their countries after finding that had not been ISIS members.
Shafaq: Iraq hands death sentence to ISIS member over attack on security forces
Iraq’s Central Criminal Court on Tuesday sentenced an ISIS member to death for a 2017 deadly attack on Iraqi security forces in Diyala province, according to the Supreme Judicial Council. The convicted militant, along with an ISIS-linked group, targeted an Iraqi Army unit in the town of Saadiya, killing an army captain and wounding 12 personnel.
Lebanon
Times of Israel: Hezbollah chief demands Lebanon back out of ‘futile’ planned talks with Israel
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem on Monday urged Lebanon to cancel a planned meeting with Israel in Washington the following day, reiterating his group’s rejection of direct negotiations with its sworn enemy. “We reject negotiations with the usurping Israeli entity… We call for a historic and heroic stance by canceling this negotiating meeting,” Qassem, whose Iran-backed terror group has been at war with Israel since March 2, said in a televised address. Hezbollah, like its patron Iran, openly seeks to destroy Israel.
An Israel Defense Forces reservist was killed and three were injured when a Humvee overturned in southern Lebanon on Sunday night, and ten paratroopers were wounded in a clash with Hezbollah gunmen, the military announced.
Jerusalem Post: IDF soldiers wounded by Hezbollah terrorists, as weapons found in Lebanon home
Several soldiers were wounded when the IDF encountered a terrorist cell in Bint Jbeil, where three armed terrorists opened fire on the soldiers. The IDF successfully returned fire and killed two terrorists. The third terrorist attempted to flee, but was also killed by a follow-up strike by the IDF.
Reuters: Lebanese and Israeli envoys to meet as Israel presses war on Hezbollah
Israeli and Lebanese envoys will meet in Washington on Tuesday as Israel presses its war on Hezbollah, a diplomatic milestone overshadowed by conflicting agendas with Israel ruling out discussion of a ceasefire and demanding Beirut disarm the group. The meeting comes at a critical juncture in the crisis in the Middle East, a week into a fragile ceasefire between the United States, Israel and Iran. The parallel war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon has been a complicating factor in Pakistan's mediation to end the wider conflict.
Turkey
A former student opened fire at a high school in southeastern Turkey on Tuesday, wounding at least 16 people, before killing himself, an official said. The 18-year-old attacker, armed with a shotgun, fired randomly inside a vocational high school in Siverek, Sanliurfa province. He later killed himself with the same shotgun after being “cornered by police,” Gov. Hasan Sildak said.
Yemen
Donald Trump’s threats to blockade the Strait of Hormuz have sparked fears Iran could counterattack by urging its Houthi allies in Yemen to halt sea traffic through another major shipping corridor in the Middle East. The entry of the Houthi rebels into the Iran war at the end of March sparked concerns that the group, known for its attacks on shipping, could block the vital Bab al-Mandab strait to oil tankers, causing further economic chaos.
India
Indian Express: Three al-Qaeda-affiliate operatives sentenced to life for terror conspiracy
A special NIA court in Lucknow Monday awarded life imprisonment to three men who were arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) in July 2021 for allegedly conspiring to carry out explosions in various parts of the state at the behest of al-Qaeda’s India affiliate, Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind.
Nigeria
Reuters: Nigeria police arrest 33-member gang over Kwara church abductions
Nigerian police have arrested a 33-member gang over a November attack in which 38 people were abducted from a church in central Kwara state, police said on Tuesday, as part of a nationwide crackdown on violence.
Somalia
Reuters: Somalia says it killed 27 al Shabaab militants with international support
Somalia's defence ministry said on Tuesday that its armed forces and regional security forces had killed 27 al Shabaab militants in the semi-autonomous Jubbaland state in an operation with international support. The defence ministry statement did not name the international partners that provided support but said its operation was backed by air strikes.
Australia
The United Nations’ violence against women and girls special rapporteur has called out rape and death threats directed at prominent Australian campaigners, Collective Shout. The UN special rapporteur has written to the Australian government following Collective Shout staff being bombarded with threats for campaigning against payment platforms handling funds for online games that enable sexual abuse and misogyny.
The Victorian Government has appointed its first Commissioner for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism, as part of a broader crackdown on rising hate incidents and radicalisation risks. Police Minister Anthony Carbines announced that Dr Kelly Mischel will take on the newly created role, leading the state’s Strategy for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism 2025–28.
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