The National: US General Who Led Anti-ISIS Air War Set To Become Pentagon's Top Officer

“The US Air Force general who once led the air war against ISIS is set to become the Pentagon's top officer. Gen Charles Brown, 60, commanded air operations against ISIS in 2015 as a US-led coalition of dozens of countries sought to push the extremists from their self-proclaimed caliphate in Iraq and Syria. President Joe Biden formally nominated Gen Brown as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at a White House ceremony on Thursday, flanked by Vice President Kamala Harris and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin. ‘Gen Brown is a warfighter who's commanded in Europe, the Middle East and the Indo Pacific,’ Mr Biden said during his remarks.”

Anadolu Agency: US Warns Of Heightened Extremist Threat Ahead Of 2024 Presidential Election

“The US remains in a ‘heightened threat environment’ ahead of the 2024 presidential election, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Wednesday. ‘In the coming months, DHS expects the threat environment to remain heightened and that individuals may be motivated to violence by perceptions of the 2024 general election cycle and legislative or judicial decisions pertaining to sociopolitical issues,’ said the National Terrorism Advisory System Bulletin issued by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. ‘U.S. critical infrastructure, faith-based institutions, individuals or events associated with the LGBTQIA+ community, schools, racial and ethnic minorities, and government facilities and personnel are likely targets of potential violence,’ it added. Mayorkas said ‘recent tragic events’ highlight the continued heightened threat environment the US faces. He added that these threats are ‘driven by violent extremists who seek to further their ideological beliefs and personal grievances.’  The latest bulletin is the eighth one issued since Jan. 21, replacing the previous bulletin, which expired today, informing the public every few months about the terrorism threat landscape in the US.”

United States

New York Post: Left-Wing Extremism Linked To Psychopathy And Narcissism: Study

“Left-wing extremism is linked to toxic, psychopathic tendencies and narcissism, according to a new study published to the peer-reviewed journal Current Psychology. ‘Based on existing research, we expected individuals with higher levels of left-wing authoritarianism to also report higher levels of narcissism,’ the authors wrote. As result of the new data, study authors Ann Krispenz and Alex Bertrams have coined a new term for such psychological behavior: the ‘dark-ego-vehicle principle.’ ‘According to this principle, individuals with dark personalities — such as high narcissistic and psychopathic traits — are attracted to certain forms of political and social activism which they can use as a vehicle to satisfy their own ego-focused needs instead of actually aiming at social justice and equality,’ they told PsyPost.”

Jewish News Syndicate: US State Department Designates Five Al-Shabaab Leaders As Terrorists

“Maxamed Siidow, Cali Yare, Maxamed Dauud Gabaane, Suleiman Cabdi Daoud and Mohamed Omar Mohamed—all influential leaders of al-Shabaab, a terror group based in Somalia—have now been labeled Designated Global Terrorists under Executive Order (E.O.) 13224 by the U.S. State Department. Referring to al-Shabaab, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that countering one of Al-Qaeda’s most dangerous affiliates, ‘which has killed thousands of people, including Americans, in Somalia and across East Africa, remains a shared priority with the Somali government.’ Al-Shabaab was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the State Department in March 2008. Four of the individuals listed are finance emirs for the terrorist organization. Siidow also commands Jabha, al-Shabaab’s militant wing.”

Iraq

The Mirror: RAF Typhoons Blitz ISIS Terrorists With SEVEN 500lb Bombs In Iraq Raid

“RAF jets have blitzed ISIS extremists with seven, 500lb bombs, the Ministry of Defence revealed today. Typhoon aircraft attacked the terrorists with Paveway IV laser-guided weapons after intelligence pointed to Islamic State operating from a lair buried in mountains in Iraq. The air raid took place earlier this month but has only just been disclosed by the MoD. It said in a statement: ‘UK forces, as part of the coalition, continue to support the Iraqi government in its unrelenting work to prevent any attempts by the Daesh terrorist movement to re-establish a presence in the country.’ ‘Careful intelligence analysis revealed that a Daesh (ISIS) group was basing itself at two remote locations in the Hamrin mountains in north-eastern Iraq.’”

Turkey

Daily Sabah: PKK Terrorists Caused Türkiye $3 Trillion In Damages: Yıldırım

“The PKK terrorist group caused $3 trillion in financial damage to Türkiye, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Deputy Chairman Binali Yıldırım said Thursday. ‘PKK caused us $3 trillion in financial damage,’ he told a meeting with workers at a textile factory in Istanbul on Thursday, noting that the terrorist group has indirectly caused $400 billion in damages. Yıldırım said this would only be possible with a favorable atmosphere, security and stability, highlighting that production is key to achieving a more robust economy. ‘If a country does not have stability and security, then you cannot produce anything,’ he said, adding that Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Libya and Yemen are all unable to produce because they’re either dealing with war, internal strife or occupation. The PKK is responsible for over 40,000 civilian and security personnel deaths in Türkiye over an almost four-decade campaign of terror. Türkiye has been conducting military operations in northern Iraq since 2019, with ground and air forces to battle the organization.”

Pakistan

Dawn: Terrorist Arrested In Hangu

“Addressing a press conference at the Hangu Press Club, the district police officer, Asif Bahadar told journalists that Saadullah had been declared proclaimed offender in 2000 by the counter-terrorism department but was hiding from police since then. He belonged to Mohallah Alikhel of Kurram district and had a house in Orakzai district in the Dabori area where he was living with his family. He used to travel to Hangu, Peshawar, and Kohat to collect funds for TTP operations. Saadullah was nabbed on intelligence reports while crossing the border of Naryab to enter Hangu, the DPO said.”

Middle East

The Jerusalem Post: Armed Terrorist Killed By Security Guard At Entrance To West Bank Synagogue

“An attempted terror attack was thwarted in the West Bank settlement of Teneh Omarim, close to Hebron, on Friday morning. Shortly before 10 a.m., a terrorist infiltration alert was sounded, and the Home Front Command issued instructions for residents to immediately go inside, lock the doors and close the windows, adding that they must remain indoors until further notice. After infiltrating the settlement, the terrorist, who was armed with a knife, headed for the community synagogue, where holiday prayers were taking place.  and was shot by security forces at the entrance to the building before anyone was injured.”

Somalia

AFP News: Al-Shabaab Raid African Union Army Base In Somalia

“Islamist Al-Shabaab fighters attacked an African Union military base in Somalia on Friday, the AU force said, without specifying if there were any casualties. The Al-Qaeda-linked jihadist group has been waging a jihadist insurgency against the central government in the fragile Horn of Africa nation for more than 15 years. The army base in Bulo Marer, 120 kilometres (75 miles) southwest of the capital Mogadishu ‘came under Al-Shabab attack,’ the AU force known as ATMIS said in a statement on Facebook and Twitter. ‘ATMIS forces are currently assessing the security situation,’ it said, without giving details.”

Garowe Online: Somalia: Injured Al-Shabaab Commander Becomes "Unconscious"

“The recently injured Al-Shabaab commander Osman Mohamed Abdi alias Moallim Osman is in ‘critical and unconscious’ condition, multiple sources have claimed, just a few days after the US confirmed an airstrike in Jilib town which injured a ‘senior Al-Shabaab commander’ in Somalia. State media reported that Abdi suffered ‘major injuries’ in the airstrike which targeted him and that his situation was ‘deteriorating on an hourly basis’. Details about his injury were reported by the government of Somalia which disclosed his name after the US put it under wraps. ‘Al-Shabaab leader Osman Mohamed Abdi [Ma'alin Osman], in charge of recruiting foreign terrorists to Somalia, was critically injured in an operation by National Army and international allies in Jilib district 2 days ago. Suffered major injuries and currently unconscious, in critical condition,’ state media reported, citing anonymous sources.”

Africa

Garowe Online: Uganda Probes Al-Shabaab Complex Attack On Its Troops In Somalia

“The Ugandan military says it is investigating an attack on an African Union military base manned by the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) in Bulo Marer town in Somalia on Friday morning. UPDF spokesperson Felix Kuläyigye told Nation Africa that the attack was carried out by ‘foreign insurgents’ without giving further details. He said they were ‘cross-checking the information’ with the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) headquarters before issuing a statement. ‘This morning, ATMIS FOB in Bulo Marer came under an Al-Shabab attack. ATMIS forces are currently assessing the security situation. More information will be issued later,’ said the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS].”

United Kingdom

BBC: Teenager Charged With Terrorism Offences

“A 15-year-old boy has been charged with two terrorism offences, police said. The boy, from Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, is charged with possession of an explosive substance and inviting support for a proscribed far-right group. He was arrested in December 2022 by officers from Counter Terrorism Policing South East and Thames Valley Police. They said the group's ideology was linked to the extreme right wing. The boy, who cannot be named, is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 26 June.”