Eye on Extremism: October 20, 2026
Top Stories
IranWire: IRGC Threatens Undersea Internet Cables in Strait of Hormuz
Hossein Mohebi, spokesman for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), highlighted the communication cables beneath the Strait of Hormuz, declaring them among the IRGC’s “new targets.” He also warned that any renewed US military action, even on a limited scale, would plunge the world into a “severe energy crisis.”
The nationwide civil unrest that erupted in France sparked an online wave of antisemitic narratives blaming the crisis on Jews and Israel, according to a new report by the Combat Antisemitism Movement’s Antisemitism Research Center.
CEP Mentions
Libero Quotidiano: Hans-Jakob Schindler: "Here’s What’s Behind Islamist Radicalization"
Hans-Jakob Schindler, senior director of the Counter extremism project and former member of the UN group in charge of monitoring al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, identifies a change in recruitment methods.
The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) has investigated the role played by left-wing extremist groups in these events. According to its findings, these groups participate in organized confrontations, attempt to control large-scale demonstrations, and spread calls for violence across borders. The analysis, "Who Drives the Riots? Europe's Extreme Left and the October Protest Wave," is by Alexander Ritzmann, Senior Advisor at the CEP.
Analysis
The Media Line: France’s Riots Give Extremist Networks an Opening, Experts Warn
France’s students wanted more teachers. Households wanted relief from rising prices. On October 17, between 550,000 and 800,000 people took to the streets across France. Most protested peacefully. In several cities, demonstrations descended into violence, leaving historic buildings burned, thousands of businesses damaged, and the government scrambling to restore order.
United States
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Southwest border ports of entry recorded more than 11,250 “terrorism-related encounters” in the first 11 months of fiscal year 2026 — more than twice as many as in FY 2025 and more than 100 times the previous administration’s record, according to a new analysis by Center for Immigration Studies.
The Hill: Trump uses antisemitic slur at Kansas rally
President Trump used an antisemitic slur at a rally in Kansas on Monday while defending Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) over revelations he sued his patients for unpaid medical bills. Trump has defended Marshall for going after the unpaid bills, saying he was “mandated by law” to do so.
A comprehensive new study published in October reveals that American humanities doctoral students are significantly more likely than other US graduate students to hold anti-Jewish prejudice and hostility toward Israel.
JNS: ISIS-inspired Canadian terrorist, already in jail, sentenced to 50 more years for attack
Abdulrahman El Bahnasawy, 28, who was already in jail for plotting ISIS-inspired terror attacks in New York City, was sentenced on Monday to another 50 years behind bars for stabbing two correctional officers, leaving one without his right eye, the U.S. Department of Justice said.
Halima Salman didn’t know her father had decided to move her family into Islamic State territory until she awoke in a van surrounded by armed men. Their faces covered, the men said, “Hurry,” speaking Arabic, Salman told jurors on Monday as she testified in her own defense. Prosecutors accuse Salman of training with Nusaybah Katiba, an all-female battalion primarily composed of IS fighters’ wives. Trial began last week, more than two years after Salman’s family was repatriated from northeast Syria.
An 18-year-old from Minnesota who prosecutors say planned a terror attack at the Mall of America and who was arrested after buying an AK-47 from an undercover FBI employee must remain in custody, a federal judge ruled Monday.
Imraan Siddiqi, Washington state executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and a Democratic candidate for the state House, praised antisemitic streamer Hasan Piker and demanded that the University of Washington reinstate Piker’s canceled lecture in an Aug. 13 letter that JNS obtained via a public records request.
Larry David, the famously cranky creator of Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm, has just penned a “modest proposal” skewering the hypocrisy and antisemitism of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) in the online publication Air Mail.
Fox 9 KMSP: 15 alleged Antifa members return to court in Minneapolis over anti-ICE protests
More than a dozen anti-ICE protesters are expected in federal court in Minneapolis as part of the Trump administration's crackdown on what it calls anti-government groups.
WHP CBS 21: Man sentenced after 'ISIS-inspired assault' on Pennsylvania correctional officers: DOJ
A Canadian man was sentenced to 50 years in prison after carrying out an “ISIS-inspired assault” on correctional officers at a Pennsylvania penitentiary, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a public school, said on Monday that it reached an agreement with the federal government to close “pending investigations without adverse action or adverse finding.”
JNS: NYPD hate-crimes unit probes anti-Israel vandalism at Manhattan bank
The New York City Police Department’s hate crimes task force is investigating broken windows and spray-painted graffiti at a bank on East 86th Street in Manhattan, an NYPD spokeswoman told JNS.
Belgium
Brussels Times: Thailand joins countries warning against travel to Belgium amid protests
Thailand’s government issued a warning to its citizens on Monday morning to “exercise caution” when traveling to countries affected by recent protests and civil unrest, including Belgium. The warning was issued following a series of violent demonstrations across Europe this past weekend, particularly in France, where there are concerns about public safety and the potential for further civil unrest.
France
Reuters: France to deploy troops, admits to failures over weekend unrest
France will reinforce police with troops and mount a huge security operation for more protests planned on Saturday, the government said on Tuesday, acknowledging failures in its response to last weekend's violence.
NBC News: How France’s far right has capitalized on a weekend of riots, looting and chaos
In the streets, rioters looted shops, torched cars and set fire to buildings. In the Élysée Palace, outgoing French President Emmanuel Macron confronted the damage to both his nation’s cities and his centrist political project, now in disarray just as it should have been reaching its culmination.
Germany
Reuters: Germany’s far-right AfD investigates publication of emails stolen in cyberattack
Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) said on Tuesday that it was investigating the online publication of emails stolen by unknown hackers during a cyberattack last month. An AfD spokesperson said hackers had targeted a hosting service provider used by the party and apparently copied data from a small number of email accounts, most of which had not been used for years.
United Kingdom
New York Times: U.K. Sending Fighter Jets to Help Defend Saudi Cities From Houthi Attacks
British fighter jets will be sent to help defend cities and critical infrastructure in Saudi Arabia amid a spike in missile and drone attacks from Houthi rebels in Yemen, the British government announced on Tuesday.
Courthouse News Service: British far-right activist goes on trial over threats to journalists
Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, who uses the name Tommy Robinson, went on trial Monday on two counts of harassment causing fear of violence against two MailOnline journalists.
JNS: Jewish women assaulted in suspected antisemitic attack in London
A 33-year-old man remained in custody on Tuesday after allegedly assaulting at least two Jewish women in northeast London, including one pushing a baby in a stroller, the Metropolitan Police told JNS.
The Times: Terrorist peddles his extremist books to thousands on TikTok
A convicted terrorist has used TikTok to sell and promote Islamic books, including one that instructs women to seek their husband’s permission to leave the house. Mizanur Rahman has written eight books under the alias Abu Baraa that also discourage Muslims from holding elected political office and promote interpretations of Islamic law that call for homosexuals to be killed.
Afghanistan
Sources in Kabul say Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has restricted cabinet meetings chaired by Prime Minister Mohammad Hassan Akhund, requiring his approval before they can be held.
Afghanistan International: Taliban Morality Police Shut Down 12 Recording Studios In Khost
The Taliban’s morality police in Khost have closed 12 recording studios, saying they performed religious chants and songs and were shut to ensure compliance with Sharia principles.
The European Union has called for the unconditional reversal of the Taliban’s discriminatory policies against women and girls in Afghanistan, condemning widespread human rights violations and severe gender-based discrimination under the group’s rule.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister (FM) Ishaq Dar on Tuesday said that Pakistan had ‘only one expectation from the Afghan Taliban regime: that Afghan territory must not be used for terrorism against Pakistan or any other country.’
Atlas Press: Taliban turns Panjshir into a military zone with 700 checkpoints and 30,000 troops
Abdullah Khenjani, head of the political office and spokesman for the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan, said the Taliban administration has established about 700 security checkpoints in Panjshir province and deployed nearly 30,000 military personnel there.
AmuTV: Iran, Russia agree on need to ease Taliban-Pakistan tensions
Iran and Russia share a common view on the need to reduce tensions between Taliban authorities and Pakistan and counter terrorist threats linked to Afghanistan, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said at a joint news conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Tehran.
Tajikistan
Afghanistan International: Tajik President Urges Joint Action Against Terrorism & Drug Trafficking
Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has called for stronger joint action against terrorism and drug trafficking during a meeting with delegation heads from Shanghai Cooperation Organisation member states.
Middle East
Reuters: Most Gulf bourses in red after Houthis claim attacks on Saudi energy, airport sites
Most Gulf stock markets closed lower on Tuesday after Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis claimed attacks on Saudi energy, airport and military targets on Monday, while Egypt's index bucked the trend after parliament delayed a vote on authorising military support for Riyadh.
Gaza Strip/West Bank
Times of Israel: IDF says airstrike kills final Hamas member who took part in kidnapping Shani Louk
A Hamas terrorist who took part in abducting the body of Israeli hostage Shani Louk during the October 7 onslaught was killed in an airstrike in the northern Gaza Strip yesterday, the military and Shin Bet announce.
Up to 500 Moroccan personnel have undergone training in preparation for deployment with the International Stabilization Force in Gaza, a Board of Peace official told The Times of Israel Monday, as preparations for the multinational force continue despite significant delays in implementing the US-backed Gaza peace plan.
Times of Israel: IDF says it killed 3 Hamas operatives over weekend as it keeps up Gaza strikes
The Israel Defense Forces said Monday that it was keeping up its strikes on Palestinian terror operatives in Gaza, having killed three over the weekend, while also publishing a document purporting to demonstrate Hamas’s strategy earlier in the war of putting Gaza’s civilians at risk to save itself.
Terrorist attacks in the West Bank have declined over the past two years. This continues a trend from 2024 to 2025. Data from the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and the Foreign Ministry show a 70% decline in major terror attacks between 2024 and 2025 and nearly a 60% decline from 2025 to 2026. Overall, including stone throwing and other incidents, attacks fell 20% this year, according to data through August. Nevertheless, hundreds of incidents of threats and attacks still occur every month.
Iran
Fox News: Iran regime under pressure as rebel groups escalate attacks in volatile southeast
A new coalition of Iranian opposition groups in the restive southeastern provinces of Sistan and Baluchistan and Kerman in the Islamic Republic have launched a string of armed attacks against the clerical regime in the region.
Iraq
Shafaq News: Kurdistan seeks third Army-Peshmerga brigade to counter ISIS
Kurdistan Region Interior Minister Rebar Ahmed on Tuesday called for a third joint Iraqi Army-Peshmerga brigade to address security gaps in disputed areas, warning that the two existing formations are “insufficient” to counter ISIS activity.
Israel
The Beersheba Magistrate’s Court sentenced a former Soroka Medical Center doctor to 27 months in prison on Sunday for membership in ISIS, finding that his pledge of allegiance and years of collecting the terrorist organization’s material went beyond ideological interest to developing practical capabilities.
Lebanon
AFP: Judicial warrants issued for two Hezbollah officials in explosives case
A Lebanese judge on Tuesday ordered two Hezbollah officials to appear for questioning over their alleged involvement in a delivery of explosives seized by authorities this month, a judicial official told AFP.
Naharnet: Report: Hezbollah warned army and security forces against raiding Dahieh depots
President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam have asked the army and security agencies to “prepare for military and security-related operations in Dahieh, Beirut, the Bekaa and the South” targeting Hezbollah, the pro-Hezbollah al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Tuesday.
Naharnet: Report: Hezbollah earmarked $600M for aiding displaced, not $200M
Following the uproar regarding Hezbollah allegedly receiving $200 million from Iran, a pro-Hezbollah daily quoted local, Arab and international security agencies as saying that “that the actual figure far exceeds that amount.” “The (displaced) support plan detailed by the Chairman of Hezbollah's Executive Council, Sheikh Ali Daamoush, is backed by funding estimated at around $600 million,” al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Tuesday.
Naharnet: Hezbollah MPs warn of political ‘explosion,’ slam US interference, ‘subservient’ state
Hezbollah MPs on Monday condemned American "interference" in Lebanese affairs and slammed the Lebanese authorities for being “subservient,” “acquiescent,” “irresponsible,” and “foreign-dependent.”
Syria
The Syrian Observer: Former “Hurras al-Din Commander Arrested in Idlib”
Clashes broke out along the Sheikh Idris road, resulting in the deaths of two members of the group.
Turkey
Turkish MinuteTurkey detains 14 suspected ISIL financiers after German Embassy tip
Turkish police have detained 14 people suspected of financing the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) after a tip from the German Embassy in Ankara about an alleged fundraising network supporting detained militants in Syria, the DHA news agency reported on Tuesday.
Yemen
New York Times: Major Yemeni City Running Out of Food and Water as Houthis Encircle It
Yemeni and foreign officials are warning of potential catastrophe as the Houthi militia besieges Taiz, one of Yemen’s largest cities, leaving its residents with dwindling supplies of food, water and fuel.
Pakistan
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: The Landscape Of Militancy In The Iran-Pakistan Border Region
Increasing militant attacks along Iran's border with Pakistan over the past few months by multiple armed groups have stoked fears of further instability in the two countries, both of which are already facing multifaceted threats of sectarian violence in addition to the broader repercussions of the conflict in the Middle East.
Mali
Reuters: Islamic State-linked militants kill at least 48 civilians in eastern Mali, sources say
Islamic State-linked militants have killed at least 48 people in Mali in apparent retaliation for an attack on suspected informants by pro-government forces including members of Russia's Africa Corps, two security sources and two local officials told Reuters.
Sudan
Reuters: Sudanese drone attack killed over 150 people in Abyei market, official says
South Sudanese officials said Sudan's military had carried out drone strikes that hit a market in the disputed Abyei region, killing over 150 people, one of the deadliest attacks in a war that has spilled across Sudan's borders. The strike showed the lethality of airstrikes in Sudan’s war, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), triggering a major humanitarian crisis and drawing in local militias and foreign powers.
Philippines
Balita: AMLC forfeits P217K bank deposit of man linked to ISIS
The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) on Monday announced the forfeiture of PHP217,165 maintained in a bank account under the name of Abdulpatta Escalon Abubakar, following the Manila Regional Trial Court ruling.
Australia
Region: Teen admits plotting white supremacist terrorist attack in Canberra
A young man has admitted he was arrested while plotting to conduct a white supremacy-inspired terrorist attack in Canberra that would have resulted in injuries or death. This means the now-18-year-old will become the first person in the ACT to be sentenced for planning to commit a terrorist act.
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