Garowe Online: Somalia: Fresh Air And Ground Offensive Kill Over 100 Al-Shabaab Fighters

“A fresh airstrike and ground offensive in Somalia has left over 100 Al-Shabaab fighters dead, the Ministry of Information confirmed in a lengthy statement, just as the country prepares for the second and perhaps final assault on the members of the group, which still poses threats to regional stability. The Al-Shabaab militants have been waging coordinated sporadic retaliatory attacks against the US Africa Command, the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS], the Somali National Army [SNA], and even innocent civilians causing havoc and destruction of people's businesses. According to the ministry, the latest raid was activated by the ever-supportive US Africa Command in collaboration with the Somali National Army, leaving several other militants injured. The attack targeted the Gal Libaax and eel Qurac areas in central Somalia, causing huge losses to the militants.”

Dawn: Police Thwart Late-Night Ambush Of Terrorists On Peshawar Checkpost

“Superintendent Police (SP) Cantt Waqas Rafiq told Dawn.com that armed men tried to approach the Sarband police checkpost under the cover of darkness late at night on Thursday. However, the quick response from the vigilant officers foiled their attempt. The officers, whom he said were equipped with modern weapons, promptly retaliated, driving the terrorists away. ‘The police’s timely action foiled the terrorists’ plan,’ the officer stated. As per the KP police statement, a group of six to seven terrorists made an attempt to reach the checkpost. Pakistan has seen an uptick in terror activities, especially in KP and Balochistan, after the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ended its ceasefire with the government in November last year.”

Iraq

NPR: Iraq Expels Sweden's Ambassador Over Quran Burning, After Protests At Swedish Embassy

“Iraq has expelled Sweden's ambassador and recalled its top diplomatic representative from Sweden over the desecration of the Quran in the Nordic country. The move came hours after protesters attacked the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad earlier Thursday, setting fire to part of the building. The tensions between Iraq and Sweden began when an Iraqi national set fire to a copy of the Quran in the Swedish capital of Stockholm last month. Then Swedish police granted a permit for another planned gathering that could include a burning of the Muslim holy book in public, according to news reports. Two men did protest against Islam near the Iraqi Embassy in Stockholm on Thursday, stepping on and kicking a copy of the Quran, but they did not burn the book, The Associated Press reported. The news agency said the men also kicked an Iraqi flag and photos of Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and Iran's supreme leader.”

Middle East

The Jerusalem Post: Man Seriously Wounded In Suspected Terrorist Stabbing In Jerusalem

“A man was seriously injured in a stabbing in the Gilo neighborhood of Jerusalem on Thursday, with police saying they are investigating suspicions the incident was a terrorist attack. The Shin Bet is reportedly involved in the investigation. The victim was transferred to Sha'are Zedek Medical Center in very serious and unstable condition for further medical treatment. ‘The injured man was lying near the entrance to the building while he was conscious and suffering from a penetrating and bleeding wound on his body,’ said Magen David Adom paramedic Elad Rozmarin. ‘We gave him initial medical treatment that included stopping the bleeding and dressings and quickly evacuated him to the hospital as his condition was serious and stable.’”

i24 News: Senior Official Tells i24news: Israel In ‘War Of Attrition’ With Hezbollah, Warns It Could ‘Get Out Of Control’

“A former high-ranking Israeli official hinted that there may have already been a response to Hezbollah's outposts in Israel’s territory, as well to demonstrations of the terror group’s supporters on the border. Former Israeli National Security Advisor Meir Ben-Shabbat rejected allegations that Israel is acting with ‘restraint’ towards Hezbollah, during an interview with i24NEWS, alluding to actions ‘being implemented under the radar.’ ‘The policy of containment usually includes offensive military activities, but it is kept secret and is being implemented under the radar,’ Ben-Shabbat said, ‘the Israeli security services know how to act towards Hezbollah, and some measures are taken in a non-public manner.’ However, Ben-Shabbat ruled out that the two sides would head towards a military confrontation, ‘thanks to the deterrence that was achieved in the Second Lebanon War of 2006, and has proven itself and is still proving itself.’”

Jewish News Syndicate: Hamas And Islamic Jihad Struggle For Influence Over Gaza Mosques

“On Tuesday, dozens of Hamas members took control of a mosque in the town of Rafah in the Gaza Strip and arrested a prominent figure associated with Palestinian Islamic Jihad, according to the Tazpit Press Service. Eyewitnesses reported that dozens of members of Hamas’s ‘Restraint Police’ stormed Rafah’s Al Awda mosque, considered one of PIJ’s centers of power, and a meeting place for its operatives. The Restraint Police are tasked with maintaining calm on the Israel-Gaza border by preventing demonstrations and rocket fire. During the raid, Sheikh Yahya Mansour, who is responsible for religious activities in Rafah, was attacked and his hand was broken before being arrested. A number of PIJ operatives and civilians who tried to defend Mansour were also injured during the raid. Gaza sources told TPS that the mosque’s seizure is seen as a strategic move by Hamas, which is aiming to take control of Gaza’s mosques and exert dominance over PIJ.”

Nigeria

Vanguard: Military High Command Activates ‘War Mode’, Arrests 72 Terrorists Collaborators

“The Defence Headquarters said on Thursday that the current leadership of the armed forces of Nigeria has activated troops into ‘War Mode’ to counter the threats of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and economic sabotage being perpetrated against Nigerians. Consequently, in the last one week, troops neutralized 23 terrorists, bandits and IPOB militants, rescued 17 kidnapped civilians and arrested 32 criminal elements including terrorist’s collaborators, logistics supplies, oil vandals and IPOB militants. Making this known at a briefing on Thursday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba said a total of N3.525million cash, 125,000 CFA and 60 GHA Cedis were also recovered from the criminal elements after the various operations by troops and handed over to appropriate investigation authorities. Throwing more light on the operations, Major Gen Buba said, In the North East, troops of Operation Hadin Kai recovered 7 AK 47 rifles, 2 FN rifles, one 36 hand grenade, 100 rounds of 7.62 mm Special ammo, 2 mobile phones, 2 Cow, food stuffs, condiment, one cart and the sum of Two Million One Hundred and Four Thousand Naira (N2,104, 000.00) only. Troops equally neutralized 6 terrorists and arrested 8 suspected terrorists’ collaborators.”

Daily Trust: Naf Airstrikes Eliminate 22 Terrorists In Katsina

“At least 22 terrorists loyal to the deceased notorious terrorists’ kingpin, Alhaji Abdulkareen Lawal, aka Abdulkareen Boss, have been neutralised by air strikes on Monday. The strikes were executed by the air component of Operation Hadarin Daji (OPHD) at Batsari and Sola Poi II in Batsari and Jibia LGAs of Katsina State. Sources said the bombardment followed credible intelligence reports that the terrorists were responsible for several abductions and violent attacks on some communities within Kankara LGA of the state. It would be recalled that air strikes by NAF on  August 6, 2022 eliminated Abdulkareem Boss and some of his foot soldiers at Ruga Forest in Katsina State.”

Somalia

CNN: US Airstrike Kills 5 Al-Shabaab Militants In Somalia

“The US military killed five al-Shabaab militants in a ‘collective self-defense airstrike’ in Somalia, US Africa Command announced Thursday. The strike was taken at the request of the Federal Government of Somalia, the US Africa Command statement says, in ‘a remote area near Hareeri Kalle, approximately 15 kilometers south of Galcad, Somalia.’ The initial assessment of the airstrike is that five militants were killed, and no civilians were injured or killed. ‘The airstrike was in support of Somali National Army forces who were engaged by the terrorist organization,’ the release says. Thursday’s airstrike comes a little more than a week after the US killed 10 militants in a strike in an area near Afmadow.”

United Kingdom

Arab News: UK Unprepared For Release Of 120 Terror Convicts: Report

“The UK lacks the resources to monitor 120 convicted terrorists and people deemed ‘terrorist risk offenders’ due to be released across the year to March 2024, according to a report issued by the country’s inspectorates of prisons, the police and probation services. The report warns that many of those set to be released may have become more dangerous due to radicalization in jail. The 120 include Daesh and Al-Qaeda-inspired individuals, as well as far-right terrorists, The Independent reported. The UK has a history of terrorist attacks committed by individuals who have already spent time in prison, including the 2019 London Bridge attack and the 2020 Streatham stabbings.”

India

News18: ISIS Terror Plot Revealed: Jharkhand AMU Student Formed Group Of 10 For ‘Major Attack’, NIA Sources Tell News18

“Faizan Ansari, the 19-year-old from Jharkhand arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday for his alleged links to the Islamic State (IS or ISIS), is highly radicalised and had formed a group of 10 individuals to carry out a major attack in India, according to sources in the agency. Ansari was in touch with the ISIS operatives in Syria, Afghanistan and African countries. He has been under ISIS training for the past four years and was staying outside the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), where he was studying. ‘Ansari wanted to identify targets in India, especially at important places, to show his allegiance to the ISIS. He had given his payment to the ISIS recently,’ said sources, adding, ‘He has deep connection with various individuals in India and used to conduct meetings related to the ISIS.’ He was planning violent actions and was also contemplating doing ‘hijrat’ (shift) to a foreign-based ISIS conflict theatre. Documents related to making of explosives were also recovered from his possession and possibly he wanted to make IED, said sources.”

Times Of India: NIA Busts Kerala-Based IS Module, Arrests AMU Student With Terror Ties

“The NIA has busted a Kerala-based Islamic State module that was allegedly planning terror attacks at different places of worship as well as on leaders of certain communities in the state. The module had been conducting reconnaissance missions at potential targets, it said. In another operation, the NIA also arrested an Aligarh Muslim University student hailing from Lohardagga, Jharkhand for being in touch with foreign-based IS handlers on social media, radicalising and recruiting other vulnerable neo-converts, planning violent actions and contemplating doing a ‘hijrat’ (holy journey) to an IS conflict theatre abroad. The Kerala IS module was busted on Wednesday with the arrest of the accused Ashif, carrying the alias Mathilakath Kodayil Ashraf, from a hideout in Sathyamangalam, Tamil Nadu. This was followed by raids by NIA and Kerala ATS at three locations in Thrissur and one in Palakkad on Thursday. The searches — covering the houses of Ashif, as well as three others led to the recovery of digital devices and incriminating documents, said the NIA.”