CTC Sentinel 8 (11): the Global Threat from the Islamic State
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Load more
Recommended publications
-
Second Quarterly Report on Besieged Areas in Syria May 2016
Siege Watch Second Quarterly Report on besieged areas in Syria May 2016 Colophon ISBN/EAN:9789492487018 NUR 698 PAX serial number: PAX/2016/06 About PAX PAX works with committed citizens and partners to protect civilians against acts of war, to end armed violence, and to build just peace. PAX operates independently of political interests. www.paxforpeace.nl / P.O. Box 19318 / 3501 DH Utrecht, The Netherlands / [email protected] About TSI The Syria Institute (TSI) is an independent, non-profit, non-partisan think tank based in Washington, DC. TSI was founded in 2015 in response to a recognition that today, almost six years into the Syrian conflict, information and understanding gaps continue to hinder effective policymaking and drive public reaction to the unfolding crisis. Our aim is to address these gaps by empowering decision-makers and advancing the public’s understanding of the situation in Syria by producing timely, high quality, accessible, data-driven research, analysis, and policy options. To learn more visit www.syriainstitute.org or contact TSI at [email protected]. Photo cover: Women and children spell out ‘SOS’ during a protest in Daraya on 9 March 2016, (Source: courtesy of Local Council of Daraya City) Siege Watch Second Quarterly Report on besieged areas in Syria May 2016 Table of Contents 4 PAX & TSI ! Siege Watch Acronyms 7 Executive Summary 8 Key Findings and Recommendations 9 1. Introduction 12 Project Outline 14 Challenges 15 General Developments 16 2. Besieged Community Overview 18 Damascus 18 Homs 30 Deir Ezzor 35 Idlib 38 Aleppo 38 3. Conclusions and Recommendations 40 Annex I – Community List & Population Data 46 Index of Maps & Tables Map 1. -
The Post-Caliphate Terror Threat in Europe—And the Need for Continuing U.S
BACKGROUNDER No. 3424 | AUGUST 19, 2019 MARGARET THATCHER CENTER FOR FREEDOM The Post-Caliphate Terror Threat in Europe—and the Need for Continuing U.S. Assistance Robin Simcox merica’s strategy has worked: It took almost KEY TAKEAWAYS four-and-a-half years, but the Islamic State’s self-proclaimed caliphate in Syria and Iraq The Islamist threat to Europe has been A has been dismantled. The last remaining town under reduced, with key ISIS external operations ISIS control, Baghouz in eastern Syria, fell to coalition planners killed and its control of territory broken in Syria and Iraq. and Syrian Democratic Forces in March 2019. The destruction of the caliphate will make the world a safer place. It attracted foreign fighters, served However, the threat has diversified, and as a training ground for a generation of terrorists, and more terrorist attacks are still occurring breathed fresh life into key concepts in Islamist doc- in Europe than before the caliphate trine. Internal ISIS documentation laments a lack of was established. suicide bomber volunteers, weaponry, and financing,1 with despondency and low morale among foreign 2 The next center of gravity for global jihad- fighters from Europe. Some (though by no means ism is unclear. With conflicts simmering all) previously belligerent foreign fighters appear, at across the world, the U.S. and its allies least on the surface, dejected and contrite in inter- must try to get ahead of the threat. views with Western media.3 The foreign fighter flow to Syria has essentially ceased. This paper, in its entirety, can be found at http://report.heritage.org/bg3424 The Heritage Foundation | 214 Massachusetts Avenue, NE | Washington, DC 20002 | (202) 546-4400 | heritage.org Nothing written here is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of The Heritage Foundation or as an attempt to aid or hinder the passage of any bill before Congress. -
Offensive Against the Syrian City of Manbij May Be the Beginning of a Campaign to Liberate the Area Near the Syrian-Turkish Border from ISIS
June 23, 2016 Offensive against the Syrian City of Manbij May Be the Beginning of a Campaign to Liberate the Area near the Syrian-Turkish Border from ISIS Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters at the western entrance to the city of Manbij (Fars, June 18, 2016). Overview 1. On May 31, 2016, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-dominated military alliance supported by the United States, initiated a campaign to liberate the northern Syrian city of Manbij from ISIS. Manbij lies west of the Euphrates, about 35 kilometers (about 22 miles) south of the Syrian-Turkish border. In the three weeks since the offensive began, the SDF forces, which number several thousand, captured the rural regions around Manbij, encircled the city and invaded it. According to reports, on June 19, 2016, an SDF force entered Manbij and occupied one of the key squares at the western entrance to the city. 2. The declared objective of the ground offensive is to occupy Manbij. However, the objective of the entire campaign may be to liberate the cities of Manbij, Jarabulus, Al-Bab and Al-Rai, which lie to the west of the Euphrates and are ISIS strongholds near the Turkish border. For ISIS, the loss of the area is liable to be a severe blow to its logistic links between the outside world and the centers of its control in eastern Syria (Al-Raqqah), Iraq (Mosul). Moreover, the loss of the region will further 112-16 112-16 2 2 weaken ISIS's standing in northern Syria and strengthen the military-political position and image of the Kurdish forces leading the anti-ISIS ground offensive. -
Chapter 9 Establishment of the Sewerage Development Master Plan
The study on sewerage system development in the Syrian Arab Republic Final Report CHAPTER 9 ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SEWERAGE DEVELOPMENT MASTER PLAN 9.1 Basic Condition for Master Plan 9.1.1 Target Year One of Japan’s most highly authoritative design guideline entitled, “Design Guidelines for Sewerage System” prescribes that the target year for a sewerage development plan shall be set approximately 20 years later than the current year. This is due to the following reasons: • The useful life of both the facilities and the construction period should extend over a long period of time; • Of special significance to sewer pipe construction is the phasing of the capacity strengthening. This should be based on the sewage volume increase although this may be quite difficult to track; • Therefore, the sewerage facility plan shall be based on long-term prospect, such as the long-term urbanization plan. In as much as this study started in November 2006, the year 2006 can be regarded as the “present” year. Though 20 years after 2006 is 2026, this was correspondingly adjusted as 2025. Hence, the year 2025 was adopted as target year for this Study. 9.1.2 Sanitation System / Facilities The abovementioned guideline describes “service area” as the area to be served by the sewerage system, as follows: • Since the service area provides the fundamental condition for the sewerage system development plan, investment-wise, the economic and O&M aspects shall be dully examined upon the delineation of the area. • The optimum area, the area where the target pollution reduction can be achieved as stipulated in theover-all development plan, shall be selected carefully. -
Attribution and Response to Cybercrime/Terrorism/Warfare Susan W
Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume 97 Article 2 Issue 2 Winter Winter 2007 At Light Speed: Attribution and Response to Cybercrime/Terrorism/Warfare Susan W. Brenner Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/jclc Part of the Criminal Law Commons, Criminology Commons, and the Criminology and Criminal Justice Commons Recommended Citation Susan W. Brenner, At Light Speed: Attribution and Response to Cybercrime/Terrorism/Warfare, 97 J. Crim. L. & Criminology 379 (2006-2007) This Symposium is brought to you for free and open access by Northwestern University School of Law Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology by an authorized editor of Northwestern University School of Law Scholarly Commons. 0091-4169/07/9702-0379 THE JOURNALOF CRIMINAL LAW & CRIMINOLOGY Vol. 97. No. 2 Copyright 0 2007 by NorthwesternUniversity. Schoolof Low Printedin U.S.A. "AT LIGHT SPEED": ATTRIBUTION AND RESPONSE TO CYBERCRIME/TERRORISM/WARFARE SUSAN W. BRENNER* This Article explains why and how computer technology complicates the related processes of identifying internal (crime and terrorism) and external (war) threats to social order of respondingto those threats. First, it divides the process-attribution-intotwo categories: what-attribution (what kind of attack is this?) and who-attribution (who is responsiblefor this attack?). Then, it analyzes, in detail, how and why our adversaries' use of computer technology blurs the distinctions between what is now cybercrime, cyberterrorism, and cyberwarfare. The Article goes on to analyze how and why computer technology and the blurring of these distinctions erode our ability to mount an effective response to threats of either type. -
Post-Reconciliation Rural Damascus: Are Local Communities Still Represented?
Post-Reconciliation Rural Damascus: Are Local Communities Still Represented? Mazen Ezzi Wartime and Post-Conflict in Syria (WPCS) Research Project Report 27 November 2020 2020/16 © European University Institute 2020 Content and individual chapters © Mazen Ezzi 2020 This work has been published by the European University Institute, Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies. This text may be downloaded only for personal research purposes. Additional reproduction for other purposes, whether in hard copies or electronically, requires the consent of the authors. If cited or quoted, reference should be made to the full name of the author(s), editor(s), the title, the year and the publisher. Requests should be addressed to [email protected]. Views expressed in this publication reflect the opinion of individual authors and not those of the European University Institute. Middle East Directions Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies Research Project Report RSCAS/Middle East Directions 2020/16 27 November 2020 European University Institute Badia Fiesolana I – 50014 San Domenico di Fiesole (FI) www.eui.eu/RSCAS/Publications/ cadmus.eui.eu Funded by the European Union Post-Reconciliation Rural Damascus: Are Local Communities Still Represented? Mazen Ezzi * Mazen Ezzi is a Syrian researcher working on the Wartime and Post-Conflict in Syria (WPCS) project within the Middle East Directions Programme hosted by the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies at the European University Institute in Florence. Ezzi’s work focuses on the war economy in Syria and regime-controlled areas. This research report was first published in Arabic on 19 November 2020. It was translated into English by Alex Rowell. -
WIELAND, C. — Syrien Nach Dem Irak-Krieg. Bastion Gegen
9840_BIOR_2007/1-2_01 27-04-2007 09:05 Pagina 117 229 BOEKBESPREKINGEN — ARABICA 230 seen as having an “ethnic-national” dimension, but he does not provide a definition of what an “ethnic group” really is, as this would be outside the scope of this book: “Auf die lange Debatte der Nationalismusforschung, wie real oder kon- struiert eine Ethnie tatsächlich ist und wie sie deshalb behan- delt werden soll, kann hier leider nicht im Detail eingegan- gen werden. (p. 35). Wieland considers the so-called “ethnic-nationalist” tinted ideology of the Ba{th Party as being contradictory with its ARABICA socialism, calling this combination a “Spagat” (splits) (p. 45). His argument is that people who belong to a nation are usually classified according to “primordial characteristics” WIELAND, C. — Syrien nach dem Irak-Krieg. Bastion such as descent, whereas socialism is oriented towards social gegen Islamisten oder Staat vor dem Kollaps? classes, which come into existence because of socio-eco- (Islamkundliche Untersuchungen, 263). Klaus Schwarz nomic developments. But I do not see how it would be con- Verlag, Berlin, 2004. (23,5 cm, 169). ISBN 3-87997- tradictory to have a combination of these different categories 323-7. ISSN 0939-1940. in a single ideology. Dr. Wieland notes that relatively few books have been pub- He quotes Tibi saying that the Ba{th ideologist Michel lished on contemporary Syria for a wider public. He describes {Aflaq was “enthusiastic about Hitler” (p. 42), but does not his own book as “das Ergebnis durchdiskutierter Nächte und explain any further. Here I think Wieland should have gone zahlreicher Interviews mit Zeitzeugen wie Oppositionellen, back to primary Arabic sources (which he, in general, uses Regierungsmitgliedern und ihnen nahe stehenden Personen, rather little). -
From Criminals to Terrorists and Back?
FROM CRIMINALS TO TERRORISTS AND BACK? KICK-OFF REPORT www.globsec.org AUTHORS Kacper Rekawek, Head of Defence and Security Programme, GLOBSEC Policy Institute Stanislav Matejka, Junior Research Fellow, Defence and Security Programme, GLOBSEC Policy Institute Martina Babikova, GLOBSEC Policy Institute Tomas Nagy, Research Fellow, Defence and Security Programme, GLOBSEC Policy Institute Jakub Rafay, GLOBSEC Policy Institute Design by Peter Verček, GLOBSEC The following distinguished partners were consulted in the process of preparation of this report. The sole responsibility for the content of this publication lies with the authors. • Austria - Daniela Pisoiu • Bulgaria - Rositsa Dzhekova, Nadya Stoynova • France - Olivier de France, Damien Saverot, Pierre Colomina • Germany - Matenia Sirseloudi • Greece - Eleni Fotou • Ireland - Orla Lynch • Italy - Marco Lombardi, Giovanni Giacalone, Nicolò Spagna • Netherlands - Jessica Sciarone, Bart Schuurman • Spain - Fernando Reinares, Carola García Calvo, Álvaro Vicente • United Kingdom - John Morrison, Aleksandra Łojek The project is funded under PMI IMPACT, a global grant initiative of Philip Morris International to support projects against illegal trade. GLOBSEC is fully independent in implementing the project and has editorial responsibility for all views and opinions expressed herein. CONTENTS PROJECT SUMMARY 6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 7 FROM CRIMINALS TO TERRORISTS AND BACK? 10 INTRODUCING CRIME-TERROR NEXUS 10 RESEARCHING THE CRIME-TERROR NEXUS: CHALLENGES 12 RESEARCHING THE NEXUS: WHAT IS NEXT? -
2002 Season Report
SEARCHING FOR ISLAMIC JARASH A report on the 2002 field season of the Danish–Jordanian Islamic Jarash Project Alan Walmsley Islamic Art and Archaeology Carsten Niebuhr Institute The University of Copenhagen HE MONUMENTAL ARCHITECTURE Lacking, however, in this impressively of Jarash (Gerasa), erected with long cultural record is the later history of T great extravagance during the the site; that is, the period following the period of Roman rule, readily impresses non‐violent Islamic Conquest of 634–640. many visitors to the site. Yet, the history It is precisely this vacuous historical of Jarash as a major city extends well period that the Islamic Jarash Project – a beyond the Roman age (first to early third joint endeavour between the Department centuries AD). In particular, Jarash’s many of Antiquities of Jordan and the Carsten early Christian churches, often decorated Niebuhr Institute of the University of with brightly coloured mosaics, reveal a Copenhagen – sets out to address in a vibrant Late Antique culture, as does the comprehensive program of research and wonderful series of vividly painted plates excavation. known as ‘Jarash Bowls’. The Islamic Jarash Report on the Page Project, Jordan 2002 Season 2 Islamic Jarash: the problem In these sources, which served as handbooks on the cities and routes of the dentifying and understanding the Islamic empire for government officials I civic features and urban nature of based in Baghdad, Jarash was listed as an Jarash in the formative centuries administrative district (kûrah) in the Jund following the Islamic Conquest has not al‐Urdunn. A jund was a military province been satisfactorily accomplished. -
The Iranian Revolution, Past, Present and Future
The Iranian Revolution Past, Present and Future Dr. Zayar Copyright © Iran Chamber Society The Iranian Revolution Past, Present and Future Content: Chapter 1 - The Historical Background Chapter 2 - Notes on the History of Iran Chapter 3 - The Communist Party of Iran Chapter 4 - The February Revolution of 1979 Chapter 5 - The Basis of Islamic Fundamentalism Chapter 6 - The Economics of Counter-revolution Chapter 7 - Iranian Perspectives Copyright © Iran Chamber Society 2 The Iranian Revolution Past, Present and Future Chapter 1 The Historical Background Iran is one of the world’s oldest countries. Its history dates back almost 5000 years. It is situated at a strategic juncture in the Middle East region of South West Asia. Evidence of man’s presence as far back as the Lower Palaeolithic period on the Iranian plateau has been found in the Kerman Shah Valley. And time and again in the course of this long history, Iran has found itself invaded and occupied by foreign powers. Some reference to Iranian history is therefore indispensable for a proper understanding of its subsequent development. The first major civilisation in what is now Iran was that of the Elamites, who might have settled in South Western Iran as early as 3000 B.C. In 1500 B.C. Aryan tribes began migrating to Iran from the Volga River north of the Caspian Sea and from Central Asia. Eventually two major tribes of Aryans, the Persian and Medes, settled in Iran. One group settled in the North West and founded the kingdom of Media. The other group lived in South Iran in an area that the Greeks later called Persis—from which the name Persia is derived. -
Geopolitical Overview of Conflicts 2017
Geopolitical overview of Spanish Institute of conflicts 2017 Strategic Studies MINISTERIO DE DEFENSA Geopolitical overview Spanish Institute of of conflicts 2017 Strategic Studies MINISTERIO DE DEFENSA SPANISH OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS CATALOGUE http://publicacionesoficiales.boe.es Edita: SECRETARÍA GENERAL TÉCNICA http://publicaciones.defensa.gob.es/ © Author and Publisher, 2018 NIPO: 083-16-308-8 (print on demand) NIPO: 083-16-309-3 (e-book edition) Publication date: july 2018 The authors are solely responsible for the opinions expresed in the articles in this publication. The exploitation righits of this work are protected by the Spanish Intellectual Property Act. No parts of this publication may be produced, stored or transmitted in any way nor by any means, electronic, mechanical or print, including photo- copies or any other means without prior, express, written consent of the © copyright holders. ÍNDICE Page Chapter one Mali: Obstacles and Responses to a Complex Threat ............................................... 11 Jesús Díez Alcalde Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 13 Background ................................................................................................................................... 14 Current status of the conflict ...................................................................................................... 20 The role of external players ..................................................................................................... -
In the United States District Court for the District of Columbia
Case 1:06-cr-00089-RWR Document 3 Filed 04/07/06 Page 1 of 10 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Holding a Criminal Term Grand Jury Sworn in on April 29, 2005 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA : GRAND JURY ORIGINAL : v. : CRIMINAL NO. : NIZAR TRABELSI, : VIOLATIONS: also known as Nizar ben Abdelaziz Trabelsi, : also known as “Abu Qâ’Qâ,” : Conspiracy to Kill : United States Nationals Defendant. : Outside of the United States : (18 U.S.C. §§ 2332(b)(2) and 1111(a)) : : Conspiracy and Attempt to Use : Weapons of Mass Destruction : (18 U.S.C. §§ 2332a and 2) : : Conspiracy to Provide Material : Support and Resources to : Foreign Terrorist Organization : (18 U.S.C. § 2339B) : : Providing Material Support and : Resources to Foreign Terrorist : Organization : (18 U.S.C. §§ 2339B and 2) INDICTMENT The Grand Jury charges that: COUNT ONE (Conspiracy to Kill United States Nationals Outside of the United States) At all times relevant to this Indictment: General Allegations 1. Al Qaeda was an international terrorist group dedicated to opposing non-Islamic governments with force and violence. Al Qaeda’s leader, Osama bin Laden, had declared a Case 1:06-cr-00089-RWR Document 3 Filed 04/07/06 Page 2 of 10 jihad, or holy war, against the United States and its citizens, which was carried out through al Qaeda and its affiliated organizations. Among other activities, Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda sponsored, managed, and/or financially supported training camps in Afghanistan, and those camps were used to instruct members and associates of al Qaeda and its affiliated terrorist groups in the use of firearms, explosives, chemical weapons, and other weapons of mass destruction.