Latest news with #ISIS-affiliated
Business Insider
3 days ago
- Politics
- Business Insider
U.S. Africa Command declares Sahel ‘global terrorism epicenter'
The top U.S. military commander leading AFRICOM in Africa has issued a stark warning about the rapid expansion of terrorist groups in the Sahel region. The Sahel region in Africa has become a critical hotspot for global terrorism, according to U.S. AFRICOM commander General Michael Langley. AFRICOM emphasizes enhanced cooperation with African nations to address these threats through intelligence sharing and capacity building. Terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda and ISIS-affiliated organizations are significantly expanding in the region, posing severe security challenges. On May 30, Marine Corps General Michael Langley, head of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), declared the Sahel the 'epicenter of terrorism on the globe.' U.S. Marine Corps General Michael Langley made the disclosure during a digital press briefing at the 2025 African Chiefs of Defense Conference, Africa's premier forum for military leaders to address key security challenges across the continent. He highlighted a worsening security crisis that threatens not only the affected African countries but also poses potential risks to global security, including the United States. General Langley described the Sahel, which includes Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, as a 'flashpoint of prolonged conflict and growing instability.' Terrorist organizations affiliated with Al-Qaeda and ISIS have expanded significantly in recent years. According to Langley, groups such as Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin have grown substantially since 2022, spreading across multiple areas within the region. The security situation in Burkina Faso is especially alarming. General Langley noted that the Burkinabe government no longer maintains effective control over large parts of its territory, illustrating the depth of the crisis. More troubling still, Langley warned that these terrorist groups are seeking to extend their reach into West Africa's coastal countries, including Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, and Benin. If they succeed, these groups could increase their revenues through illicit activities such as smuggling, human trafficking, and arms trading. There is also concern that these coastal areas could serve as platforms to launch attacks beyond Africa, potentially threatening U.S. homeland security. ' We are monitoring this closely because they could develop the capacity to threaten the homeland, ' Langley said. AFRICOM lists challenges in Africa The briefing also acknowledged the challenges AFRICOM faces following the U.S. withdrawal of troops from Niger after the military coup in 2023. This withdrawal has limited the U.S. military's ability to track terrorist activity and conduct counterterrorism operations in the region. In response, AFRICOM is shifting its focus toward supporting African nations to assume greater responsibility for their security. This strategy involves enhanced intelligence sharing, leveraging new technologies, and strengthening regional cooperation. General Langley's warning reflects the deteriorating security landscape in the Sahel, where terrorist groups are exploiting weak governance, poverty, and ongoing conflicts to increase their influence. His message serves as a call to action for African countries and their international partners to work together urgently to address these threats. As these groups become stronger and more ambitious, the danger extends beyond Africa's borders, reinforcing the Sahel's emergence as a global terrorism hotspot. Coordinated efforts are crucial to safeguard peace and security not just in Africa but worldwide.
India.com
19-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Chinas Covert Role: Satellite, Air Defence Aid To Pakistan In India Conflict Exposed
China gave Pakistan vital satellite and air defence assistance in its recent war-like confrontation with India, a senior Indian defence think tank asserted, hinting Beijing might have had a more active role in the conflict than officially stated. China helped Pakistan realign satellite surveillance over Indian space and redeploy air defence radar systems in the period before the war that followed the April 22 killing of 26 Indian tourists, Ashok Kumar, the Director General of the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS)—a think tank attached to India's Ministry of Defence — said. "It helped them to redeploy their air defence radar so that any aerial action from our side could be detected," Kumar told an interview at the headquarters of the think tank in New Delhi. Support was said to have been given in conjunction with an ISIS-affiliated terror assault that ignited the escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbours. Though the Indian government has yet to officially declare China's role, and Pakistan has acknowledged that it used Chinese weapons systems, Kumar's words signal wider logistical and intelligence collaboration between Beijing and Islamabad during the conflict. CENJOWS is a research think-tank aimed at modernizing India's military strength. It has Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the heads of India's Army, Navy, and Air Force on its advisory board. Requests for comment sent to the Foreign and Defence Ministries of China, India, and Pakistan, as well as to the Indian Armed Forces and the Office of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, remained unanswered as of Sunday evening. Worst Conflict In 50 Years The recent skirmish has been termed the most intense between India and Pakistan in half a century, with drone attacks, artillery exchanges, missile exchanges, and small-arms battles along their disputed border areas. India has designated the April 22 killings as a Pakistan-sponsored terrorist act — a charge Islamabad has refuted. Ex-US President Donald Trump alleged to have brokered a ceasefire from May 10, something India dismissed as saying the truce was negotiated bilaterally. Pakistan subsequently extended the ceasefire until Sunday, while India said that it was seeking confidence-building measures. China's Military Hardware Underperformed: Report Kumar also pointed out that Chinese military systems deployed during the war "failed miserably" in actual battlefield situations. Though he did not explain, he quoted Indian military officials raising questions about the functioning of the systems. Pakistan had used hundreds of drones in the war, reportedly, but India's networked sensor system helped it effectively counter the threat, said Kumar. Pakistan said on Friday that it had downed six Indian fighter aircraft. The statement hasn't been independently confirmed, and no losses have been verified by India. Chinese hardware like the J-IOC combat fighter and the PL-15 air-to-air missile have been used for the first time in actual combat, according to reports. Their employment has caused a stir in regional defence communities, especially in Taiwan. Neither China nor Pakistan made any official assessment of their performance or public statements regarding the contribution of the systems to the war. India Prepares For A Two-Front Challenge Kumar cautioned that future defence planning in India would have to increasingly factor in the likelihood of concurrent aggression by both China and Pakistan. "Anything which is with China today can be deemed to be with Pakistan tomorrow," he stated, further observing that China is not likely to act unless a conflict reaches a "critical" point. He also suggested Pakistan could be expected to support China in the case of a future India-China conflict. China and Pakistan have enjoyed close strategic and military relations since the Cold War. Beijing has invested heavily in Pakistan through the Belt and Road Initiative, including in the strategic China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). After a fatal 2020 border skirmish with China that killed 20 Indian troops, India has continued to gradually redeploy military resources to bolster its northern border. In spite of a recent improvement in relations over the past several months, the new conflict highlights intensifying strategic tensions in the area.
Morocco World
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Spain, Morocco Continue Efforts to Reinforce Security Cooperation
Rabat – Abdellatif Hammouchi, Director General of National Security and Territorial Surveillance (DGSN-DGST), received today in Rabat a high-level security delegation from Spain, including the country's Head of Intelligence for the Spanish Civil Guard, Major General Luis Peláez Piñeiro. The two parties discussed their strategic cooperation, particularly in the fields of counterterrorism and the fight against transnational organized crime. According to a statement from DGSN-DGST, the visit marks the first international trip by Pineiro since his recent appointment. 'His choice of Morocco as his first destination reflects the strength of the strategic cooperation between the two countries,' the statement said. Talks between the officials focused on developing bilateral cooperation mechanisms and strengthening the bilateral partnership to ensure coordinated efforts in tackling regional and global security challenges. Both countries also celebrated joint efforts in dismantling and neutralizing security threats. They notably discussed coordination mechanisms and efforts to ensure the success of the 2030 World Cup. Morocco, Spain, and Portugal will host the international tournament, with the three countries determined to gear up against security threats and ensure public safety and security. According to the statement, the two officials reaffirmed the importance of Morocco-Spain bilateral migration in the security field, reflecting their firm commitment to continue to mitigate common threats and risks. Spain and Morocco share strong bilateral ties and have worked together to dismantle several terror cells and arrest ISIS-affiliated suspects. Several recent reports highlighted Morocco's intelligence efforts, enabling Spain to bust suspects linked to terror groups. The two countries continue to stress the importance of bilateral ties and cooperation, particularly to tackle common challenges related to irregular migration. Spain is also one of the allies that support Morocco's territorial integrity, as the country views the Autonomy Plan as the most serious and credible political solution to end the dispute over Western Sahara.
Shafaq News
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Strategic shift: US adapts Syria force posture, urges ISIS detainee action
Shafaq News/ The Pentagon announced on Friday a strategic consolidation of US forces in Syria under the umbrella of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve, a move that will reduce American military presence in the country to fewer than 1,000 troops in the coming months. Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said the directive came from the Secretary of Defense and reflects a 'deliberate and conditions-based process.' 'This consolidation reflects the significant steps we have made toward degrading ISIS' appeal and operational capability regionally and globally,' Parnell stated. US forces have been operating in Syria for years as part of the international campaign to defeat ISIS, which once controlled vast swaths of territory in Syria and neighboring Iraq. The group suffered a major blow in 2019 with the loss of its last territorial stronghold in Syria, a victory credited to US-led coalition efforts and local partners such as the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Over the past year, US Central Command has conducted dozens of airstrikes targeting ISIS remnants. Despite their territorial defeat, ISIS cells continue to pose a threat, particularly in northeast Syria, where at least 13 attacks have been reported since early April, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 'Consistent with President Trump's commitment to peace through strength, US Central Command will remain poised to continue strikes against the remnants of ISIS in Syria,' Parnell emphasized adding that Washington would 'work closely with capable and willing Coalition partners' to sustain pressure on the group and respond to emerging threats. Parnell also called on the international community to take responsibility for thousands of ISIS-affiliated individuals detained in camps in Syria, urging countries to 'repatriate their nationals' to reduce the burden on local forces and prevent resurgence. While the US footprint in Syria is set to shrink, Parnell affirmed that 'the Department of Defense continues to maintain a significant amount of capability in the region and the ability to make dynamic force posture adjustments based on evolving security situations on the ground.'
The National
15-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
Ending Sudan's war rests with Sudanese alone, says former PM Hamdok
Abdalla Hamdok, former prime minister of Sudan, has called for an end to the country's devastating civil war in a letter released on the second anniversary of the start of the conflict. The fighting between the regular army, led by Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), headed by his former deputy Mohamed Dagalo, erupted on April 15, 2023 and has claimed tens of thousands of lives, displaced 13 million people and triggered the world's worst humanitarian crisis. "The war was ignited by Sudanese hands, and the responsibility for ending it immediately rests with the Sudanese alone," Mr Hamdok said in his letter. "It is truly regrettable that, despite all the death, destruction, and devastation that has befallen the country and its people, the sound of the gun remains the loudest, and the warring parties continue to threaten us with more killing and destruction," he said. Mr Hamdok was installed as prime minister in a civilian-led transitional government in August 2019, months after the military removed long-time dictator Omar Al Bashir amid widespread protests against his rule. His government was toppled by the military and the RSF in October 2021. He now leads the Civil Democratic Alliance for Revolutionary Forces, which was formed earlier this year and comprises political parties, professional groups and unions, and civil activist groups. Mr Hamdok warned in his letter that recent ISIS-affiliated violence in Sudan would return the country to the same situation that placed it on the list of state sponsors of terrorism under the former regime, and threatened to transform it into a "fertile ground for extremist and international terrorist groups". He said that the former regime's approach of destabilising neighbouring countries and engaging in confrontation with the international community, which led to the Sudan being isolated for 30 years, was again looming. "The recent military threats against Chad, South Sudan, Kenya and regional countries, as well as the lawsuit filed against the UAE at the International Court of Justice, are dangerous indicators of this trend," he said. He expressed "deep appreciation" to all countries and regional and international organisations that have supported Sudanese civilians during the war. He called on the warring parties to accept the Sudan Peace Appeal initiative, which was launched by the alliance during the holy month of Ramadan to try to end the war. The initiative calls for a joint meeting of the UN Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council, attended by the leaders of the army, the Rapid Support Forces and other Sudanese groups. The goal of the process is to reach a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive peace agreement and the formation of a transitional civilian authority with full powers to address the effects of the war, rebuild Sudan and lead the country to elections.
