Email from Counter Extremism Project (CEP) Hezbollah and Iran exploit Maduro’s Venezuela for cocaine cash Eye on Extremism September 9, 2025   Top Stories Associated Press: Israel says it targets Hamas leadership in Qatar’s capital as blast heard in Doha Israel launched a strike targeting Hamas’ leadership in Qatar on Tuesday, officials said, further widening its campaign against the militant group, as negotiations over ending the war in the Gaza Strip appears stalemated before a new military offensive there. Black smoke rose over the skyline of the Qatari capital, Doha, with authorities there acknowledging the strike. It wasn’t immediately clear if anyone was hurt in the attack, marking the second time the energy-rich nation has been directly attacked in the nearly two years of war that have gripped the wider Middle East since Hamas’ attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. FOX News: Hezbollah and Iran exploit Maduro’s Venezuela for cocaine cash The deadly U.S. strike in the Caribbean last week is being cast by experts as the latest move in a broader campaign to dismantle Iran and Hezbollah’s growing narco empire in Venezuela. U.S. officials say Tren de Aragua works closely with the Cartel of the Suns — a network of Venezuelan military elites long accused of moving cocaine in collaboration with Hezbollah. Townsend added that Hezbollah has become "a main finance and money launderer for narco-terrorism groups like Tren de Aragua," ensuring that when cocaine moves, Hezbollah-linked facilitators are often processing at least part of the proceeds.   This is the first webinar of a three-part series focused on highlighting various aspects of the role of antisemitism in the mobilization to violence by extremist and terrorist actors, which is supported by the Federal Foreign Office of Germany. Register here today!   CEP Mentions ZDF Frontal: Interview with Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler on German hostages of Hamas (at min 19:30) Times of Israel: Jihadists threaten France and demand the release of the Nice Cathedral terrorist As highlighted by the Counter Extremism Project-CEP, Aissaoui was unknown to French and Tunisian authorities. He was previously detained in Tunisia in 2016 for getting into a brawl, but was released shortly after due to his status as a minor. Additionally, friends and family close to Aissaoui claimed he gave up drinking alcohol and began to pray. Analysis CTC Sentinel: The Global State of al-Qa`ida 24 Years After 9/11 Al-Qa`ida has evolved considerably over the past four decades. Today, it is no longer a hierarchical organization with charismatic leadership, but rather a decentralized network of franchise groups dispersed throughout Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and beyond. The group has not conducted spectacular external operations (EXOPS) for many years, but instead has been focused on patiently rebuilding, dedicating its resources and manpower to forging relationships with regional affiliates and championing their grievances, which are often locally focused. Jerusalem Post: Extremism and antisemitism are becoming mainstream I assumed antisemitism was an issue of the past, of 1930s Europe, and that society had advanced since then. I assumed the harrowing images of the Holocaust and the phrase “Never Again” would be enough to protect Jews from the “few” extremists. How wrong I was. It seems antisemitism had always been there; it was just latent, bubbling under the surface, waiting for the first opportune moment to emerge. Jewish Insider: Campus antisemitism takes backseat in university settlements Over the weekend, The New York Times published a story contending that the momentum for settlements with elite universities was stalling amid divisions between those in the Trump administration looking to make a deal and those looking for more meaningful reforms in combating antisemitism. The story glossed over the related development we’ve been hearing from officials involved in the negotiating process: that a zeal for dealmaking from some officials is overshadowing the main reason the Trump administration was playing hardball with these schools in the first place — the rampant antisemitism that has been festering on campus. In fact, the word “antisemitism” was hardly mentioned in the lengthy NYT story, a sign in itself of the administration’s flagging focus. United States Times of Israel: Arab mediating source: Witkoff proposal unlikely to break hostage talks logjam The hostage deal framework recently crafted by US special envoy Steve Witkoff is unlikely to succeed, an Arab mediating source told The Times of Israel on Monday. The proposal envisions Hamas releasing all remaining hostages within the first 48 hours in exchange for an assurance from the US that Israel would not subsequently resume the war, along with the release of several thousand Palestinians imprisoned in Israel, including roughly 250 serving life sentences for involvement in attacks in which Israelis were killed, the source said. Times of Israel: US Jewish security group warns firearms in synagogues need strict oversight A US Jewish security group said in a Tuesday report that if synagogues allow firearms inside their doors for security, the weapons should only be permitted in an organized, structured program, with strict oversight and coordination with law enforcement. Times of Israel: US pro-Israel Christian groups sue UN’s Albanese over ‘malicious lies’ Two pro-Israel US Christian groups have sued the UN special rapporteur on the Palestinians for alleged defamation and libel, claiming Francesca Albanese sought to harm them due to their support for Israel, it was announced Monday. CBS News: Victims of antisemitism in Chicago speak at hearing on rise of hate crimes against Jews Fighting back against a spike in anti-semitic hate crimes, members of Chicago's Jewish community on Monday detailed recent attacks, and asked city leaders for new help at a special hearing of the Chicago Commission on Human Relations. Jewish News Syndicate: ‘Deeply disappointed’ Chicago office excluded Jewish groups from hearing, 18 aldermen say A hearing of the Chicago Commission on Human Relations, a city agency, excluded Jewish organizations on Monday and thus “largely downplayed the true scope of antisemitism in our city,” according to 18 city aldermen, including Debra Silverstein, the only Jewish member of the Chicago City Council. Jewish Insider: Gillibrand says that some Democrats’ rhetoric is inadvertently stoking antisemitism Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) said in comments to Jewish leaders in New York City on Monday that anti-Israel protesters and, in some cases, fellow Democratic lawmakers are fueling antisemitism through the rhetoric and slogans they use, though she said that in many cases it is unintentional. Canada CBC: Niagara rally by masked members of men's 'nationalist club' raises fears of growing extremism A Labour Day weekend rally in Ontario's Niagara region by a self-described "Canadian men's nationalist" group is prompting concern about rising anti-immigrant sentiment and recruitment efforts of extremist groups. Researchers who study extremism have compared Second Sons to white supremacist and neo-Nazi active clubs. Such clubs bring members together for fitness workouts, and some experts say it's related to training for what members believe to be an upcoming race war. CBC: Terror propagandist 'Dark Foreigner' sentenced to 10 years in prison Patrick Gordon MacDonald has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for inciting hate, fear and division by calling for violence against Jewish people and other groups with terrorist propaganda images, memes and videos — all in an attempt to accelerate societal collapse through a hoped-for race war. NDTV: Canada's Big Admission Over Khalistani Terror Groups Funding A Canadian report has raised red flags over terror financing linked to Khalistani terrorists in the country. While it has been an open secret that Canada provides a safe haven to Khalistani terror groups like the Babbar Khalsa, International Sikh Youth Federation, and Sikhs for Justice, Ottawa has, for the first time, admitted that these groups have been operating from Canadian soil and receiving financial support. Germany ARD: Suspected left-wing extremist - Nine years in prison demanded for Hanna S. In the trial against the suspected left-wing extremist Hanna S., the federal prosecutor has demanded a prison sentence of nine years. In their plea, the representatives of the Federal Public Prosecutor General accused Hanna S. of attempted murder, dangerous bodily harm and membership of a criminal organization. Hanna S. has been on trial in Munich since February. She is alleged to have taken part in attacks on suspected right-wing extremists in the Hungarian capital Budapest in February 2023. Before the attack, she had joined a group whose members shared a "militant left-wing extremist ideology" and rejected the rule of law and the state monopoly on the use of force, according to the indictment. WELT: Federal Ministry of the Interior gives Turkish mosque association an ultimatum Following an anti-Semitic resolution by Islamic clerics, the Federal Ministry has expressed doubts about cooperation with the controversial mosque association Ditib. In Istanbul at the end of August, 150 Islamic scholars spoke out in favor of "armed resistance" against Israel, a boycott of the country and a "worldwide jihad". Ali Erbas, President of the Turkish religious authority Diyanet, also attended and spoke at the conference. The Diyanet also oversees Ditib with its hundreds of mosque communities in Germany. When asked by WELT, a spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of the Interior explained on Sunday: "The events show once again how problematic the structural and personnel links between Ditib and the Turkish religious authority are. The basic prerequisites for cooperation with Ditib are a clear commitment to the values of the Basic Law, to international understanding, to Israel's right to exist and an equally clear commitment against Islamism and anti-Semitism." ARD: Police suspect arson - 50,000 households in Berlin without electricity According to initial police estimates, the outage was probably caused by a politically motivated arson attack by extremists during the night. The police told the German Press Agency (DPA) that the choice of the two electricity pylons as the target and the actions of the perpetrators were indications of this. The political affiliation of the perpetrators is still unknown. DPA: Germany marks 25 years since series of neo-Nazi murders German politician Armin Schuster on Tuesday commemorated those killed by the National Socialist Underground (NSU), a neo-Nazi terror group that carried out racially motivated attacks between 2000 and 2007. The NSU is held responsible for the killings of nine people with ethnic minority backgrounds - considered the biggest series of far-right murders in Germany's post-war history - as well as the killing of a policewoman, two bombings and a spate of robberies. Deutsche Welle: Far-left 30-year-old faces up to 9 years for attacking neo-Nazis Federal prosecutors requested a nine-year sentence for 30-year-old Hanna S. for attacking a group of neo-Nazis in Budapest in February 2023 in their closing argument on Monday. The alleged left-wing extremist is on trial in Munich for attempted murder, grievous bodily harm, and membership in a criminal organization. Prosecutors said she is a member of a group with "militant left-wing extremist ideology" that rejects the rule of law and that she engaged in what it called "violence tourism." Spain Times of Israel: Spain sanctions Israel over Gaza ‘genocide,’ recalls envoy after antisemitism charge Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced an arms embargo and partial import ban over Israel’s wartime conduct in Gaza, setting off an angry back-and-forth that culminated in Madrid pulling its envoy from Tel Aviv. In a televised address, Sanchez said the sanctions and other measures against Israel were aimed to “stop the genocide in Gaza, pursue its perpetrators, and support the Palestinian population.” United Kingdom Jerusalem Post: 'Israel is not committing genocide in Gaza,' UK government concludes The British Government has determined that Israel is not committing genocide in Gaza, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy told the chair of the international development committee in a letter on September 1. This differs significantly from the government's previous position, which was that only courts can decide whether Israel is or is not committing genocide. It also marks the first time the UK government has stated explicitly that Israel's actions in Gaza do not count as genocide. Times of Israel: Hundreds of anti-Israel demonstrators rally outside London arms show Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered Tuesday outside a major arms fair in London as it opened without the presence of Israeli government officials because of tension between Britain and Israel over the Gaza conflict. Police watched as around 300 protesters waved Palestinian flags and held up placards, including one reading “UK: Stop arming Israel. Stop the Gaza Genocide.” LBC: Calls grow to sack judge who ‘wished 7/7 bombings mastermind all the best’ upon his release Haroon Aswat, 50, who is detained in Britain under the Mental Health Act - is expected to be released from hospital in “the relatively near future” following effective treatment. He has confessed to being the “mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks and a 2005 terrorist attack in the UK”, according to The Sun. Afghanistan Afghanistan International: Release Of Anthropologist In Afghanistan Due To ‘Friendly Ties’ With Taliban, Says Moscow Russia’s Foreign Ministry said the release of a detained Russian anthropologist in Afghanistan was secured thanks to Moscow’s “friendly relations” with the Taliban, the only government to formally recognise the group. Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Sviatoslav Kaverin was freed after Russian authorities made a formal request to the Taliban. Kaverin had been arrested in July while travelling in Kunduz province for anthropological research. He was accused of smuggling jewellery and later transferred to Taliban intelligence in Kabul. Afghanistan International: Taliban Leader Shuts Down Interpol Units In Interior & Foreign Ministries Taliban leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada has ordered the dissolution of Interpol police structures within the group’s Interior and Foreign Ministries, according to a document obtained by Afghanistan International. The directive, sent to the Taliban’s Administrative Affairs Office two weeks ago, disbanded units comprising about 150 staff, sources said. Roughly 120 personnel had been assigned to the Interior Ministry and 30 to the Foreign Ministry under the Interpol structure. Afghanistan International: UN Rights Chief Urges Global Community To Hold Taliban Accountable On Human Rights A senior United Nations human rights official on Monday called on the international community to use dialogue, incentives and accountability measures to press the Taliban to respect human rights, particularly the rights of women and girls. Nada Al-Nashif, the UN deputy high commissioner for human rights, told the Human Rights Council that the Taliban’s discriminatory and repressive policies amounted to gender-based persecution. She said bans on education, employment and participation in political, social and civic life had affected “every aspect” of Afghan women’s lives. Afghanistan International: Jamiat Party Leaders Form ‘High Council’ To Lead Struggle Against Taliban Senior figures from Afghanistan’s Jamiat-e-Islami party said Monday the group will no longer operate under a single leader and instead will be directed by a “High Council” to oversee political, civil and military efforts against the Taliban. The announcement, made without the participation of Salahuddin Rabbani, said prominent leaders including Atta Mohammad Noor, Ismail Khan, Ahmad Massoud, Hazrat Ali and Younus Qanooni had agreed on “internal unity” to continue resistance. Iran Iran International: Khamenei says enemies imposing 'no war, no peace' scenario on Iran Iran's Supreme Leader on Sunday warned against what he called an enemy plot to impose a harmful “no war, no peace” situation on Iran, over two months after a US-brokered ceasefire halted Israeli attacks but left public fears of renewed conflict. "The enemy wants to impose a 'no war, no peace' situation on Iran," Ali Khamenei said in a meeting with President Masoud Pezeshkian and his cabinet members in Tehran. Israel Reuters: Hamas claims responsibility for Monday's deadly Jerusalem shooting Hamas' armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, on Tuesday claimed responsibility for the shooting that killed six people on the outskirts of Jerusalem on Monday. Times of Israel: In first, Israel orders all of Gaza City to evacuate ahead of ground invasion The IDF on Tuesday issued the first widespread evacuation order for Gaza City, saying all Palestinian civilians must leave the entire city immediately, ahead of a major military ground offensive against Hamas. Previous warnings issued by the IDF in recent days had only included specific buildings and the area surrounding them. “The IDF is determined to defeat Hamas and will operate in the Gaza City area with great force, just as it has throughout the Strip,” Col. Avichay Adraee, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesperson, said on X. Times of Israel: Four soldiers killed in Hamas attack on army camp near Gaza City, IDF says Four soldiers were killed in a Hamas attack on the outskirts of Gaza City early Monday morning, the military announced later in the day. The announcement came as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a warning to the residents of Gaza City to “get out,” and as the IDF continued its campaign of heavy bombardment ahead of an imminent ground offensive to capture the major city. The operatives reached a tank at the entrance to the encampment and opened fire at the commander, who had his head outside the armored vehicle’s open hatch. The gunmen then hurled an explosive device into the tank, killing the four soldiers, according to the initial investigation. Reuters: Israel to demolish homes in Palestinian villages of Jerusalem attackers Israel ordered on Tuesday the demolition of homes in the West Bank hometowns of two Palestinian gunmen who attacked a bus stop in Jerusalem, and will revoke the work permits of hundreds of their fellow villagers and relatives. The gunmen, from the towns of Qatanna and Qubeiba north of Jerusalem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, opened fire at a bus stop on the outskirts of Jerusalem on Monday, killing six people. Times of Israel: IDF intercepts 3 Houthi drones launched at south, day after attack on Ramon Airport Three drones launched by the Houthi rebels in Yemen were shot down by the Israeli Air Force over southern Israel within half an hour on Monday, the military said. There were no reports of injuries or damage from the attacks, which followed the launch of four drones the day before, one of which exploded at Ramon International Airport. Jordan Jordan News: Al-Momani: We Will Not Allow Extremist Ideologies to Reach Our Generations Government Spokesperson and Minister of Government Communications, Mohammad Al-Momani, emphasized that Jordan, under the leadership of King Abdullah II, maintains a firm stance against terrorism and extremism, having made significant sacrifices to safeguard its security and regional stability. Lebanon Naharnet: Israeli strike between Jiye and Barja wounds Hezbollah member A security source told AFP that an Israeli strike Tuesday between the Iqlim al-Kharroub towns of Jiye and Barja targeted and wounded a Hezbollah member, after Lebanese state media reported a raid on a vehicle. Israel has continued to carry out regular air strikes in Lebanon despite a November truce that sought to end more than a year of hostilities including two months of open war with the Iran-backed Hezbollah group. Naharnet: Rajji says army to disarm Hezbollah south of Litani within 3 months Lebanon's army is set to fully disarm Hezbollah near the border with Israel within three months, Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji told AFP on Tuesday. In August, the Lebanese government ordered the military to draw up plans to disarm the once-dominant militant group by the end of the year, having come under pressure from the United States and Israeli strikes. Naharnet: Salam from Ain el-Tineh: No backing down from government decisions Prime Minister Nawaf Salam noted Tuesday that “Hezbollah granted the government its confidence twice based on its ministerial statement which we are implementing.” Noting that his relation with Speaker Nabih Berri “has never been severed,” Salam stressed from Ain el-Tineh that “there will be no backing down from the government’s decisions” on weapons monopolization. Qatar AFP: Hamas official says group’s leaders had gathered in Doha to discuss ceasefire deal A Hamas official in Gaza tells AFP that the Palestinian group’s leaders targeted in Israel’s strike in Doha had gathered to discuss the latest ceasefire proposal. Syria Times of Israel: Syria says Israel bombed 3 locations, fumes at ‘blatant infringement’ of sovereignty Israel struck in the vicinity of Syria’s central city of Homs, the coastal city of Latakia and the historic city of Palmyra, Syrian state-affiliated media said on Monday night. India New Indian Express: Strongly condemn the heinous terrorist attack in Jerusalem: Modi reiterates India’s zero-tolerance stance Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday condemned the terrorist attack on innocent civilians in Jerusalem and said India stands firm in its policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism. Palestinian attackers opened fire at a bus stop at a busy intersection in north Jerusalem on Monday, killing six people and injuring another 12, media reports said, citing Israeli police, emergency rescue services and local hospitals. Pakistan Reuters: Amnesty says Pakistan spying on millions through phone-tapping, firewall Pakistan is spying on millions of its citizens using a phone-tapping system and a Chinese-built internet firewall that censors social media, in one of the most comprehensive examples of state surveillance outside China, Amnesty International said. The rights watchdog said in a report released on Tuesday that Pakistan's growing monitoring network was built using both Chinese and Western technology and powered a sweeping crackdown on dissent and free speech. Congo Reuters: Islamic state-linked rebels kill over 50 at east Congo funeral Allied Democratic Forces rebels with machetes and guns killed more than 50 civilians at a funeral in east Congo, the latest big attack by the Islamic State-linked group, officials said. The ADF assault took place on Monday night in the town of Ntoyo in North Kivu province's Lubero territory, said Macaire Sivikunula, a local administrator. "I can confirm a provisional death toll of 50. The victims were caught off guard at a mourning ceremony in the village of Ntoyo at around 9 p.m., and most of them were killed with machetes," he said. "The search is continuing." Mali Reuters: Mali army carries out airstrikes after militants announce blockade on fuel imports Mali's military said it had carried out airstrikes in the gold-rich western region of Kayes after al Qaeda-linked militants took steps to impose a blockade on fuel imports to the landlocked West African country's capital, Bamako. The operations are the latest attempt by Mali's military rulers, who took power after coups in 2020 and 2021, to ease growing pressure from militant groups who analysts say are trying to encircle cities and towns in the Sahel region. A spokesperson for Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) on Thursday announced the blockade and said it would also restrict the movements of residents of the western towns of Kayes and Nioro, near the border with Senegal and Mauritania. Tunisia Associated Press: Activist group says a drone hit a Gaza aid boat in Tunisia, but authorities deny attack An international activist group seeking to deliver aid to Gaza on a flotilla says one of its boats was hit by what it believes was a drone while docked in Tunisia. Tunisian authorities denied a drone was involved and said they are investigating a fire in a life jacket aboard the boat. Singapore CNA: Singapore picks up first case of incel radicalised by mixing far-right, far-left and ISIS ideologies A 14-year-old was issued a restriction order under the Internal Security Act (ISA) earlier in September, in Singapore’s first case of self-radicalisation by a mix of different extremist ideologies. Technology The New Times: Scammers, extremists double down on online attacks on youth Misuse of the internet is increasingly becoming a gateway for extremists and scammers to target vulnerable groups particularly young people, experts have warned. They caution that evolving tactics are designed to draw youth into online networks, sometimes turning them into perpetrators knowingly or unknowingly. LBC: Far-right groups using popular games like Minecraft and Call of Duty to radicalise boys online, cybersecurity expert warns The last two decades have seen a massive rise in the time young men spend playing video games online, with 11-17-year-old boys spending a staggering 23 hours per week gaming on average in 2024. These platforms allow people to connect and form friendships, but have also become a breeding ground for radicalisation and the exploitation of young men, cybersecurity expert Andrius Petkus has told LBC.   The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) is a nonprofit and non-partisan international policy organization working to combat the growing threat posed by extremist ideologies. CEP depends on the generosity of its supporters. If you value what we do, please consider making a donation. DONATE Were you forwarded this email? Subscribe for yourself here. 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