Email from Counter Extremism Project (CEP) Yemen’s Houthi rebels say Israel is striking the capital, Sanaa Eye on Extremism September 10, 2025   Top Stories Times of Israel: Israeli officials said to doubt success of strike on Hamas leaders in Doha Israeli officials appeared on Wednesday to increasingly cast doubt on the success of the previous day’s strike in Qatar targeting the leaders of the Hamas terror group’s politburo, with a series of anonymous quotes to Hebrew-language outlets. The Kan public broadcaster said in an unsourced report that Israel had informed the United States that the chances that the strike had been successful had decreased significantly. “Right now there’s no indication that the terrorists were killed,” an anonymous source was quoted telling Channel 12 news. “We continue to hope they were assassinated, but optimism is fading.” Associated Press: Yemen’s Houthi rebels say Israel is striking the capital, Sanaa Yemen’s Houthi rebels say Israel is carrying out heavy airstrikes on the capital, Sanaa. It was not immediately clear what was being targeted or if anyone was wounded. Anees al-Asbahi, a spokesman for the Houthi-run Health Ministry, and military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, confirmed Wednesday’s strikes. There was no immediate comment from Israel.   CEP Releases Extremist Content Online: Active Club Movement Celebrates Recent MMA and Networking Events on Telegram, TikTok, X, Instagram, and YouTube CEP Honors Cuban Opposition Movement Ladies in White CEP Statement on Targeted Strike Killing Hamas Spokesperson Abu Obeida CEP Webinar: Transnational Connections Between Antisemitic Extremist and Terrorist Actors | September 17, 2025   CEP Mentions Deutsche Welle: Interview with Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler: “What we know about Israel's strike in Qatar” Euronews: Russian spy drones over Germany: Is the danger coming from the shadow fleet? According to Hans-Jakob Schindler, head of the Counter Extremism Project, this is "entirely possible", as numerous ships from the "shadow fleet" regularly sail through the Baltic Sea. If this is the case, says Schindler, this raises the question of monitoring the ships and the capacity of the authorities, which would probably be limited due to the size of the Baltic Sea and the large number of ships. Complete monitoring of every single ship by German authorities is therefore not possible and "possibly not the best use of resources", the security expert added to Euronews. B.T.: Expert on the spread of a far-right fight club: 'Shadow militia' awaits a strong leader "This is not your average neo-Nazi group. They don't act suddenly. Their strategy is to grow, so when a leader they can support emerges, they can protect him," says Alexander Ritzmann. "That's why I call them a 'shadow militia'. Because they want to show the authorities that they are just racists who play sports. The background, however, is completely different," he says. Alexander Ritzmann has been researching extremism for several years at the American organization Counter Extremism Project. In his research, Active Clubs have made an impression on him in recent years, while branches have spread from the United States to Europe. B.T.: Far-right fight club spreads in Denmark: Here is the shady mastermind However, it was not the last movement with neo-Nazi ideology that Robert Rundo would be behind. In 2016, at the age of 26, Rundo co-founded the Rise Above Movement (RAM), an organization that would become the precursor to Active Club. According to Alexander Ritzmann, an international expert on extremism and researcher at the Counter Extremism Project, RAM quickly got into trouble with the police. "The Rise Above Movement openly incited violence and was involved in some minor acts of violence. They experienced a very harsh reaction from the authorities," explains Alexander Ritzmann. Channel News Asia: CNA Explains: What is incel culture and why does it sometimes lead to radicalisation? The shift toward a more violent rhetoric within the incel community began in 2003 with the founding of a new incel website called LoveShy, where the community became almost exclusively male. “At least one of the website’s moderators openly praised mass murderers and reportedly encouraged other members to commit murder,” noted a Counter Extremism Project report. Analysis GNET: State of the Art: Unpacking the FATF’s Terrorist Financing Threat Assessment Given the increasing importance of new technologies in the financial tradecraft of terrorist groups, the review dedicates substantial focus to these risks and vulnerabilities, including in relation to mobile money, cryptocurrencies, and social media. This Insight introduces the FATF and explains its authoritative role in shaping CFT tools and measures, including why what it says really matters for practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and others concerned with terrorism financing (TF). Washington Institute: Without a Hezbollah Disarmament Deadline, Lebanon Should Face Repercussions On September 5, the Lebanese Armed Forces presented the government with a plan for disarming Hezbollah in four phases based on location: (1) south of the Litani River, (2) from the Litani to the Awali River, (3) in Beirut and its suburbs, and (4) in the Beqa Valley region. Although the government welcomed the plan, its details remain confidential, and it is unclear when the LAF is supposed to complete the mission. Given the risks of leaving Hezbollah well-armed and inviting another war with Israel, the United States and its partners should make clear that this vagueness is unacceptable. United States New York Times: Gulf Powers Question U.S. Protection After Israeli Attack on Qatari Soil Qatar hosts the largest American military base in the Middle East, has bought billions of dollars worth of defense systems from the United States and recently gifted a luxury Boeing jet to President Trump. Yet on Tuesday, none of that stopped Israel, a key U.S. ally, from launching a brazen military attack on Qatari soil. It was an attempt to assassinate senior Hamas officials who had gathered to discuss a cease-fire proposal to pause the war in Gaza — a deal that was backed by Mr. Trump. The Israeli attack sent shock waves through Gulf capitals that have been courted by Israel as potential allies in recent years and have long regarded the U.S. as their main security guarantor. New York Times: Once Again, Israel Leaves Trump in the Dark as It Conducts a Military Attack President Trump said on Tuesday that he found out about Israel’s airstrike in Qatar from the United States military, rather than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he often describes as both a friend and his strongest ally in the Middle East. It was a familiar surprise. In June, Israel launched a 12-day war with Iran with minimal notice, initially drawing a rebuke from Washington until Mr. Trump decided to join in on what he saw as a winning campaign. Jewish News Syndicate: Israeli attack on Hamas ‘worthy goal’ but took place ‘very unfortunately’ in Doha, Trump says U.S. President Donald Trump feels “very badly” about Israel’s strike on a Doha residence that housed a Hamas negotiating delegation earlier in the day. “Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a sovereign nation and close ally of the United States, that is working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker peace, does not advance Israel or America’s goals,” the president stated. “However, eliminating Hamas, who have profited off the misery of those living in Gaza, is a worthy goal.” CNN: Man pleads guilty to charges that he meant to blow up a Nashville power site with a bomb-laden drone A 24-year-old man with ties to White nationalist groups pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges that he attempted to use a drone to bomb a Nashville electricity substation, according to prosecutors. Skyler Philippi, of Columbia, Tennessee, pleaded guilty to attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and attempting to destroy an energy facility, the US Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee said in a statement. He faces up to life in prison at his January 8 sentencing. NBC 10: Suspect turns himself in after allegedly vandalizing Philly's Jewish museum A suspect turned himself into police in connection to recent vandalism incidents at the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia, according to officials. On Aug. 18, security cameras allegedly captured a person spray-painting the museum's walls and outside areas with red paint around 4:43 a.m., police said. Times of Israel: University faculty behind much antisemitism aimed at Jewish colleagues, survey finds Faculty and staff are key drivers of antisemitism faced by Jewish professors at US colleges and universities, according to a new survey by the Anti-Defamation League and the Academic Engagement Network. The report, based on responses from more than 200 Jewish-identifying faculty, documents smear campaigns, boycotts, and even doxxing efforts carried out by colleagues and administrators. In some cases, these actions led to professional repercussions and concerns for personal safety. Jewish Telegraphic Agency: Spurning Jewish Voice for Peace as insufficiently radical, new Jewish group joins ‘student intifada’ An anonymous group of Jewish student activists has broken away from Jewish Voice for Peace to form a new national organization, the Anti-Zionist Jewish Student Front, that pledges to escalate campaigns against Zionism on college campuses. Jerusalem Post: Florida man with hit list of Jews, Black Floridians, congressman gets 25 years in prison A Florida man who had amassed an arsenal, was linked to the shooting up of a Jewish residence and vehicle, and created a hit list targeting Black and Jewish targets -- including a sitting congressman -- was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison last Friday for a series of firearms offenses. Jerusalem Post: Jewish, LGBTQ+ Cornell students get violent threats from fake university president email account Cornell University students have been receiving antisemitic and homophobic violent threats using a spoofed email address made to appear as if the messages came from the institution's president, universities officers updated on Monday. Fox 11 Los Angeles: Downey man tied to extremist group '764' charged in child exploitation case The FBI arrested a Downey man they say is a member of the nihilistic extremist group known as "764" for possession of child pornography. Dong Hwan Kim, 27, was taken into custody Wednesday, Aug. 27 at his Downey home. France RFI: Why far-right National Rally dropped Bayrou and is calling for snap elections France's largest opposition party, with 123 seats in parliament – threw its weight behind Bayrou when he was nominated in December 2024, following the ousting of Michel Barnier. In January, its decision to abstain in a vote of no confidence brought against Bayrou by left-wing parties allowed him to fight another day. Germany Reuters: IS-inspired Syrian migrant found guilty of 2024 stabbing in Germany's Solingen A German court found Syrian citizen Issa Al Hasan guilty of an Islamic State-inspired 2024 stabbing attack on a festival in the western city of Solingen in which three people were killed and 10 others injured, sentencing him to life imprisonment. ARD: Right-wing extremism - Charges brought against "Saxon separatists" The Federal Public Prosecutor General has brought charges against the so-called "Saxon separatists". According to research by MDR and taz, eight people are accused of, among other things, founding and being members of a terrorist organization. Members of the group were arrested in Saxony and Poland in early November 2024. According to the investigation, they were allegedly preparing for a so-called "Day X", on which they wanted to take control of areas in eastern Germany by force. After the planned violent takeover, the group intended to control these areas militarily and establish a community based on National Socialism, according to the federal prosecutor's office. B.Z.: Left-wing extremists claim responsibility for arson attack on power lines Less than eleven hours after the arson attack on two electricity pylons in Treptow-Köpenick, a letter of confession has appeared on a left-wing extremist platform. In it, the authors declare that they wanted to sabotage the companies in the Adlershof Technology Park with their terrorist attack and the resulting blackout! In the letter published on Indymedia, the left-wing extremists, who call themselves "Some Anarchists" in gender-appropriate spelling, celebrate having massively disrupted the processes at the Adlershof site, at least for a short period of time. ARD: 25 years of the NSU murders - Pain, grief and many unanswered questions The so-called National Socialist Underground (NSU) remained undiscovered for almost 14 years. When the NSU was uncovered in November 2011, it shook the country. It revealed an unprecedented failure of the security authorities - but also of the media and society, which had failed to recognize right-wing terror as such and instead criminalized the victims by linking them to drug dealing and the mafia, for example. "The security authorities have not managed to successfully contain the conflagration of racist and right-wing terrorist violence," said Kleffner. Since the murder of Enver Şimşek, right-wing extremists and racists have murdered more than 200 people. United Kingdom Daily Star: British girl, 14, carved swastika into her head as neo-Nazis target kids online The mother of a teenage girl who carved a swastika into her head has warned parents neo-Nazis are targeting kids on the internet. Rhianan Rudd was a “bubbly, lighthearted” before she was radicalised in online message boards from the age of 14. Amu: Taliban police chief in Kunar threatens journalists over earthquake coverage: Sources The Taliban’s provincial police chief in Kunar has threatened local journalists, warning them not to report on complaints from survivors of a recent earthquake, according to several people familiar with the matter. Zia-ul-Haq Hamed, the Taliban’s police commander in Kunar, told reporters in a meeting that they must avoid publishing stories that present what he described as a “negative” image of the authorities’ response to the disaster, the sources said. He warned that journalists who defy the order could face imprisonment. 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. Gaza Strip BBC: Anti-Islamic US biker gang members run security at deadly Gaza aid sites The firm guarding sites where aid is distributed in Gaza has been using members of a US biker gang with a history of hostility to Islam to run its armed security, a BBC investigation has found. BBC News has confirmed the identities of 10 members of the Infidels Motorcycle Club working in Gaza for UG Solutions - a private contractor providing security at Gaza Humanitarian Foundation sites, where hundreds of civilians seeking food have been killed in scenes of chaos and gunfire. Reuters: Hamas leaders killed by Israel and those who remain Israel launched an attack on Hamas leaders in Qatar on Tuesday, expanding its campaign against the Palestinian militant group. Israeli officials told Reuters the strike was aimed at top Hamas leaders including Khalil al-Hayya, its exiled Gaza chief and top negotiator. Two Hamas sources told Reuters that Hamas officials in the ceasefire negotiating team survived the attack. Iraq New York Times: Princeton Student Held by Iran-Backed Militia Is Released, Trump Says President Trump announced on Tuesday that the Iran-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah had freed Elizabeth Tsurkov, a Russian-Israeli graduate student taken hostage in Iraq, ending more than two years of captivity for her. Israel Financial Times: Israel says it will target enemies ‘everywhere’ after attack on Hamas in Qatar Israel said it would “act against its enemies everywhere” following its attack against Hamas’s political leadership in Qatar, doubling down despite international condemnation and rare censure from President Donald Trump. Trump told reporters in Washington that he was “very unhappy about every aspect” of Tuesday’s strikes on Qatar, a key US regional ally, which killed six people and drastically escalated Israel’s war against the Palestinian militant group. But Israel’s defence minister Israel Katz on Wednesday reiterated that the country would continue to target Hamas, including overseas. Times of Israel: Doha strike a huge blow to Hamas and Qatar, opportunity for Israel… if it succeeded Israel struck Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh while he was in Tehran, but his colleagues had many reasons to assume that they were untouchable while on Qatari soil. Qatar has used its oil and natural gas wealth to spread its soft power throughout the West. The emirate hosts the largest US military base in the Middle East, and, most importantly, it has served as the key Arab mediator in indirect talks between Israel and Hamas on hostage release deals. BBC: Hamas claims leadership survived Israeli attack in Doha, but confirms six deaths The Palestinian armed group Hamas has said five of its members were killed in an Israeli air strike in Qatar's capital, but claimed that an attempt to assassinate its negotiating team "failed". Hamas said the negotiating team was meeting to discuss the latest US proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip at a residential compound in Doha when it was badly damaged by a series of explosions. Reuters: Israel will kill Hamas leaders next time if they survived Qatar attack, Israeli official says If Israel failed to kill Hamas leaders in an air strike on Qatar on Tuesday, it would succeed next time, the Israeli ambassador to the United States said after the operation, which raised concerns it would torpedo efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza. "Right now, we may be subject to a little bit of criticism. They'll get over it. And Israel is being changed for the better," Yechiel Leiter told Fox News' "Special Report" programme late on Tuesday. Reuters: Who is Khalil Al-Hayya, the top Hamas figure targeted by Israel? Khalil Al-Hayya, a senior Hamas official targeted by Israel in Qatar on Tuesday, has become an increasingly central figure in the leadership of the Palestinian militant group since both Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar were killed last year. Israeli officials told Reuters the attack was aimed at top Hamas leaders including Hayya, its exiled Gaza chief and top negotiator. Two Hamas sources told Reuters the group's ceasefire negotiation delegation in Doha survived the attack. Lebanon Naharnet: Lebanese government talks to Hamas over disarmament plan Hamas’ representative in Lebanon Ahmed Abdel Hadi has met at the Grand Serail with the head of the Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee, Ramez Dimashqiyeh, to discuss the Palestinian situation in Lebanon, particularly the disarmament plan that has started to be implemented in the Beirut and Sour refugee camps. Al-Akhbar newspaper reported Wednesday that Prime Minister Nawaf Salam had instructed Dimashqiyeh to open channels of communication with Hamas and other factions, with the aim of involving them in the disarmament process, which has so far been limited to the Fatah Movement. Syria Times of Central Asia: Syrian Forces Intensify Arrests of Uzbek and Foreign Militants in Idlib Syrian forces under the administration of Ahmed al-Sharaa have escalated their long-running security campaign against foreign fighters in northwestern Syria, targeting individuals affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIS) and other jihadist factions. According to Syrian sources cited by the El Manshar news outlet, the crackdown has gained momentum in recent months, with a focus on detaining commanders and field operatives of various nationalities, particularly in the Idlib region. Turkey Nordic Monitor: Erdogan continues to support Brotherhood ties to shape his image among Muslims Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan continues to demonstrate his longstanding support for clerics linked to the Muslim Brotherhood despite ongoing efforts to improve relations with regional powers that have designated the group as a terrorist organization. On August 28, 2025, Erdogan hosted the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) at the historic Hayreddin Pasha Mansion in Istanbul. The meeting was attended by Ali Erbaş, head of Turkey’s Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), and Mehmet Görmez, president of the International Islamic Thought Foundation and the Institute of Islamic Thought. Congo Reuters: Islamic State affiliate claims killing nearly 100 in eastern Congo attack, SITE reports Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) has claimed responsibility for an attack in eastern Congo that killed nearly 100 people, the SITE Intelligence Group said on Tuesday. Niger Reuters: Islamic State group escalates attacks on Niger civilians, rights group says Islamic State-affiliated militants have stepped up attacks in western Niger, killing more than 127 people in five separate strikes since March and highlighting authorities' failure to protect civilians, Human Rights Watch said on Wednesday. A report by the rights group provides the most detailed accounts available of attacks carried out by Islamic State in the Sahel Province (ISSP) in the Tillaberi region, near the border with Burkina Faso and Mali. Niger does not typically comment on such incidents. Sudan Reuters: Drones strike across Sudanese capital, RSF claims responsibility Drones launched by the Rapid Support Forces targeted vital installations in the Sudanese army-controlled Khartoum state on Tuesday morning, including the capital, the first such attacks in months, according to residents and the paramilitary. The Tasis Coalition of armed groups and political parties led by the RSF claimed responsibility for the attacks that it said were aimed at military and logistical targets. Australia Jerusalem Post: Mastermind, accomplice charged for antisemitic attacks across Sydney, may link to wider network The alleged mastermind of several antisemitic attacks across Sydney, and his alleged accomplice in the defacement of an Allawah synagogue, were charged after an investigation by the Strike Force Pearl antisemitism task force, the New South Wales Police announced on Wednesday. Tarek Zahabe, identified by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), was charged on July 17 for participating in a criminal group to engage in unlawful activity after allegedly directing Kye Pickering to vandalize the Southern Sydney Synagogue on January 10. Australian Broadcasting Corporation: Greater police presence in Melbourne CBD as rival groups converge for weekend protests Police have admitted they were caught off guard by an attack on Camp Sovereignty last month as they prepare for more potential clashes between rival protest groups in Melbourne this weekend. Several people were injured when a group of black-clad men attacked people at the First Nations camp after an anti-immigration rally in the CBD. CEP Podcasts Unpacking the week's extremism-related anniversaries and news, as well as counter extremism developments and prospects. A deep dive into CEP's research and topics that are relevant to our mission, from our Berlin-based team.   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. 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