Email from Counter Extremism Project (CEP) Iran regime said to unleash Hezbollah and Iraqi militias as uprising spreads Eye on Extremism January 12, 2026   Top Stories Afghanistan International: Impunity & Violence: Inside Taliban-Run Assassination Networks Afghanistan International has obtained a collection of official documents and internal reports from Taliban authorities that reveal the direct involvement of members of the group in extrajudicial killings in several Afghan provinces. The documents show that these killings were not isolated incidents but part of a systematic pattern of violence carried out on the orders of Taliban intelligence and security officials, using state-issued weapons and conducted during official duty. Fox News: Iran regime said to unleash Hezbollah and Iraqi militias as uprising spreads As anti-regime protests spread across Iran for a 12th straight day, the Islamic Republic has reportedly turned to foreign militias for support, with two independent sources confirming that roughly 850 Hezbollah, Iraqi militia and Quds Force-linked fighters crossed into Iran to bolster the regime’s security forces.   Coming Soon: “Enduring Music: Compositions from the Holocaust” Premiere at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on International Holocaust Remembrance Day On January 27, 2026, the Counter Extremism Project and ARCHER at House 88 present a concert led by Maestro Francesco Lotoro—world-renowned conductor, composer, and musicologist—featuring newly recovered works created in the ghettos and camps. Get your tickets here!   CEP Mentions Berliner Morgenpost: Hezbollah member on trial: How powerful is the terror network in Berlin? This is a typical case, says terrorism expert Hans-Jakob Schindler, Senior Director at the Counter Extremism Project (CEP) in Berlin and New York. "Basically, Berlin and Germany are important areas for Hezbollah to recruit sympathizers, spread propaganda, and acquire funds, for example through donations," Schindler says. WELT: “The problem with the system is that it doesn't have enough money to make concessions.” Protests against the mullah regime in Iran continue to escalate. There are reports of hundreds of deaths. Terrorism expert [CEP Senior Director] Hans-Jakob Schindler explains what distinguishes this protest from previous ones and what makes it so dangerous for the mullahs. Analysis Jerusalem Post: After failed truces, will the newest ceasefire in Aleppo last? – analysis The Syrian government forces announced Saturday the suspension of their military operations in the Sheikh Maqsood neighborhood of Aleppo in northern Syria after several days of intense clashes with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The fighting highlighted the ongoing tension in northern Syria despite attempts to contain the conflict and open diplomatic channels. United States Associated Press: Protesters try to attack driver after truck speeds through Iran demonstration in Los Angeles Los Angeles police responded Sunday after somebody drove a U-Haul box truck down a street crowded with marchers demonstrating in support of the Iranian people, causing protesters to scramble out of the way and then run after the speeding vehicle to try to attack the driver. The U-Haul truck, with a window and side mirrors shattered, was stopped several blocks away and surrounded by police cars. ABC7 news helicopter footage showed officers keeping the crowd at bay as demonstrators swarmed the truck, throwing punches at the driver and thrusting flagpoles through the driver’s side window. Associated Press: Police consider assault charge after U-Haul drives into Iran protest in Los Angeles A man accused of driving a U-Haul truck into a crowd demonstrating in support of the Iranian people in Los Angeles over the weekend was in police custody and potentially facing assault charges, authorities said Monday. The driver has not been identified and was in the process of being arrested and booked early Monday, said Officer Charles Miller, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department. Jerusalem Post: Trump 'seriously inclined' to help Iranian protesters, sources tell 'Post' US President Donald Trump is expected to assist Iranians who are protesting nationwide against the Islamic Republic regime, several sources familiar with the details of the discussions held in recent days told The Jerusalem Post on Sunday. “Trump has essentially decided to help the protesters in Iran. What he has not yet decided is the ‘how’ and the ‘when,’” they said. CBS News: Her daughter died after falling in with online extremists who idolize school shooters. Now, she's warning other parents. Thirteen-year-old Audree loved to play Nirvana on guitar, draw anime characters and read the series "Spy School," her mother, Jaimee Seitz said. "She had her own personality, her own hobbies, her own everything," said Seitz, who lives in Kentucky. "Audree was one of a kind. Jewish Telegraphic Agency: Mississippi synagogue that was bombed by the Ku Klux Klan in 1967 is heavily damaged in arson A suspect has been arrested and charged with arson in connection with a fire that tore through Beth Israel Congregation, the only synagogue in Jackson, Mississippi, early Saturday morning, authorities said, as federal agents investigate the attack as a possible hate crime. Firefighters with the Jackson Fire Department responded to reports of the blaze at around 3 a.m., finding flames pouring from the building’s library and administrative offices. The Reform synagogue serves as the religious and communal center for the city’s small Jewish population. Times of Israel: A ‘deliberate attack on Jews’: Community condemns arson attack on Mississippi synagogue Local community leaders and Jewish organizations expressed outrage over the arson that gutted Mississippi’s largest synagogue early Saturday morning, calling it a “deliberate” attack on the Jewish community. Security camera footage from inside the synagogue showed a masked suspect splashing a liquid along the wall and couch of the synagogue lobby before the blaze erupted, according to local media reports. NBC News: 'Border czar' says ICE shooting victim's actions 'could fall within that definition' of domestic terrorism “Border czar” Tom Homan weighed in on Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s allegations that the ICE shooting victim was engaged in “domestic terrorism,” telling NBC News’ “Meet the Press” that “if you look up this definition of terrorism, it certainly could fall within that definition.” Times of Israel: ‘We don’t need them. We don’t like them’: Trump says MAGA has no room for antisemites US President Donald Trump said there is no room in his MAGA movement or the Republican Party for antisemites. In a wide-ranging two-hour interview with The New York Times, whose full transcript was published on Sunday, Trump was asked about leading conservative figures who have espoused antisemitic views and their place in the Republican Party and Make America Great Again movement. New York Jewish Week: Mamdani, AOC denounce pro-Hamas chants outside Queens synagogue, with mayor using ‘terrorist’ label for first time New York City politicians, including progressives Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have widely condemned the pro-Palestinian protesters who chanted “We support Hamas here” outside a Queens synagogue last week. In Mamdani’s case, his comments — which his critics said came especially late — marked the first time that he used the words “terrorist organization” to refer to Hamas, though he did not use the group’s name. Germany DPA: Germany plans to deploy more manpower to combat left-wing extremism German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt plans to deploy more domestic intelligence officers to combat left-wing extremism, he told the annual conference of the civil servants' association in Cologne on Monday. "The domestic intelligence service will be reinforced in this area," the Bavarian conservative said, adding that he had already ordered this last Monday. DPA: German interior minister to beef up counter-extremist capabilities Germany's interior minister is intent on fortifying the country's ability to counter possible further infrastructure attacks following an assault on Berlin's power supply that left some 100,000 without heating in sub-freezing temperatures. Poland Polskiego Radia: Polish president reportedly greets convicted neo-Nazi during pilgrimage to Częstochowa Over the past weekend, during the pilgrimage to Częstochowa - a city regarded as one of Poland’s most important religious sites - President Nawrocki was said to have greeted Tomasz P., known as "Dragon," the leader of the Jagiellonia Białystok fan gang. United Kingdom The Times: Channel 4 exposé revealed extremism at mosque that advised police The police recommended a ban on Israeli football fans attending a match in Birmingham after consulting a mosque that the force previously supported after it was linked to Islamist extremism. The revelation will increase pressure on Craig Guildford, the chief constable of West Midlands, following calls for his resignation from Jewish leaders and MPs including Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader. GBN: 'Time's running out!' Britain faces 'fight of a generation' against Islamic extremism, warns Robert Jenrick Robert Jenrick has warned Britain is facing the “fight of a generation” against home-grown Islamism and that “time is running out” to prevent an extremist takeover. In his damning verdict, the Shadow Justice Secretary accused the Government and law enforcement of being willfully ignorant of the growing threat. The Observer: White supremacist dating site profiles linked to Tory and Reform councillors A Conservative councillor has been suspended from the party after appearing on a leaked member list of a white supremacist dating site. The site was seemingly shut down live on stage at a security conference last month by Martha Root, a German hacker. Before erasing the site, Root had taken advantage of security weaknesses to download a database of the site’s users and last week published a sample of the data. About 450 of the 8,000 profiles shared online said they were from the UK. Gaza Strip/West Bank EuroNews: Hamas says it will dissolve its Gaza government when new Palestinian body takes over Hamas announced on Sunday that it will dissolve its current administration in Gaza after a Palestinian technocratic leadership committee assumes control of the region, as is required by the US-brokered plan for the enclave. Reuters: Israeli-backed group kills a senior Hamas police officer in Gaza, threatens more attacks An Israeli-backed Palestinian militia said on Monday it had killed a senior Hamas police officer in the southern Gaza Strip, an incident which Hamas blamed on "Israeli collaborators". A statement from the Hamas-run interior ministry said gunmen opened fire from a passing car, killing Mahmoud Al-Astal, head of the criminal police unit in Khan Younis, in the south of the enclave. It described the attackers as "collaborators with the occupation". Ynet: Disguised as civilians, Hamas scouts exploit Gaza lull to spy on IDF troops The terror organization, which still controls the Gaza Strip and is recovering and rebuilding at a pace that alarms Southern Command officers, has focused in recent months on three main trends: reestablishing its grip in Gaza and eliminating opponents from Palestinian clans backed by Israel; rebuilding its forces through training operatives and producing weapons, including rockets and employing force against the IDF. Naharnet: Hamas to hold leadership elections in coming months Hamas is preparing to hold internal elections to rebuild its leadership following Israel's killing of several of the group's top figures during the war in Gaza, sources in the movement said on Monday. "Internal preparations are still ongoing in order to hold the elections at the appropriate time in areas where conditions on the ground allow it," a Hamas leader told AFP. Iran Jerusalem Post: 'Death to Khamenei' chants heard in Tehran as Reza Pahlavi rallies opposition forces The Iranian protests against the Islamic regime have entered “a new phase,” Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi declared on social media on Monday as the country began its 16th day of unrest. “Beloved people of Iran, my courageous compatriots… you have shaken the foundations of the illegitimate Islamic Republic through massive, nationwide demonstrations,” he wrote. Reuters: Deaths from Iran protests reach more than 500, rights group says Unrest in Iran has killed more than 500 people, a rights group said on Sunday, as Tehran threatened to target U.S. military bases if President Donald Trump carries out his renewed threats to intervene on behalf of protesters. With the Islamic Republic's clerical establishment facing the biggest demonstrations since 2022, Trump has repeatedly threatened to get involved if force is used on protesters. Iran International: Iran revives loyalty rallies after deadly crackdown on protesters Tehran on Monday conducted large pro-government rallies in several cities intended to counter the nationwide protests challenging its rule, in a strategy it has deployed against previous bouts of mass unrest ultimately crushed by deadly force. The aim is not necessarily to convince skeptics, but to project an image of control and popular backing at a moment of visible strain. Israel Jerusalem Post: This is jihad': Dentist arrested for social media posts praising Hamas, supporting terror A dentist from east Jerusalem was arrested on Thursday for social media posts praising Hamas and inciting violence, Israel Police announced. Police began their investigation after the suspect made a post on social media featuring the slogan "This is jihad - victory or martyrdom." Over the course of their investigation, they discovered other materials supporting terrorism and inciting violence, shared by the suspect on social media or saved on his mobile phone. Times of Israel: Liberman says Haredi extremists who disrupted IDF event ‘must be treated like terrorists’ Yisrael Beytenu head Avigdor Liberman says that the extremist Haredi protestors who violently disrupted an IDF conference last night in Bnei Brak for the ultra-Orthodox Hasmonean Brigade should be treated like terrorists. “How can it be that in the State of Israel, a soldier in uniform cannot set foot in Bnei Brak or Mea Shearim without being attacked?” he says, speaking at a press conference before a faction meeting at the Knesset. Lebanon Naharnet: Rajji to Qassem: No one in Lebanon is threatened, Hezbollah arms do not protect you Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji noted Monday that the 2024 ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel is not limited to halting hostilities but also “stipulates the removal of arms, topped by Hezbollah’s weapons.” “All political and economic files in Lebanon are on hold due to the failure to implement the monopolization of weapons,” Rajji, who represents the Lebanese Forces in the government, told Sky News Arabia. Naharnet: Report: US gives Lebanon several-week 'grace period' Lebanon has been given a “grace period” for the near future regarding the removal of Hezbollah’s weapons, informed diplomatic sources said. “The United States has shown a tacit understanding and has granted the Lebanese government a several-week grace period before beginning to hold it accountable regarding the launch of the second phase of the arms monopolization process,” the sources told al-Joumhouria newspaper in remarks published Monday. Naharnet: Report: Israel threatens destructive strike if Hezbollah interferes in war on Iran Lebanon has recently received “clear Israeli messages” through international envoys who visited Beirut, a senior political source said. The source told the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper that the envoys carried “a direct warning that Israel has prepared a very broad destructive military plan should Hezbollah interfere in any potential war between Israel and Iran.” Naharnet: Salam tells Quintet Lebanon determined on north Litani disarmament Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met Monday with the ambassadors of the five-nation group for Lebanon and told them that the country is determined to implement the arms monopolization plan north of the Litani River. "I thanked the ambassadors of the Quintet for their visit and their continued support of our government’s reform path, particularly their commendation of the financial regularity and deposit recovery plan submitted by the government to parliament,” Salam said after the meeting. Naharnet: Hezbollah 'angered' by Aoun's remarks on arms President Joseph Aoun’s overnight remarks on Hezbollah’s weapons caused “anger” among the ranks of the party, sources close to Hezbollah said. “Hezbollah considers that its attempt to keep President Aoun neutral on the issue of arms has failed,” the sources added, in remarks to Al-Arabiya’s Al-Hadath channel. Times of Israel: Israel hits Hezbollah sites in two waves of major strikes across southern Lebanon Israel on Sunday carried out major airstrikes against seven Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, using more than 30 munitions in two waves of strikes, the military said. The strikes came after the IDF issued several evacuation warnings in the south Lebanon towns, saying the strikes were “in response to Hezbollah’s continuous violations of the ceasefire understandings.” Syria Associated Press: Kurdish fighters evacuated from Aleppo after days of violent clashes Kurdish fighters were evacuated from a contested neighborhood in Syria’s northern city of Aleppo, officials said early Sunday, a move that could bring an end to several days of violent clashes with government forces. State-run news agency SANA reported buses transported the last of the fighters from the Aleppo neighborhood of Sheikh Maqsoud to northeastern Syria, which is under the control of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. Yemen Associated Press: Supporters of UAE-backed separatist group rally in southern Yemen Thousands of Yemenis rallied Saturday in the southern city of Aden in a show of support for a separatist group backed by the United Arab Emirates, a day after it dissolved itself following clashes with forces of Yemen’s internationally recognized government. India Maktoob Media: At least 50 extrajudicial killings of Muslims reported in India in 2025: 23 by state actors, 27 by Hindu extremists At least 50 extrajudicial killings of Muslims in India in 2025, of which 27 were by Hindu extremists due to their religious identity, according to the data compiled by the South Asia Justice Campaign. Two children were among 23 Muslims killed during last year in incidents involving police, armed forces, or other state security personnel, SAJC’s India Persecution Tracker reveals. The Tracker also documented two cases of Muslims taking their lives following violence and/or harassment by Hindu extremists. Nigeria Reuters: Nigeria reopens some schools in the north, defying threats of kidnap Schools across parts of northern Nigeria started reopening on Monday, after months of closure triggered by the abduction of hundreds of students in November. The abductions last year had underlined the vulnerability of education facilities in a region plagued by criminal gangs and Islamist insurgents. Somalia Arab News PK: US airstrike in Somalia kills 52 Al-Shabab extremists The US military on Saturday said it had carried out its deadliest airstrike in Somalia in months, killing 52 Al-Shabab extremists after a “large group” mounted an attack on Somali forces. The US Africa Command said the airstrike occurred near Jilib in Middle Juba region. There were no reports of Americans killed or wounded. Philippines Manila Standard: 4 Mindanao extremists yield in Maguindanao FOUR members of an extremist group in Mindanao have surrendered to the military and turned over high-powered firearms during a simple ceremony held Saturday, Jan. 10, at the Army’s 6th Infantry (Redskin) Battalion headquarters in Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur. The surrendered weapons consisted of an Armalite16 rifle, a Garand rifle, and two grenade launchers. Australia AFP: Australian parliament to meet early to pass hate speech laws after Bondi terror attack Australia’s parliament will reopen two weeks early to crack down on hate crimes and gun ownership following the recent terror attack targeting a Jewish event at Bondi Beach, its government said on Monday. Australia has flagged a suite of reforms to hate crime and gun laws since the December 14 attack that killed 15 people — the country’s deadliest mass shooting in nearly three decades. The Australian: Islamic extremists, neo-Nazis set to face 15-year sentences Members and supporters of radical Islamist outfit Hizb ut-Tahrir and the neo-Nazi National Socialist Network could face up to 15 years behind bars under sweeping new hate speech laws set to be introduced to parliament next week. The government’s anti-Semitism and extremism package, set to clamp down on groups that have historically evaded terror designations, will implement a new criminal offence for donors, recruiters or members of organisations listed under the new lowered threshold with a minimum penalty of seven years and a maximum sentence of 15. Sky News Australia: Coalition 'deeply sceptical' of Anthony Albanese’s decision to plug 'multiple complex policy areas' with omnibus bill The Coalition is “deeply sceptical” of the Prime Minister’s decision to plug “multiple complex policy areas” with a single sweeping piece of legislation announced on Monday. In a press conference, Anthony Albanese announced Parliament would be recalled next Monday and Tuesday to introduce and debate the government’s Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026. Sky News Australia: Muslim religious leader and wife violently assaulted by suspected white supremacists in alleged hate crime A Muslim religious leader and his wife have allegedly been threatened and assaulted by a group of suspected white supremacists during what is being described as a hate crime. Imam Ismet Purdic, of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Islamic Society was driving through Dandenong South with his wife at about 7.30pm on Saturday when their car was allegedly blocked by a black hatchback. 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. DONATE Were you forwarded this email? Subscribe for yourself here. Counter Extremism Project (CEP) | PO Box 3980 | New York, NY 10185 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice