Beyond the Wire - 18 January 2018

Your daily briefing on the state of the world, and the state of the art for all things Transnational Threats. If you are having trouble viewing the interactive map, please click here. We welcome your feedback! Drop us a line at tnt@csis.org.

Middle East and North Africa

Syrians Displaced by Idlib Assault Take Shelter Near Turkey
The Idlib area is the largest remaining opposition-held territory in Syria, its population swelled by insurgents and civilians retreating from shrinking rebel strongholds elsewhere. The scale of this latest upheaval has overwhelmed local authorities in Islamist-controlled Idlib. (Reuters)

ISIS Claims Responsibility for Baghdad Bombings
In its statement, ISIS identified the open-air market that was attacked as a gathering of “rafidha” and of “polytheists,” two words they use to refer to Shiite Muslims in a derogatory manner. (New York Times)

The U.S. Backpedals On New Kurdish Force as Turkey Prepares for War
Reports of the planned new force provoked an outcry in Turkey, whose leaders have long accused the United States of enabling terrorism by supporting the Kurds in Syria. Iran has also expressed displeasure and on Thursday the Syrian government said it would exert all its efforts to end what it called the “illegitimate” U.S. presence in Syria. (Washington Post)

Italy Approves Military Mission in Niger, More Troops to North Africa
The focus on Africa comes as Italy is seeking to stop migrants from reaching its shores. The mostly African immigrants first cross the Sahel states to reach Libya, where they set off in boats for Italy. More than 600,000 have come in the past four years. (Reuters) 

Airport in Libya's Capital Shut for Third Day After Clashes
Fighting erupted on Monday after one of the city’s many armed groups launched an attack at Mitiga Airport in an apparent effort to secure the release of prisoners held in an adjacent prison. At least 20 people were killed and 60 wounded. (Reuters)

U.S. Troops Will Stay in Syria to Counter ‘Strategic’ Threat from Iran
The announcement of the border force, which has exposed contradictions between State Department and Pentagon policies in the region, has triggered one of the worst crises in years in the already fraught relationship between Turkey and the United States. (Washington Post)

UAE's Armed Forces Destroy a Houthi Command Center in Yemen's Hais District
The Iran-backed group stored weapons and ammunition in the center, which was strategically located to serve the fighters stationed in different parts of the district, reported UAE’s state news agency, Wam, on Wednesday. The UAE forces also destroyed in an air strike a Houthi vehicle that was carrying weapons and ammunition. (The National)

UN Envoy Says Military Forces in Libya are Flexing Muscles
Ghassan Salame told the Security Council that “the specter of violence remains present,” pointing to clashes between forces allied with two rival communities close to Libya’s border with Tunisia, rival groups at a flashpoint in the eastern vicinity of the capital of Tripoli, and heightened tension around the city of Derna. (Washington Post)

How ISIS’ Strategy Is Evolving
In order to remain militarily relevant, ISIS increasingly prefers to conduct isolated suicide attacks and hit-and-run operations. In early January, the group’s official media wing published a list celebrating nearly 800 such attacks in 2017, including ones against the Iraqi military (nearly 500), Kurdish forces in Syria (136), and the Assad regime and its allies (120), as well as a few dozen against moderate opposition groups in Syria. (Foreign Affairs)

Sub-Saharan Africa

Suspected Boko Haram Suicide Bombers Kill 12, Injure 48
In recent weeks, Nigeria’s military has embarked on an offensive against the Islamist insurgency in the northeastern state of Borno, the epicenter for much of the conflict, which began in 2009. (Reuters)

Kidnappers Abduct Two Americans, Two Canadians in Nigeria; Two Police killed
Kidnappings are rife in Nigeria, where domestic security is weak, though they overwhelmingly target other Nigerians. However, abductions of foreigners are not uncommon. The foreigners were ambushed by unknown gunmen on their way from the town of Kafanchan in Kaduna state to the capital Abuja, Mukhtar Aliyu, a spokesman for the Kaduna state police, said by telephone. (Reuters)

Niger Delta Avengers Threatens Renewed Attacks On Oil Facilities
The militant group has also stated that with the recent killings across the country, the time was ripe for the restructuring of the country, adding that anybody who is against restructuring is an enemy of this country and particularly an enemy of the Niger Delta Avengers. (allAfrica)

South and Central Asia

Taliban Leader Approved Islamabad Meeting on Afghan Peace Talks
A spokesman for Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said on Wednesday he was not aware of the Islamabad talks, while the Taliban did not respond to queries. Both sides on Monday denied participating in the Turkey talks. (Reuters)

US Drone Strike Inside Pakistan Targets ‘Afghan Extremist’
Today’s strike was the first recorded inside Pakistan since Dec. 26, when US drones killed Jamiuddin, a jihadist who helped fighters move from Pakistan to Afghanistan. Jamiuddin was reportedly a “trusted man” in within the Haqqani Network, a subgroup of the Afghan Taliban. That strike also took place in Kurram. (Long War Journal)

Western Hemisphere

Two Former Guerrillas Shot in Colombia at Campaign Event
The former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, has transformed into a political party as part of the peace accord that ended the region’s longest-running conflict. Former rebels are guaranteed ten seats in Colombia’s congress as part of the accord but still campaigning. The FARC’s leader is slated to run for president. (Washington Post)

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