Beyond the Wire - 20 JUN 17

Your daily briefing on the state of the world and the state of the art for all things Transnational Threats. 

Philippine military launches final offensive on Marawi.

Military spokesman Brigadier-General Restituto Padilla announced that the Philippine military will attempt to complete the seizure of Marawi City by the end of Ramadan, this Saturday. Per Philippine soldiers, the army must still clear roughly 1,000 structures as the battle enters its fifth week. (TNT Comment: The extension of the conflict in Marawi threatens to draw more Islamic State sympathizers from Malaysia and Indonesia across the borders to join the insurgency. Recent trilateral naval patrols between Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia have aimed to curb this threat amidst claims that numerous militants from the surrounding region have traveled to Marawi to carry out attacks on behalf of the Islamic State.)

Tech against terrorism.

Google, YouTube, and Facebook are taking new steps to combat the spread of videos espousing extremist ideology via their platforms. In addition to individual efforts, technology companies will also collaborate in an international forum to accelerate the fight against online radicalization. (TNT Comment: The recent steps taken by various tech companies go beyond the traditional practices of working with law enforcement and consulting terrorism experts. Tech companies will now make it much harder to view “inflammatory religious” videos that do not necessarily violate their policies and will also reconfigure algorithms that determine what those with extremist search histories see on their interface.)

Afghan Government aids breakaway anti-Taliban group.

The “Renouncers,” active in Helmand and Herat, are now receiving intelligence, weapons, and travel support to combat the Taliban. The group is led by Mullah Mohammad Rasoul, who split from the Taliban after finding out that current Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Muhamad Mansour had long kept the death of former Taliban emir Mullah Omar a secret. (TNT Comment: The Taliban claimed an attack that killed six Afghan guards on their way to Bagram military base today. Amidst the continuing security challenges and an unclear U.S. strategy in the region, Afghan support of breakaway factions illuminates the country’s continual struggle to find an effective means to combat the Taliban.) 

Significant Activity

Australia suspends combat missions over Syria. The Australian Defense Force cited Russia’s decision to treat U.S.-led coalition jets as potential targets as its reason for temporarily suspending combat missions in Syria. (Guardian)

United States looks for China to increase counterterrorism role. With China’s growing international footprint, U.S. and Chinese diplomats will meet on Wednesday in Beijing to discuss an increase in China’s support to various counterterrorism operations. (Reuters)

Failed terror attack at Champs-Elysees. A man with ties to “the radical Islamist movement” rammed a French police vehicle at the Champs-Elysees. The car, loaded with explosives, failed to fully detonate, resulting in only the attacker being burned to death. (Fox News)

The evolution of jihadists in London. Writing in War on the Rocks, Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens examines the type of Salafi-jihadism that gave rise to terror groups in London, focusing on the group’s ability to adapt, ensuring its survival. (WOTR)

What would the death Baghdadi mean? Writing in the New York Times, Ali Soufan argues that regardless of whether Russian air support killed Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, the ideology that drove the Islamic State will be much harder to eliminate. (NYT)

Al Shabaab attack in Mogadishu kills 10. Using a car bomb, al Shabaab militants targeted government officials and their staff, killing 10 and wounding 20. (Reuters)

United States risks furthering its involvement in Syria. Despite the United States’ desire to only target the Islamic State, more frequent run-ins with pro-Syrian forces on the congested battlefield risks pulling the U.S. deeper into the war. (WaPo)

In need of competent foreign law enforcement abroad. Writing in Lawfare blog, Kim Cragin discusses the importance of building and maintaining sufficient law enforcement agencies in countries susceptible to becoming a jihadist stronghold. (Lawfare)

Philippine military seizes millions in methamphetamines in Marawi. The Philippine military seized nearly five million dollars in methamphetamines from militant strongholds, increasing suspicions that the groups may be funded by the drug trade. (SCMP)  

Egypt conducts airstrikes on militants. Egyptian airstrikes targeted Islamist militants in the Sinai Peninsula, killing 12 and destroying four vehicles. (Reuters)

UAE and Egypt aim to fight terror financing. Meeting in Cairo, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheik Mohammed Bin Zayed and Egyptian president Abdul Fattah al Sisi, agreed to cooperate on preventing the financing of terrorist operations. (Al Arabiya)

Trump administration may take tough stance on Pakistan. To combat militant safe havens in Pakistan, the Trump administration is weighing options to incentivize Pakistan to be more proactive in tracking militants within its borders. (Reuters) 
 

In the Weeds

More on the Islamic State

Uncertainty surrounds Russia's claim that airstrike killed Islamic State leader (Chicago Tribune)
By keeping U.S. focus on Islamic State, Trump risks wider Syria war (Reuters)
Iraq's army encircles Islamic State in Mosul's Old City (Reuters)
Military Areas of Control in the Waning Days of Islamic State (Real Clear Defense)

More on the Philippines

Army renews push against ISIL-linked group in Marawi (Al Jazeera)
As Philippines battle grinds on, some displaced die in centers (Reuters)
Philippines asks U.S. to help stop latest ISIS clashes in Marawi (Newsweek)