Excerpts: ISIS,rebel group non-aggression pact. ISIS could be Putin's
chronic nightmare. U.S.recruiter for ISIS indicted. Jordan acts re
terrorists, supporters. Mortar from Gaza on Israel. Egypt security force
attacked in Sinai September 16, 2014

+++SOURCE: Al Arabiya News 17 Sept.’14:”ISIS, Syria rebel group sign pact pf
‘non-aggression”, Agence France Presse
SUBJECT: ISIS, Syria rebel group pact of’non-aggression
QUOTE: “(both0 consider the principal enemy to be. . . .the Alawite Sect”
FULL TEXT: Syrian rebels and jihadists from the Islamic State of Iraq and
Syria have agreed a non-aggression pact for the first time in a suburb of
the capital Damascus, a monitoring group said on Friday[12 Sept.].

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the ceasefire deal was agreed
between ISIS and moderate and Islamist rebels in Hajar al-Aswad, south of
the capital.

Under the deal, "the two parties will respect a truce until a final solution
is found and they promise not to attack each other because they consider the
principal enemy to be the Nussayri regime."
“
Nussayri is a pejorative term for the Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shiite
Islam to which President Bashar al-Assad belongs.

Syria's armed opposition initially welcomed jihadists including Islamic
State members in their fight against Assad.

But the group's harsh interpretation of Islam and quest for domination of
captured territory sparked a backlash against it that began in January.

A coalition of rebel groups pushed IS out of much of northern Syria, but it
has recaptured much of that territory in recent months and has a strong
presence in Hajar al-Aswad.

More than 180,000 people have been killed in Syria since the beginning of
the uprising against Assad that began in March 2011.

+++SOURCE: Al ArabiyMoscow has said any strikes against ISIS would be
ileagaa News 17 Sept.’14:”ISIS could be Pu tin’s ‘chronic nightmare”, by
Paul Crompton
SUBJECT: ISIS could be Putin’s chronic nightmare

QUOTE: “Moscow has said any strikes against ISIS in Syria would be ‘illegal’
without Assad’s approval”

FULL TEXT:(ISIS) in Syria, could soon become a victim of the militant group,
whose members include extremists from Chechnya.

The Soufan Group, a New York-based intelligence firm, estimated in June that
some 200 Chechen fighters were involved in the Syrian conflict.

Earlier this month, ISIS jihadists released a video threatening Russia
shortly after they captured an air base in Raqqa, eastern Syria, and seized
Russian-made fighter jets.

In the video, a militant said: "This message is addressed to you, oh
Vladimir Putin. These are your aircraft which you sent to [Syrian President]
Bashar [al-Assad], and with the help of Allah we’ll send them back to you.
Remember this. And with the permission of Allah, we’ll liberate Chechnya and
all the Caucasus."

Marvin Kalb, a senior adviser to the Washington-based Pulitzer Center, told
Al Arabiya News: “Putin worries constantly about local insurgents getting
field training in Syria, or now in ISIS, and then returning to Russia to
implement their new skills.
“Putin doesn’t want them back in Russia, and this is a chronic nightmare for
him.”

Alex Melikishvili, a senior analyst at U.S.-based research giant HIS, said
it is “entirely conceivable” that returning ISIS fighters would wage war
against Russia, just as Chechen insurgents have done over the last two
decades.

“The longer it takes to destroy ISIS, the higher the likelihood that some of
its battle-hardened militants will make their way to the North Caucasus,”
Melikishvili told Al Arabiya News.

“In that case, the terrorism risks in Russia will increase because even if
the returnees are few in number, they’ll possess considerable combat
experience gained in Syria and Iraq.”

However, Mia Bloom, a professor at the Center for Terrorism and Security
Studies at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, said anti-Moscow Chechen
rebels might not find themselves aligned with ISIS ideologically.

“There isn’t a great history of foreign [fighters] in Chechnya or Dagestan,
where a considerable focus is on local issues framed in terms of global
jihad,” Bloom said.

Additionally, “more Chechens still wouldn’t speak Arabic, and would be
hesitant to follow a non-Chechen, non-Dagestani outsider.”

On Monday[15 Sept.], a high-level Russian delegation joined 30 countries in
Paris and offered its support to fight ISIS in Iraq.

“We have got a contribution to make to the joint efforts in the specific
area of ensuring security in Iraq through consolidating society and
mobilizing it in a fight with terrorism and extremism,” Russian Foreign
Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Paris.

However, Moscow has said any strikes against ISIS in Syria would be
“illegal” without Assad’s approval.

Melikishvili said: “The precariousness of the Russian position is reflected
by Moscow’s desire to minimize the ISIS threat without undermining Assad’s
regime in Syria.”

An analysis released earlier this month by U.S.-based intelligence firm
Stratfor said while Moscow is “far from comfortable” about events in Syria
and Iraq, the theatre of conflict acts as a needed distraction from the
ongoing crisis in Ukraine.

“Anything that diverts U.S. attention from Ukraine is beneficial to the
Russians. For its part, the Islamic State must oppose Russia in the long
run. Its immediate problem, however, is U.S. power, so anything that
distracts the United States is beneficial to the Islamic State.”



+++SOURCE: Al Arabiya 17 Sept.’14:”American indicted for material support to
ISIS”,Staff Writer with Associated Pres &Agence France Presse

SUBJECT: U.S. recruiter for ISIS indighted

QUOTE:”indighted for supplying material support to ISIS by recruiting
members for the militant group”

EXCERPTS:An American man from upstate New York was indicted on Tuesday[16
Sept.] for allegedly providing material support to the Islamic State of Iraq
and Syria (ISIS) by recruiting members for the militant group.

Mufid Elfgeeh, 30, of Rochester, was also accused of plotting to kill
members of the U.S. military.

Federal prosecutors said Elfgeeh was indicted by a federal grand jury on
three counts of attempting to provide material support and resources to the
group, the Associated Press reported.

ISIS has been designated by the U.S. as a foreign terrorist organization.
The FBI had reportedly been investigating Elfgeeh since early last year.

. . . “Disrupting and holding accountable those who seek to provide
material support to foreign terrorist organizations is and shall remain a
critical national security priority,” said Assistant Attorney General for
National Security John Carlin, as quoted by the AP.

. . . “As this case shows, our agents and prosecutors are using all the
investigative tools at our disposal to break up these plots before
individuals can put their plans into action,” Attorney General Eric Holder
said in the statement carried by Agence France-Presse.

“We are focused on breaking up these activities on the front end, before
supporters of ISIL can make good on plans to travel to the region or recruit
sympathizers to this cause,” Holder added, using the term ISIL as a variant
for the more widely-known "ISIS."

(With AP and AFP)



+++SOURCE: Jordan Times 17 Sept.’14:”We are tightening noose around
terrorists,supporters – King”,by JT
SUBJECT: Jordan acts re terrorists , supporters
QUOTE:”Jordan supporting neighbours and cooperating with international
allies in the anti-terror campaign”
FULL TEXT:AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah said on Tuesday[16 Sept.] that
Jordan is tightening the noose around terrorists and their supporters,
adopting an approach that entails supporting neighbours and cooperating with
international allies in the anti-terror campaign.

He made the remarks during a meeting with the heads of the three branches of
government and other key figures and religious leaders.

“We are working to besiege terrorists and their supporters, and dry up their
sources of finance. We are also harnessing all our capabilities to help
conflict-riddled regional countries threatened by division.”

As part of that, Jordan supports the regional and international coalition
against terror groups, reiterating that Jordan is “always capable of
overcoming challenges of all types”.

“We are in a strong position… I am optimistic that a better future is
coming,” the King told his audience, stressing that he has confidence in the
military and security agencies to protect the country.

“We are working at all levels to combat extremism and contain it, based on
clear plans,” the King said, emphasising that the fight against terror has
“security and intellectual dimensions”.

“We have gone a long way in fighting such a phenomenon,” the Monarch said,
citing a series of initiatives launched and efforts spearheaded by the
Kingdom over the past decade to promote interfaith dialogue, coexistence and
tolerance.

The Kingdom is in contact with world countries and influential capitals to
“protect its higher interests and contribute to entrenching security and
stability in the region, address its crises and find final solutions to
them”, he added.

The Monarch said Jordan will always be “an oasis of safety and stability”
for all who seek refuge there, stressing that the country will always do its
utmost to protect Arab Christians and enhance their presence in the region.

He called on religious leaders, intellectuals and the media to shoulder
their responsibility in countering the extremist ideologies and prevent them
from tarnishing the true image of Islam.

King Abdullah reiterated Jordan’s position on Syria, calling for a political
solution that keeps the country from falling apart into a “failed state”.

Meanwhile, he urged Iraqi political forces to engage in an inclusive
political process that ensures their participation in the decision-making
process and preserves Iraq’s unity, saying that Jordan has not ceased
supporting the eastern neighbour and all components of its population.

On Jordan’s ties with Gulf countries, King Abdullah said Jordan is the
“front defence line for these countries and the entire Arab nation and its
causes”.

In statements to the press following the meeting, Senate President Abdur-Ra’uf
S. Rawabdeh said His Majesty “assured us that Jordan is capable of
confronting all challenges”.

The King stressed that all the country’s institutions should work at this
stage to strengthen the Jordanian community as one unified entity to
confront challenges, said Rawabdeh, adding that the Kingdom will also work
to confront any attempts to harm religious or humanitarian and social
relations among the various components of Arab society.

Lower House Speaker Atef Tarawneh underscored the importance of the meeting,
noting that participants had the chance to exchange views.

These points of view will have a positive outcome and will reflect on
internal security, he said, adding that His Majesty assured attendees that
the economy is heading towards revival and the country’s northern and
eastern borders are safe and sound.

Fouad Twal, the Catholic patriarch of Jerusalem, said: “We were relieved to
find that His Majesty was optimistic, as usual, despite the many challenges
facing Jordan and the region,” agreeing with the Monarch that Jordan is a
model of coexistence between Muslims and Christians.

“We in Jordan receive the displaced and we are not among those who are
displaced. Jordan, in its entirety, has always been home and shelter for
all,” he said, commending the King’s directives to receive some Christians
who have left Iraq.

The grand mufti of the Kingdom, Sheikh Abdul Kareem Khasawneh, said the King
highlighted the political and economic situation in Jordan and called for
fostering religious tolerance in accordance with the teachings of Islam.

Khasawneh said mosques, houses of worship and religious centres should play
a role to highlight the values of Islam which promote tolerance, and
denounce violence and division.



+++SOURCE: Jordan Times 17 Sept.’14:”Gaza mortar fire on Israel for first
time since truce – army”, Agence France Presse
SUBJECT: Mortar from Gaza on Israel
QUOTE: “ ‘For the first time since operation Protective Edge, a mortar shell
fired from Gaza hit southern Israel ‘ ”
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM — Palestinians fired a mortar round into southern Israel
Tuesday[16 Sept.] in the first attack since an August 26 ceasefire, without
causing any casualties, the Israeli army said.

"For the first time since operation Protective Edge, a mortar shell fired
from Gaza hit southern Israel," Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner said on
Twitter, referring to the military offensive in Gaza.

"No damage or injuries reported," he added.

In July, Israel launched the operation with the declared aim of halting
rocket fire from the Gaza Strip. An ensuing 50-day war with fighters killed
at least 2,143 Palestinians, nearly 70 per cent of them civilians, and 73
people on the Israeli side.

The sides, working through Egyptian mediators, are supposed to start
negotiations in Cairo this month to agree a more formal and long-term
version of the existing open-ended truce.


+++SOURCE: Naharnet (Lebanon) 16 Sept.’14:”Sinai Bomb Kills Six Egypt
Policemen”, Agence France Presse
SUBJECT: Egypt security force attacked in Sinai

QUOTE:”A bomb hit an Egyptian security force convoy in the Sinai Peninsula .
. .killing 6 policemen”

A bomb hit an Egyptian security force convoy in the Sinai Peninsula on
Tuesday[16 Sept.], killing six policemen in the restive region where
jihadists launch regular attacks.

Two policemen were also wounded in the attack on the road between North
Sinai provincial capital El-Arish and the town of Rafah on the Gaza border,
the interior ministry said.

"An explosive device went off near one of the APCs (armored personnel
carriers) of a joint police and army security convoy on the road between
El-Arish and Rafah, killing six policemen including an officer and wounding
two others," the ministry said in a statement.

It said security forces had cordoned off the area and an investigation was
being carried out.

The attack has not been claimed but the Sinai Peninsula is a hotbed of
jihadist groups who regularly attack security forces in retaliation for a
government crackdown against Islamist supporters of ousted president Mohamed
Morsi.

The crackdown targeting Morsi's supporters has left at least 1,400 people
dead since his ouster on July 3, 2013.

Then-army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ousted Morsi, Egypt's first
democratically elected president, after millions protested against the
Islamist's one-year rule.

More than 15,000 Morsi backers and members of his Muslim Brotherhood
movement have also been jailed since his ouster.

The authorities say hundreds of police and army personnel have also been
killed by jihadists since Morsi's ouster.

Sisi was later elected president, riding a wave of popularity following the
crackdown.

Most attacks against security forces have been spearheaded by Ansar Beit
al-Maqdis (Partisans of Jerusalem), an Al-Qaeda-inspired jihadist group
based in Sinai which launched rockets into neighbouring Israel.

It says its attacks against security forces are to avenge the killing of
hundreds of pro-Morsi protesters.

The group claimed a bombing earlier this month in Sinai that killed 11
policemen. It also recently expressed support to the extremist Islamic State
group that has seized territories in Iraq and Syria.

The police and army have launched a massive operation in the region to crush
Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, killing scores of militants including several of its
leaders.

Ansar Beit al-Maqdis is believed to be led by Bedouin militants, and several
of its members who have been killed or arrested had fought alongside
Islamist rebels in Syria.

The group adheres to an austere and militant version of Islam shared by
Al-Qaeda and other jihadist groups.

The security campaign has inflamed tensions in the historically marginalized
Sinai, where Bedouin have long complained of discrimination by the central
government in Cairo.

Despite the military and police operation, the militants have persisted in
launching sporadic assaults and sometimes even set up impromptu checkpoints
to target security personnel.

===========
Sue Lerner - Associate, IMRA