December 2015 Security News

Guardsmen Battle Floods in Missouri, Elsewhere AFPS 31 Dec 2015 -- At least 625 National Guard soldiers and airmen are on duty today as several southern and central states fight heavy floods triggered by rain and runoff.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 31 Dec 2015 [PDF]
Turkey detains 2 Daesh suspects for plotting attacks in Ankara Press TV 30 Dec 2015 -- Turkish police have arrested two suspected members of Daesh Takfiri terrorist group, who were allegedly planning bomb attacks in the capital, Ankara, on New Year's Eve.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 30 Dec 2015 [PDF]
Coalition Killed 10 Senior ISIL Leaders in December AFPS 29 Dec 2015 -- A high-value Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant leader killed by U.S.-led coalition airstrikes Dec. 24 was just one of 10 ISIL leaders targeted and killed so far this month, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman Army Col. Steve Warren confirmed today.
Pakistan Bombing Highlights IS Threat in Afghan-Pakistan Region VOA 29 Dec 2015 -- The suicide bombing Tuesday at a government office building in northwest Pakistan highlights the increasingly violent presence of the Islamic State militant group in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region.
'Daesh leader linked to Paris attacks killed in US airstrike' Press TV 29 Dec 2015 -- The US Defense Department says a Daesh (ISIL) terrorist with "direct" ties to the alleged mastermind of the Paris attacks was among 10 terrorists killed in Syria.
Pakistani police detain over 13 suspected Daesh militants Press TV 29 Dec 2015 -- Pakistani counter-terrorism forces have detained at least 13 Daesh suspected militants who were planning to carry out terror attacks across the violence-hit country.
WHO declares Guinea free of Ebola virus Press TV 29 Dec 2015 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the end of Ebola in Guinea where more than 2,500 people have died from the virus over the past two years.
Belgian police arrest two suspects over plotting attacks Press TV 29 Dec 2015 -- Authorities in Belgium have arrested two people on suspicion of plotting attacks in the capital, Brussels, during New Year celebrations.
Probe Reveals Pentagon Deliberately Blocking Attempts to Shutter Guantanamo Sputnik 29 Dec 2015 -- An investigation published by Reuters on Monday revealed that US President Barack Obama's efforts to close the controversial Guantanamo Bay prison camp have been blocked and undermined by the Department of Defense.
UN declares end to Ebola virus transmission in Guinea; first time all three host countries free UN News 29 Dec 2015 -- The United Nations health agency today declared the end of Ebola virus transmission in Guinea, where the epidemic began two years ago before spreading to neighbouring Liberia and Sierra Leone and, ultimately by land and air travel to seven other countries, killing over 11,300 people.
US Military: IS Leader Linked to Paris Attacks Killed in Syria VOA 29 Dec 2015 -- The U.S. military says an Islamic State (IS) leader with direct links to the alleged ringleader of last month's terrorist attacks in Paris was killed in a coalition airstrike in Syria.
Suicide Attack Kills 26 in Mardan, Pakistan VOA 29 Dec 2015 -- A suicide blast in Mardan, Pakistan, has left at least 26 people dead and more than 20 others wounded.
Belgium Arrests 2 Suspected of New Year's Terror Plot VOA 29 Dec 2015 -- Prosecutors in Belgium said Tuesday police arrested two people suspected of planning holiday terror attacks in Brussels.
Guinea Declared Free of Ebola VOA 29 Dec 2015 -- The World Health Organization has declared the West African country of Guinea free of Ebola transmission. WHO says this marks an important milestone in the two-year struggle to stop the spread of this deadly disease, which has claimed the lives of thousands of people.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 29 Dec 2015 [PDF]
Congressman: US-led Airstrikes Have 'Minimal Impact' on IS VOA 28 Dec 2015 -- Republican U.S. Congressman Peter King (NY) said that while the U.S.-led airstrikes against the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq have had some impact, it has been minimal given how long the air campaign has gone on. King's remarks Sunday on U.S. television followed a purported audio recording by IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi who said U.S. coalition and Russian strikes have failed to weaken the IS group.
A look back at Ebola IRIN 28 Dec 2015 -- The past year has been a roller coaster ride for West Africa, with Ebola coming and going and coming and going, and then coming once again. But now, after nearly two years battling the deadly virus, the region finally seems to be Ebola-free. None of the three countries most affected – Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone – has had an active case since mid-November.
Daesh has departments for oil, slaves: US Press TV 28 Dec 2015 -- The Daesh (ISIL) Takfiri group has set up different departments to manage "war spoils," including slaves and stolen Syrian oil in areas under its control, US military officials say.
What It Takes To Defeat Islamic State's Ideology RFE/RL 28 Dec 2015 -- Daniel Koehler is among a handful of people in the West who work with Islamist militants returning from Syria in an effort to reintegrate them into normal life.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 28 Dec 2015 [PDF]
China approves first anti-terror law amid controversies People's Daily 27 Dec 2015 -- China has adopted its first counter-terrorism legislation despite criticism that it could tighten media controls and threaten privacy as well as intellectual property rights in the East Asian state.
China Passes Controversial Counterterrorism Law RFE/RL 27 Dec 2015 -- China's parliament has passed a new antiterrorism law that requires technology firms to hand over sensitive information to the government and allows the Chinese military to venture overseas on counterterror operations.
China Passes Controversial Anti-terror Law VOA 27 Dec 2015 -- China's parliament has passed a controversial anti-terror law requiring foreign technology firms to comply with government requests for information, including encryption keys that turn digital data into unreadable code.
Daesh Strength in Libya Grows to Nearly 5,000 Fighters Sputnik 27 Dec 2015 -- Libya, which is undergoing its second civil war in less than half a decade, has become the next country after Iraq and Syria to be targeted by Daesh terrorists for expansion.
Will Saddam Hussein's Ghost Join the Fight Against Daesh? Sputnik 27 Dec 2015 -- Daesh/ISIL terrorists in Iraq and Syria are believed to depend heavily on the experience of former officers of the armies of late Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. However, according to counterterrorism expert Alain Rodier, these people's lack of ideological commitment to Daesh's ideology makes it theoretically possible to get them to switch sides.
Russia president orders counter-terrorism units on coasts Press TV 26 Dec 2015 -- Russia is set to establish several counter-terrorism operational headquarters in different coastal areas across the country, as Moscow is engaged in fighting with terror groups in Syria.
Putin Orders to Set Up Anti-Terror Centers in Russia's Five Coastal Cities Sputnik 26 Dec 2015 -- Vladimir Putin has ordered to set up five anti-terror centers in Russian coastal cities.
Daesh Threatens Israel with Takeover of Palestine Sputnik 26 Dec 2015 -- Abu Bakr Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State jihadist group (ISIL or Daesh, outlawed in Russia) said that the Daesh militants would soon establish an Islamic state in Palestine.
Purported Baghdadi Message Claims IS Is 'Doing Well' VOA 26 Dec 2015 -- Islamic State has released a new message purportedly from its reclusive leader, saying his self-styled 'caliphate' is 'doing well" and that airstrikes by Russia and a U.S.-led coalition have failed to weaken the group.
Suspected Suicide Bomber Attacks Bangladesh Mosque VOA 25 Dec 2015 -- A suspected suicide bomber set off his explosives during Friday prayers at a mosque in northern Bangladesh, killing himself and leaving about a dozen people injured.
ISIL allows harvesting captives' body organs: US Press TV 25 Dec 2015 -- The United States says it has obtained a document revealing that the Daesh (ISIL) terrorist group has allowed harvesting body organs from their captives.
France seeks constitution amendment after terror attack Press TV 24 Dec 2015 -- The government of France has proposed tough anti-terror laws under which citizens guilty of terror offences will be stripped of their French nationality.
Ninth Paris Attack Suspect Arrested in Belgium VOA 24 Dec 2015 -- Belgian authorities have charged a ninth suspect in connection with the November 13 terror attacks in Paris, federal prosecutors said in a statement Thursday.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 24 Dec 2015 [PDF]
Swine flu outbreak claims two more Iranian lives Press TV 23 Dec 2015 -- Two more Iranians have lost their lives after contracting the killer H1N1 flu virus, bringing the total death toll from swine flu to 51 in the country.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 23 Dec 2015 [PDF]
Daesh has lost 14 percent of territory in Iraq, Syria: Study Press TV 22 Dec 2015 -- The Daesh Takfiri terrorists have in a year lost nearly 15 percent of the land that they had had under control in Iraq and Syria as the group suffers more setbacks in the two countries, a study shows.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 22 Dec 2015 [PDF]
Indonesian Police Arrest Nine Alleged Terrorists VOA 21 Dec 2015 -- Indonesian Anti-Terror Police have arrested nine alleged terrorists and foiled a plot to kill government officials, law enforcement officers and others, Indonesia's police chief said Monday.
Pakistan uncovers Daesh fundraising network in Karachi Press TV 21 Dec 2015 -- Law enforcement agencies in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi are hunting down a network of women acting as fundraisers for the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group.
Pentagon to take on Daesh digitally: Report Press TV 21 Dec 2015 -- The US Defense Department is weighing more aggressive cyber attacks against the Daesh (ISIL) Takfiri group, aiming to disrupt the terror group's web-based activities, a new report says.
Obama: 'Significant Progress' Against Islamic State by End of Term VOA 21 Dec 2015 -- U.S. President Barack Obama expressed confidence those opposing the Islamic State group will 'prevail,' and said he thinks there will be 'significant progress' in that effort by the time he leaves office.
IS Deserters Flee Terror Group's Hypocrisy, Cruelty VOA 21 Dec 2015 -- Recent deserters have told researchers they fled the self-proclaimed Islamic State because of a mismatch between the words and deeds of the extremist group.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 21 Dec 2015 [PDF]
US warns citizens against terror threat in Tunisia Press TV 20 Dec 2015 -- The US embassy in Tunisia has warned American citizens in the north African country against a major terrorist attack.
Inconvenient Truth: Leaked Report Proves Daesh Smuggling Oil to Turkey Sputnik 20 Dec 2015 -- A report compiled by an independent Norwegian oil and gas consulting firm verified earlier claims that Daesh, also known as ISIL/ISIS, smuggles most of its oil to Turkey, where it is then sold on the black market at reduced prices.
Most of oil smuggled by Daesh goes to Turkey: Report Press TV 20 Dec 2015 -- A new report has revealed that most of the oil smuggled by Daesh Takfiri terrorist group from the areas under its control goes to Turkey, where it is sold off at low prices.
Pentagon planning big Guantanamo prisoner transfer Press TV 18 Dec 2015 -- The Pentagon chief has approved the biggest transfer of inmates from the notorious US military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, says a congressional official.
EU leaders agree to speed up creation of new border force Press TV 18 Dec 2015 -- The European Union is due to fast-track the establishment of an EU border and coastguard force, as the 28-nation bloc is scrambling to curb the influx of refugees into Europe.
Jordan Offers at New York Meeting Matrix of Terrorism Designations - FM Sputnik 18 Dec 2015 -- Foreign Minister said that Jordan presented a matrix at the UN meeting in New York that reflects each country's understanding of which groups should be designated as terrorists in the Syrian peace process.
Could IS Turn Next to Cyber War? VOA 18 Dec 2015 -- The power is out. Gas stations are out of gas. Factories are going haywire.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 18 Dec 2015 [PDF]
Statement by the President after Briefing at the National Counterterrorism Center The White House 17 Dec 2015
Obama: Counterterrorism Experts Stand Vigilant Watch AFPS 17 Dec 2015 -- Americans cannot give in to fear from terrorism, President Barack Obama said today in a televised address from the National Counterterrorism Center in McLean, Virginia.
Briefing on the Current K-1 Visa Screening Process and Review US Dept. of State 17 Dec 2015
K-1 Visa Process and State-DHS Review US Dept. of State 17 Dec 2015
In special meeting, UN weighs measures to prevent terrorists from exploiting the Internet, social media UN News 17 Dec 2015 -- Stressing the need for States to work with the private sector to devise ways to prevent terrorists from exploiting the Internet while respecting human rights, the top United Nations political official today said curtailing the influence of terrorists and violent extremist groups must not come at the expense of curbing legitimate political discourse on the Internet or social media.
Security Council moves to cut off all funding sources for ISIL and other terrorist groups UN News 17 Dec 2015 -- At its first ever meeting at Finance Ministers' level, the United Nations Security Council today stepped up its efforts to cut off all sources of funding for the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq (ISIL) and other terrorist groups, including ransom payments, no matter by whom.
Islamic State Seeks Recruits in China VOA 17 Dec 2015 -- The Islamic State terror group is recruiting Chinese Muslims to enlist in its extremist cause and join IS fighters 'on the battlefield.'
UN Adopts Resolution to Cut Off IS Funds VOA 17 Dec 2015 -- The United Nations Security Council took aim at the self-proclaimed Islamic State's war chest Thursday, unanimously adopting a resolution to strengthen and expand measures to cut off funds to the terror group.
Daesh Finances Pay for More War, Rather Than 'State' Sputnik 17 Dec 2015 -- While Daesh has buffed up its propaganda image of a 'state,' its financial flows indicate that most of the group's funding goes to pay for its war efforts.
Obama Reassures Americans About Security Threat at Home VOA 17 Dec 2015 -- U.S. President Barack Obama says intelligence and counterterrorism officials currently have "no specific and credible information" about a possible attack on the homeland.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 17 Dec 2015 [PDF]
DoD Looking for Ways to Accelerate ISIL Defeat, Carter Says AFPS 16 Dec 2015 -- The United States is looking for ways to do more to hasten the defeat of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, Defense Secretary Ash Carter told service members on Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, yesterday.
World must oppose cyber attacks, arms race: China's Xi People's Daily 16 Dec 2015 -- All countries should jointly oppose Internet surveillance and attacks or an arms race in cyberspace, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday.
Austria police arrest two in connection with Paris attacks Press TV 16 Dec 2015 -- Austrian police have arrested two people in connection with the November 13 terrorist attacks in the French capital, Paris.
Islamic State Looks to North Africa for Oil, Recruits VOA 16 Dec 2015 -- Libya and the Sinai are "vulnerable" areas that the Islamic State group would like to exploit for potential oil revenue and recruits, officials say, as oil production and moving fighters have become more difficult in Syria and Iraq.
American Man Gets 8-Year Sentence in Terror Plot VOA 16 Dec 2015 -- U.S. officials say an American man has been sentenced to more than eight years in prison for providing material support to terrorists.
After Terror Attacks, Congress Expected to Overhaul US Visa Waiver Program VOA 16 Dec 2015 -- U.S. senators welcomed an overhaul of America's visa waiver program contained in a massive federal spending bill expected to pass both legislative houses in the coming days.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 16 Dec 2015 [PDF]
Background Briefing on Interagency Efforts to Target ISIL's Energy Assets DoD 15 Dec 2015 -- Presenter: Senior U.S. Official
Carter Calls for More Global Cooperation to Defeat ISIL AFPS 15 Dec 2015 -- More nations must "get in the game militarily" to hasten destruction of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, Defense Secretary Ash Carter told reporters on Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, today.
Progress Made in Degrading ISIL Oil Revenues, Official Says AFPS 15 Dec 2015 -- The coalition fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant has made significant progress in degrading the terrorists' ability to profit from their oil activities, a senior U.S. official said today.
Saudi Arabia Announces 34-Nation Islamic Alliance Against Terrorism VOA 15 Dec 2015 -- Saudi Arabia announced Tuesday what it called a new Islamic military alliance made up of 34 countries to fight terrorism.
Saudi Arabia announces formation of anti-terror coalition Press TV 15 Dec 2015 -- Saudi Arabia has announced the formation of an anti-terror military coalition compromised of 34 Islamic nations.
Saudi Arabia Announces 34-State Military Coalition To Fight Terrorism RFE/RL 15 Dec 2015 -- Saudi Arabia on December 15 announced the formation of a 34-member Islamic military alliance to combat terrorism.
Islamic Anti-Terrorism Coalition Expects More Countries to Join Sputnik 15 Dec 2015 -- According to Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister, the Islamic anti-terror coalition is expecting an increase in the number of member states.
European Union warns US over visa waiver changes Press TV 15 Dec 2015 -- The European Union has warned Washington about tightening visa-free travel to the United States.
European Commission Proposes Establishment of EU Border Guard Sputnik 15 Dec 2015 -- First Vice-President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans said that the European Commission proposes to establish a European Border and Coast Guard to enhance EU external borders control and prevent migrants from outside the bloc to reach its frontiers.
UN: Poverty, Conflict Drive Opium Production in Myanmar-Laos VOA 15 Dec 2015 -- The U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime's latest opium survey for Myanmar and Laos, released Tuesday, said poverty and conflict are the driving forces behind poppy cultivation, the second largest behind that of Afghanistan.
Thailand Opium Eradication Effort Still a Model for Other Nations VOA 15 Dec 2015 -- As a child, Sopon Ayi sometimes went hungry when his father squandered the family's money to feed his opium addiction. Sopon, now 29, is convinced he wouldn't have gone to school, his father would still be miserable, and their village would be unsafe if they hadn't given up the drug.
3 Suspects Linked to Paris Terrorist Attacks Arrested VOA 15 Dec 2015 -- French police arrested a 29-year-old man Tuesday in the Paris region as raids continue across France in pursuit of suspects in last month's attacks claimed by Islamic State, French media reported.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 15 Dec 2015 [PDF]
Remarks by the President on the Military Campaign to Destroy ISIL The White House 14 Dec 2015
Obama: ISIL Being Hit 'Harder Than Ever,' Will Be Defeated AFPS 14 Dec 2015 -- The coalition fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant is hitting ISIL targets "harder than ever" and will defeat the terror group, President Barack Obama said today.
Obama to Americans: Islamic State is Losing Ground VOA 14 Dec 2015 -- President Barack said Monday that he is 'confident' the U.S.-led coalition will prevail in its battle against the Islamic State, adding that the militant group is losing ground and its leaders have no place to hide.
Still no proof of terror attack in Russian plane crash of October: Egypt Press TV 14 Dec 2015 -- Egyptian authorities have reiterated that there is no evidence to support Moscow's argument that a "terrorist" attack led to the crash of a Russian passenger plane in the volatile Sinai Peninsula in October.
France Hosts Ministerial Talks on IS VOA 14 Dec 2015 -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is joining foreign ministers from European and Arab nations Monday in Paris for the latest talks on the battle against Islamic State and efforts to foster a political resolution to the situation in Syria.
Egypt: No Evidence Terrorism Caused Russian Plane Crash VOA 14 Dec 2015 -- Egypt issued a preliminary report Monday saying its investigators have found no evidence of terrorism in the October 31 crash of a Russian plane in the Sinai Peninsula that killed 224 people.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 14 Dec 2015 [PDF]
At Least 24 Killed In Bomb Blast At Busy Pakistani Market RFE/RL 13 Dec 2015 -- Reports say at least 24 people have been killed and more than 70 wounded by a bomb that exploded at a market in Pakistan near the Afghan border.
23 Killed in Pakistan Market Blast; Sunni Group Claims Attack VOA 13 Dec 2015 -- Officials in northwestern Pakistan say a bomb blast ripped through a busy clothing market Sunday, killing at least 23 people and wounding about 55 others.
US Warns Islamic State has Passport-Printing Capability VOA 12 Dec 2015 -- The U.S. government is issuing a fresh warning that the Islamic State group may have the ability to create increasingly genuine-looking fake Syrian passports, raising fears that extremists could sneak into the West.
White House Sends Ankara Two Warning Shots Over Daesh Oil Smuggling Sputnik 11 Dec 2015 -- Senior US government representatives on Wednesday and Thursday finally addressed the terrorist organization's smuggling of oil via Turkish territory.
Experts Mull Options for Dealing With IS VOA 11 Dec 2015 -- The terror attacks in Paris and San Bernardino have added urgency to the conundrum now facing the U.S. and its allies: What to do about the Islamic State group?
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 11 Dec 2015 [PDF]
US-Led Airstrikes Kill 3 Islamic State Leaders VOA 10 Dec 2015 -- The Pentagon says recent U.S.-led coalition airstrikes in Syria and Iraq have killed three senior Islamic State leaders, including the extremist group's financial chief.
Why Mounting Losses Fail to Deter IS Foreign Fighters VOA 10 Dec 2015 -- For most militaries, let alone a terrorist group with aspirations of statehood, the mathematics would seem daunting if not impossible: a force of up to about 30,000 losing more than two-thirds of its fighters in just over a year.
Iran minister says swine flu pandemic is under control Press TV 10 Dec 2015 -- Iran's health minister says the country has managed to check the outbreak of swine flu, with the first phase of the pandemic declared over now.
5 Charged in Australia With Planning Terrorist Attacks VOA 10 Dec 2015 -- Australian authorities charged a teenager and four men Thursday with planning terrorist attacks against government buildings, including the headquarters of the Australian Federal Police in Sydney, and against random civilians.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 10 Dec 2015 [PDF]
Terrorist Designation of Emrah Erdogan US Dept. of State 09 Dec 2015 -- The Department of State has designated Emrah Erdogan a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) under section 1(b) of Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, which imposes sanctions on foreign persons that have committed, or pose a serious risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States.
US Attorney General: EU Privacy Laws Hinder Anti-Terror Efforts VOA 09 Dec 2015 -- Following the Paris terror attacks and last week's shootings in San Bernardino, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch is criticizing European governments for limiting how intelligence agencies share counterterrorism information around the world.
FBI Chief: California Shooters Radicalized Long Before Attack VOA 09 Dec 2015 -- The head of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation says the two shooters in last week's California massacre were radicalized before they met online and started discussing jihad and martyrdom about two years ago.
IS Opens New Supply Route Between Syria and Iraq VOA 09 Dec 2015 -- Islamic State (IS) militants have been using a new route between Syria and Iraq to ferry supplies since Iraqi Kurdish forces cut off one of IS' crucial links in northern Iraq last month.
Russia long knew about Turkey's complicity with Daesh: Lavrov Press TV 09 Dec 2015 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says Moscow has long known about Turkey's complicity with the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group, but did not raise the issue publicly.
Lavrov: Turkey Has Long Supported Daesh Oil Trade, Terrorists' Efforts Sputnik 09 Dec 2015 -- While Russia only recently revealed evidence of Turkey's involvement in terrorist oil smuggling, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow has long known about the issue, but until recently did not want to believe that Ankara was as deeply involved as it seems to be.
Iran warns of growing Daesh presence in Afghanistan Press TV 09 Dec 2015 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has expressed concern over the presence of Daesh Takfiri terrorist group in war-torn Afghanistan.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 09 Dec 2015 [PDF]
Security Council urges increased security steps, funds to uproot terrorism from Africa's Sahel region UN News 08 Dec 2015 -- Voicing grave concern at terrorist safe havens in Libya and the humanitarian crisis caused by Boko Haram terrorists in Nigeria, the United Nations Security Council today appealed for greater international security cooperation and more humanitarian aid to bring stability to sub-Saharan Africa.
US House Votes to Tighten Controls on Visa-Free Travel VOA 08 Dec 2015 -- The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday overwhelmingly voted to bar people who have visited Iraq and Syria in the past five years from a program that allows visa-free entry to the U.S.
Trump Proposes Total Ban On Muslims Entering United States RFE/RL 08 Dec 2015 -- Donald Trump, the front-runner to become the Republican Party's 2016 candidate for U.S. president, has proposed a 'total and complete shutdown' of all Muslims entering the United States -- drawing scorn and criticism from across the political spectrum and across the world.
FBI: California Shooters Radicalized for 'Some Time' VOA 08 Dec 2015 -- The husband and wife who killed 14 people and wounded 21 others in California practiced shooting before the attack and had been radicalized 'for some time,' according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
American Al-Shabab, Nabbed in Somalia, Denies IS Links VOA 08 Dec 2015 -- A former U.S. resident arrested in Somalia has confirmed he belonged to militant group al-Shabab but is denying alleged links to Islamic State.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 08 Dec 2015 [PDF]
Islamic State Monthly Revenue Totals $80 million, IHS Says IHS 07 Dec 2015 -- Most of the Islamic State’s funding comes from taxation on economic activity and basic services in areas under its control, according to new analysis released today by IHS Inc. (NYSE: IHS), the leading global source of critical information and insight.
Iran Has 'Irrefutable Evidence' of Turkey-Daesh Cooperation Sputnik 07 Dec 2015 -- Iran's Expediency Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaie said earlier that Tehran was ready to provide Ankara with necessary information regarding Daesh oil trade with Turkey.
Obama: Terrorism Threat is Real But We Will Overcome It AFPS 07 Dec 2015 -- The terrorist threat has evolved into a phase that includes mass shootings, but the nation and its international partners will prevail, President Barack Obama said in a live address last night from the Oval Office.
Daesh oil revenue disruption landing it in financial straits Press TV 07 Dec 2015 -- The Daesh Takfiri terrorists are running into financial problems as airstrikes disrupt one of its main income sources -- illegal oil sales, says a conflict monitoring group.
Swine flu outbreak claims 33 lives in Iran Press TV 07 Dec 2015 -- At least 33 people have lost their lives following an outbreak of swine flu mainly in two southeastern Iranian provinces in the past three weeks, Iran's deputy health minister says.
White House Urges Muslims to Counter Extremist Message VOA 07 Dec 2015 -- A day after U.S. President Barack Obama said the fight against the Islamic State militant group should not be defined as one between America and Islam, the White House is reinforcing that message, while urging Muslim-Americans in the United States to do their part.
FBI: California Shooters Radicalized for 'Some Time' VOA 07 Dec 2015 -- The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation says authorities believe both suspects in last week's mass shooting in San Bernardino, California were radicalized 'for some time,' and that there is evidence they pre-planned the deadly attack.
Obama Outlines Terror Strategy After California Shooting VOA 07 Dec 2015 -- President Barack Obama has told the American public last week's shooting attack in California was an 'act of terrorism designed to kill innocent people.'
US Visa Waiver, Fiancé Programs Under Scrutiny VOA 07 Dec 2015 -- Two mass killings, one in Paris and the other in California, have focused U.S. leaders' attention on two methods by which people are allowed into the country, as they look for ways to prevent a future attack.
US Homeland Security to Unveil New Terror Alert System VOA 07 Dec 2015 -- Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson announced Monday 'a new phase in the local terrorism threat" in the U.S, following an attack last week in San Bernardino, California that left 14 people dead.
Japanese Pacifists Oppose Involvement in IS Conflict VOA 07 Dec 2015 -- In Japan, opponents of recently enacted security measures that authorize the military to fight abroad are growing increasingly concerned about getting drawn into a military conflict with Islamic State militants.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 07 Dec 2015 [PDF]
Address to the Nation by the President The White House 06 Dec 2015
Obama Vows U.S. 'Will Not Be Terrorized' After California Shooting RFE/RL 05 Dec 2015 -- U.S. President Barack Obama has vowed federal investigators will uncover what motivated a married couple in California to shoot and kill 14 people.
U.S. Investigating California Shooting As Terror Act RFE/RL 04 Dec 2015 -- U.S. law enforcement officials said they are investigating the December 2 shooting at a California social services agency that killed 14 people and wounded 21 others as an act of terrorism.
Background Briefing on ISIL and Oil US Dept. of State 04 Dec 2015
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 04 Dec 2015 [PDF]
France drafts extension to state of emergency Press TV 03 Dec 2015 -- Less than a month after the Paris attacks, France has drawn up a draft law to extend state of emergency for up to six months from the current three-month limit.
US, China reach agreement on cyber espionage Press TV 03 Dec 2015 -- The United States and China have reached an agreement to expand cooperation on stopping cyber espionage between the two geopolitical rivals.
Kinship, Family Ties Play Role in Jihadist Recruiting VOA 03 Dec 2015 -- Politicians often point to large-scale political events and social factors, from Western intervention in the Mideast to high youth unemployment, to try to explain why young Western Muslims join the Islamic State militant group and al-Qaida, but kinship, family ties and friendship play a key role in jihadist recruiting say radicalization experts.
Islamic State's US Recruits So Diverse They 'Defy Analysis' VOA 03 Dec 2015 -- Their average age is 26. Eighty-six percent are male. Most use Twitter and other social media to find and spread propaganda. But other than that, there are frustratingly few traits in common among individuals in the United States who support the Islamic State group, according to a new study.
China Confirms OPM Hack, Says Criminal in Origin VOA 03 Dec 2015 -- China has admitted for the first time that a massive hacking attack on U.S. government databases was carried out by Chinese hackers, but denies it was a state-backed operation. Chinese state media say the incident was among several others discussed during high-level cyber security talks in Washington this week.
Hong Kong Sees Rising Number of Cyberattacks VOA 03 Dec 2015 -- A year after pro-democracy protests filled the streets of Hong Kong, the city has become a target of multiple, and sophisticated, cyber attacks. Hong Kong cyber security watchdog Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team said there has been a 38 percent rise in hacking attacks since last year.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 03 Dec 2015 [PDF]
US Banks on Special Ops, Intelligence to Accelerate Anti-IS Efforts VOA 02 Dec 2015 -- Some crucial details have yet to be worked out as the U.S. prepares to send a new force of special operators to Iraq, but a clearer picture began to emerge Wednesday of a recalibrated strategy designed to slowly but surely destroy the Islamic State terror group in its heartland.
IS Group Targets Media Outlets in Pakistan VOA 02 Dec 2015 -- Several Pakistani media outlets were attacked recently by assailants who left pamphlets on the scene containing threats from the Islamic State group.
Islamic State Group Beheads Alleged Russian Spy in Video VOA 02 Dec 2015 -- The Islamic State group released a video Wednesday showing a Russian-speaking man who says he spied for Russia, and then is beheaded by another Russian-speaking man.
ECOWAS Implements Measures to Combat Terrorism VOA 02 Dec 2015 -- A senior official at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) says other regional organizations can learn from the policies the West African grouping has been implementing to combat violent extremism in Africa.
Russia says has evidence of Turkey-Daesh oil trade Press TV 02 Dec 2015 -- Russia says it is in possession of evidence that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his family are involved in the illegal smuggling of oil from territories held by Daesh Takfiri terrorists in Syria and Iraq.
Erdogan Rejects Russian Charges Of Buying Oil From Islamic State RFE/RL 02 Dec 2015 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused Russia of slander for its allegations that Turkey and Erdogan's family are buying oil from Islamic State (IS) militants.
Russia Reveals How Turkey and Daesh Make 'Bloody' Oil Business Sputnik 02 Dec 2015 -- The Russian Defense Ministry during the briefing in Moscow on Wednesday has provided satellite images that show Daesh illegal oil smuggling through the Turkish-Syrian border. The ministry has also presented data on the infrastructure of the illegal oil trade.
Turkey Should Seal Border With Syria to Stop ISIL Oil Smuggling - Kerry Sputnik 02 Dec 2015 -- Ankara needs to seal the border with Syria, John Kerry said.
Russia to Provide Evidence of Turkish Involvement in Daesh Oil Trade Sputnik 02 Dec 2015 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his family members are directly involved in illegal oil deliveries from Daesh oil fields in Syria, according to Russia's Defense Ministry.
Main Illegal Oil Transportation Routes Located on Turkey-Syria Border Sputnik 02 Dec 2015 -- Russian Defense Ministry has presented photos of oil delivery convoys at Syria-Turkey border, the head of the Russian General Staff's operative command said.
Russia Presents 'Evidence' of Turkey Trading IS Oil VOA 02 Dec 2015 -- Russian Defense Ministry officials on Wednesday presented what they said was proof of Turkish involvement in illegal oil trade with the Islamic State group (IS), accusing top Turkish officials, including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and members of his family, of complicity.
Obama rejects Pentagon plan to close Guantanamo Press TV 02 Dec 2015 -- The White House has reportedly rejected the Pentagon's proposed plan to close the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and build a replacement in the United States.
Up to 3,000 Daesh militants operating in Libya: UN Press TV 02 Dec 2015 -- Experts from the United Nations (UN) say there are between 2,000 and 3,000 members of Daesh Takfiri terrorist group in Libya.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 02 Dec 2015 [PDF]
Carter: DoD Intensifies ISIL Fight, Urges More International Support AFPS 01 Dec 2015 -- The Defense Department is quickly adapting to fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and is urging the international community to step up the pace of its contributions to the fight, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said today.
Recent Successes Against ISIL Encouraging, Dunford Says AFPS 01 Dec 2015 -- Recent successes on the battlefield in Iraq and Syria are encouraging, and the coalition and local partners need to build on these successes, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told Congress today.
Dunford: ISIL Wants U.S. to Be Impetuous in Iraq, Syria AFPS 01 Dec 2015 -- The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant wants the United States to be "impetuous right now, as opposed to being aggressive," the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told the House Armed Services Committee today.
US Prepares to Strike at Heart of Islamic State VOA 01 Dec 2015 -- Teams of U.S. special operators could be in place within weeks, aiming to strike at the brain trust and nervous system of the Islamic State terror group, in an intensified effort to destroy what many see as a growing global threat.
U.S. To Deploy New Force In Iraq, Expanding Fight Against IS RFE/RL 01 Dec 2015 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter says the United States will expand its involvement in the fight against Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq, deploying an 'expeditionary targeting force' to help local forces and conduct more raids both in Iraq and neighboring Syria.
Islamic State Oil Trade Seduces Friends, Foes Alike VOA 01 Dec 2015 -- Oil may not be the largest revenue source for Islamic State extremists, but it has been the most seductive.
Indonesia Tracks Hundreds Linked to Islamic State VOA 01 Dec 2015 -- Indonesia says it is monitoring at least 300 citizens who have returned to the country after leaving to join the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq.
Islamic State Targeting Africa: Top Africom Commander Tells VOA VOA 01 Dec 2015 -- The Syria-based Islamic State group has expanded its reach in Africa, courting Islamist extremists from Nigeria to Somalia while establishing a major nerve center close to Europe, a top leader of U.S. Africa Command told VOA.
Europe Turns Attention to Unofficial Mosques VOA 01 Dec 2015 -- In the wake of the Paris attacks and security alerts in Belgium, Italy and Germany, Europe's intelligence services and politicians are turning their attention to hundreds of unofficial or unlicensed makeshift mosques operating in apartments and homes in migrant-dominated areas.
Rights Group Wants Bush-era Officials Tied to US Interrogations Program Investigated VOA 01 Dec 2015 -- An international human rights advocacy group says former U.S. president George W. Bush and other key former government officials should be criminally investigated for their role in the interrogation of suspected terrorists captured after the 2001 terrorist attacks on the country.
US-Cuba Talks Underway; Focus on Migrants, Illegal Drugs VOA 01 Dec 2015 -- A surge in the number of Cubans entering the United States and methods to prevent the flow of illegal drugs between the two countries are among issues being discussed by U.S. and Cuban working groups this week.
DHS-IAIP Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 01 Dec 2015 [PDF]

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December 2015 Security News