All articles tagged with #counterterrorism
Secretary of State Marco Rubio invited senior ministers from more than 60 countries to Washington to discuss what the Trump administration calls the resurgence of transnational far-left terrorism, but several U.S. and European officials are unsettled by the focus on left-wing extremism and some allies have declined to attend, raising concerns about politicizing counterterrorism.
Acting DNI Bill Pulte began a sweeping staff purge at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, including an order to identify about 400 National Counterterrorism Center employees for firing or leave, in the weeks after he took over from Tulsi Gabbard. Democrats on the intelligence committees warned against such large reductions and potential politicization of intelligence. The move follows earlier downsizing under the 2025 administration and comes as lawmakers scrutinize Pulte’s lack of national security background and as debate over his permanent nomination continues.
UK counterterrorism officials are investigating after a 36-year-old man allegedly carried out an anti-Muslim attack in Edinburgh near a mosque, injuring five men aged 22 to 39. The suspect was arrested around 9:30 p.m. and remains in custody; authorities say the victims’ injuries are not life-threatening. The incident is being treated as a hate crime and investigated with Counter Terrorism Policing and the Crown Office, with officials reviewing CCTV footage and social-media videos.
The FBI stopped a planned attack on the UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House, arresting Tycen Proper, 19, and several others who allegedly planned to use explosive drones and a sniper team; the plot, hatched in a TikTok group and moved to a private Signal chat, was uncovered after Proper’s mother alerted authorities to concerning firearms purchases, and agents found weapons at his parents’ home. He faces multiple charges including conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, attempted murder of a federal employee, and firearm offenses; online commenters ridiculed his mugshot.
A Washington Post opinion argues that Iran is expanding its terror influence in Europe, highlighting a DOJ case against a Kata’ib Hezbollah commander and linking Tehran’s tactics to Russia’s hybrid warfare; the authors warn Europe remains vulnerable to Iranian proxy plots abroad and call for stronger counterterrorism measures.
U.S. Africa Command, in coordination with the Government of Nigeria, conducted additional kinetic strikes against ISIS militants in Northeastern Nigeria on May 17, 2026. Intelligence confirmed targets, no U.S. or Nigerian forces were harmed, and assessments are ongoing to evaluate the impact on ISIS capabilities.
A U.S.-Nigerian operation killed Abu Bakr al-Mainuki, a senior ISIS West Africa Province leader aligned with IS leadership, during a night strike in the Lake Chad Basin. President Trump announced the kill, Nigerian officials described it as a highly complex precision mission with no casualties, and analysts say the move could disrupt ISWAP’s leadership while highlighting the new security partnership between the two countries amid Nigeria’s ongoing insurgency.
The United States and Nigeria said they killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described by Trump as the second-in-command of ISIS globally, during a midnight strike on his fortified base in the Lake Chad Basin (Metele, Borno state), taking out Minuki and several lieutenants. Minuki led IS operations across Sahel/West Africa and was linked to major attacks, with ISWAP and Boko Haram activity in the region. The operation followed months of intelligence gathering and marks a boost in US-Nigerian security cooperation, though earlier claims of his death had been retracted. Nigerian President Tinubu hailed the strike as a heavy blow to IS networks and emphasized pragmatic international partnerships to improve security across the region.
President Trump says a senior Islamic State leader was killed in a joint U.S.-Nigerian operation, marking a significant development in the fight against ISIS.
The Trump administration released a counterterrorism plan that designates left-wing networks like Antifa as one of three major types of threats, alongside cartels and Islamist groups, and pledges to map, identify membership, and neutralize these groups at home. It characterizes the ideology as anti-American, radical and anarchist, and notes the aim to use all available tools to map ties to international networks. The plan comes amid questions from officials about Antifa’s size and scope, while citing rare recent left-wing violence as justification for expanding federal counterterrorism efforts.
President Trump announces a new counterterrorism plan targeting drug cartels in the Western Hemisphere, signing executive orders aimed at empowering U.S. and regional agencies to intensify operations against transnational criminal networks.
Trump’s new counterterrorism strategy declares ‘violent left-wing extremists’ and ‘extremist transgender ideology’ among the top threats, signaling a shift from the Biden era’s focus on right-wing extremism. The plan emphasizes monitoring online activity, mapping group membership and ties, and rapidly neutralizing threats from groups like Antifa, which the administration has previously designated as a terror organization. It frames anti-American/anti-Western ideologies and related violence as a national security priority and suggests using all available tools to address these left-wing threats.
The White House released a 16-page counterterrorism strategy prioritizing Islamist groups, drug cartels, and violent domestic movements, and will press international partners to increase cooperation against threats tied to Iran and activities in the Strait of Hormuz. Officials say actions may involve law enforcement, targeted kinetic steps, and tightening financial networks, with a clear demand that allied nations prove themselves as “serious” partners rather than relying on the US to police the world.
Defense Minister Israel Katz says Section 56(b) of the Counterterrorism Law authorizes seizure of ships and property tied to Hamas or other serious terror offenses to thwart their activities as the Global Sumud Flotilla sails toward Gaza; he notes sanctions on its fundraising, argues the voyage violates UN Resolution 2803 and undermines regional stability, and mentions U.S. involvement in the sanctions and activists aboard the flotilla.
Two people were stabbed in Golders Green, London, and a 45-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. Counterterrorism detectives are examining whether the attack is linked to recent antisemitic incidents and arson attacks on Jewish sites, though motives remain under investigation and it has not been classified as terrorism. The victims are in stable condition.