Fortnightly Review & Analysis: Defence, National Security and Terrorism (Vol 2 Issue XIII)

July 01 - 15, 2017

Defence

MALABAR-2017 Underway

The 21st edition of the exercise, MALABAR-17 is being conducted in the Bay of Bengal from 10 to 17 July 2017. The Harbour Phase was undertaken at Chennai from 10 to 13 July 2017 while the Sea Phase from 14 to 17 July 2017 is underway involving a wide spectrum of range of operational activities. The thrust of exercises at sea this year, as stated by the Indian Navy and the US Navy, would be on Aircraft Carrier operations, Air Defence, Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Surface Warfare, Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS), Search and Rescue, Joint Manoeuvres and Tactical procedures. The Indian Navy is being represented by the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya with its air wing, guided missile destroyer Ranvir, indigenous stealth frigates Shivalik and Sahyadri, indigenous ASW corvette Kamorta, missile corvettes Kora and Kirpan, one Sindhughosh class submarine, fleet tanker INS Jyoti and Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft P8I. Participants from the U.S. Navy include the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz with embarked Carrier Air Wing 11; the guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton, guided-missile destroyers USS Howard, USS Shoup, and USS Kidd, a P-8A Poseidon aircraft and a Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine. The JMSDF will be represented by JS Izumo, a helicopter carrier with SH 60K helicopters and JS Sazanami, a missile destroyer with SH 60K integral helicopter. All in all, the exercise will have participation of 16 ships, two submarines and more than 95 aircraft.

The MALABAR series of exercise have not increased the degree of interoperability between the navies of the two primary participants, i.e. India and the US, but has also contributed hugely towards the partnership between the two countries. In fact, the fructification of the U.S.-India Joint Strategic Vision for the Asia-Pacific, signed by President Obama and Prime Minister Modi in January 2015, can be attributed to the closeness brought about between the two nations by the MALABAR exercises. The recent inclusion of Japan, in MALABAR-2016, has further given heft to this Strategic Vision, since Japan is a major player in the Western Pacific. Japan and India share a common vision for the Indo-pacific on account of shared maritime interests which has resulted in an increased interaction between the two navies and the Coast Guards during the recent past. The three countries also share a commonality of ideals, being confident democracies, as also a synergy in terms of national strengths. Including Japan in the fold of MALABAR is therefore a logical step towards synergizing efforts between likeminded nations while addressing common maritime challenges in the Indo-Pacific. The MALABAR series of exercises is also a platform for signaling a joint resolve to deter adversarial interests which have a destabilizing influence in the region. Utilising this platform for further strengthening ties between the three nations while also exploring opportunities to include other likeminded nations in these exercises can be the next step towards strengthening maritime security in the Indo-Pacific.

International Terrorism

India, Israel to Combat Radicalization and Terror

India and Israel, on July 05, 2017, decided to scale up their relationship to that of Strategic Partnership and jointly fight against the menace of terrorism. During Prime Minister Modi’s standalone visit to Israel both countries agreed to do much more in the area of combating rising radicalization and terrorism which included cyberspace. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that two leaders recognised that their countries faced forces of terror which seek to undermine peace and stability. A joint statement issued after the bilateral summit meeting said, “strong measures should be taken against terrorists and terror organisations and all those who encourage, support and finance or provide sanctuary to terrorists and terror groups”. They stressed that there can be no justification for acts of terror on any grounds whatsoever. The leaders asserted that strong measures should be taken against terrorists, terror organizations, their networks and all those who encourage, support and finance terrorism, or provide sanctuary to terrorists and terror groups. They also underscored the need to ensure that terrorist organizations do not get access to any Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) or such technologies. Both leaders also committed to cooperate for the early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT). Further, they reaffirmed their commitments as envisaged in the agreement on cooperation on Homeland and Public Security and encouraged the various Working Groups to implement the agreement in an efficient and effective manner

Iraqi Security Forces Claim Victory in Mosul

Prime Minister of Iraq Haider al-Abadi, on July 10, 2017, declared the victory of Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) against Daesh forces after a nine-month long operation. The announcement was made when US backed ISF recaptured the old city of Mosul and the territory till the bank of River Tigris. For retaking city of Mosul, counter Daesh operation was launched by the ISF in October 2016 which saw the participation of nearly 70,000 troops of ISF. According to the UN office for co-ordination of Human Affairs, the anti-Daesh campaign led to the displacement nearly 9, 20,000 civilians and vast areas of ruins of Iraqi heritage. Following the announcement, Iraqi aircraft dropped three million leaflets over the city of Mosul. with message “Mosul has been returned to the bosom of Iraq”.

Recapture of Mosul is considered as the biggest success in anti-Daesh operations since this is from where Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, had proclaimed the establishment of the caliphate from the pulpit of the medieval Great Mosque of al-Nuri in Mosul. Soon after the fall of Mosul, Daesh issued a brief statement in Tal Afar announcing that all “Daesh departments are working through alternative headquarters at Tal Afar” located west of the city of Mosul. The statement further said that the Tal Afar town has become an independent state from the caliphate and threatened strict punishment against whoever violates the order. The anti-Daesh military campaign likely to conclude by the year end; but, the operation has left behind a major responsibility of Iraqi authorities i.e. reconstruction and stabilization of Mosul which calls for resourced effort to stabilize rebuild the liberated city.

After Mosul, ISF has already begun operational planning to retake Tal Afar and will launch its campaign in coming weeks. In this regard, the US will shift its forces to assist the Iraqis in Nineveh and Anbar provinces.

Anti-Daesh Operation in Raqqa

In a continuous combat against Daesh, the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have established control over the new military locations of Daesh in the old city of Raqqa. The SDF could achieve this after fierce clashes with Daesh militants, using rocket and artillery shelling. On the operational front at Raqqa, Syrian observers point to lack of capabilities and training of the U.S-backed Syrian fighters belonging to SDF as compared to the Iraqi troops in Mosul. It is further rattled by Turkey's mobilisation of forces on the other side of the country and continuous threat of launching an offensive in western Syria. Kurdish officials warned that Turkey's moves threaten to derail the Raqqa campaign by forcing the Kurdish militia to redeploy to defend its enclave. Thus, the US is heavily assisting the SDF and its operational involvement further affirmed that the US-led SDF may assertively advance its operation by increasing airstrikes and overhead surveillance support to facilitate recapture of Raqqa from the Daesh.

The troops, many of them from US special operations forces, are working in to “advise, assist and accompany” Kurdish fighters of the SDF. The Syrian forces have encircled Raqqa, breaching their fortified defenses and moving closer to the heart of the city. However, the operation is expected to be challenging because it is estimated that more than 2000 Daesh militants with their families are holed up and tens of thousands of civilians are trapped in the center of the city of Raqqa. It is estimated that nearly 500+ US Special Forces are on the ground in Syria to train and assist the SDF. Till date, the US has heavily assisted SDF by providing continuous air support to anti-Daesh operation which resulted in 35 percent of the territory being re-captured by the SDF despite strong resistance from Daesh belligerents. Compared to Mosul, Raqqa's urban warfare may prove more grueling due to the complex civil war scenario of Syria.

Africa

19 Killed in Boko Haram Attacks in Northern Nigerian City

Four Boko Haram suicide bombers killed 19 people in an attack at Maiduguri on the night of July 11, 2017. Four female suicide bombers attacked Moloi, Judumeri and Polo-Sabongari areas of Maiduguri. The Suicide bombers targeted a Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) check point and detonated themselves killing 12 members of CJTF and seven civilians. A statement issued by Borno State Police confirmed that 860 CJTF members have lost their lives to the insurgency in Borno since 2014. The recent trend of attacks by Boko Haram suggests a rise in the use of girls and young women for suicide attacks on market places, checkpoints, and other targets. The young girls are drugged and forced to carry out suicide missions. Despite claims by the Nigerian Government that Boko Haram had been crushed, such deadly attacks continue. This Islamic extremist group has killed more than 20,000 people and abducted thousands others.

Nine Killed and 12 Abducted in Boko Haram attack

On July 2, 2017, Islamic Militant group Boko Haram conducted an attack on an Ngalewa village located about 70 kilometers east of the city of Diffa in Southeast Niger. In the attack, militants killed at least nine people and took at least 40 others hostage, mostly women and children, demanding release of extremists held in prisons. Diffa region has long been a target for the militant group. Since February 2015, Niger has maintained a state of emergency in Diffa, allowing the governor to enforce a curfew and local troops to search suspicious homes without a warrant. Even with these regulations in place, Boko Haram conducted more than 50 attacks in Diffa in 2016. In 2015, Nigeria and its neighbors, Cameroon, Niger, Chad, and Benin pledged to form a multi-national task force to combat Boko Haram. While the president of Nigeria has insisted that the militant group is near defeat, experts remain skeptical of these claims. Niger contributes to the multinational force set up to fight Boko Haram in the region. Since launching a military campaign to overtake northeast Nigeria in 2009, Boko Haram has killed more than 20,000 people. In recent months, the group has ramped up its suicide bombings in Nigeria and elsewhere. On June 7, suspected Boko Haram fighters had carried out the group’s deadliest attack this year, killing 17 and injuring 34 in a targeted assault on Nigerian mosques.

Somalia Arrests 7 Teachers for Contact with Al-Shabab Militants

Somalian authorities arrested (July12, 2017) seven head teachers for meeting Al-Shabab militants, for discussing changes in the school curriculum as recommended by the Islamic militant group Al-Shabab. Each school head teacher is responsible for around 1000 students ranging from age group seven to 15. Information minister for the Central Hir-Shabelle region of Somalia, Mahad Hassan Osman confirmed interception and arrest of the teachers. As is known, Al-Shabab is waging war against the federal government of Somalia since last 10 years. It is affiliated to Al-Qaeda and has stronghold in the rural areas of Somalia. In April 2017, the militant group launched its own curriculum reflecting its Islamist agenda and imposing it in the rural schools for implementation.

Domestic Terrorism

Jammu and Kashmir

Security Forces Killed Lashkar-e-Taiba Commander in Anantnag

In an intelligence-based operation, security forces (SF) killed Bashir Ahmad Wani alias Bashir Lashkari along with another Lashkae-e-Taiba (LeT) militant Azad Malik alias Dada, in a fierce encounter at Mailgram village of Anantnag district on July 01, 2017. Bashir Laskhari was responsible for the killing of the six policemen, including Station House Officer (SHO) Feroz Dar in June 2017 at Achabal. As the news of the operation spread in the area, large number of people took to streets and tried to move towards the encounter site, pelting stones at the SFs. SFs fired tear smoke shells to disperse the protesters. Soon after the news about the killing of two militants including Bashir spread and clashes broke out at Kokernag, Pulwama, and areas adjoining Dialgam. Around a dozen, civilians were injured in the clashes amid shutdown in the area.

LeT Module Busted by J&K Police: UP Man Arrested

Jammu Kashmir Police on July 10, 2017, busted a module of LeT outfit in Kashmir and arrested a UP based member of the terror group, identified as Sandeep Kumar of Muzaffarnagar. Sandeep came to adverse notice during the Anantnag encounter in which Bashir Lashkari was gunned down. Sandeep Kumar was staying with Lashkari in the same house at Batpora. In a press statement, the Jammu and Kashmir Police confirmed Sandeep Kumar’s involvement in looting of ATMs in Jammu and Kashmir for which he was specially brought in January 2017, immediately after the end of demonetization phase.

Hizb-ul-Mujahideen to Acquire Chemical Weapons- Intercepts by Agencies

The security agencies have revealed that the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) is arming itself with chemical weapons to carry out terror strikes in Jammu and Kashmir. Intercepts revealed that Pakistani ISI was assisting HM in this regard. Reports reveal that nearly 100 HM militants have already been killed in encounters with security forces during the past few months, and the idea of hitting back with chemical weapons may be a desperate move to get back at the Indian security establishment.

Red Alert by NIA on Returning ISIS Members

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has issued a security alert at all airports in India on July 12 warning of possible return of Indian youth, including from Kerala, in the wake of ISIS continuing to lose ground in Syria and Iraq. This development unfolded after investigation by NIA in IS recruiter case where a man from Kannur was arrested by the agency on July 11. It is feared that due to the fall of Mosul and losing grip of IS in Syria, the fighters may return to India using forged documents. The NIA affirmed that nearly 183 youth from Kerala had gone to fight for ISIS. Out of 183 youth 95 are in Nangarhar in Afghanistan and the rest are suspected to be in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon. The list was prepared by the NIA after integrating the reports about the people who went missing after reaching Gulf countries. Based on this credible input from the NIA the Intelligence Bureau (IB) has issued a ‘Red Corner Notice’ to all immigration entry/check points. The Ministry of External Affairs has also issued guidelines to embassies in Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iran and UAE to process documents after thorough investigation and verification. NIA has also affirmed that 5 youth belonging to the Malabar region of Kerala have been killed in Syria since March 2017.

Left Wing Extremism

CPI-M Armed Cadre Arrested in Jharkhand

In the joint operation, Jharkhand Police and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) have arrested a wanted armed CPI-M cadre from the Hazaribagh on July 1, 2017. He was identified as Ravinder Kumar and security forces recovered one country made apistol, ammunition, two sets of combat dress, ₹ 95,000/- cash and five mobile phones from the possession.

CPI-M Cadres Surrender in Maharashtra

In a major breakthrough in Maharashtra Police in Gadchiroli district, five CPI-M cadres surrendered before Superintendent of Police SP on July 8, 2017. These cadres were most wanted by police in several crimes and were carrying a bounty of 6 million rupees. Police confirmed that they were members of No 14 Platoon.

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