Skip to main content

Mosul and Raqqa: A New wave of Foreign Terrorist Fighters

Yesterday, US Defense Secretary Ash Carter stated that the coalition forces’ next target will be Raqqa, the de facto capital of ISIS. He further noted that they can able to recapture Raqqa within few weeks. Meanwhile, Mosul under severe attacks by coalition forces led by USA together with Peshmerga and Iraqi security forces. By making this statement, the Defense Secretary indicates that the heavy assault on Mosul is successful.

A few days ago, more than 100 people were killed by ISIS including women, children and former police officers in Mosul. As a warning to the residents of Mosul, ISIS has dumped bodies in the river near to a village of Safina.

Last week, it was reported that in retaliation ISIS killed more 280 men and children. Those who were executed are used as human shields.  ISIS also now targeting journalists and cameramen who are covering the offensive attacks in Mosul. ISIS also executed its own militants who are abandoning and absconding from battle fields.

According to an Iraqi online portal i.e. iraqinews.com, ISIS also attacks Kirkuk and it is reported that more than 40 people were executed.  Dibis a town under the control of Kurdish in Iraq was attacked by three ISIS suicide bombers and it was reported several security personnel and civilians were killed. Currently, the desperation measures taken by ISIS are to use IED explosives, toxic gas suicide bombers, and human shields together with killing of journalists shows that they are merciless.

Yesterday more than 30 civilians were killed by ISIS in central-western province of Ghor, Afghanistan. Last Monday, a police training academy in Quetta, Pakistan was under attack by ISIS killing more than 60 people and injured more than 100 people. Meanwhile, in Tangerang, on the suburbs of Jakarta, a suspected ISIS terrorist attacks three policemen and threw a pipe bomb which fails to detonate. The expansion of ISIS attacks in other countries is proven that ISIS is evolving.

As reported in the New York Times recently, since 2014, ISIS is already pre planned for counter the present situation that its face now in Iraq and Syria. By creating and expanding its special forces within like EMNI, ISIS is exporting terrorism beyond its territory. That’s means, the epicenter of terrorism is no longer in Iraq or Syria.

With current situation in Iraq and Syria where ISIS under austere attacks by coalition forces, the relevancy and adequacy for its causes through its ideologies are important to hold the members within. Therefore ISIS since 2015 has launched attacks globally especially in Europe. Even though, Europe is still their focal target but Africa, Oceania and Asia become more imperative now for its causes.

Within Asia, Southeast Asia is more significant because ISIS already established with existing terrorist groups which at once aligned with Al Qaeda like Jemmah Islamiyah and Abu Sayyaf.  The influx of Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTFs) from Iraq and Syria to this region is foreseeable. Last month, Mohamas Amin, a suspected terrorist who is a bomb expert was arrested by Philippines authorities in Quezon City.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Tarmizi Muhamad Sayoti was arrested in Basilan while trying to elude to Malaysia with IED by Philippines security forces. Even though the authorities able to capture these suspected Malaysian terrorists but it is indicates that ISIS through its affiliates in South East Asia are planning to launch series of attacks throughout this region. This is inevitable.

Therefore, in my opinion, the Movida and Jakarta attacks are done by semi seasoned or immature supporters/sympathizers/terrorists of ISIS. The forthcoming attacks if ever going to happen in this region will be deadly and going to execute by veteran ISIS FTFs who are returning to their home country. Therefore it is a challenging period ahead for the security and intelligence forces within this region to counter and stop ISIS to launch any lethal attacks in this region.

The influx of these FTFs to this region can be done by air, sea and land. With the substantial money that ISIS has collected through selling of oil and by looting the local banks within its controlled territories, money is always a non-issue. For example, ISIS is looted an estimated $500 million in cash and gold from the Central Bank of Mosul. The funds are used for military and terror operations domestically and globally.

Recently a few people who works for Diwan al-Zakat (Zakat Bureau) of the ISIS in Hawija of Kirkuk, vanished with 600 million dinars. With this kind of money ISIS can engage or hire the organized crime especially human smugglers to smuggle the FTFs in this region. The Paris and Brussels attackers are posed as refugees and with help of people smugglers able to go their target places and successfully launched their attacks. This pattern can be repeated easily in South East Asia because of its porous borders. In addition, the existing people smugglers who have used this region to traffic in and out people without any big obstacles gives an easy route for the FTFs to slip in and launch the attacks in any part of this region.

For ISIS, Malaysia is one of its prime target. Even though Islam is the official religion of Malaysia and the government have adapted more Islamic values within its administration but in the view of ISIS, Malaysia is not within the definition of its version of Islamic State.  Further, the current political landscape in Malaysia with the rise of extremism is a conducive climate for the FTFs to justify their terrorist attacks. More than two weeks ago, 16 suspected terrorists including a school counsellor were arrested by PDRM nationwide. Even though security forces in Malaysia successfully dismantled terrorist cells, sympathizers and supports of ISIS but the threat is still exist. With the influx of harden/seasoned/veteran FTFs from battle fronts in Syria and Iraq, the upcoming attacks in this region including Malaysia will be noxious.

Therefore the intelligence and security forces in this region need to exchange their intelligence on the returning of FTFs to deter further terrorist attacks. The Paris and Brussels terrorist attacks are the proof of failure of these agencies to avert the attacks.

 As stated in the 9/11 Commission Report, the failures of cooperation between security agencies within USA is one the main reason why they are unable detect and prevent the attacks in USA soil. It is important that the relevant intelligence agencies and security forces within this region to have a full cooperation to daunt the ISIS attacks to be happened again.

In addition, Malaysia has a porous border and therefore it is very difficult to be monitored by the relevant border agencies. The increase human smugglers and traffickers using Malaysia as a transit point is another tormenting factor that the likelihood of terrorist attacks are imminent.  According to the Trafficking in Persons report in 2015 which is published by US Department of State, Malaysia is at the Tier 2. The nations within this tier are do not fully meet the minimum standard in eliminating human trafficking. To minimize and eliminate the threats impose by people smugglers and traffickers, the relevant border agencies in Malaysia can engage other agencies like RELA, the veterans for PDRM and MAF (Malaysian Armed Forces) to monitor and tighten up the Malaysian borders.

Apart from that the use of the foreign intelligence satellites to monitor the borders within region and using latest equipment with the cooperation of Navies will help the agencies to tackle the threats inflict by the FTFs effectively. By using the disgruntled former terrorists who are disillusioned with the ideology of ISIS and make the members of public who have the high patriotism to serve the nation as the informers to provide crucial information to the relevant agencies to detain the supporters/ sympathizers/terrorists of ISIS.

In addition, the formation of National Special Operations Force (NSOF) comprises with the MAF, the PDRM and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MEA) as a single special operation force to counter terrorist attacks in Malaysia is a way forward. This unit needs to equip with the advance weaponry and technology to be more superior than ISIS and other terrorist group. Meanwhile they need to be well versed with social media to counter ISIS's propaganda.

Further, the members of this unit need to be chosen from various aspects of society with specific requirements, so that they can able to counter any kind  threats from ISIS. Ultimately the members should not come from one particular race or religion to avoid any bias or tendency/support for ISIS. The unit must always maintain neutrality and the primary purpose of this unit to protect the nation at all cost. Another most important factor for the said unit is to conceal the members identity. This is for their own and families safety. Apart from that this unit's members remunerations package need to be different from others by considering the high risk taken by them.


In a nutshell, the attacks on Mosul and Raqqa (forthcoming) by coalition forces has profound domino effect in this region especially on Malaysia. Many FTFs from Malaysia will eventually return and most likely involve either with the funding, planning or executing terrorist attacks and I believe the intelligence and security agencies mainly E8 and NSOF are well prepared to face the offensive of ISIS.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

India-Malaysia ties and the future

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is on his first official visit to India. The main aim of this visit is to seek support for Malaysia’s application to join Brics and to fortify bilateral ties, as the country is keen to improve its connections with one of the rapidly expanding economies in Asia. In light of the increasing crumbling of the global order, particularly stemming from trade disputes between the United States and China, as well as the proxy conflict involving the United States and Russia, Malaysia is encouraged to reassess its foreign policy to uphold its neutral stance. Given India’s status as the largest democracy and the fifth-largest economy globally, along with its notable advancements in indigenous space and defence technologies, it is proposed that India emerge as Malaysia’s key partner in the years ahead. Why India is important for Malaysia The historical ties between India and Malaysia extend back several centuries, with significant Indian cultural, religious, and administ...

THE HISTORY OF TERRORISM: MORE THAN 200 YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT

The history of terrorism dates back at least 1500 years when Jewish resistance groups (66 - 72 A.D.) known as Zealots killed Roman soldiers and destroyed Roman property. The term assassin comes from a Shi'ite Muslim sect (Nizari Isma'ilis - also known as hashashins "hashish-eaters") fighting Sunni Muslims (1090 - 1275) and during Medieval Christendom resisting occupation during the Crusades (1095-1291). The hashashins were known to spread terror in the form of murder, including women and children. The brotherhood of Assassins committed terror so as to gain paradise and seventy-two virgins if killed and to receive unlimited hashish while on earth. The modern development of terrorism began during the French Revolution's Reign of Terror (1793 - 1794). During this period the term terrorism was first coined. Through the past two hundred years, terrorism has been used to achieve political ends and has developed as a tool for liberation, oppression, and i...

The by-election in Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) and the Indian electorate

  I was born in Malaysia, belonging to the Indian ethnic group, which constitutes approximately 7% of the country's total population. My durable credence is that I am Malaysian first and foremost, and only then do I identify myself as Indian. Regrettably, it saddens me to witness and hear about the actions of certain politicians who question my loyalty to Malaysia. What is even more disheartening is that some Malaysians have been influenced by the manipulative rhetoric of these self-serving politicians. Recently, I have observed numerous discussions on both mainstream and online news platforms regarding the recognition and inclusion of Indians by ruling parties. Surprisingly, even the opposition has displayed a significant interest in the welfare of Indians. Upon contemplating the reasons behind this sudden surge in attention towards Indians, it becomes evident that it is primarily driven by the upcoming Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) by-election. It is noteworthy that such ...