Terrorism Watch

Executive Summary The recent manifesto by the Cyber Jihad Movement (CJM), an al-Qaeda affiliate, signals a strategic shift toward digitised attrition against Eurasian regional state infrastructures. The manifesto coincides with a severe degradation of security across the AfPak border and the start of the war between the United States, Israel and Iran. Al-Qaeda’s strategic aim to coordinate cyber-attacks with active regional hostilities elevates the probability of systemic instability across financial and governmental domains. The convergence of non-state hacker collectives with established terrorist organisations suggests a transition toward integrated hybrid warfare that exploits existing geopolitical instabilities. Key Takeaways The Cyber Jihad Movement has formally declared its entry into the Iran-US and Afghanistan-Pakistan conflicts to provide technical support to the Taliban and pro-Iranian proxies. Pakistan’s “Ghazab Lil-Haqq” military operation against the Taliban has catalysed...

  Big news from Telangana: Thippiri Tirupati, known as Devji, a top CPI (Maoist) leader, surrendered to police days earlier (before March 7, 2026). He was not alone; senior member Sangram and about 16 others also gave up arms. This is seen as a major hit to the Maoists's strength in the region. Devji's surrender dismantles top Maoist leadership in  Telangana Devji was a key strategist with a ₹1 crore bounty and even led the party after their previous chief was killed. His surrender, along with others, has pretty much dismantled the top Maoist leadership in Telangana. Police say only nine local members are still hiding out, and many former Maoists have already returned to regular life through rehab programs. This comes just before the government's March 31 deadline This comes amid ongoing government efforts to end Naxalism in India. With fewer insurgents left and more joining mainstream society, Telangana could finally be moving past decades of conflict, something that matte...

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Islamic militants attacked a town in northeastern  Nigeria  on Friday, abducting more than 300 people, including women and children, local officials said. The attack happened in the town of Ngoshe in Borno state, according to Bulama Sawa, an official from the Gwoza area. He told The Associated Press the attack was likely in retaliation for an operation by the military that killed three commanders of the  militant Boko Haram group . No one immediately claimed responsibility for Friday’s attack. Nigeria is battling  a complex security crisis  from different armed groups. The United States has sent troops to the West African nation to help advise its military on the fight against insecurity. Separate attacks this week also took place in the communities of Konduga, Marte, Jakana, and Mainok between Wednesday and early Friday, according to a military spokesperson.   Source:  Islamic militants abduct at least 300 people in northeast Nig...

BRONKHORSTSPRUIT, South Africa (AP) — At the command of a female instructor, a line of girls and women, some wearing pink ear protectors, shoot five rounds at a target with 9 mm pistols as they undergo firearm training at a range in the agricultural town of Bronkhorstspruit just outside South Africa’s capital, Pretoria. The group, some as young as 13 and others up to 65, are looking for ways to protect themselves in a country where  gender-based violence  is such a critical problem that it was declared a national disaster by the government in November. “Check your grip, check your line of sight,” shouts Claire van der Westhuizen, the lead female instructor at Lone Operator shooting range, as women with well-manicured nails reload for another round. The training course is specifically designed for women and offers practice in real-world scenarios like self-defense firing while lying on their stomachs and backs.   Source:  South African women take up guns and martial a...

  Europol headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands.  -    Copyright    AP Photo Copyright AP Photo Several EU countries, including France and Germany, have increased security measures as authorities fear potential attacks linked to Iranian networks or extremist actors. The escalating conflict in Iran is putting Europe on high alert, with international police agency Europol warning of “an elevated threat” of terrorism and “violent extremism” on European soil as well as increased cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns. The ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran has “immediate repercussions for serious and organised crime and terrorism in the EU,” Jan op gen Oorth, Europol’s head of communications, told Euronews in an emailed statement. “Key risks are an elevated threat of terrorism and violent extremism, increased cyber-attacks targeting EU infrastructure, a rise in conflict-themed online fraud schemes, and the spread of disinformation and influence campaigns...

A handout photo from Israeli television made available on July 13, 2008, shows a photograph of Ron Arad, an Israeli Air Force navigator who was captured after his fighter jet was shot down in Lebanon in 1986. (HO / AFP) The Saudi al-Hadath channel, without citing any sources, claims that the overnight Israeli operation in eastern Lebanon was an attempt to recover the body of missing Israeli Air Force navigator Ron Arad, who disappeared when he bailed from his plane over Lebanon in 1986. Israeli troops reportedly attempted a helicopter landing operation in the Hezbollah stronghold, leading to clashes, according to Lebanese media and the terror group. Hezbollah claimed four Israeli helicopters arrived from the direction of Syria, and the troops who landed in Nabi Chit were engaged by its operatives. The Israeli forces withdrew under heavy airstrikes, Hezbollah claimed. The IDF has not commented. Israel has reportedly conducted searches in Nabi Chit in the past for Arad’s remains, as he w...

US-Israel, Iran war LIVE Updates:  In a major development, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologised for firing on regional countries, even as Tehran continues its attacks on them. He said Iran will not carry out attacks or missile strikes against neighboring countries unless an attack against Iran originates from those countries. Earlier, on Friday, US President Donald Trump said at the White House that the United States is performing “very well” in operations against Iran. “There’s a lot we’re doing — by the way, in Iran, we’re doing very well. Somebody asked how I would score it from zero to 10. I said, I’d give it a 12 to a 15,” Trump said. The US President also called for  “unconditional surrender”  from Iran. Amid the ongoing conflict, limited flight operations have resumes in parts of the Middle East as the war in Iran escalated recently.   Source:  US-Israel, Iran war LIVE: ‘Iran will not strike neighbours unless...’ — Iranian president apologises |...

Seven Ukrainians arrested and money-laundering investigation launched in latest spat between Kyiv and Budapest An increasingly acrimonious spat between Hungary and  Ukraine  has escalated further, as Budapest impounded two Ukrainian armoured bank vehicles carrying millions of euros of hard cash as well as bars of gold. Seven Ukrainian citizens accompanying the convoy were also arrested. Hungarian officials said the detained Ukrainians had intelligence links and suggested the money could be of dubious origin, while Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, accused Budapest of “taking hostages and stealing money”. Sybiha also accused the pro-Russian Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, of  cooking up the scandal for political gain , ahead of Hungarian elections next month. Hungary’s national tax and customs administration said it had opened a money-laundering investigation over the shipment, which it said was made up of $40m and €35m in cash, as well as 9kg of gold. It ...

Pakistan's escalating conflict with the Taliban in Afghanistan is turning deadly, diverting attention from the US-Israel-Iran war. Operation Ghazab lil Haq targets militants, but civilian areas are reportedly hit, causing fear and displacement. The fighting exposes a strategic reality that has been building for years: Pakistan’s long-standing Taliban strategy has collapsed, and the fallout is now spilling across South Asia. While global attention is locked on the US-Israel-Iran war, another conflict is accelerating on Iran’s eastern flank - Pakistan’s escalating fight with the Taliban government in Afghanistan - and it’s already turning deadly and destabilizing. Pakistan last week launched “Operation Ghazab lil Haq” in response to Afghan Taliban attacks on along the 2,611-km frontier separating the two countries. Middle East Crisis: Will Pakistan Go to War for Saudi Arabia? Pakistan has described the confrontation as an “open war,” launching airstrikes and cross-border operations t...

Yemen’s Houthi leadership cautious, fearing Israeli retaliation following past air strikes and leadership losses. A man kisses a picture of Iran's former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during a memorial rally held by supporters of Yemen's Houthis, in the Houthi-held capital Sanaa on March 1, 2026 [File: AFP] Sanaa, Yemen –  The Israel-US  attacks on Iran  have plunged the wider Middle East region into turmoil. From Tehran, tensions  have spread , affecting multiple Arab cities, including Abu Dhabi, Doha, Kuwait City, Manama, and Beirut. Amid this wave of military escalation hitting several countries, Yemen has remained – perhaps surprisingly – quiet. The Houthi movement, the Iran-allied de facto authority in northwestern Yemen, has made repeated attacks on US and Israeli targets since the start of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023. But in the week since the US-Israeli attacks on Iran began on February 28, the Houthis have limited their support for Tehran to...