12/02/2015 ASP Bourceret – Armée de Terre

Dans la région bordelaise, après une formation pour la mission Vigipirate, des sections de réservistes renforcent leurs camarades d’active dans le cadre de l’opération SENTINELLE.

Ces relèves permettent d’accroître le nombre de militaires engagés dans l’opération, d’assurer dans la durée la mission Vigipirate et de faire la restitution, pour les réservistes, de ce qu’ils ont appris lors de leur préparation. En image, retrouvez le sergent Paul avec sa section.

February 11, 2015 marinecorpstimes (AP)

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama asked Congress Wednesday to formally authorize military force against the Islamic State group, arguing the militants could pose a threat to the U.S. homeland if their violent power grab goes unchecked and urging lawmakers to "show the world we are united in our resolve to counter the threat." The president elected on a promise to end America's wars is sending Congress a proposed joint resolution to authorize military force against the swift rise of Islamic State extremists, who are imposing violent rule across Iraq and Syria and have brazenly killed U.S. and allied hostages in brutal online propaganda videos.

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11.02.2015 Le Monde.fr (AFP)

Jamais un conflit n'avait attiré autant de combattants étrangers. D'après un rapport établi pour l'administration américaine, vingt mille non-Syriens participeraient actuellement à la guerre dans le pays, un afflux  « sans précédent », notamment par rapport à ce qui s'est passé en Afghanistan et au Pakistan, en Irak, au Yémen ou en Somalie, selon Nicolas Rasmussen, directeur du Centre national antiterroriste américain (NCTC), dans un document écrit préparé pour le Congrès.

M. Rasmussen doit être entendu mercredi par la commission de la sécurité intérieure de la Chambre des représentants, mais la partie écrite de son témoignage a filtré dès mardi soir.

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L’opération Barkhane mobilise 3 000 soldats français, déployés au Mali depuis six mois pour lutter contre le terrorisme. (photo EMA)

10/02/2015 francetvinfo.fr

Une équipe de France 3 a suivi des soldats français de l’opération Barkhane. Une opération militaire qui mobilise 3 000 soldats français depuis six mois au Mali.

"C’est dangereux parce qu’il faut toujours se rappeler à l’ordre et se dire qu’on évolue dans un climat hostile, que ça peut attaquer à n’importe quel moment. Le piège, c’est que face à un ennemi invisible, le danger est de subir la routine", explique un soldat, face à la caméra de France 3.

Suite de l'article

10/02/2015 Par Lucie Ronfaut – LeFigaro.fr

Le nombre de signalements adressés à la plateforme gouvernementale Pharos a bondi le mois dernier, à la suite des attentats à Paris.

La plateforme de signalement Pharos a enregistré un pic d'activité le mois dernier, à la suite des attentats contre la rédaction de Charlie Hebdo et contre l'Hyper Cacher de Vincennes. Elle a reçu en janvier pas moins de 35.000 alertes concernant des messages faisant l'apologie du terrorisme, dont 29.000 la seule semaine qui a suivi les attentats, selon des chiffres communiqués mardi. En comparaison, les policiers et les gendarmes avaient reçu 1500 signalements pour apologie du terrorisme pour toute l'année 2014.

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10 February 2015 By Omar Ashour University of Exeter – BBC Middle East

Messages written on Jordanian air-to-surface missiles before they were fired at alleged Islamic State (IS) positions in Raqqa, Syria, summed up the mood of many in the country.

They included "This one is for the enemy of Islam, Omar Shishani", a reference to a Chechen IS commander, and "Our soldiers will be victorious", a Koranic verse.

The air strikes were a reaction by the Jordanian authorities to the immolation by IS of the Jordanian pilot, Flight Lt Moaz al-Kasasbeh, whose F-16 was allegedly shot down near Raqqa in December.

They were preceded by the executions of two operatives from al-Qaeda in Iraq, a precursor to IS. Sajida al-Rishawi and Ziyad Karboli, both Iraqis, had previously been sentenced to death in connection with attacks in the kingdom in 2005 and 2008.

What will the current escalation between IS and the Hashemite regime mean for Jordan?

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11.02.2015 BBC Afrique

Le gouvernement nigérien a proclamé mardi l'état d'urgence dans la région de Diffa (sud-est), où les populations fuient par crainte d'une nouvelle attaque des islamistes nigérians de Boko Haram.

Diffa, capitale provinciale située à quelques kilomètres du Nigeria où sévissent depuis des années les militants de Boko Haram, a été attaquée vendredi à sa périphérie, puis dans son centre-ville dimanche et encore à deux reprises lundi. Par cette décision, le gouvernement nigérien accorde des pouvoirs supplémentaires aux forces de sécurité, dont celui d'ordonner des perquisitions à domicile de jour et de nuit. D'après les experts, Boko Haram dispose de cellules dormantes au Niger pour perpétrer des attaques.

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9 February 2015 Ministry of Defence

British forces have continued to conduct air operations to assist the Iraqi government in its fight against ISIL.

Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft operating in support of the Iraqi government have conducted further successful attacks on ISIL terrorists.

On the morning of Friday 6 February, an RAF Tornado GR4 patrol worked closely with a coalition surveillance platform to provide overwatch for Kurdish peshmerga, who were engaged in close combat with ISIL – also known as Da’ish – terrorists near Mosul. When an ISIL mortar position opened fire on the pehsmerga, the GR4s were able to respond with a Brimstone missile which scored a direct hit.

Early on Saturday morning, another Tornado pair patrolled western Iraq, near Al Qa’im, close to the Syrian border. Two heavily armed ISIL trucks were identified and attacked with Brimstone missiles. The GR4s also located an ISIL armoured personnel carrier and conducted a further Brimstone attack; initial analysis indicates that all three vehicles were destroyed.

An armed reconnaissance patrol by a Reaper on Monday morning over western Iraq spotted a checkpoint manned by ISIL, denying the local population any freedom of movement. Having checked the area for any risk to civilians, the Reaper’s crew attacked the checkpoint with a Hellfire missile.

Previous air strikes

2 February: Early on Monday, Tornado GR4s provided close air support to Iraqi army operations approximately 70 kilometres north west of Baghdad, and dropped 2 Paveway IVs on ISIL positions engaged in a firefight with the Iraqi troops.

4 February: In the afternoon, a pair of RAF Tornado GR4s conducted an armed reconnaissance patrol to assist the Iraqi armed forces in their offensive operations against ISIL around Bayji. Two ISIL armoured vehicles were identified in a building and were attacked with two Paveway IV precision guided bombs, scoring direct hits.

Military support is just one part of the UK Government’s contribution to the global coalition strategy to defeat ISIL – we are also taking action to counter the terrorist network’s finances, are restricting the flow of foreign fighters and have provided vital humanitarian relief to help those affected by ISIL’s brutality. The RAF contribution includes Reaper remotely piloted aircraft, which, like the Tornados, provide reconnaissance and close air support to the Iraqi ground forces; a Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker; a Sentry airborne surveillance and command aircraft; and air transport aircraft as necessary. British military training teams continue to teach infantry and first aid skills to the Kurdish peshmerga, and liaison teams are embedded within Iraqi and coalition headquarters. Having previously provided military equipment to the Iraqi forces, Britain plans to gift Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detectors to help the Iraqi and Kurdish soldiers protect themselves against the numerous improvised explosive devices on which ISIL are increasingly relying as they are forced back by successful offensives. In the Gulf, the Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless is operating in direct support of the US Navy’s aircraft carrier, USS Carl Vinson, which provides a significant part of the coalition’s air effort.

Details of previous airstrikes can be found here.

For more information see ISIL: UK government response page on GOV.UK

1.  The Council strongly condemns the recent attacks, which have been carried out by terrorist groups and individuals in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Terrorism poses a direct threat to all countries and all people regardless of their ethnic background, religion or belief. In a globalised world, such threats can only be countered through international cooperation and determined national action. In this context, the Council reiterates the EU's strong support to relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, in particular Resolutions 2170 and 2178, and calls on all countries to take the necessary measures to ensure their swift implementation with full respect for human rights and the Rule of Law.

2.  The Council calls for comprehensive action against terrorism in line with the 2005 EU Counter-Terrorism Strategy and in full compliance with international law, fundamental values and international human rights standards. While Member States have the primary responsibility for addressing terrorism, the EU as such can add value in many ways. The actions taken in the area of justice and home affairs need to be complemented by external engagement and outreach, especially to countries in the Middle East, North Africa, the Sahel and the Gulf. Close coordination between internal and external action on the one hand, and between relevant EU actors and EU Member States on the other hand, will enhance the impact of our common efforts. We need to put more emphasis on the prevention of terrorism, in particular countering radicalisation, on recruitment, equipment and financing of terrorism, and address underlying factors such as conflict, poverty, proliferation of arms and state fragility that provide opportunities for terrorist groups to flourish.

3.  Against this background, the Council decides to step up, as a matter of urgency, its external action on countering terrorism in particular in the Mediterranean, the Middle East, including Yemen, and North Africa, in particular also Libya, and the Sahel. Counter-terrorism (CT) will be mainstreamed fully into EU foreign policy. It calls for accelerated implementation of the EU Syria and Iraq and Counter-Terrorism/Foreign Fighters Strategy (adopted on 20 October 2014) with a particular focus on foreign terrorist fighters and the EU's Maghreb Communication. The Council welcomes the Joint Communication on EU regional strategy for Syria and Iraq as well as the Da'esh threat and looks forward to its implementation as soon as possible.

4.  More specifically, the Council welcomes the following initiatives to be implemented in the course of 2015, building on those actions that are already taking place in the field of Justice and Home Affairs and in Foreign and Security Policy.
 

Strengthening partnerships with key countries
- Mainstreaming counter-terrorism in the EU's political dialogue with third countries to promote international cooperation and implementation of relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.

- Conducting targeted and upgraded security and counter-terrorism dialogues with Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Morocco, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and the Gulf Cooperation Council. Cooperation with Turkey should also be enhanced in line with the GAC conclusions of December 2014.
- Strengthening political dialogue with the League of Arab States, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the African Union and other relevant regional coordination structures, such as the G5 Sahel.
- Developing counter-terrorism action plans starting with Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon, including on measures to dissuade and disrupt foreign terrorist fighters' travel as well as to manage their return. Attention will also be given to targeted CT/CVE cooperation with the Western Balkan countries as well as with other countries affected by foreign terrorist fighters phenomenon. Given the importance of the creation of networks of policy makers and security experts on both sides of the Mediterranean, a Ministerial segment will be added to the Euromed group on foreign terrorist fighters established by the EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator and the EEAS.
- Deploying security/counter-terrorism experts in a number of key EU Delegations to strengthen their capacity to contribute to European counter-terrorism efforts and to liaise more effectively with relevant local authorities, while further building-up of counter-terrorism capacity within the EEAS.

Supporting capacity building
- Launching further capacity-building projects and activities with interested MENA countries addressing law enforcement, criminal justice, security sector reform, including crisis infrastructure, crisis and emergency response, border control and aviation security, strategic communication, radicalisation, dealing with the foreign terrorist fighters threat, recruitment and financing of terrorism, paying due regard to international human rights standards, in close cooperation with Europol, Eurojust, Frontex and CEPOL.
- The EU will respond positively to Iraq's request of CT assistance. Projects will be launched shortly to assist countries in the MENA region to implement UNSCR 2178 on foreign terrorist fighters, to prevent radicalization in Jordan and the Maghreb. Further CT capacity building assistance to countries in the region will be provided in the coming months, in particular related to the threat of foreign terrorist fighters, including fighters returning to their countries of origin and security sector reform. The Radicalization Awareness Network will work with interested countries in the region on prevention of radicalization.
- The EU will work to develop frameworks for information exchange and ways for the EU agencies to engage more strategically with the countries in the region to strengthen law enforcement and judicial cooperation.

Countering radicalisation and violent extremism
- Supporting international initiatives on countering radicalisation and terrorism such as the first International Centre of Excellence for Countering Violent Extremism ("Hedayah") in Abu Dhabi, and the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) in Geneva, while the successful EU Radicalisation Awareness Network (RAN) offers expertise to engage with local communities as well as with third countries. The High Representative, the Commission and the EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator will participate in the upcoming Summit on Countering Violent Extremism and related side events in Washington DC on 18-20 February 2015.
- Improving strategic communication, developing an outreach strategy to the Arab World, including developing counter-narratives to terrorist propaganda, promoting fundamental rights, and taking into account the increasingly frequent misuse of the internet in radicalisation, engaging through social media and enhancing communication in Arabic. In this process, we can draw on the expertise of the Syria Strategic Communications Advisory Team.
- Facilitating interfaith dialogue, civil society dialogue, people-to-people contacts, academic and cultural exchanges. Exploring the possibility of creating a Round of Eminent Persons from Europe and the Muslim world, to encourage more intellectual exchanges and promote wider thematic dialogues on the roots and ramifications of terrorism and radicalisation on our societies. In this context, inviting relevant EU Institutions to explore further cooperation opportunities with actors such as the Anna Lindh Foundation for the Dialogue of Cultures in Alexandria, the UN Alliance of Civilisations in New York and the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and intercultural dialogue in Vienna.
- Addressing the underlying factors of radicalization by supporting initiatives across the region with regard to youth, education, vocational training, job opportunities, civil society, security sector reform, role of women. The EU will work with faith-based organizations, as appropriate.
- Inviting the EU Special Representative for Human Rights to continue his efforts to defend and advocate freedom of expression, freedom of religion or belief and other universal values in particular in the MENA region.

Promoting international cooperation
- Continue supporting cooperation with the UN on counter-terrorism capacity building initiatives in the MENA region. The EU will enhance further its engagement in the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum (GCTF), including by actively shaping GCTF inspired initiatives such as Hedayah in Abu Dhabi, the Global Community Engagement Resilience Fund (GCERF) and the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law in Malta.
- Enhancing cooperation with key partners and countries on countering financing of terrorism, in particular Da'esh financing. The EU hosted a workshop to counter Da'esh financing together with US, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, Norway, Japan, and UN agencies in Brussels on 4-5 February 2015 with the aim to step up outreach and capacity building efforts in third countries. The EU will engage with countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council in a dialogue on countering financing of terrorism, in particular Da'esh financing, and will closely cooperate with partners, including in the anti-ISIL coalition.
- Reinforcing, within the existing parameters, the role of EU INTCEN as the hub for strategic intelligence assessment at EU level, including on counter-terrorism.
- Regarding the Passenger Name Record data (PNR), we fully endorse the Riga JHA Ministers Joint Statement, and are looking for sound solutions to the exchange of PNR with relevant third countries.
- Combating illicit accumulation and trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons and their ammunition in line with the 2005 EU Strategy, in particular in the Western Balkans and Libya, and promotion of the Arms Trade Treaty in our Southern Neighbourhood.

Addressing underlying factors and ongoing crises
- Given the role unresolved conflicts play in the context of radicalization and recruitment, the EU will mobilize even more to attempt finding solutions and re-think current policies and approaches. The EU will mitigate terrorist and stability threats through its comprehensive approach combining diplomatic, socio-economic, development, conflict prevention, peacebuilding and crisis management tools.
- Inviting the High Representative and the Commission to continue to ensure sufficient funds and coherent use of instruments to address the threat of terrorism and move effectively from early warning to early action. CT, including prevention of radicalization, will, where appropriate, be mainstreamed into programming of assistance, making full use of the OECD guidelines on terrorism prevention. The EU delegations in the region have been asked to work with their host governments to identify quickly opportunities for twinning and TAIEX projects in the CT context.

5.  These Conclusions will serve as an input of the Foreign Affairs Council for discussion at the informal meeting of EU Heads of State and Government on 12 February 2015. The Council agreed to review progress in implementation at its next meetings, also in view of upcoming European Council meetings.

09/02/2015 Par Edouard de Mareschal - LeFigaro.fr

Un livre à paraître détaille comment l'organisation terroriste entraîne ses aspirants djihadistes et les conditionne à accepter l'extrême violence des actes qu'ils vont commettre.

Les exactions commises par l'Etat islamique (EI) horrifient le monde entier... Mais parfois aussi les nouvelles recrues de l'organisation terroriste, qui doivent suivre un long processus d'endoctrinement, avant d'être opérationnelles. Cette procédure commence dès le recrutement, puis se poursuit pendant leur entraînement dans des camps militaires situés dans les zones contrôlées par l'Etat islamique en Irak et en Syrie. Le processus mis en oeuvre pour que les nouveaux arrivants deviennent de parfaits fanatiques est désormais mieux connu grâce à plusieurs témoignages inédits recueillis dans un livre* à paraître en anglais, écrit par Hassan Hassan et Michael Weiss, respectivement chercheur à l'institut Delma et journaliste au Daily Beast. «Dans ces camps d'entraînement, les nouvelles recrues reçoivent une formation politique, militaire avec une part de contre-espionnage, mais surtout un enseignement sur la Charia, explique au Figaro Hassan Hassan. L'enseignement religieux est l'un des aspects les plus sous-estimés de leur endoctrinement pour expliquer la résilience et la loyauté des djihadistes de l'EI.»

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09/02/2015  SCH Beltran - Armée de Terre

Les réservistes du régiment d’infanterie chars de marine (RICM) de Poitiers interviennent aux abords des lieux publics et contribuent activement au retour du sentiment de sécurité des français. Après quelques jours de remise à niveau dans leur unité, ces volontaires sont déployés sur le terrain et mettent en œuvre efficacement les savoir-faire du combattant.

21 janvier 2015 par Sophie de Maistre – Sénat.fr

La commission des affaires étrangères, de la défense et des forces armées, présidée par M. Jean-Pierre RAFFARIN (UMP - Vienne), a fixé son programme de travail pour 2015 :

- Du dérèglement climatique au dérèglement politique : ce rapport d’information analysera les conséquences géopolitiques du changement climatique, en vue de la conférence Paris Climat de décembre 2015 ;

- Chine : les conséquences sur la France et l’Europe de la "nouvelle croissance" chinoise ;

- Les relations avec la Russie : comment sortir de l’impasse ? ;

- L’Iran, vers le renouveau d’une puissance régionale ? ;

- La coopération franco-allemande en matière de défense ;

- Le contrôle de l’exécution de la loi de programmation militaire, s’agissant en particulier du respect de sa trajectoire financière et de la mise en œuvre des annonces en matière d’effectifs ;

 - La préparation du débat législatif sur le droit d’association dans les armées ;

 - Le suivi de la réforme du service de santé des armées.

La commission se déplacera dans les unités, auprès des forces armées, fortement mobilisées à l’extérieur des frontières comme sur le territoire national, et contribuera au soutien à l’industrie de défense, qui emploie 165 000 personnes.

Enfin, le Président de la commission, M. Jean-Pierre RAFFARIN, présidera la Délégation Parlementaire au Renseignement (DPR) en 2015, qui jouera un rôle actif dans le renforcement du cadre législatif des services de renseignement pour la lutte contre le terrorisme.

10.02.2015 par BBC Afrique

Le Parlement nigérien a approuvé lundi soir l'envoi de troupes au Nigeria dans le cadre de la force régionale pour lutter contre le groupe islamiste armé nigérian Boko Haram. La résolution a été votée de façon unanime par les 102 députés présents.

Le président du Parlement, Amadou Salifou, a souligné dans l'après-midi, lors de l'ouverture du débat parlementaire, que le vote se déroulait alors que "les bombes tombent sur Diffa", dans le sud-est du pays, à la frontière avec le Nigeria.

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