Weekly Analyst Review

12 July 2023

Bottom Line Up Front

A little more than a year ago, on 02 July 2022, Colombia's President, Ivan Duque announced that former FARC Commander and current leader of the Segunda Marquetalia dissident group, Luciano Marín Arango, better known as Iván Márquez was killed in a security operation conducted in Venezuela.

Eight days later, the Segunda Marquetalia group issued a statement via video, disputing the claims of their leader's death, stating Márquez had been injured but survived the attack. Five days after that statement, the Colombian government conceded that Márquez was still alive, confirming that he was injured and under the protection of the Maduro regime while being hospitalized Caracas.

A year later, on 06 July 2023, intelligence reports emerged, announcing the death of Luciano Marín Arango,(Iván Márquez), stating the cause of his death to be the result of injuries he sustained in the armed confrontation a year earlier. Local media sources further added that in the 2022 Colombian CTO, Márquez sustained injuries to one of his legs, lost one of his arms, and had shrapnel embedded in his brain.

This all leaves many unanswered questions. Has Iván Márquez been in the Caracas hospital all this time? If so, was he conscious or on life-support? If he was physically incapacitated, who has been leading the Segunda Marquetalia?

Other Developments

TRAC Incident Report:

Combined French and Nigérien Troops Capture Two Senior

Islamic State Greater Sahara Militants, Abu Maryam (aka Zaid)

and Sita Oseni (aka Luqman), in Itakala and Téra,

in Tillabéri Region, Niger

On 06 July 2023, the combined forces of the French military, with their air support and the Nigérien military on the ground successfully captured a senior Islamic State Greater Sahara (ISGS) militant, Abu Maryam (aka Zaid) in Itakala, Tillabéri Region, Niger. It is said that Abu Maryam is the General Prosecutor for ISGS and Chief Judge with regard to hostages.

Following on from that successful Counterterrorism Operation (CTO), on 07 July 2023, the French and Nigérien forces conducted another raid which netted a Senior ISGS official named Sita Oseni (aka Luqman). Oseni, along with Abu Maryam is a Judge in regard to hostages held by the organization.

The Tillabéri Region of Niger has long been an area plagued by ISGS activity. Situated near the tri-border area of Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali, Tillabéri is a strategic location. Control of the region will give ISGS a staging group to launch attacks in both neighboring countries. Tillabéri is also critical to the group because it is where the confluence on the smuggling routes from Nigeria meet. Fighters are then directed to the theater they are assigned. It is highly likely that the ISGS leadership is currently residing in Tillabéri, which would certainly explain why these two jurists were found and captured there.

TRAC Video Report:

Eco-Fascist Insiders Circulate Footage Advocating Cargo-Train Hopping as a Way to Shoot at ‘Critical Infrastructure Without

Being Detected, United States

US Railway National Network

On 11 July 2023, The Terrorgram Collective circulated a video on their social media channels showing how to hop on a cargo train with the sole purpose of shooting at 'critical infrastructure' while passing by and through these points of interest. This video is part of the accelerationist strategy aimed at causing a sociopolitical collapse, ultimately leading to what they see as a social change for the betterment of the white man.

The author of the video advocates for shooting from a moving train, so as to prevent from being intercepted. The noise of the train is an added benefit because it averts the sound of gunfire from being heard from inside and thus, catches the target by surprise. Of note, the term 'critical infrastructure' mentioned in the video undoubtedly alludes to connecting bridges, tunnels, railways, and electric power networks. The clear intention of this 'instructional' video is to inspire lone wolves to follow through on this target and tactic.

In recent months, Terrorgram Collective and other eco-fascist extremists have been significantly active and creative on social networks in providing advice on how to carry out attacks on national utility infrastructures, including electrical grids and 5G towers.

TRAC Incident Report:

Suspected Kurdistan Workers' Party's (PKK) VBIED

Claims Five Lives in the Shava Village, Aleppo Governorate, Syria

Scene of the explosion

On 09 July 2023, a vehicle-borne, improvised explosive device (VBIED) detonated near a repair shop within the Shava Village, Aleppo Governorate, Syria. The blast killed five civilians, of which some were children; and injured ten others. The attack is suspected to have been orchestrated by the Kurdistan Workers' Party's (PKK), who are known to regularly conduct this type of bombing.

Since the retreat of the Islamic State and the launching of "Operation Euphrates Shield" in 2016, the Aleppo governorate has been under the control of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SAA). This increased Turkish territorial influence has increased Kurdistan Workers' Party's (PKK) activity in the region. TRAC has seen regular clashes between the Turkish Armed Forces and Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in Northern Iraq throughout June 2023, but this bombing is the first recent PKK attack reported on Syrian territory.

On Our Radar:

TRAC Incident Report: Gunman Shoots Dead Former Russian Submarine Captain Stanislav Rzhitsky While Jogging, Krasnodar, Russia

TRAC Photo Report:

South African Right-Wing Group "The Free-Citizen Movement" Shares Poster "Farm Murders; Black on White Terror", South Africa

TRAC Claim Report: Unidentified Kashmir Militants Allegedly Attempted to Carry Out IED Attack to Kill a Former Indian DGP, K. Rajendra Kumar, in Moti Bagh, Southern Delhi, India

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