ISIS Archives | The Michigan Star

27,000 Children Stranded in Refugee Camps ‘at Risk of Radicalization’ by ISIS, UN Official Says

February 2, 2021 Michigan Star Staff

Around 27,000 children, many with parents who are affiliated with ISIS, remain in a refugee camp in northeastern Syria, the United Nations counterterrorism chief said, the Associated Press reported Saturday.

The thousands of children “remain stranded, abandoned to their fate” where they are exposed to ISIS and are “at risk of radicalization within the camp,” said Vladimir Voronkov, the undersecretary general for counter terrorism at the U.N., during an informal meeting on Friday, the AP reported. He added that there are children from 60 countries at the camps who need to be repatriated.

US-Backed Forces Raiding ISIS Cells in Syria

December 29, 2020December 29, 2020 Michigan Star Staff

The Syrian Democratic Forces are executing a new series of raids against active ISIS-affiliated militants in eastern Syria with the support of the U.S., VOA News reported Sunday.

The new campaign targets ISIS remnants in the Deir al-Zour province near Iraq, VOA News reported. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) military alliance is focusing on ISIS cells in the northern part of the province.

Army Soldier to Receive Medal of Honor for Saving Around 75 Hostages Facing Execution from ISIS

September 12, 2020September 11, 2020 Michigan Star Staff

An Army sergeant major who rescued around 75 hostages from being executed by ISIS fighters in Iraq will be awarded the Medal of Honor on Friday, the U.S. Army announced on Tuesday.
Sgt. Maj. Thomas “Patrick” Payne ran through a burning building and enemy gunfire with a pair of bolt cutters to free the hostages during a rescue mission, according to the Army.

US Citizen Turned ISIS Fighter Pleads Guilty to Terror Charge

September 4, 2020September 3, 2020 Michigan Star Staff

A 23-year-old U.S. citizen pleaded guilty to a terror charge Wednesday after being captured in 2019, according to the Department of Justice.

Omer Kuzu “pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiring to provide material support to terrorism,” according to a DOJ statement.

ISIS Has 10,000 Members and Has Bolstered Propaganda Efforts, Attacks During the Pandemic, UN Warns

August 27, 2020August 26, 2020 Michigan Star Staff

Members of the Islamic State have reportedly attempted to use the coronavirus pandemic to their advantage, increasing propaganda and attacks, a United Nations counter-terrorism official announced Monday.

Since ISIS reportedly began to rally in Syria and Iraq this year, there has been an increase in threats made to conflict zones and a decrease in threats to peaceful zones experiencing coronavirus related lock-downs and restrictions, Head of the U.N. Office of Counter-Terrorism Vladimir Voronkov said.

Prosecutors Seek Maximum Penalty Against Indiana Woman Who Pleaded Guilty to Helping ISIS: Report

August 20, 2020August 20, 2020 Michigan Star Staff

Prosecutors say that a woman who pleaded guilty to providing financial support to the Islamic State should face the maximum penalty under law, according to a new report.

Samantha Elhassani of Lake County, Indiana, faces up to 10 years in prison as she was reportedly aware of her actions, court documents say, Fox 59 reported. She is scheduled to be sentenced on August 27.

Two Michigan Men Plead Guilty in Attempt to Provide Material Support to ISIS

January 31, 2020January 30, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

Two Michigan men have pleaded guilty this month to conspiring to provide material support to ISIS, various news outlets are reporting.

US-Led Coalition Denies Airstrike Near Baghdad Saturday

January 5, 2020January 4, 2020 Admin

BAGHDAD – The U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State said Saturday it did not conduct any airstrikes near Camp Taji north of Baghdad.

Judge Rules American-Born Woman Who Joined ISIS Is Not a US Citizen, Not Allowed to Return

November 16, 2019November 16, 2019 Michigan Star Staff

A federal judge ruled that a New Jersey-born woman who left the country to join the Islamic State was never a U.S. citizen, undercutting her request to return.

Supporters Begin Flocking to New Islamic State Leader

November 2, 2019November 2, 2019 Michigan Star Staff

WASHINGTON – Some Islamic State supporters are starting to rally around the terror group’s new leader, using social media to pledge their allegiance to a man whose true identity may not be known for some time.

Washington Post Writes Obituary for ISIS Leader, Calls Him ‘Austere Religious Scholar’

October 28, 2019October 27, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

The Washington Post ran an obituary Sunday morning for ISIS leader and serial rapist Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who killed himself and at least three of his own children Saturday night during a U.S. military raid.

Mechanic Accused of Sabotaging American Airlines Jetliner Has Ties to ISIS

September 20, 2019September 20, 2019 Michigan Star Staff

The mechanic accused of sabotaging an American Airlines jetliner back in July was found to have had violent Islamic State videos on his cellphone, as well as desire for Allah to hurt non-Muslims, new evidence unveiled at his bail hearing revealed on Wednesday.

Brooklyn Man Charged After Joining ISIS, Training Other Members

July 21, 2019July 20, 2019 Admin

by Audrey Conklin The U.S. Department of Justice on Friday charged a Brooklyn man who joined ISIS with providing and attempting to provide material support to a designated terrorist organization. Ruslan Maratovich Asainov, a naturalized American citizen born in Kazakhstan, was recently transferred into FBI custody after being detained…