Eurasia Security Watch: No. 258

SYRIAN HACKERS ATTACK QATAR AND SAUDI ARABIA

On April 23, the so-called "Syrian Electronic Army" of hackers loyal to the Al-Assad regime infiltrated Saudi Arabia's Al-Arabiya News Channel's Twitter account, posting false stories and attacking Qatar. Among the stories planted were: the arrest of the daughter of Qatar's prime minister, the ousting of the Qatari prime minister in a military coup, and an explosion in a gas field. The motivation behind these pro-government cyber attacks may be to substantiate Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad's claim that his country's revolution has been orchestrated by Gulf States determined to destroy Syria. Al-Assad's propaganda against Qatar includes unsubstantiated stories that the Gulf country wants access for gas exports through the Mediterranean Sea as well as a pipeline running through Syria, which Al-Assad supposedly rejected. Al-Assad has also been advancing a narrative of sectarian conflict in that Syria is the lone Shi’ite power in the region besides Iran, while Saudi Arabia and Qatar are Sunni powers. Although former rivals Saudi Arabia and Qatar have teamed up to actively support the Syrian opposition and oppose Al-Assad, Qatar's emir originally tried to help Al-Assad by advising him on political reformation and remaining uninvolved. The Al-Assads and the al-Thanis, the Qatari emir's family, formerly had close diplomatic and personal ties. (Financial Times, April 24, 2012)

HAMAS AND ISLAMIC JIHAD ELECTIONS

Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, two prominent Palestinian militant groups, are holding elections in Gaza this month to determine new leadership and future policies. The Islamic Jihad will be electing new leaders for the first time since the group's formation in the 1980s. The elections are motivated by the current leadership's differing opinions on matters such as Israel, relations with other Palestinian groups and its general guiding principles. Some leaders are calling for an expansion of activity outside of armed resistance to Israel, while others celebrated a recent ceasefire as a victory after sending rockets into Israeli communities around Gaza. Hamas, for its part, is currently holding local elections, as well as those for positions on its governing body, the Shura Council. Those elected will choose the group’s new Supreme Leader, and many believe that current politburo head Khaled Mashaal is the likely frontrunner. (Tel Aviv YNET, April 29, 2012)

ISRAELI NUCLEAR SUMBARINES TO COUNTER IRAN

As part of a defense deal totaling six submarines at $500 million dollars apiece, Germany presented Israel with its fourth Dolphin-class submarine on May 3rd. These submarines are nuclear-capable, and useful for both offensive and defensive strategic missions, even though Israel has long officially denied possessing weapons of this type. Defense Minister Ehud Barak justified the purchase of the submarines as prudent "in the face of the growing regional challenges," a thinly-veiled reference to Iran. (Washington Post, May 3, 2012)

TAJIKISTAN CRACKS DOWN ON ISLAMIST GROUPS

Tajikistan's Supreme Court continues to take a tough stance against Islamist groups. This month, it banned Jamaat Ansarullah, ruling it an extremist group. The designation follows a recent offensive by Tajik security forces against the group, which resulted in the killing of one of its commanders. The proximate cause for the government attention was last year’s efforts by Jamaat Ansarullah to encourage Tajik citizens to support Islamic rule and jihad. It now joins the ranks of al-Qaeda, the Taliban, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Hizb-ut Tahrir, and six other groups banned by the government since 2000. (Radio Free Europe, May 3, 2012)