Middle East Escalation; Police Urged to Anticipate Terrorist Cells in Indonesia

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Co-founder of the Institute for Security and Strategic Studies (ISESS), Khairul Fahmi, urged the National Police to be aware of the rise of terror cells within Indonesia amidst the escalating conflict in the Middle East, fueled by the attacks between Israel and Iran.

“Extreme violent groups remain active and poised to strike,” Fahmi told Tempo on Monday, April 15.

As evidenced by the series of arrests and disclosures of terrorist networks carried out by the National Police and the National Counter-Terrorism Agency (BNPT), the terrorist cells remain active, even in the absence of an escalation in the Middle East, the military observer pointed out.

He argued that the theory that terrorist cells in Indonesia tend to be active during the conflict in the Middle East escalates is still valid, though the current tensions are primarily related to Iran and its Shia proxy groups, the issues of Israel and Palestine still exert influence.

He explained that terrorist groups in the archipelago, which are predominantly Sunni, tend to be active in solidarity with Gaza and out of antipathy for the United States, Israel, and their allies.

Fahmi further highlighted the possibility of "lone wolf" attacks inspired by the ideology of terrorism. Even though they are not directly affiliated with large networks such as ISIS or Jemaah Islamiyah, a shallow understanding of jihad and solidarity can trigger their actions.

Apart from that, he called upon the government to beef up surveillance measures to prevent Indonesian citizens from covertly traveling to the Middle East and joining the battlefield in the name of jihad.

He stressed the need for the government to mobilize religious figures and organizations, especially those associated with the jihad narrative, as well as forms of support and solidarity for the Palestinian struggle.

In late 2023, National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo appealed to the Indonesian people to be vigilant against the rise of terrorist cells as a result of the war between Hamas and Israel.

DIVA SUUKYI LARASATI

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