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Cedric: Welcome to the Geopolitical
Report Daily for December 23, 2024.
Complete reports with casualty
information, interactive web maps, and
our IntelHub dashboard are available with
a Geopolitical Report Pro subscription.
We had another high volume day of events
with 46 mapped, so let's get started.
Terrorism Events
"India
On Saturday, Indian forces
captured a terrorist during an
operation in Chanura, Bandipora.
Troops recovered a pistol, a
hand grenade, and other war-like
stores from the individual."
"India
Saturday evening, security forces arrested
two terrorist associates during a search
operation in the Rafiabad area of Sopore.
Police recovered a pistol,
five 9mm rounds, and two
grenades from the individuals."
"India
On Sunday, the Special Task Force (STF)
of the West Bengal Police, in coordination
with the Jammu and Kashmir Police,
arrested Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen (TuM) near
Canning in South 24 Parganas district.
The individual allegedly
planned to cross into Bangladesh
at the time of his arrest."
"Iraq
On Sunday, a mass grave containing
the remains of dozens of Kurdish
women and children was unearthed in a
remote desert in the Tal Sheikh area
of Al Samawah, Muthanna province.
The grave was recently discovered
in May through satellite imagery.
While the exact number of victims buried
in the mass grave is unclear, estimates
suggest there may be close to 150 Kurdish
women and children interred there."
"Philippines
Last Saturday, December 15, Philippine
troops captured a key NPA leader after
seizing a rebel hideout in remote Barangay
Bandila of Toboso, Negros Occidental.
Soldiers found bloodstains
from the encounter site towards
other rebelsâ withdrawal route.
Troops recovered various weapons,
including a 5.56mm assault rifle, a .38
caliber revolver, a short magazine for
an AK47 assault rifle, two .45 caliber
magazines, and assorted live ammunition."
"Philippines
On Saturday, December 21, in Indanan
town, Sulu, armed men wielding
assault rifles ambushed and killed
a 27-year-old Tausug man and his
relative, a former barangay chairman,
as they were riding a motorcycle.
The assailants fled the
area after the attack."
"South Sudan
On Saturday, gunmen ambushed and
killed a trader two kilometers
outside of Raad Town, Boma County.
Two other traders escaped unhurt.
Authorities believe armed youth
from the neighboring GPAAâs Pochalla
area carried out the attack."
Political Conflict Events
"Colombia
Colombia's largest rebel group,
the National Liberation Army
(ELN), has declared a unilateral
truce until January 3rd.
This comes after the breakdown of
the previous ceasefire in August.
The ELN will refrain from attacking
the military during the Christmas
and New Year's celebrations."
"Turkey
On Saturday, Turkish Foreign Minister
Hakan Fidan stated Turkey will do
""whatever it takes"" to ensure
its security if the new Syrian
administration cannot address Ankara's
concerns about U.S.-allied Kurdish
groups it views as terrorist groups.
Turkey regards the YPG, the militant
group leading the U.S.-allied Syrian
Democratic Forces (SDF), as an extension
of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
The group has waged an insurgency
against the Turkish state for
40 years and is designated as a
terrorist organization by Ankara,
Washington, and the European Union."
Military Conflict Events
"Gaza Strip
Overnight, the IDF conducted an
airstrike on a Hamas command center
located in a former school in Gaza City.
Hamas operatives were using the
school to plan and carry out
attacks against Israeli troops.
Unfortunately, the strike resulted in the
death of at least six displaced Gazans
who were seeking shelter in the school."
"Gaza Strip
Four Palestinians were killed in an IDF
drone strike on a vehicle in Gaza City.
Palestinian media reports indicate
that there is no immediate
comment from the military."
"Gaza Strip
The IDF's Kfir Brigade has
completed an operation against
Hamas in Beit Lahiya, Gaza.
The soldiers have now moved
to areas west of Beit Hanoun.
During the operation, they killed gunmen
and destroyed terror infrastructure.
The raid in Beit Hanoun was based
on intelligence about terrorists
and infrastructure in the area."
"Gaza Strip
A Hamas operative in the
Israeli-designated humanitarian zone in
the southern Gaza Strip was targeted in
a drone strike in the Khan Younis area.
The IDF took measures to
minimize civilian casualties."
"Lebanon
On Saturday, the Lebanese army
announced that it had taken control
of three strategic bases in eastern
Lebanon that were previously held by
armed Palestinian factions with close
ties to the former Syrian regime.
Specifically, the army seized two
bases belonging to the Popular Front
for the Liberation of Palestine
- General Command (PFLP-GC) in the
villages of Sultan Yaaqoub and
Hechmech in the Beqaa governorate.
Additionally, the army took over a camp
in the village of Halwah in the Beqaa
region's Rachaya district that belonged
to the Fatah al-Intifada organization.
The army confiscated weapons,
ammunition, and other military
equipment in these operations."
"Russia
On December 22, drones attacked
the Stalevyi Kin oil depot in
the Oryol region of Russia.
This is the second attack in a week,
with the previous one causing a fuel
fire at an infrastructure facility.
The Russian Defense Ministry
claims to have shot down 42
Ukrainian drones in total.
Drones were also shot down near Taganrog
and Novoshakhtinsk in the Rostov region."
"Sudan
On Saturday, Sudanese and Darfur
Armed Struggle Movementsâ Joint Forces
recaptured the strategic al-Zurq military
base in North Darfur after fierce fighting
with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The base is a central hub for
advanced weapons supplied by the
UAE and smuggled through Chad."
"Syria
A Turkish drone attacked a wheat
storage facility in Sarrin town,
causing a massive fire and the
complete burning of 300 tons of wheat.
The incident poses a direct threat
to food security in the region."
"Syria
A Turkish drone conducted an airstrike on
a position in Telat Al-Ezaâa, which used
to be a Russian base near Ain Al-Arab
City in the eastern Aleppo countryside.
No casualties were reported."
"Syria
Turkish forces and their factions
in the Peace Spring area launched
heavy artillery attacks on a fuel
station and a school in Abo Rasewen
Town, completely destroying them.
No casualties were reported.
Additionally, Turkish forces and their
proxies targeted the villages of Qubour
Qarajnah and Kheder Hussain in Tal
Tammer countryside, also within SDF-held
areas, with heavy artillery shells.
No casualties were reported
in this incident as well."
"Taiwan
Taiwan tracked 11 Chinese military
aircraft and six naval ships operating
around its country between 6 a.m.
Saturday and 6 a.m.
Sunday.
Eight aircraft crossed the Taiwan
Strait median line and entered Taiwan's
southwestern and southeastern Air
Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ)."
"Ukraine
Russian forces launched heavy
artillery attacks on settlements in
the Nikopol district of Ukraine's
Dnipropetrovsk region, targeting the
Marhanets and Pokrovske communities.
According to Serhii Lysak, head of
the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military
Administration, there were no casualties,
but experts are assessing the damage."
"Ukraine
A civilian man in the town of Kupiansk,
Kharkiv region, was injured when a Russian
drone dropped an explosive payload on him.
The man, aged 56, sustained
severe injuries to his limbs,
resulting in amputations."
"Ukraine
Two people were killed in a
Russian drone attack in the
Dniprovsky district of Kherson.
The head of the Kherson Regional
Military Administration, Oleksandr
Prokudin, reported that a man born in
1975 was attacked and fatally wounded.
Later, a residential building
was destroyed, and a Russian
FPV drone started a fire.
The body of a dead woman
was found in the rubble.
The woman's identity is
currently being determined."
"Ukraine
As of 10:00 on Sunday, Ukraine's Defense
Forces have shot down 52 Russian kamikaze
UAVs, and 44 drones veered off course.
The attacks occurred in various
regions, causing damage to
private enterprises and property.
No casualties have been reported."
"Ukraine
In the Kyiv region, two multi-story
buildings were damaged by a
drone attack from Russian troops.
One building had debris fall on the roof,
causing a fire in the elevator shaft.
The fire was extinguished
quickly with no injuries.
The other building had
damaged windows and a car."
"Ukraine
In the Kupiansk direction, Ukraine's
Defense Forces repelled a powerful
Russian assault, destroying an armored
group consisting of two tanks and
three infantry fighting vehicles.
The Russian infantry was unable
to maneuver or attack due to
the loss of heavy armor and was
eventually killed by drone strikes.
The defense forces destroyed
an IFV and a tank."
"Ukraine
Ukrainian forces claimed to have
killed or wounded 1,820 Russian
soldiers over the past day.
Over 200 pieces of military equipment
were destroyed in the fighting."
"Ukraine
Russian forces attacked 30 settlements
in the Kherson region on December 21,
resulting in one death and six injuries.
The Russians targeted various
locations with shelling and
airstrikes, causing damage to
infrastructure and residential areas.
Ukraine's air defense forces
successfully destroyed a Russian
strike drone during a drone attack."
"Ukraine
Russia's invading forces launched
349 strikes on 11 settlements
in Ukraine's southeastern
Zaporizhzhia region on December 21.
The strikes included UAV attacks,
MLRS attacks, and artillery strikes.
There were 20 reports of damage to
residential buildings and infrastructure,
but no civilian casualties were reported."
"Ukraine
Russian troops fired four times
at border settlements in the
Sumy region, causing fires in an
office building and private homes.
The attacks were carried out
using a Geranium-2 UAV and MLRS.
The Romneys community suffered
damage to four private houses
and a non-residential building.
In total, 23 explosions were recorded."
"Ukraine
A FAB-250 bomb struck the central
part of Pokrovsk, damaging communal
buildings and private houses.
A Molniya-2 attack UAV damaged the
property of a motor transport company.
In addition, a workshop of a private
industrial enterprise was destroyed.
One person was killed and
another wounded in the shelling."
"Ukraine
The Russian army launched ten attacks on
the Nikopol district, resulting in a man
being wounded and destruction in the area.
The attacks involved kamikaze
drones and heavy artillery.
Additionally, a religious institution
in the city suffered damage.
The Russians also targeted the
Marhanetska and Chervonohryhorivska
communities, damaging a private house,
an outbuilding, and a gas pipeline."
"West Bank
A Palestinian Authority
security officer was killed in a
counter-terror operation in Jenin.
The operation is part of the PA's
crackdown on terror groups in the area."
Civil Unrest Events
"Germany
Saturday night, at least 700 furious
hard-right protesters took to the
streets in Magdeburg, Germany, to
demand mass deportations after a Saudi
doctor allegedly killed five people
during a devastating car-ramming attack
on a Christmas market in the city."
"Serbia
Thousands of protesters in
Belgrade demanded accountability
for the train station roof
collapse that killed 15 people.
The Serbian government has faced
nationwide demonstrations for
over seven weeks, with protesters
accusing authorities of corruption
and inadequate oversight.
The protest, organized by university
students, called for the resignation
of the prime minister and the
mayor of Novi Sad, as well as the
prosecution of those responsible."
"South Korea
On Saturday afternoon, the Emergency
Action for Yoon Suk-yeol's Immediate
Resignation and Social Reform held a
'Citizens' Rally to Call for the Guarantee
of Farmers near Namtaeryeong Station
in Bangbae-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul.
The rally was organized in collaboration
with Jeonnong and the National
Federation of Farmers' Associations.
Namtaeryeong Station is where the 'Jeon
Bong-jun Brigade,' a Jeonnong group
protesting with tractors, has been in
an ongoing standoff with the police."
Weapons Events
"India
Security forces in Manipur have seized
a large cache of arms and ammunition,
including a machine gun, sniper rifles,
and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
The Indian Army, Assam Rifles, Manipur
Police, and other paramilitary forces
recovered a total of 25 weapons and
combat materials from three districts.
The operations were carried out in
response to specific information.
The recovered weapons were handed
over to the Manipur Police."
Accident Events
"Brazil
A small plane crashed into shops
in the tourist city of Gramado,
Brazil, with no survivors reported.
The crash caused a fire and
smoke inhalation injuries
to at least 15 people."
"Brazil
Early Saturday morning, a bus
carrying 45 people collided with a
truck and burst into flames near the
town of Teofilo Otone, killing 38
passengers and injuring 13 others.
The truck driver fled the scene, while
the three occupants of a car that
collided with the truck and became
trapped underneath survived the accident."
"China
On Friday, a coal mine bunker collapsed
at a mine in the city of Qujing,
Fuyuan County, killing three miners."
"Syria
A 14-year-old child died, and six other
children were injured in an explosion
caused by a grenade thrown into a fire
in Ibtae' Town in Daraa countryside.
In another incident, a civilian
from Om Al-Raish Village in
western Idlib countryside died
due to a landmine explosion.
Additionally, two civilians were injured
and their car was burnt, along with
a truck carrying engineer machinery,
in an explosion caused by a landmine
on Al-Qarqor Jurin road in Sahl
Al-Ghab in western Hama countryside."
"Turkey
Sunday morning, a helicopter
ambulance hit a hospital building
and crashed into a field in the
city of Mugla as it was taking off,
killing two pilots, one doctor,
and one healthcare worker on board.
Authorities stated there was heavy
fog in the area during the crash."
"United States
On Saturday afternoon, a helicopter
crashed at the Springfield
airport, injuring the pilot.
An investigation was underway."
"United States
A Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad
train derailed Saturday night
while passengers were on board
near Peninsula in Summit County.
Officials stated there were no
reported injuries in the derailment."
"Yemen
Early Sunday morning, two U.S.
Navy pilots safely ejected from their
F/A-18 fighter aircraft over the Red Sea
after it was mistakenly shot down by the
guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg,
in what military officials are calling
""an apparent case of friendly fire.""
According to a news release from U.S.
Central Command, one of the
pilots sustained minor injuries.
An investigation of the
incident was underway."
Other Events
"Israel
Two Jerusalem residents have been indicted
for contact with Hezbollah and providing
the group with information during the war.
They were in contact with a Hezbollah
operative via a WhatsApp group and
continued to maintain contact even
after learning her affiliation.
They shared information about Israel
and were asked to speak with a senior
Hezbollah intelligence officer.
The pair are charged with ""contact
with a foreign agent"" and
passing information to the enemy.
One of them is also charged
with weapons offenses."
Thanks for joining us for the December
23, 2024 Geopolitical Report Daily.
As a reminder, complete reports with
casualty information, interactive
web maps, and our IntelHub dashboard
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