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Catch up with summaries from an average of 50 new geopolitical events daily. Subscribe to better understand geopolitical risks.
Cedric: Welcome to the Geopolitical
Report Daily for January 4, 2025.
Complete reports with casualty
information, interactive web maps, and
our IntelHub dashboard are available with
a Geopolitical Report Pro subscription.
Friday we mapped 50 events including
some protests in Poland and an
interesting discovery off the
Philippines, so let's get started.
Terrorism,
"India
On Friday, a Naxalite/Maoist IED blast
injured three District Reserve Guard
(DRG) soldiers during an operation near
the village of Tokda, Gangalor district.
A search operation for the
perpetrators was underway."
"India
On Thursday, Police arrested a Kangleipak
Communist Party (KCP) militant during
an operation in the Bijoypur Mathak
Leikai area of the Kakching District."
"Iraq
On Friday, the Iraqi National
Security Service (INSS) announced
that its operatives arrested an ISIS
terrorist who was preparing for an
IED attack on security forces in
Tuz Khurmatu, Saladin province."
"Israel
The Israeli Air Force intercepted
a drone launched from Yemen
outside of Israel's borders.
The IDF also intercepted a ballistic
missile launched by the Houthis
in Yemen, with some fragments
falling in the Modiin area."
"Israel
Following rocket fire from the central
Gaza Strip at the Be'eri area, the IDF
has issued an evacuation warning for
Palestinian civilians in the Bureij area.
Civilians are urged to head for
the Israeli-designated humanitarian
zone in southern Gaza before the
IDF launches strikes on the area."
"Myanmar
Wednesday night, unknown gunmen riding
a motorcycle ambushed and killed a
ward administrator in the village
of Myitnge, Amarapura Township.
No group has claimed
responsibility for the attack."
"Nigeria
On Thursday, Multinational Joint Task
Force (MNJTF) troops, in collaboration
with the Civilian Joint Task Force
(CJTF) members, arrested a suspected
terrorist courier as he was conveying
materials used in making Improvised
Explosive Devices (IEDs) at the entrance
to Gubio Local Government Area."
"Philippines
On Thursday, Police arrested a New
Peopleâs Army (NPA) rebel, wanted
for murder and attempted murder,
in Pampropaganda, Agusan del Sur."
"United States
The driver of the Tesla Cybertruck that
exploded outside the Trump International
Hotel in Las Vegas on New Yearâs Day was
identified as Matthew Alan Livelsberger,
a 37-year-old active-duty U.S.
Army Green Beret from Colorado Springs.
Livelsberger died by suicide,
shooting himself in the head
moments before the explosion.
The Cybertruck was filled with
consumer-grade firework mortars
and camp-fuel canisters, causing
an explosion that left seven
people with minor injuries."
"West Bank
Six Palestinians were injured, and
six vehicles were torched in an attack
by settlers on the village of Silwad.
The Yesh Din rights group
reports that soldiers were
present but did not intervene."
Military Conflict
"Afghanistan
Taliban fighters once again clashed with
Pakistani border forces in the districts
of Ali Sher and Zazia Maidan in Khost
province along the disputed Durand Line.
Details of clashes were not available."
"Gaza Strip
Over the past day, the IDF launched
airstrikes against 40 staging grounds
and Hamas command centers in Gaza.
The strikes targeted Hamas
operatives planning attacks
against troops and Israel.
Some sites were located in
former schools used as shelters
for displaced Palestinians."
"Gaza Strip
Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry
reports that 77 people were killed
in the past 24 hours, bringing the
total death toll of the war to 45,658.
Israel has increased airstrikes in
response to rocket fire, claiming
it does not target civilians
while Hamas uses them as shields."
"Myanmar
On Wednesday, Arakan Army (AA)
insurgents attacked a fortified junta
checkpoint in the village of Taung
Pone Gyi outside the town of Pandaung.
Junta forces strafed the village and
several surrounding villages during the
attack, resulting in multiple casualties."
"Myanmar
On Tuesday, a junta airstrike
targeted the village of Yoetayote,
Ponnagyun Township, killing five
refugees and injuring 10 others."
"Myanmar
On Wednesday, junta forces abandoned
a heavily fortified police station
in the village of Kutaw, in Budalin
Township, after insurgents attacked it
three times and cut off supply routes
to the township over the past year."
"Myanmar
An elderly woman named Daw Ma
Thein (71) was killed in airstrikes
conducted by junta forces in Kan
Htaung Gyi town, Arakan State.
The airstrikes destroyed a high school
and a hospital building, but there
were no other casualties reported."
"Sudan
Last Saturday, December 28, the Abu
Shouk Centre, affiliated with the
North Darfur State Branch of the Sudan
Family Planning Association (SFPA), was
directly targeted by the Rapid Support
Forces (RSF) militia in El Fasher.
The center, which was providing
humanitarian services at the time of the
attack, sustained partial destruction.
This incident resulted in the
death of a 17-year-old client
and injuries to three others."
"Sudan
Sudanese forces conducted airstrikes on
Rapid Support Forces (RSF) strongholds
in Al-Shabarqa and Al-Sharif Yaqoub, east
of the Blue Nile in Al-Jazirah State."
"Sudan
On Wednesday, the Sudanese military
intensified attacks on Rapid Support
Forces (RSF) troops in Al-Haj Abdallah.
According to military sources, the
offensive aims to retake Wad Madani.
Sudanese airstrikes destroyed a bridge
on a key irrigation canal supplying
the Al Jazirah agricultural project
near Al-Haj Abdallah, restricting RSF
movements and cutting off supply lines."
"Syria
Fierce clashes broke out between Syrian
Democratic Forces and Turkish forces
and their proxy factions in villages
near Manbij and the Teshreen dam.
28 Turkish-backed militiamen
have been killed so far.
Turkish forces also launched heavy
artillery fire on several villages."
"Syria
A Turkish drone targeted the
Municipality of Al-Shaa'b building in
Huriyyah town, Al-Tabaqah countryside.
No casualties or material
damage were reported."
"Taiwan
Taiwan tracked 24 Chinese military
aircraft and seven naval vessels
around its country between 6 a.m.
on Thursday and 6 a.m.
on Friday.
18 aircraft crossed the Taiwan
Strait median line in the nationâs
northern, southwestern, and eastern
Air Defense Identification Zone."
"Ukraine
On January 3, Russian invaders attacked
Bohodukhiv in the Kharkiv region,
causing a fire at a civilian enterprise.
The attack resulted in damage to
private households, power lines,
and infrastructure in the area.
The Russians also targeted other
villages and attempted to storm
Ukrainian positions but were repelled."
"Ukraine
On January 3, shelling in the Kherson
region damaged at least 24 civilian
objects and injured six people.
The Russian military used artillery,
mortars, and drones to attack
settlements in the region."
"Ukraine
An elderly woman in the suburb of
Kherson, Antonivka village, was injured
in an attack by a Russian drone.
The 80-year-old resident suffered
an explosive injury and a
shrapnel wound to her forearm."
"Ukraine
A woman was injured in Kyiv
due to a Russian drone attack.
The attack lasted over three hours,
with most of the drones being destroyed.
The woman suffered a burn on her
hand but refused hospitalization.
In addition, a truck driver was
killed, and four others were
injured in the Kyiv region."
"Ukraine
The Ukrainian Defence Forces
successfully shot down 60 Russian
Shahed and other attack drones,
while 26 imitator drones were lost.
The attack took place on
January 2, with 93 UAVs launched
from different directions.
The Ukrainian Air Force and Defence
Forces, along with other units,
repelled the attack and downed
the drones in various regions.
However, some strike drones
damaged private properties
and resulted in casualties."
"Ukraine
Ukrainian forces claimed to have
killed or wounded 1,080 Russian
soldiers over the past day.
Over 100 pieces of military equipment
were destroyed in the fighting."
"Ukraine
Russian forces launched 302 strikes on
13 settlements in Ukraine's southeastern
Zaporizhzhia region on January 2.
The strikes included airstrikes
and attacks by unmanned aerial
vehicles (UAVs), as well as MLRS
attacks and artillery strikes.
The targeted settlements included
Malokaterynivka, Prymorske,
Shcherbaky, Novodarivka, Bilenke,
Lobkove, Huliaipole, Novoandriyivka,
Novodanylivka, Mala Tokmachka,
Bilohiria, Malynivka, and Olhivske."
"Ukraine
A Russian drone injured a
59-year-old civilian in Kherson.
The man suffered an explosive injury
and a shrapnel wound to his leg.
The Russians attacked the
city's Dnipro district.
The Russian military is also shelling
the Korabel neighborhood in Kherson."
"Ukraine
A man was injured in a Russian
drone strike in the village
of Zapadne, Kharkiv region.
The exact type of drone used
is still being determined."
"Ukraine
The Russian army has shelled the village
of Stepnohirsk in the Zaporizhzhia region,
killing one person and injuring another.
The attack caused damage to residential
buildings, and a fire broke out.
The victim was an elderly man, and his
wife was hospitalized with injuries."
"Ukraine
Five people, including a two-year-old
boy, were wounded in the shelling
of northern Donetsk region.
Four people were wounded in
Sloviansk, including the boy, while
one person was wounded in Siversk.
The wounded in Sloviansk are
in the hospital, with the boy's
mother in serious condition.
A 70-year-old woman wounded in Siversk
was also taken to a hospital in Sloviansk.
Fourteen private houses were
damaged in the shelling."
"Ukraine
In the sky over the Dnipropetrovsk
region, Ukraine's air defense forces
shot down three Russian missiles.
Twenty households were damaged, along with
power lines and a gas main in Synelnykove.
A 70-year-old man was hospitalized
with moderate injuries."
"Ukraine
The Russians launched a missile strike
on the outskirts of Chernihiv, resulting
in five injuries and one fatality."
"Ukraine
Ukraine's Defense Forces successfully
intercepted three Kh-59/69 guided aircraft
missiles and 13 Russian drones, while 19
drones deviated from their intended path.
The Russian strikes included five S-300
anti-aircraft guided missiles, three
Iskander-M ballistic missiles, and
three Kh-59/69 guided aircraft missiles.
Additionally, they deployed
32 Shahed one-way attack UAVs
and various decoy drones."
"West Bank
Israeli forces raided a refugee camp
in the West Bank, resulting in seven
people being injured by gunfire.
The Balata Refugee Camp near Nablus
was targeted, leading to clashes.
The Israeli military is
investigating the incident.
Palestinian news agency Wafa confirms the
casualty toll and reports that snipers
were deployed on nearby rooftops."
"Yemen
Thursday evening, Saudi Arabian forces
reportedly launched an attack on a border
region in Yemen, wounding one civilian.
Furthermore, Arab sources on Tuesday
reported that a Saudi Army attack
on the Yemen border killed a Yemeni
citizen and injured an African refugee."
Political Conflict
"Philippines
On Monday, three Philippine fishermen
found a suspected Chinese submarine
drone floating in the waters
approximately six miles off the coast
of San Pascual, Masbat province.
The fishermen turned the drone
over to government authorities.
The Philippine Navy stated that
the drone has equipment for
monitoring and reconnaissance."
"South Korea
On Friday, anti-corruption investigators
in Seoul abandoned their hours-long
attempt to detain South Korea's impeached
President Yoon Suk Yeol at his residence.
The investigators cited the presence
of thousands of the president's
supporters who had gathered outside
the residence as the reason for
abandoning the detention effort."
"Spain
Two migrants perished while attempting
to reach the Canary Islands aboard a
boat carrying 71 individuals, all of
sub-Saharan origin, that arrived on
the island of Tenerife on Wednesday.
It was the first migrant vessel to
reach the archipelago in the new year.
Red Cross volunteers assisted the
69 survivors, transferring two
individuals to the hospital due to
hypothermia and other medical issues."
"Syria
Syria has imposed new restrictions
on the entry of Lebanese citizens
following skirmishes between
Lebanon's army and Syrian fighters.
Lebanese citizens can now only
enter Syria if they have residency
permits or official permission."
Civil Unrest
"Montenegro
Hundreds of Montenegrins protested in
Podgorica against the authorities' lack
of action to prevent a mass shooting.
A gunman killed 12 people and wounded
four before turning the gun on himself.
The protesters demanded the resignation
of top officials, blaming slow police
reform and government wrangling."
"Poland
Polish farmers protested in Warsaw
against agricultural imports from
Ukraine and EU policies they believe
are harming their livelihoods.
The rally coincided with the start
of Poland's presidency of the EU
Council and focused on five issues:
Ukrainian imports, the EU's trade
deal with Mercosur, the Green Deal, EU
forest and hunting policies, and the
perceived decline of the Polish economy.
The protest began in front of the
European Commission building and
included a march through the city."
"South Korea
On Friday, approximately 11,000 far-right
conservatives gathered in front of
the presidential residence in Seoul to
protest the investigative authorities'
attempt to detain President Yoon Suk
Yeol over his failed martial law order."
"Syria
Umayyad Square in Damascus saw a mass
protest demanding information on the fate
of detainees in Bashar Al-Assad's prisons.
Protesters called for international
intervention to hold those responsible
for crimes against humanity accountable.
Banners were held with slogans
thanking those who liberated prisoners
and calling for accountability."
Weapons
"Gaza Strip
Troops of the IDF's Nahal Brigade
conducted operations in Beit
Hanoun, northern Gaza, destroying
Hamas tunnels and weapons.
The troops killed gunmen,
demolished infrastructure, and
found various weapons and equipment.
Airstrikes were also carried
out, including a drone strike
on a rocket launcher used in
a previous attack on Israel."
Accidents
"Syria
A woman and a man died in separate
incidents involving the explosion
of landmines in eastern Deir Ezzor
countryside and Efrin countryside.
The incidents occurred in Sabikhan Town
and Shuwargha Village, respectively."
"Syria
Two young men and two children were
severely injured in separate incidents
involving the explosion of old landmines
in Idlib and Aleppo countryside.
One of the men had his leg amputated.
All four victims were taken to
the hospital for treatment."
Thanks for joining us for the January
4, 2025 Geopolitical Report Daily.
As a reminder, complete reports with
casualty information, interactive
web maps, and our IntelHub dashboard
are available with a Geopolitical
Report Pro subscription, which you
can try with a seven-day-free-trial
at www.geopolitical.report.
Don't forget to tune in again
tomorrow for the most recent
events from around the world.