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Cedric: Welcome to the Geopolitical
Report Daily New Years Eve
edition for December 31, 2024.
Complete reports with casualty
information, interactive web maps, and
our IntelHub dashboard are available with
a Geopolitical Report Pro subscription.
Monday we collected and mapped
51 events, so let's get started.
Terrorism
"Democratic Republic of Congo
On Monday, terrorists killed seven
civilians, wounded three others, and
burned down several houses in the
Matombo area of Oicha in DR Congo."
"Gaza Strip
Two people were killed in northern Gaza
when gunmen attacked an aid convoy.
The World Food Program (WFP) says
that the convoy was faced with
violent, armed looting, resulting
in the deaths of two individuals.
Hamas accuses the WFP of failing
to coordinate security and holds
it responsible for the deaths."
"India
The Assam Police's Special Task
Force (STF) has arrested another
member of the Al Qaeda-linked
Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT),
bringing the total number of arrests
in ""Operation Praghat"" to twelve.
The STF launched this operation in
November following intelligence reports
of anti-national activities directed
by ABT chief Jasimuddin Rahmani,
including plans to assassinate Hindu
community leaders and Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) members."
"Iran
On Sunday, Iranian forces arrested
a terrorist linked to the suicide
blast that killed a police officer
and wounded another in the city
of Bandar-e-Lengeh on Saturday."
"Iraq
On Monday, Iraqi counter-terrorism forces
clashed with ISIS terrorists in the
Hamrin Mountains, Kirkuk Governorate.
One Iraqi soldier was
killed during the clash."
"Israel
A resident of Petah Tikva has
been arrested for carrying out
missions on behalf of foreign
elements suspected to be Iran.
Alexander Granovsky, 29, was involved
in vehicle arsons, graffitiing,
photographing facilities, and gathering
information for potential recruitment.
Granovsky will be indicted soon,
marking the 13th alleged Iranian
espionage plot revealed by Israeli
authorities in recent months."
"Israel
One rocket was launched from
the central Gaza Strip at the
border community of Kissufim.
The rocket struck an open area,
but there are no reports of
injuries or significant damage."
"Israel
A ballistic missile launched
from Yemen towards Israel was
intercepted by Israeli air defenses.
The missile was shot down
before reaching Israel, causing
concerns about falling fragments.
The attack is believed to be
carried out by the Iran-backed
Houthis, who have recently targeted
Israel with missiles and drones."
"Kenya
On Sunday, herders illegally entered
the Tsavo East National Park and
attacked park officers with poisoned
arrows, killing one officer.
Another officer escaped being struck by a
poisoned arrow when it hit his firearm."
"Philippines
Over the weekend, government
forces clashed with at least 10
New Peopleâs Army (NPA) rebels
in Sitio Naatip, Barangay Lahug,
Tapaz, killing one of the militants.
Troops recovered an M16 rifle
from the dead militant."
"Syria
ISIS members launched a double attack
on a military post and a security
checkpoint in Al-Hasakah city.
The attack included a stun
grenade and heavy gunfire.
No casualties were reported."
"Syria
Six ISIS members attacked a military
vehicle of Asayish in Al-Dasheshah
town, injuring two members.
The Asayish forces retaliated and
injured two of the attackers."
"Syria
Special security units affiliated with
SDF conducted a security operation in
Al-Hasakah city, targeting ISIS cells.
The operation, supported by
International Coalition helicopters,
led to the arrest of an ISIS cell.
Combing operations in the
surrounding areas are ongoing."
"Turkey
On Monday, Turkish police arrested
11 suspects linked to the Daesh/ISIS
terrorist group in Ankara.
Police are searching for another
ISIS terrorist in the city."
"Turkey
The Ä°zmir police have successfully
dismantled one of the financial networks
supporting ISIL, effectively disrupting
the terrorist organization's monetary
flows across Türkiye's Aegean region.
The year-long investigation scrutinized
the banking transactions of 23 suspects,
resulting in comprehensive financial
analysis reports for each individual.
This operation has cut off over 100
million Turkish Liras (nearly $2.9
million) in funding that was being
provided to the terrorist group."
"Yemen
On Sunday, the Al-Qaeda in the Arabian
Peninsula (AQAP) terrorist group in
Yemen announced it executed 11 people,
including journalist Mohammed Al-Muqri,
who had been kidnapped in October 2015
from the city of Mukalla in Hadhramaut.
The terror group claimed some of
the individuals spied for the US."
Military Conflict
"Gaza Strip
Overnight, the IDF's 162nd Division
conducted ambushes in northern
Gaza's Jabalia, resulting in the
deaths of numerous terror operatives.
The IDF's 401st Armored Brigade,
Givati Infantry Brigade, and
Multidomain Unit were involved
in the operation, which targeted
operatives attempting to flee the area.
The military released footage
showing armed operatives running."
"Gaza Strip
An IDF soldier named Sgt.
Uriel Peretz was killed in
the northern Gaza Strip.
Three other soldiers from the same
battalion were seriously wounded.
The IDF has not provided additional
information about the incident."
"Iran
On Sunday, the IRGC announced its
forces conducted raids on Jaish al-Adl
terrorist bases in the southeastern
Sistan and Baluchestan Province.
During the operations, troops
identified, arrested, and eliminated
an unspecified number of terrorists."
"Iraq
On Monday, the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism
Service announced its forces killed seven
ISIS terrorists and destroyed 22 of its
hideouts and five tunnels on the borders
separating Salah al-Din and Kirkuk and the
borders between Diyala and Salah al-Din.
Troops also recovered explosive
materials and explosive
belts during the operations."
"Myanmar
On Sunday, Arakan Army (AA)
insurgents captured the town of Gwa
after junta forces fled the city.
After the capture, junta forces
conducted airstrikes and naval
artillery strikes on AA positions.
The junta also sent reinforcements
to the area to recapture Gwa.
The insurgents also stated they were
ready for talks with the junta."
"Sudan
On Monday, Sudanese forces and Sudan
Shield Forces seized the town of
Wad Rawah from Rapid Support Forces
(RSF) after a surprise attack.
Sudan Shield Forces soldiers claimed
to have killed several RSF troops
and seized RSF combat vehicles with
anti-aircraft guns during the fighting."
"Syria
Turkish forces and their proxy factions
launched an attack on Al-Tarwaziyah
village in the Al-Raqqah countryside.
This resulted in intense
clashes with the SDF.
In response, the SDF retaliated
with artillery and machine gun fire.
No casualties have been reported so far."
"Syria
Fierce clashes erupted in the
Al-Hamdaniyah neighborhood in
Aleppo City between the general
security service of the Military
Operations Administration and gunmen.
The clashes extended to the
1070th neighborhood and the
surrounding areas of Arman Hotel."
"Syria
Fierce clashes broke out between Syrian
Democratic Forces (SDF) and factions
of the National Army in Manbij city.
The clashes resulted in four
deaths and four injuries among
the Turkish-backed factions.
Additionally, there were artillery
exchanges and clashes near Teshreen
Dam, where three militiamen were killed
during an infiltration attempt by the
factions into Al-Saidiyeen village."
"Syria
A drone conducted two airstrikes in
the western desert of Al-Dawir Town
in the eastern Deir Ezzor countryside.
The airstrikes occurred simultaneously
with the presence of drones
and warplanes in the area."
"Syria
Thirteen members of factions of the
National Army and two members of SDF
were killed in clashes between both
parties on the frontlines of Sad Teshrin
and Joist Qarqozak eastern of Aleppo."
"Syria
IDF troops advanced into the town of
Madinat al-Baath in southern Syria.
They entered government
buildings to search them.
The IDF entered the buffer zone
between Israel and Syria after
the fall of the Assad regime."
"Syria
A Turkish drone targeted an Internal
Security Forces checkpoint in Al-Hishah
village in Ain Issa, northern Al-Raqqah.
No casualties were reported."
"Syria
Turkish forces and their proxies
launched heavy artillery attacks
on several villages in northern
Al-Raqqah and Al-Hasakah countryside.
The attacks caused material damage,
but no casualties were reported.
This is part of an ongoing
Turkish escalation in northern and
eastern Syria, involving ground
attacks and drone airstrikes that
have resulted in casualties."
"Taiwan
Taiwan tracked 23 Chinese military
aircraft and six naval vessels
around its country between 6 a.m.
on Sunday and 6 a.m.
on Monday.
16 aircraft crossed the Taiwan
Strait median line in the countryâs
northern, southwestern, and eastern
Air Defense Identification Zone."
"Ukraine
On December 29th, Russian troops
fired 20 times at the border areas
and settlements of the Sumy region,
resulting in a total of 56 explosions.
The Yunakivka, Bilopilia, Velyka
Pysarivka, Shalyhine, Esman, and
Seredyna-Buda communities were shelled."
"Ukraine
The Russian forces shelled the
village of Bilozerka in the Kherson
region, injuring a 63-year-old woman.
The attack occurred at midday,
and the woman suffered a closed
head injury and a concussion."
"Ukraine
Falling debris from Russian strike drones
damaged five residential buildings in the
Rozdilna district of the Odesa region.
Russian forces targeted the
Odesa region with strike drones,
but most were intercepted and
destroyed by air defense units.
The debris from the downed drones
caused damage to the glazing,
facades, and roofs of the buildings.
No injuries were reported."
"Ukraine
A 62-year-old man and a woman were
hospitalized in Antonivka, Kherson
region, after being injured by an
explosive dropped from a Russian drone.
The man suffered explosive injuries
and shrapnel wounds to his legs,
while the woman had a concussion
and a fracture in her shins.
Another incident occurred in
Tiahynka, where a man was killed
by explosives dropped from a
Russian military drone onto a car."
"Ukraine
On the night of December 29-30,
Ukraine's air defense forces shot
down 21 Russian drones and diverted
22 simulator drones off course.
The Russian military launched 43 strike
drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles
targeting various regions in Ukraine.
The drones were shot down in the
Kharkiv, Poltava, Chernihiv, Odesa,
Donetsk, and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
Fragments from the downed drones
in the Kharkiv and Odesa regions
damaged some private houses."
"Ukraine
Ukrainian forces claimed to have
killed or wounded 2,010 Russian
soldiers over the past day.
Around 245 pieces of military equipment
were destroyed in the fighting."
"Ukraine
Ukrainian soldiers, in collaboration
with the Tavria Group of Forces,
destroyed a Russian headquarters in the
temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia region.
The operation, reported on
Facebook by the Defense Ministry's
Main Intelligence Directorate,
involved aerial reconnaissance
and a precise missile strike.
Six Russian personnel were killed, and
three others were seriously injured.
In a separate operation,
three Russian officers were
eliminated in the same region."
"Ukraine
Russian troops fired artillery at
Bilozerka in the Kherson region,
injuring a 36-year-old man.
The Kherson Regional Military
Administration reported the attack.
The man sustained an explosive
injury, contusion, and a
shrapnel wound to his forehead.
This is the second attack on Bilozerka,
with a 63-year-old woman being
wounded in the previous incident."
"Ukraine
A woman was killed in the
Kupiansk district of Kharkiv
region due to a Russian strike.
The attack also caused damage
to an apartment building.
Law enforcement officers are
investigating the incident."
"Ukraine
One person was killed, and four
others were wounded in Russian
strikes on Ukraine's southern
Kherson region on December 29.
The attacks targeted multiple
locations and resulted in damage
to buildings and vehicles."
Political Conflict
"Afghanistan
On Sunday, the Taliban Economy Ministry
ordered all Non-Governmental Organizations
to stop employing women or face losing
their licenses to operate in Afghanistan.
The order comes two years after they told
NGOs to suspend the employment of Afghan
women, allegedly because they didnât
wear the Islamic headscarf correctly."
"Iran
Last Thursday, Islamic Revolution
Guards Corps (IRGC) intelligence
forces arrested an alleged spy working
for a neighboring country during
an operation in Ardabil Province."
Civil Unrest
"India
On Monday, Punjab farmers staged
protests and blocked roads across various
locations in the state, disrupting
commuter traffic in several areas.
The shutdown included a sit-in at the
Dhareri Jattan Toll Plaza, causing delays
on the Patiala-Chandigarh National Highway
and impacting train and bus services.
The protest was called by the Samyukta
Kisan Morcha (non-political) and the
Kisan Mazdoor Morcha after the Centre
failed to address the farmers' demands."
"India
On Sunday, protests erupted across
Rajasthan State in response to the BJP-led
government's decision to annul nine
districts and three divisions established
by the previous Congress government.
The demonstrations occurred in four
affected areas - Neem-Ka-Thana,
Gangapur City, Dudu, and Sanchore.
Meanwhile, in Shahpura, the local market
was shut down, and in Kekadi, the effigies
of Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma were
burned as part of the ongoing protests."
"Iran
Iran has confirmed the arrest of
Italian journalist Cecilia Sala for
""violating the law."" Sala traveled
to Iran with a journalist's visa and
was arrested on December 19, 2024.
Italy has condemned the
arrest as unacceptable."
"Kenya
On Monday, police used
tear gas on anti-abduction
protesters in Nairobi and Embu.
Protesters responded by
throwing stones at the police.
The protesters took to the streets in the
cities after the recent alleged police
abductions and forced disappearance
of numerous students in the country."
"Spain
On Sunday, approximately 80,000 people
demonstrated in Valencia, a city
struck by recent floods, in the latest
protest over the government's response
to the unprecedented natural disaster.
It was the third largest demonstration
in Valencia regarding the government's
handling of the situation, following
protests on November 9 and 30
that attracted 130,000 and 100,000
participants, respectively."
Accidents
"Ethiopia
On Sunday, a bus carrying a wedding party
plunged into a river at the Gelana Bridge
in the Bona Zuria Woreda area, killing at
least 66 people and injuring two others."
"Pakistan
On Monday, a bus overturned on the
M-14 Motorway near Fatehjang, killing
11 people and injuring 22 others.
Police blamed the bus driver's
negligence for the crash."
"Pakistan
On Monday, a wedding van collided
with a trailer truck in the Kandiaro
area of Naushahro, killing seven
people and injuring 15 others."
Thanks for joining us for the December
31, 2024 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.
Until then, Happy New Year.