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Cedric: Welcome to the Geopolitical
Report Daily for December 30, 2024.
Complete reports with casualty
information, interactive web maps, and
our IntelHub dashboard are available with
a Geopolitical Report Pro subscription.
Sunday we collected and mapped
49 events, so let's get started.
Terrorism
"Bangladesh
On Sunday, Bangladeshi forces arrested
a top terrorist, Chingri Palash, in
the Gobarchaka area of Khulna city.
Troops recovered various
weapons during the operation."
"India
Punjab police have claimed to have busted
a Pakistan-ISI-backed terror cell operated
by Babbar Khalsa International (BKI).
The module was being operated by Harpreet
Singh alias Happy Passia and Shamsher
alias Honey, who are based abroad.
Five members, including mastermind
Abhijot Singh, have been arrested.
The module was involved in
lobbing hand grenades at police
stations in Batala and Gurdaspur."
"Iran
On Saturday evening, a suicide
bomber attacked a police patrol in
the southern Iranian port city of
Bandar Lengeh, killing one local
officer and injuring another.
No individual or group immediately
claimed responsibility for the assault."
"Israel
Five rockets were launched from
the northern Gaza Strip towards
the southern city of Sderot.
The IDF intercepted two rockets,
while the other three hit open areas.
No injuries or significant
damage have been reported.
This is the third consecutive day of
rocket attacks from Gaza as the IDF
continues its ground offensive against
Hamas in the Strip's far north."
"Lebanon
Lebanese authorities have arrested Abdul
Rahman al-Qaradawi, an Egyptian opposition
activist and son of the late spiritual
leader of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Qaradawi was detained at the Masnaa
border crossing due to an Egyptian
arrest warrant, which sentenced him
in absentia to five years in jail for
opposing the state and inciting terrorism.
The Lebanese judiciary will
decide whether to extradite him."
"Nigeria
Friday night, Nigerian forces ambushed
and killed three notorious terrorists
and wounded several others in Dogon Dawa,
Mairiga Local Government Area (LGA).
Troops recovered three AK-47
rifles from the dead militants."
"Nigeria
On Saturday, Nigerian forces arrested
a female and her accomplice, accused
of supplying arms and ammunition
to notorious terrorist leader Bello
Turji, in the Badarawa area of the
Shinkafi Local Government Area (LGA).
Troops recovered 764 rounds of 7.62mm
special ammunition and six magazines
intended for delivery to Turjiâs camp."
"Pakistan
On Saturday morning, a Pakistani border
soldier was killed, and 11 others
were injured in a series of Taliban
attacks on border posts in the Upper
Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Taliban fighters launched an
assault on military posts in the
Ghozgarhi, Matha Sangar, Kot Ragha,
and Tari Mengal areas, utilizing a
range of light and heavy weaponry.
Pakistani forces reportedly engaged
the Taliban fighters, resulting in the
deaths of seven to eight Taliban members
during the subsequent exchange of fire."
"Pakistan
On Saturday, a suicide bomber triggered
his explosive-laden vehicle near a
Pakistani Frontier Corps checkpost
near Kanori in the Tank District,
wounding three security personnel."
"Philippines
Authorities have reported the arrest
of a leader and a member of the New
People's Army (NPA) in the Davao region.
The arrests were made during a
joint military and police operation.
The leader, Benny Flores Mendoza,
was arrested for violating the
Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.
Another member, Francisco Rotol
Sud-organ, was also arrested and found
in possession of a pistol and a grenade."
"Syria
Two members of the security of the
Military Operations Administration
were killed by supporters of the
former regime in Jabalah City
in the Lattakia countryside."
"West Bank
A Palestinian journalist,
Shatha al-Sabbagh, was killed
in the Jenin refugee camp.
Her family claims it was a deliberate
act by the Palestinian Authority (PA), as
there was no fighting nearby at the time.
The family holds the PA responsible and
sees it as a dangerous escalation in
the crackdown against terror groups.
The Palestinian security forces deny
involvement and promise to investigate."
Military Conflict
"Afghanistan
Residents of Dand-e-Patan district
in Paktia province reported
that a rocket fired by Pakistan
struck a mosque, resulting in
three deaths and five injuries.
Family members of the victims are
calling for justice and accountability.
Over a thousand residents
have been displaced due to
recent clashes with Pakistan."
"Gaza Strip
Israeli Air Force fighter jets targeted
a group of Hamas members operating
from a former hospital in Gaza City.
The strike resulted in at least
seven deaths and several injuries.
The Hamas operatives were part of the air
defense unit in the Shejaiya Battalion.
The military clarified that the
hospital was no longer active and
had been repurposed as a command
and control center for planning
attacks against Israeli troops.
The IDF took precautions to
minimize harm to civilians and
infrastructure during the strike.
Additionally, there are reports
of artillery shelling at another
hospital, Al-Ahli Arab Hospital,
but no official comment from
the IDF has been provided yet."
"Gaza Strip
An IDF soldier named Staff Sgt.
Yuval Shoham was killed in
the northern Gaza Strip.
The IDF did not provide details about
the circumstances of his death."
"Gaza Strip
Israeli fighter jets targeted
launchers in northern Gaza used
by Palestinian terrorists to fire
long-range rockets at Jerusalem.
The rockets were intercepted, and
there were no injuries or damage."
"Iraq
On Saturday, Iraqi security forces
destroyed nine ISIS hideouts and
seized suicide vests and explosives
during an operation in the al-Rutba
district of Anbar province."
"Iraq
On Sunday, a source reported that
a Turkish reconnaissance drone
was shot down in the north Qandil
Mountains in northern Iraq."
"Pakistan
Amidst heightened tensions between
Afghanistan and Pakistan, the Afghan
Taliban has carried out missile strikes
on multiple targets in Pakistan's
border areas of the Balochistan Region.
This retaliatory action follows recent
Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan territory,
which resulted in civilian deaths.
The Afghan defense ministry has stated
that these latest strikes occurred
beyond the Durand Line, a border
that Afghanistan has long disputed."
"Philippines
On Sunday, the People's Liberation
Army (PLA) announced that Chinese
naval and air forces conducted combat
readiness patrols near the disputed
Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea."
"Sudan
On Saturday, activists reported that a
drone strike carried out by the Rapid
Support Forces (RSF) killed at least
21 civilians at a shelter for displaced
people in El Fasher, North Darfur."
"Sudan
On Saturday, Sudanese airstrikes hit
residential areas in the south belt
area of Khartoum, killing at least seven
civilians and wounding seven others."
"Sudan
On Saturday, a coalition of Sundanese
forces attacked three Rapid Support
Forces (RSF) vehicles near Al-Malha,
North Darfur State, destroying
the vehicles and capturing an
unspecified number of RSF troops."
"Syria
Syrian media reports casualties in a
suspected Israeli airstrike near Damascus.
An explosion in the city of Adra,
on the eastern outskirts of the
capital, killed several people.
The blast is believed
to be an Israeli strike.
The IDF has made no comment."
"Syria
Fierce clashes broke out between the
SDF-backed Tel Tamr Military Council
Forces and Turkish-backed factions in
Abu Rasin countryside and Tel Tamr.
The clashes involved heavy weapons
and resulted in four Turkish-backed
militiamen being injured and
taken to hospitals in Ras Al-Ain."
"Syria
Fierce clashes have broken out
between the Syrian Democratic
Forces (SDF) and factions of the
Turkish-backed National Army near
the Teshreen dam and Qarrah Qarquzaq
dam in Manbij countryside, Aleppo.
The clashes are ongoing and coincide
with Turkish drone airstrikes
on SDF military positions.
No casualties have been reported so far."
"Syria
An Israeli airstrike near Damascus
killed 11 people, targeting a weapons
depot belonging to Assad's forces.
The Israeli military did not
acknowledge the airstrike."
"Taiwan
Taiwan tracked five Chinese military
aircraft and five naval vessels
around its country between 6 a.m.
on Saturday and 6 a.m.
on Sunday.
Three aircraft crossed the Taiwan
Strait median line and entered
Taiwan's northern and southwestern Air
Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ)."
"Ukraine
In the Dnipropetrovsk region, a Russian
drone attack on December 29 injured
three residents of the Nikopol district.
A 77-year-old man is in critical
condition with a severe head injury, a
38-year-old woman has a blast injury, and
a 65-year-old man received medical care.
The attack also caused damage to a gas
station and two passenger vehicles."
"Ukraine
Russian forces used a drone to drop
an explosive device on a resident
in Stanislav, Kherson region.
A woman born in 1984 suffered a blast
injury and a shrapnel wound to her leg."
"Ukraine
Ukrainian forces claimed to have
killed or wounded 1,730 Russian
soldiers over the past day.
Over 165 pieces of military equipment
were destroyed in the fighting."
"Ukraine
Russian forces carried out an artillery
strike on the village of Zahryzove in the
Kharkiv region, injuring two civilians.
The attack occurred on December 29 and
resulted in damage to private homes.
In a separate incident, a man was
killed in the village of Dvorichna
due to a Russian drone attack."
"Ukraine
Rescue teams in Ukraine's Donetsk
region were shelled by Russian forces
while responding to a fire in Pokrovsk.
The State Emergency Service had to
temporarily suspend firefighting
efforts due to the danger.
No casualties were reported."
"Ukraine
The Sumy region in Ukraine experienced
65 Russian strikes in the past 24
hours, resulting in 239 explosions.
The attacks targeted border territories
and settlements, including the
Khotyn, Myropillia, Krasnopillia,
Velyka Pysarivka, Putyvl, Shalyhine,
Esman, and Seredyno-Buda communities.
This marks a change in tactics by the
Russians, who have been conducting massive
missile and drone attacks on Ukraine."
"Ukraine
Russian forces launched 60 attacks
on border territories of Chernihiv,
Kharkiv, and Sumy regions,
resulting in 145 explosions.
In the Chernihiv region, five
settlements came under attack, causing
damage to critical infrastructure,
a private home, and a car.
In the Sumy region, 20 settlements
were shelled, resulting in damage
to an apartment building, a
private home, and two vehicles.
In the Kharkiv region, Morozova
Dolyna, Tymofiivka, and
Ivano-Shyichyne were targeted.
A man in Dvorichna, Kharkiv region,
was killed in a Russian drone attack."
"Yemen
On Saturday, Houthi rebel forces
claimed to have shot down a U.S.
MQ-9 Reaper drone using a locally
made surface-to-air missile as it
flew over the Al Bayda Governorate,
an area in western Yemen."
Political Conflict
"Moldova
Moldova's Prime Minister, Dorin
Recean, has condemned Gazprom's
decision to halt gas supply to the
country starting January 1, 2025.
Recean criticized the move, stating
that it confirms the Kremlin's intent to
weaponize energy and turn residents of
the Transnistrian region into hostages.
He assured that Moldova would
overcome any difficulties and
diversify its gas supply sources.
Moldova's Parliament approved a
state of emergency in the energy
sector, set to last for 60 days."
"Syria
During the last week, Islamist Hayat
Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) authorities arrested
nearly 300 pro-Assad loyalists in Damascus
and its suburbs, as well as in Homs,
Hama, Tartus, Latakia, and Deir Ezzor.
Those detained included informants,
pro-regime fighters, and former soldiers."
"Syria
Holding elections in Syria could take
up to four years, according to Ahmed
al-Sharaa, the de facto leader of Syria.
He also mentioned that drafting a new
constitution could take up to three
years, and it would take about a year
for Syrians to see significant changes.
Sharaa leads the Hayat Tahrir
al-Sham (HTS) group, which ousted
Bashar al-Assad on December 8th.
He mentioned that HTS will be dissolved
in a national dialogue conference.
Sharaa emphasizes Syria's strategic
interests with Russia and hopes that
the incoming US administration will
lift sanctions imposed on Syria."
Civil Unrest
"Georgia
On Sunday, thousands of Georgians
protested outside the parliament
building in Tbilisi against
President Mikheil Kavelashvili of the
Georgian Dream party's inauguration.
The massive demonstration, one of the
largest in recent history, underscored
the country's protracted political turmoil
and the widespread public dissatisfaction
with what opposition leaders claim
was a fraudulent electoral process."
Accidents
"Canada
An Air Canada flight caught fire due
to landing gear failure at Halifax
Stanfield International Airport.
The plane slid down the runway,
and minor injuries were reported."
"France
On Sunday, three migrants died
after ending up in the water after
trying to board a boat off the
coast of Sangatte in their attempt
to cross the English Channel.
Rescuers treated 45 other migrants
for hypothermia at the beach,
while four were taken to hospital."
"Iraq
On Sunday, a woman was killed, and
three family members were injured by
a landmine left by ISIS in the Haditha
district of western Al-Anbar province.
The incident happened in a remote area
as the family was passing through."
"Russia
Vladimir Putin has apologized for the
Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash but
did not admit Russia's responsibility.
The crash killed 38 people.
The US has seen indications that
Russia might be responsible.
Speculation suggests electronic
jamming and air defense missiles
may have caused the crash."
"South Korea
On Sunday, a Jeju Air passenger plane
carrying 181 people burst into flames
after skidding off the runway at the Maun
International Airport in South Korea.
The aircraft slammed into a concrete
fence when its front landing
gear failed to deploy, resulting
in at least 176 fatalities.
Emergency crews were able to extract two
crew members from the wreckage safely.
This incident marks one of the country's
worst aviation disasters to date."
"United Arab Emirates
On Sunday, a small plane crashed
into the sea on the coast of
Ral Al Khaimah, resulting in the
deaths of the pilot and co-pilot.
An investigation was underway."
"United States
On Saturday morning in Delray Beach,
Florida, a train collided with a
fire truck responding to an emergency
call, injuring three firefighters and
12 passengers, authorities reported.
An investigation into the cause
of the collision is underway."
"United States
Saturday afternoon, a small plane
struck a power line and crashed while
attempting to land at a private grass
strip south of Parson in Labette
County, seriously injuring the pilot."
Thanks for joining us for the December
30, 2024 Geopolitical Report Daily.
As a reminder, complete reports with
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