March 1, 2025 19:30 E70

China conducts another combat patrol around Scarborough Shoal

Cedric: Welcome to the Geopolitical
Report Daily for March 1, 2025.

Complete reports with casualty
information, interactive web maps, and

our IntelHub dashboard are available with
a Geopolitical Report Pro subscription.

On Friday, we collected and mapped
41 events, including another Chinese

combat patrol around Scarborough
Shoal and a heated conversation in

the Oval Office, so let's get started.

"Philippines

China's Southern Theater Command conducted
a new combat readiness exercise near

Scarborough Shoal in the South China
Sea, deploying naval and air forces in

what China calls ""Huangyan Island.""

This disputed area, known as ""Bajo
de Masinloc"" in the Philippines,

has been a traditional fishing ground
for Filipino fishermen and lies 125

nautical miles from Luzon, within
Manila's exclusive economic zone.

China claims historical rights to
the shoal based on its ""nine-dash

line"" territorial claim."

"United States

President Trump and Ukrainian President
Zelenskyy had a heated Oval Office

confrontation that ended with Zelenskyy
being told to leave the White House.

The meeting deteriorated after
VP Vance accused Zelenskyy of

being ""disrespectful"" and
not showing gratitude for U.S.

support.

Trump told Zelenskyy ""you're gambling
with World War III"" and that Ukraine

is ""not in a good position.""

Zelenskyy left without signing a
planned minerals-for-military-aid deal.

Trump later stated Zelenskyy
""disrespected the United

States"" and ""can come back
when he is ready for Peace.""

This marks a dramatic
shift from previous U.S.

policy toward Ukraine."

"Gaza Strip

Hamas is calling on the international
community to pressure Israel to move

forward with the second phase of the
Gaza ceasefire agreement without delay.

This statement comes one day
before the first phase of the

ceasefire is scheduled to expire.

Hamas specifically urges international
actors to ensure Israel ""fully adheres

to its obligations"" under the agreement."

"Lebanon

Authorities at Lebanon's
Beirut airport have seized $2.5

million in cash that was
allegedly intended for Hezbollah.

The money was found concealed by
a passenger arriving from Turkey.

According to three sources, this marks the
first time such a seizure has been made.

Hezbollah has not yet
commented on the incident."

"Syria

SDF commander Mazloum Abdi clarified
that PKK leader Abdullah Ãcalan's call

to dissolve the militant group does not
apply to the Syrian Democratic Forces.

While welcoming the announcement as
potentially positive for regional peace,

Abdi emphasized that his Kurdish-led
forces in northeastern Syria operate

independently from the PKK, despite
Turkey's view that the YPG (core of the

SDF) and PKK are indistinguishable."

"Iraq

Iraq's Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS)
conducted operations across multiple

provinces, including Saladin, Al-Anbar,
and Nineveh, where they dismantled

ISIS hideouts and destroyed explosives.

They arrested a senior ISIS military
leader in Al-Anbar and captured a

high-profile drug trafficker in Dhi Qar."

"Pakistan

A suicide bomber attacked a mosque in
a pro-Taliban seminary in northwestern

Pakistan, killing five people, including
Hamidul Haq, a prominent cleric and

son of the ""father of the Taliban.""

Haq led a faction of the
Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam party and

ran the Jamia Haqqania seminary,
where many Afghan Taliban studied.

The bombing occurred just before Ramadan,
with no group claiming responsibility."

"Philippines

Forty-one members of the Bangsamoro
Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) from the

Bungos and Karialan factions surrendered
to the 92nd Infantry Battalion in Datu

Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur.

The surrenderers, who came from various
municipalities in Maguindanao del Sur

and the Special Geographic Area of
BARMM, handed over their firearms as a

symbol of their commitment to peace."

"Russia

Russia's FSB claims it thwarted a
Ukrainian plot to assassinate Tikhon

Shevkunov, a senior Orthodox priest
known as ""Putin's confessor.""

Two suspects were detainedâa Ukrainian
who worked as Shevkunov's secretary

and a Russian seminary graduate.

They allegedly planned to plant
explosives in the priest's

monastery apartment in Moscow.

The FSB seized bomb-making materials
and fake Ukrainian passports,

claiming the operation was directed by
Ukrainian intelligence via Telegram.

Shevkunov, 66, has been close to Putin
for 30 years and recently became a church

official in Russian-annexed Crimea."

"Somalia

The excerpt reports that mortar shells
struck near Aden Adde International

Airport in Mogadishu, Somalia, on
Thursday, triggering warning sirens.

The attack occurred as security
forces implemented heightened measures

for Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy
Ahmed's planned visit to the city.

Officials closed several roads in
preparation for his arrival, though

it remains unclear if the mortar
attack caused any casualties."

"Syria

A mass grave was discovered that
contains the remains of nearly

1,000 people who died from torture
during a former regime's rule.

These individuals had been detained at
Al-Mazzah military airbase, where they

were subjected to various atrocities,
including executions and both

physical and psychological torture."

"Iraq

Violent clashes between the PKK
(Kurdistan Workers' Party) and

Turkish forces in the northern Duhok
province of the Kurdistan Region

occurred Thursday night into Friday.

These clashes, involving light and
medium weapons near villages on

Matin Mountain, represent the first
violation of PKK leader Abdullah

Ãcalan's recent call from prison for
his group to disarm and dissolve.

Iraq, the Kurdistan Region, the we, and
others had welcomed Ãcalan's appeal."

"Lebanon

The IDF conducted a drone strike in
northern Lebanon's Hermel District

that killed Mohammed Mahdi Ali
Shaheen, a Hezbollah operative

involved in weapons procurement.

According to the IDF, Shaheen was
coordinating weapons purchases

on the Syria-Lebanon border
despite the current ceasefire.

He was described as a prominent member
of Hezbollah's regional division in the

Beqaa Valley who facilitated weapons
smuggling from Syria to Lebanon."

"Nigeria

Nigerian troops are conducting intensified
operations against terrorists in

the Northeast and Northwest regions.

Recent successes include overrunning
terrorist positions in Sambisa

Forest, neutralizing insurgents
in ambush operations, and

recovering weapons and ammunition.

Forces have arrested Boko Haram
financiers, a terrorist logistics

supplier, and a kidnap kingpin
connected to the abduction of

a local government official.

In Plateau State, troops recovered
57 stolen cows following reports

of murder and cattle rustling."

"North Korea

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised
a strategic cruise missile test and

ordered full nuclear readiness, calling
it essential for national defense.

State media KCNA reported the Wednesday
launch was meant to warn ""enemies""

and demonstrate nuclear preparedness.

South Korea confirmed tracking
the missiles over the sea."

"Philippines

Philippine Army troops engaged NPA
insurgents in Tapaz, Capiz, on February

26, 2025, killing one rebel identified
as Peter Agudez and seizing weapons.

The brief firefight ended when the
insurgents retreated, leaving behind

firearms, ammunition, and supplies.

Brigadier General Michael Samson credited
local civilian cooperation for the

successful operation against remnants of
the dismantled Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay."

"Russia

Ukrainian Defense Forces conducted several
strikes on February 28, destroying a

Russian thermobaric ammunition storage
facility near Selydove in the Donetsk

region and targeting the Ilsky oil
refinery in Russia's Krasnodar territory,

which supplies the Russian military.

Three additional key Russian
military sites were also struck."

"Syria

Syrian Democratic Forces successfully
shot down four Turkish drones as they

were approaching the airspace near
Teshreen Dam and Qarquzaq Bridge.

No casualties or damage were
reported from the debris."

"Syria

A Turkish drone attack was reported on
Qarfal Village and Lafarge Company near

Ain Al-Arab (Kobane), rocket fire on
Khirbat Kawer Village in the same area,

and artillery shelling of SDF positions
near Ain Eissa in northern Al-Raqqa.

No casualties were reported
from these incidents."

"Taiwan

Eight Chinese military aircraft
(with six crossing the Taiwan Strait

median line), eight naval vessels,
and one official ship were tracked

around Taiwan over the past day.

Taiwan responded by deploying aircraft,
naval ships, and coastal missile

systems to monitor the PLA activity in
its air defense identification zone."

"Ukraine

A 55-year-old civilian was
injured in a Russian drone attack

in Beryslav, Kherson region.

The man was on the street when
the attack occurred around 11:00,

resulting in an explosive injury
and shrapnel wounds to his legs.

He is currently receiving medical care."

"Ukraine

A Russian airstrike hit the
village of Bezruky in Ukraine's

Kharkiv region, damaging a private
house and igniting dry grass over

approximately 800 square meters.

The attack targeted the outskirts of
the village, according to Vyacheslav

Zadorenko, head of the Derhachiv
Community Military Administration."

"Ukraine

Russian forces killed three residents in
the Donetsk region on February 27, with

victims from Kostiantynivka, Pokrovsk,
and Torske, according to regional military

administration head Vadym Filashkin.

Seven others were injured
in these attacks."

"Ukraine

According to Oleksandr Prokudin,
head of the Kherson Regional Military

Administration, Russian forces conducted
shelling and air strikes across numerous

settlements in the Kherson region.

The attacks damaged 24 private
houses, infrastructure (including

a gas pipeline and gas station), an
agricultural enterprise, and vehicles.

Seven civilians were
injured in the attacks.

Ukrainian air defense forces
reportedly destroyed one Russian

Shahed-131/136 drone overnight."

"Ukraine

Ukrainian forces shot down 107 Russian
Shahed drones during a massive attack

that began February 27, with another 97
decoy drones disappearing from radar.

The attack involved 208 UAVs
launched from six Russian locations.

Ukrainian anti-aircraft units successfully
intercepted drones across 13 regions,

including Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Zaporizhzhia.

Despite the defense efforts, some
drones reached their targets, damaging

apartments and buildings in Zaporizhzhia.

The affected regions included Kharkiv,
Sumy, Mykolaiv, and Zaporizhzhia."

"Ukraine

Russian forces launched multiple drone
attacks on the Sumy region on February

27, 2025, targeting residential areas.

Five drone strikes hit Sumy city
within an hour, injuring a 68-year-old

woman and an 18-year-old girl while
damaging eight apartment buildings.

Across the region, five apartment
buildings and 19 private

houses were damaged, with four
civilians injured in total.

Russians also used aerial bombs and
artillery against other settlements."

"Ukraine

Two people were injured when Russian
drones struck Sumy, Ukraine, on

February 27, causing damage to
residential buildings and forcing

the evacuation of 40 residents.

The attack shattered windows and
damaged roofs in multiple buildings.

The same evening, Russian forces
also launched an airstrike on the

Krasnopillia community using guided
aerial bombs, damaging an apartment

building and ten private homes, though
no casualties were reported there.

Additionally, shelling in the
Hlukhiv community damaged a

low-pressure gas pipeline.

Emergency services are working at all
impact sites, and authorities are still

assessing the full extent of the damage."

"Ukraine

Russian forces conducted drone strikes on
Ukraine's Kharkiv region, with at least

12 Shahed-type drones reportedly deployed.

One drone struck a private residence
in Kharkiv district, causing damage

and resulting in two injuries.

Additional UAVs were reported
moving toward Kharkiv."

"Ukraine

Russian forces launched 483 strikes
on Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region on

February 27, targeting nine settlements
with a combination of airstrikes, drone

attacks, MLRS strikes, and artillery fire.

Regional head Ivan Fedorov reported
30 instances of damage to residential

buildings, with an 82-year-old
woman injured in Zaporizhzhia.

The affected settlements included
Kamianske, Huliaipole, Shcherbaky,

Novodanylivka, Mala Tokmachka, Charivne,
Novodarivka, Stepnohirsk, and Dolynka."

"Ukraine

Three people were wounded in Russian
attacks on Dnipropetrovsk region.

In the Synelnykove district, two
men (48 and 35) were injured,

while in the Nikopol district,
an 84-year-old woman was wounded.

The Russian forces targeted multiple
communities using drones and guided aerial

bombs, damaging a kindergarten, 13 private
houses, a car, power lines, and a truck.

Communities affected included
Mezhivska, Velykomykhailivska, Nikopol,

Myrivska, Pokrovska, and Marhanets."

"Ukraine

Russian forces attacked three
communities in the Donetsk region on

February 28, 2025, resulting in three
civilian deaths and two injuries.

In Lyman, two elderly men (61 and 62)
were killed by an FPV drone while cycling.

A 53-year-old woman died in
Myrnohrad from artillery shelling.

Drone and artillery attacks in Stavky and
Kostiantynivka injured two more civilians.

The attacks damaged homes,
a store, and power lines."

"Ukraine

Russian forces attacked Kramatorsk
in Ukraine's Donetsk region,

specifically hitting a residential area.

According to Oleksandr Honcharenko,
head of the Kramatorsk city military

administration, the attack caused
property damage, but there's currently

no information about casualties.

Authorities are still assessing the
full consequences of the shelling."

"Ukraine

Ukrainian forces claimed to have
killed or wounded 1,060 Russian

soldiers over the past day.

Over 380 pieces of military equipment
were destroyed in the fighting."

"Ukraine

Russian forces attacked Zaporizhzhia
with Shahed strike drones, causing

damage to residential apartments,
private homes, and garages.

The attack injured at least one
person and started fires on the upper

floors of a multi-story building.

According to Ivan Fedorov, Head of
the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military

Administration, emergency services were
dispatched to assist affected residents."

"United States

The Cleveland Municipal Court
has been closed for three days

due to a cybersecurity incident
affecting its internal systems.

Officials have shut down all
affected systems as a precautionary

measure while they work to secure
and restore services safely.

The court has released limited
information about the nature of the

incident and has not specified whether
it involves ransomware, a data breach,

or another type of cyberattack."

"Armenia

Demonstrators gathered outside
Armenia's foreign ministry, demanding

officials meet with diplomats to
address Azerbaijan's detention and

mock trials of Armenian prisoners,
including former Karabakh officials.

Azerbaijan acknowledges holding 23
Armenian prisoners, among them former

presidents and State Minister Ruben
Vardanyan, who recently began a hunger

strike and whose health has deteriorated.

The protesters criticized the
international community's silence

and called for action through
international platforms to

secure the prisoners' release."

"Greece

Thousands protested across Greece
on the second anniversary of a train

crash that killed 57 people in 2023.

Workers held a 24-hour strike,
halting flights, trains, and ships.

Demonstrators demanded justice,
as safety issues remain unfixed,

investigations are incomplete,
and no convictions have been made.

Protesters accused PM Mitsotakis'
government of avoiding responsibility,

with signs calling them ""murderers."""

"Syria

Syrian security forces arrested
Farouq Qassem Al-Hamadi, a former

member of the People's Assembly
under Bashar al-Assad's regime.

He was detained in Daraa city
on charges of extortion, drug

trafficking, and abuse of power.

According to Arab media, Al-Hamadi
allegedly exploited families searching

for detained relatives by promising
their release in exchange for money."

"Syria

An engineer from the Military Operations
Administration died when a landmine

exploded while they were attempting
to dismantle it in Jabal Al-Akrad,

located in the Latakia countryside.

The mine was described as being from
""war remnants,"" suggesting it was left

over from previous conflict in the area."

"United States

A Robinson R44 helicopter crashed near
the Kinney County and Uvalde County line

in Southwest Texas around 1:20 p.m.,

according to the FAA.

The crash occurred near U.S.

Highway 90 by Harris Ranch.

Both occupants of the helicopter died
from injuries sustained in the crash.

The National Transportation Safety
Board has begun an investigation, with a

preliminary report expected on Friday that
will include the aircraft registration

number and operator information."

"Germany

A Syrian man identified as Issa Al H.

has been charged with three counts
of murder, ten counts of attempted

murder, and membership in a terrorist
organization following a stabbing

attack in Solingen, Germany, in August.

Prosecutors allege he acted on behalf
of the Islamic State (IS), targeting

""nonbelievers"" at a street festival to
take revenge for Western military actions.

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