January 20, 2025 16:46 E30

First Israeli hostages released

Cedric: Welcome to the Geopolitical
Report Daily for January 20, 2025.

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 50 events.

It was filled with news on
the Israel-Hamas ceasefire,

so let's get started.

Terrorism,

"Colombia

As of Sunday, around 60 people have
been killed in guerilla violence

across the Catatumbo region near
the border of Venezuela, according

to the countryâs Ombudsman Office.

The violence has escalated between
the National Liberation Army (ELN) and

dissident members of the Revolutionary
Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)."

"India

The Special Task Force (STF) of Assam
Police has arrested Jaheer Ali, a member

of the Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT),
an Al-Qaeda-affiliated terror group.

This arrest brings the total number of
ABT associates arrested by the STF to 13.

The ABT members were involved in
clandestine activities under the direction

of ABT chief Jasimuddin Rahmani."

"Israel

IDF Spokesman Rear Adm.

Daniel Hagari confirmed that former
hostages Romi Gonen, Emily Damari,

and Doron Steinbrecher are safe
and in the custody of the IDF.

They will undergo an initial
checkup near the border before

being transferred to a hospital."

"Nigeria

Troops from 6 Division have destroyed
23 illegal refineries and 14

boats and arrested 25 oil thieves,
including four suspected members of

the proscribed Independent People
of Biafra (IPOB) in Delta State.

They also recovered over 45,000
liters of stolen products during joint

operations with other security agencies."

"Nigeria

On Saturday, police operations
killed seven terrorists during a

clash in the village of Ruwan Doruwa
in the Dutsinama Local Government

Area (LGA) of Katsina State.

An unspecified number of other militants
fled the area during the gun battle."

"Nigeria

A recent terrorist attack in the Chibok
Local Government Area (LGA), Borno State,

Nigeria, has resulted in the displacement
of 74 households, the deaths of 5

people, and the wounding of two others.

According to Borno State Governor,
the attack also destroyed five

churches, market stalls, and
properties worth millions of

naira in villages such as Bamzir,
Njilang, Shikarkir, and Yimirmugza."

"Pakistan

Between Saturday night and Sunday,
Pakistani forces killed five Khawarij

terrorists while they were attempting
to infiltrate through the Pak-Afghan

border area of Sambaza, Zhob district."

"Philippines

Saturday morning, two gunmen ambushed
and killed an aspiring candidate for

the municipal council of Northern
Kabuntalan while he was riding

a motorcycle in Barangay Central
Katingawan, Cotabato province."

"Syria

Gunmen from ISIS cells ambushed a
military vehicle belonging to the

Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on
the road between Al-Sawr and Al-Ezba

Towns in northern Deir Ezzor City.

Two SDF members were injured
in the attack and were taken

to a hospital for treatment."

"West Bank

A group of Israeli settlers raided
the Palestinian village of Sinjil,

torching a home and two vehicles.

An 86-year-old man was rescued
from the torched home and is

being rushed to the hospital.

No arrests have been reported."

"West Bank

The Yesh Din rights group
reports four settler attacks on

Palestinians, including arson,
stone-throwing, and property damage.

Attacks were reported in Ein
Sinya, Turmusaya, and Sinjil."

Military Conflict

"Gaza Strip

The IDF is conducting
airstrikes in the Gaza Strip.

The ceasefire had not started
because Hamas had not provided the

names of hostages to be released.

Casualty and damage
assessments were not reported."

"Iraq

Turkey's National Defense Ministry
announced on Friday that its forces

neutralized four PKK/YPG terrorists
in the Operation Claw-Lock Zone and

the Gara region of northern Iraq.

Turkish authorities use the
term 'neutralize' to indicate

that the terrorists were killed,
captured, or surrendered."

"Iraq

Turkey's National Defense Ministry
announced on Sunday that its

forces neutralized three PKK/YPG
terrorists in the Operation

Claw-Lock Zone of northern Iraq.

Turkish authorities use the
term 'neutralize' to indicate

that the terrorists were killed,
captured, or surrendered."

"Myanmar

A junta airstrike on Saturday
killed 28 people and wounded 25

others at a temporary detention
area holding family members of

junta soldiers in Mrauk-U Township."

"Myanmar

Last Thursday, junta forces conducted
airstrikes hit the Kanan Monastery

in Khampat Township, killing five
people and wounding several others."

"Nigeria

Nigerian air and ground forces killed
the son of the notorious terrorist

leader, Bello Turji, and several
other rebels during raids on camps

in Zangon Dan Gwandi, Zangon Tsaika,
and Zangon Kagara in the Fakai

area of Shinkafi, of Zamfara State.

During the raids, troops destroyed
arms stores and food supplies."

"Sudan

On Sunday, the Sudanese Health
Ministry announced that Rapid Support

Forces (RSF) paramilitary artillery
attacks killed one person and wounded

17 others in the town of Omdurman."

"Sudan

On Saturday, Rapid Support Forces
(RSF) allegedly suffered heavy losses

by Sudanese forces in the Malha desert
in North Darfur as they attempted

to gain control of the area of North
Darfur and open a route to Libya."

"Sudan

Sudanese forces advanced on Rapid
Support Forces in the Shambat area

of Khartoum, reaching the ""Al-Shukri
intersection"" in the town.

Control of the intersection would
allow the army to expand eastward into

the industrial zone, westward into
the Shambat neighborhood block, and

southward towards the Signal Corp base.

The Sudanese Army advance was
supported by artillery and snipers.

There was little resistance from the RSF."

"Syria

Three civilians were killed and 14 others
injured in Turkish drone strikes near

Teshreen dam in Manbij countryside.

Protests against the
Turkish attacks continue.

Turkish fighter jets also
attacked the vicinity of the Qarh

Qouzaq bridge, causing a violent
explosion but no casualties."

"Syria

Five militiamen from the National Army
and a member of the Syrian Democratic

Forces (SDF) were killed in clashes
with Turkish-backed factions near

Teshreen dam in Manbij countryside.

The clashes also resulted in the
destruction of several military vehicles.

Turkish fighter jets and drones
conducted airstrikes in the surrounding

areas of the Teshreen dam, and Turkish
forces fired rockets at positions

in the Ain Al-Arab countryside,
but no casualties were reported."

"Syria

Factions of the National Army
attempted to infiltrate SDF positions

in Sakiro village in Ain Issa
countryside in northern Al-Raqqah.

The SDF successfully repelled the attack,
killing two Turkish-backed militiamen."

"Syria

On Sunday, a Turkish airstrike killed
the co-chair of the Syrian Kurdish

Democratic Union Party (PYD) during
a field visit near the Tishrin

Dam area of Al-Qamishli city."

"Syria

Turkey's National Defense Ministry
announced on Friday that its forces

neutralized 17 PKK/YPG terrorists
during operations in the Operation

Peace Spring Zone in northern Syria.

Turkish authorities use the
term 'neutralize' to indicate

that the terrorists were killed,
captured, or surrendered."

"Syria

Turkey's National Defense Ministry
announced on Sunday that its forces

neutralized one PKK/YPG terrorist
during an operation in the Operation

Peace Spring Zone in northern Syria.

Turkish authorities use the
term 'neutralize' to indicate

that the terrorists were killed,
captured, or surrendered."

"Taiwan

Taiwan tracked nine Chinese
military aircraft and six vessels

around its country between 6 a.m.

on Saturday and Sunday.

Four aircraft entered the countryâs
southwestern and eastern Air Defense

Identification Zones (ADIZ)."

"Ukraine

At night, Russian forces launched
four attacks on the Nikopol district

in the Dnipropetrovsk region.

They used heavy artillery, the
Grad MLRS, and a kamikaze drone

to target the district center
and the Marhanets community.

An industrial facility and an
administrative building were damaged,

but there were no casualties.

In addition, a Russian UAV
was destroyed in the region."

"Ukraine

In the Donetsk region, a civilian was
killed by Russian troops in Mykolaivka.

Damage assessments were not
reported in the attacks."

"Ukraine

Ukrainian forces claimed to have
killed or wounded 1,580 Russian

soldiers over the past day.

Over 150 pieces of military equipment
were destroyed in the fighting."

"Ukraine

On January 19, a 24-year-old
man was killed in the village of

Chervonyi Maiak due to artillery
shelling by Russian forces.

The man was outdoors at
the time of the attack.

Additionally, the village of
Shliakhove in the Kherson region

also experienced artillery strikes
from Russian troops, resulting in

damage to residential buildings."

"Ukraine

The Russian forces launched 351 strikes on
13 settlements in the Zaporizhzhia region.

Two missile strikes hit Zaporizhzhia,
and Novodarivka was also targeted.

In addition, 198 UAVs
attacked various locations.

Piatykhatky and Huliaipole were hit
by MLRS shelling, while 148 artillery

attacks targeted multiple areas.

There were 127 reports of damage
to buildings and infrastructure."

"Ukraine

Russian troops fired on the
village of Khotimlya, causing

a fire and damaging houses.

A woman was injured as a result.

The Russians used missiles, MLRS,
drones, and artillery against

civilians in the Kharkiv region.

Several villages were affected,
with private households, cars,

and buildings being damaged.

In the village of Vysokyi, an Iskander-M
missile caused significant damage.

In Borshchivka, debris
fell from a Kh-59 missile."

"Ukraine

In the village of Antonivka, a man was
seriously injured when he stepped on

an unknown explosive object, resulting
in the amputation of his left foot.

The Kherson community also came under
Russian artillery and UAV fire, causing

damage to private houses and cars.

In Kherson, one person sustained
moderate injuries due to

shelling by the Russian army.

Overall, Russian troops shelled
31 settlements in the Kherson

region, resulting in three
deaths and six injuries."

"Ukraine

The Russian forces shelled 31 settlements
in the Kherson region, resulting

in three deaths and six injuries.

Social infrastructure and
residential areas were targeted,

causing damage to private homes,
agricultural buildings, and cars."

"Ukraine

In the Kherson region, the village
of Shlyakhove was shelled by

Russian troops, resulting in
damage to residential buildings.

No casualties were reported."

"West Bank

Clashes have resumed between
Palestinian Authority security

forces and terror groups in the Jenin
refugee camp, despite a recent truce.

This comes as tensions rise
between Hamas and the PA over

control of the Gaza Strip."

"Yemen

On Sunday morning, U.S.

forces carried out airstrikes on the
Al-Azraqeen area in northern Sanaa, Yemen.

The strikes followed claims by the Houthi
rebel group that they had targeted a U.S.

aircraft carrier in the Red Sea.

According to Houthi-run Al-Masirah
TV, four airstrikes hit the area

near the Yemeni capital, with
residents reporting that the

explosions echoed across the city."

Political Conflict

"Afghanistan

During a speech on Saturday, Sher Abbas
Stanikzai, political deputy at the

Foreign Ministry, urged Afghanistan's
leadership to scrap education bans

on Afghan women and girls, saying
there is no excuse for them, in a rare

public rebuke of government policy."

"Israel

Emily Damari, Doron Steinbrecher,
and Romi Gonen, who terrorists took

hostage on October 7, 2023, are
set to be freed by Hamas today.

The families of the hostages have
confirmed their expected release."

"Israel

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's
office confirmed that a ceasefire

would go into effect at 11:15 a.m.

after receiving a list of names from
Hamas and reviewing the details."

"Israel

The far-right Otzma Yehudit party has
left the Israeli coalition government

after Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu agreed to a ceasefire

agreement with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Three ministers from the party
have resigned, including National

Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir,
who claimed the ceasefire is a

""complete victory for terrorism""
and a ""surrender-to-terror deal.""

The party has stated that it
will not return to the government

table until Israel's complete
victory against Hamas is realiz"

"Nigeria

The BRICS bloc of developing economies,
comprising Brazil, Russia, India,

and China, with the addition of
South Africa in 2010, has admitted

Nigeria as a ""partner country.""

This expansion signifies an effort by
BRICS to strengthen its global position

as a counterweight to the Group of
Seven leading industrialized nations.

Nigeria has been designated as the
ninth BRICS partner country, joining

a group that includes Belarus,
Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia,

Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan."

"United States

TikTok went offline in the United States
just before a ban was set to begin.

The ban, supported by the Supreme
Court and signed into law by

President Biden, prevents American
companies from hosting or serving

content for the Chinese-owned app.

However, TikTok hinted that it may
return soon, possibly as early as Monday.

President-elect Trump stated
that he will likely delay the ban

for 90 days after taking office.

The blackout and potential
return of TikTok add to the

ongoing uncertainty surround"

Civil Unrest

"Israel

Police in Jerusalem arrested three people
for attacking police at a protest against

the hostage-ceasefire deal with Hamas.

Protesters threw stones
at officers, injuring one.

Police confiscated a bottle
with flammable material.

This was the fourth protest under Chords
Bridge since the ceasefire announcement.

The police took action to restore order."

"South Korea

On Sunday, police apprehended 45
protesters who stormed the Seoul Western

District Court in protest against
President Yoon Suk Yeol's formal arrest.

The protesters, supporters of
Yoon, forcefully entered the court,

vandalized facilities, threw objects,
and threatened police officers.

The court granted a warrant for
Yoon's extended detention, citing

the risk of evidence destruction
related to allegations of insurrection

and abuse of power from his failed
martial law bid on December 3, 2024."

"Switzerland

Hundreds of protesters marched through
the city center at an unauthorized

rally in Bern, causing property damage.

Two far-left groups organized
the demonstration, criticizing

the World Economic Forum (WEF) in
Davos for symbolizing capitalism

and its associated issues.

After an hour, the police called for the
protesters to disperse, and they complied.

Earlier in the day, around 350 WEF
and capitalism critics embarked on

a two-day protest hike to Davos.

The Strike WEF collective
aims to criticize"

Weapons

"India

On Sunday, Border Security Force
(BSF) recovered a rusted 82mm

mortar shell in the Ramgarh
sub-sector of the Samba district."

"Iraq

On Saturday, the Turkish army
announced that its forces seized

a weapons and ammunition cache
inside a cave in the Operation

Claw-Lock Zone in northern Iraq."

Accidents

"Nigeria

A fuel tanker explosion in northern
Nigeria has resulted in the deaths of at

least 70 people, with many more injured.

The incident occurred on Saturday, near
the Suleja area of Niger state, after

individuals attempted to transfer gasoline
from one tanker into another truck using

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