
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
a generator, sparking the explosion."
"Thanks for joining us for the January
20, 2025 Geopolitical Report Daily.
As a reminder, complete reports with
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