Hamas turns down Israel's latest ceasefire proposal
Cedric: Welcome to the Geopolitical
Report Daily for April 16, 2025.
Complete reports with casualty
information, interactive web maps, and
our IntelHub dashboard are available with
a Geopolitical Report Pro subscription.
Tuesday, we collected 59 events,
including Israel's latest ceasefire
proposal being turned down by
Hamas, so let's get started.
Hamas has rejected an Israeli offer for
a six-week ceasefire in Gaza, citing
the demand for the group to disarm
without any Israeli commitment to end
the conflict or withdraw from Gaza.
According to a senior Palestinian
official, the Israeli proposal
was relayed through Egypt and did
not meet Hamas's key demands."
"China
On Tuesday, China revealed an espionage
incident involving a government
ministry employee arrested for actively
contacting foreign intelligence
agencies, offering to disclose state
secrets in vital sectors, and stealing
nearly 300,000 internal documents, as
the Ministry of State Security (MSS).
The suspect, Zhang, operated as a
""phantom"" in the conference room,
frequently infiltrating classified
meetings to set up recording devices.
Her espionage activities came
to light when one of the devices
fell, prompting vigilant attendees
to notify the authorities."
"Iran
The next round of indirect talks
between the US and Iran on Tehran's
nuclear program will take place in
Oman's capital on April 19, instead
of previously planned in Rome."
"Iran
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard
Corps has stated that its military
capabilities and national security are
non-negotiable, ahead of indirect talks
with the US on its nuclear program."
"Somalia
The Terrorist Financing Targeting
Center (TFTC) has designated 15
Al-Shabaab operatives in Somalia
as part of a crackdown on the
terrorist group's financing networks.
The TFTC, a joint initiative between the
US and the Gulf Cooperation Council, aims
to disrupt Al-Shabaab's access to regional
and international financial networks.
The designated individuals are involved in
various activities, including fundraising,
extortion, and the proliferation of
Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)."
"Sudan
At least 400,000 individuals have been
forced to evacuate from Sudan's largest
displacement camp, Zamzam, located 9.3
miles south of Al-Fasher in the
Darfur region following the seizure
of control by the paramilitary
Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The RSF's assault on the camp
resulted in hundreds of casualties,
including deaths and injuries, as
reported by both the government
and humanitarian organizations."
"Philippines
Beginning Tuesday, approximately 9,000 US
troops will participate in annual joint
exercises in the Philippines to bolster
alliances amid rising tensions with China
regarding the South China Sea and Taiwan.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines
referred to these annual drills, which
include 5,000 Filipino troops and 200
from the Australian Defence Force,
as a national defense rehearsal.
Notably, observers from Poland and
the Czech Republic will also take part
for the first time, alongside members
from the Japan Self-Defence Force."
"Tunisia
On Monday, the African Lion 25, US
Africa Commandâs premier annual exercise,
officially commenced in Tunisia.
Activities in Ghana, Senegal,
and Morocco will begin in May.
With more than 10,000 troops from
over 40 nationsâincluding seven NATO
alliesâthis yearâs iteration will be
the largest in the exerciseâs history."
"Afghanistan
Armed clashes erupted late Monday between
Taliban forces and unidentified gunmen
in the northern province of Kunduz.
The fighting commenced around 8:30 p.m.
near a Taliban outpost in Dobandi
village of the Chahardara district
of Kunduz Province and was still
ongoing as of early Tuesday.
The identity of the
assailants remains unknown.
It was unclear if there were casualties
or property damage in the fighting."
"India
Early Tuesday morning, an Indian
soldier was injured during a clash with
terrorists in the Lasana village of
Poonch along the Line of Control (LoC).
Security forces launched a search
operation for the militants involved."
"India
Pakistani terrorists killed an
Indian Junior Commissioned Officer
(JCO) during an infiltration attempt
in the Keri Battal Sector of the
Akhnoor in the Jammu district.
Troops succeeded in
thwarting the infiltration."
"India
On Monday, security forces arrested a
PREPAK (Pro) militant during an operation
in Bidya Nagar, Jiribam district."
"India
On Monday, security forces arrested a
PREPAK (Pro) militant at his residence
in Ningthoukhong Kha Khunou in Bishnupur.
Troops recovered more than 300 empty cases
of various firearms during the operation."
"India
In the Chatroo forest region of
Kishtwar, security forces killed three
Pakistani terrorists during a gun battle.
Troops recovered a significant
cache of arms and ammunition
from the dead militants."
"Iraq
Iraqi security forces have arrested
three high-risk individuals in Diyala
province as part of a joint operation
with the National Security Service."
"Jordan
Jordan has arrested 16 people for their
involvement in a plot that threatened
national security, which included
rockets, explosives, and a drone factory.
The suspects are connected to Hamas.
The authorities have been monitoring
the case since 2021 and claimed the
plot aimed to harm national security and
cause destruction within the kingdom."
"Nigeria
On Monday, armed bandits stormed
the Tungar Dada community in
Zamfara State, killing one resident
and abducting over 50 locals.
The attack occurred at 3:30 a.m.,
with the bandits shooting
sporadically and herding villagers
away to an unknown location."
"Nigeria
Six former refugees who were kidnapped
by Boko Haram terrorists in Doron
Baga, Borno State, have been released
after their families paid a ransom.
Eight refugees were abducted
while fishing just months after
being resettled in the community.
The insurgents demanded N300,000
for each person, but some families
paid less to secure their freedom.
Two of the victims remain with
the terrorists as their families
couldn't afford the ransom."
"Nigeria
Unknown gunmen killed three Nigerian
police officers in Achi, Enugu State.
The incident occurred at a checkpoint
near Ozudaa Market, but details are
still unclear as the police have
not issued an official statement."
"Nigeria
A tragic attack by terrorists in
Morai town, Zamfara State, has
resulted in the deaths of four people,
including former local government
sole administrator Saminu Morai.
The attack occurred late Monday night,
with numerous residents kidnapped."
"Nigeria
On Friday, armed men stormed
a mountain-top vigil in Kogi
State, Nigeria, abducting an
unknown number of worshippers.
The attackers fired indiscriminately,
and a fierce gun battle ensued
between them and local vigilantes.
One woman, Mary Adams Gure, was rescued
by the vigilantes, but the exact number
of those abducted remains unclear.
A search-and-rescue operation
is currently ongoing."
"Pakistan
Gunmen ambushed a vehicle and
kidnapped two polio workers returning
home from a health facility in
Dera Ismail Khan, located in the
troubled Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
This incident occurred just before
a nationwide anti-polio campaign
set to start on April 21, aimed at
vaccinating 45 million children.
It was not clear who was
behind the abduction.
Insurgents assert that vaccination
campaigns are part of a Western plot to
sterilize children despite strong denials
from the government and medical experts."
"Pakistan
On Tuesday, a strong roadside bomb
detonated near a vehicle transporting
security personnel in the troubled
southwest region of Pakistan,
resulting in the deaths of three
officers and injuries to 18 more.
This incident took place in
Mastung, a district within
the province of Balochistan.
No group has yet taken
responsibility for the attack."
"Pakistan
On Tuesday, an IED blast targeted a
bomb disposal (BD) squad vehicle of the
security forces in the Chamyar Johar
area of Mamond tehsil, Bajaur, injuring
four Frontier Corps (FC) personnel and
five civilians, including two children.
A search was underway
for those responsible."
"Pakistan
On Sunday, unknown militants set machinery
belonging to a road construction company
on fire and abducted two drivers near
Tirman along the Punjab-KP border."
"Pakistan
A rocket attack occurred near
Wazirabad, Tank district, injuring
seven laborers who were working
in an under-construction building.
The victims were rushed to a nearby
hospital for emergency treatment.
Police have cordoned off the area
to investigate the incident."
"South Sudan
A vehicle carrying a Somali driver and
a South Sundanese soldier was ambushed
in Abiemnom County, Unity State, on
Sunday, injuring both individuals.
The local authorities suspect armed youth
from Mayom County were behind the attack."
"Syria
A violent incident occurred
in the Al-Zayabiya area, Rif
Dimsahq, resulting in at least two
fatalities and one severe injury.
The violence escalated from a
fight between a group of people,
leading to armed clashes."
"Syria
Unidentified gunmen fatally shot
two members of the general security
forces in Al-Muzayreb town, located
in the western countryside of Daraa.
The incident resulted in the
deaths of the two individuals,
but the motive and perpetrators
behind the attack remain unknown."
"Syria
A girl and an elder were killed
in tribal clashes between the
Al-Khadirin and Al-Uwain families
in Hajin, eastern Deir Ezzor.
The violence, fueled by renewed
old disputes, involved the use
of light and medium weapons."
"Gaza Strip
An Israeli airstrike has hit the
northern gate of a field hospital in
the Gaza Strip, wounding several medics.
The Kuwaiti Field Hospital in the Muwasi
area was targeted, where hundreds of
thousands of people have taken shelter.
The Israeli military has not
commented on the incident."
"Gaza Strip
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF)
carried out an airstrike in Gaza
City, killing Muhammad al-Ajlah, the
commander of Hamas's Shejaiya Battalion.
This is the fifth commander
of the battalion to be killed
by the IDF during the war.
The IDF claims that Ajlah was responsible
for arming terrorists with weapons used
to attack Israeli civilians and troops."
"India
Between last Friday and Saturday,
security forces discovered a highly
sophisticated and meticulously planned
Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)
terrorist hideout in the Chhatru
forest area of the Kishtwar district
following an extensive counter-terrorism
operation that lasted nearly 25 days.
The hideout was equipped for long-term
survival and communication, revealing
the depth of their preparation.
During the operation, troops
killed three JeM terrorists,
including a top commander."
"Lebanon
Lebanese media reports that an
Israeli drone strike hit a car
in the southern town of Aitaroun.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF)
has not issued an immediate
comment on the incident."
"Lebanon
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF)
carried out a drone strike in southern
Lebanon, killing a Hezbollah commander
in the special operations unit.
The strike resulted in one death and
three injuries, including a child,
according to Lebanon's health ministry.
The commander's name has been identified
as Ali Najib Baydoun by Lebanese media."
"Nigeria
The 6 Brigade Nigerian Army has conducted
a series of clearance operations in Taraba
State as part of Operation Lafiyan Jamaa.
The operations resulted in the
neutralization of two terrorists and the
dismantling of multiple bandits' camps.
The troops recovered various items,
including firearms and ammunition,
and destroyed a bandit hideout."
"Russia
A drone attack on the night of April
14-15 in Kursk resulted in fires at
multiple residential buildings, killing
one person and injuring nine others.
The victims suffered from shrapnel wounds,
traumatic brain injuries, and burns.
Local officials reported damage to an
apartment building's 8th and 9th floors,
as well as damage to an ambulance
garage and several private homes.
The full extent of the damage
is still being assessed."
"Russia
The Ukrainian Defense Forces have
successfully targeted the permanent
deployment site of the 448th
Missile Brigade of the Russian
Armed Forces in the Kursk region.
Casualty figures and damage assessments
were not reported in the attack."
"South Korea
On Tuesday, the U.S.
deployed long-range B-1B bombers as
a display of strength towards North
Korea, shortly after Kim Jong Un's
powerful sister pledged to oppose U.S.
efforts to dismantle North
Korea's nuclear program.
According to South Korea's
Defense Ministry, the U.S.
bombers took part in a joint aerial
exercise with South Korea to bolster
the allies' operational capabilities and
showcase their deterrence against North
Korea's developing nuclear ambitions.
South Korean F-35 and F-16 fighter
jets and American F-16 fighter
jets also took part in the training
over the Korean Peninsula."
"Taiwan
Taiwan tracked 10 Chinese military
aircraft and seven naval vessels
around its country between 6 a.m.
on Monday and 6 a.m.
on Tuesday.
Six aircraft crossed the Taiwan
Strait median line in the countryâs
northern, southwestern, and eastern
Air Defense Identification Zone."
"Ukraine
Russian forces have launched strikes
at 37 settlements in the Kherson
region over the past day, resulting
in eight injuries, including a child.
The attacks damaged three
multi-story buildings, 21
private houses, an agricultural
building, and private vehicles."
"Ukraine
In the Novopavlivka sector, Ukrainian
paratroopers from the 71st Jaeger Brigade,
along with neighboring units, successfully
defended against a massive Russian
attack involving motorcycles, over 20
tanks, and infantry fighting vehicles.
Ukrainian forces detected the Russian
movement in time and used artillery,
drones, and drone-dropped munitions
to disrupt and destroy the Russian
combat formation, resulting in the
destruction of Russian equipment and
the elimination of Russian infantry."
"Ukraine
Ukrainian forces claimed to have
killed or wounded 1,180 Russian
soldiers over the past day.
Over 450 pieces of military equipment
were destroyed in the fighting."
"Ukraine
Russian forces killed one civilian
and injured four others in Ukraine's
Donetsk region on April 14.
Damage assessments were not
reported in the attacks."
"Ukraine
On April 15, Russian troops launched
a drone attack on Sloviansk in the
Donetsk region, injuring one person and
damaging service stations and businesses.
The attack, which lasted from
8:45 to 9:20, involved six Shahed
drones targeting the industrial
zone in the Lisnyi neighborhood."
"Yemen
US airstrikes in Yemen have resulted
in at least seven deaths and 29
injuries, according to the Houthis.
The strikes, which have been ongoing
since March 15, have targeted
the rebels for their attacks on
shipping in Middle Eastern waters.
The White House has stated that
over 200 strikes have been carried
out as part of the campaign.
The Houthis have also claimed to have
shot down an American MQ-9 Reaper drone
using a ""locally manufactured missile."""
"China
On Tuesday, China accused the United
States National Security Agency (NSA)
of launching ""advanced"" cyberattacks
during the Asian Winter Games in
February, targeting essential industries.
Police in the northeastern city of
Harbin placed three alleged NSA agents
on a wanted list and, after carrying out
investigations, accused the University
of California and Virginia Tech of being
involved in the attacks, according to
a report by state news agency Xinhua.
China did not specify how the two
American universities were involved."
"India
Protesters in Kolkata, India, set fire
to police vehicles and clashed with
authorities on Monday, following a weekend
of violence that claimed three lives.
The unrest is sparked by a new law
on land use, which Muslim groups
claim discriminates against Muslims.
The law, passed by the Indian parliament,
aims to manage land set aside for
Muslim use, but critics, including
Muslim groups and the Trinamool
Congress, say it's a move to alienate
and discriminate against Muslims."
"India
Two wagons of a goods train derailed
while entering a railway station
in Belagavi, Karnataka, on Tuesday.
The incident affected train movements
in both directions, with some trains
being regulated at various stations.
An accident relief train has been
dispatched to expedite restoration
efforts, and necessary arrangements
have been made for affected passengers."
"Libya
A boat carrying migrants from Libya to
Greece capsized on April 12-13, resulting
in the deaths of at least 11 people.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)
has arrested a key facilitator, Adil,
who was allegedly in contact with an
international human trafficking network.
Adil was tasked with collecting and
transferring money from citizens
for the global network and is
also under investigation for
anti-money laundering activities."
"Nigeria
A mining pit collapsed in the Farin-Doki
area of Shiroro Local Government, Niger,
on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of
two miners, Buhari Kano and Mallam Tasiu.
Preliminary findings suggest the
miners were illegally working at
the site when the pit collapsed.
A full investigation is ongoing to
determine the exact circumstances
surrounding the incident."
"Pakistan
A Pakistan Air Force (PAF)
training aircraft crashed near
Vehari due to a technical fault.
Fortunately, both pilots ejected
safely and sustained minor injuries.
The aircraft malfunctioned mid-air and
crashed into agricultural fields, damaging
crops, but no civilian lives were lost."
"South Sudan
A plane crashed in Paguir, Jonglei
State, on Tuesday afternoon, but details
about the incident are still unknown.
The State Minister of Information, Nyamar
Lony Thichiot, confirmed the incident,
but the type of aircraft and number of
passengers on board remain unclear."
"Syria
A landmine explosion in the Al-Shola
area of Deir Ezzor, Syria, resulted
in the death of one civilian
and severe injuries to another.
The incident occurred while the
civilians were driving a car."
"Syria
A member of an engineering team
was injured by shrapnel from an old
landmine explosion while attempting
to dismantle it in the northern
countryside of Aleppo, an area
controlled by the National Army faction."
"Syria
An unexploded shell exploded in Tasil
town, western Daraa, killing three
children and injuring four civilians who
were playing with it near a dispensary."
"Syria
A girl died, and her sister and
uncle were severely injured in an
explosion of a war remnant in Hama.
In a separate incident, five
children were injured in the
explosion of a war remnant in Idlib."
"United States
A helicopter crashed near Amboy,
Washington on Monday evening.
Fortunately, both occupants
escaped uninjured.
However, a significant fuel leak was
identified at the scene, prompting the
Washington State Department of Ecology
to address the environmental hazard.
The Clark County Sheriff's Office
is now securing the crash site,
which will be handed over to the
National Transportation Safety Board
(NTSB) and the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) for investigation."
"United States
A suspected migrant smuggling
boat capsized off South Florida
over the weekend, resulting in the
presumed deaths of five people.
The U.S.
Coast Guard searched over 1,240 miles
of ocean but called off the search on
Sunday night after rescuing four people.
The missing individuals include
two women from Haiti, one Jamaican
woman, a man from the Dominican
Republic, and a man from the Bahamas."
Thanks for joining us for the April
16, 2025 Geopolitical Report Daily.
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