March 16, 2025 24:11 E85

Heavy US airstrikes target Houthis in Yemen

Cedric: Welcome to the Geopolitical
Report Daily for March 16, 2025.

Complete reports with casualty
information, interactive web maps, and

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

Saturday, we collected 59 events,
including the US targeting Houthi

rebels in Yemen as a warning
to Iran, so let's get started.

"Yemen

US strikes on Yemen's Sanaa have resulted
in the deaths of at least nine civilians

and injuries to 9 others, according
to the Houthi-run health ministry.

US President Donald Trump announced
the launch of ""decisive and powerful

military action"" against Yemen's Houthi
rebels, with the goal of restoring

navigational freedom and protecting
American shipping and naval assets.

Trump warned Iran to stop supporting
the Houthis, threatening severe

consequences if it fails to comply."

"Afghanistan

Sirajuddin Haqqani, the interior minister
of the Afghan Taliban-led government, has

resigned amid a growing rift with Taliban
Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada.

The resignation is reportedly due
to Haqqani's opposition to several

Taliban policies, including a ban on
women's education and an uncompromising

attitude toward international relations.

This development reflects a
deepening mutiny within the

Afghan Taliban leadership, with
a power struggle reportedly

surging between Taliban factions."

"China

China has responded strongly to a
joint statement by the Group of 7 (G7)

industrialized democracies, condemning
what it calls ""arrogance, prejudice and

malicious intentions"" in the statement.

The G7 accused China of ""illicit,
provocative, coercive and dangerous

actions"" in the South China Sea
and Taiwan Strait, which China

claims as its own territory.

China has rejected the G7's criticism,
calling it a gross interference in its

internal affairs and a smear campaign.

The tensions highlight China's
increasing assertiveness in the

region and its sensitivity to
criticism of its territorial claims."

"Gaza Strip

Hamas has announced that it will only
release an American-Israeli citizen, Edan

Alexander, and the bodies of four other
hostages if Israel implements the existing

ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.

The proposed deal would require
Israel to stop barring the entry of

humanitarian aid, withdraw from a
strategic corridor along Gaza's border

with Egypt, and release more Palestinian
prisoners in exchange for hostages.

Additionally, long-delayed talks over the
ceasefire's second phase would need to"

"South Korea

The U.S.

government has designated South Korea
as a ""sensitive country"" in the

energy sector, which is viewed as a
subtle warning amid growing domestic

calls within South Korea to develop its
nuclear arsenal, according to analysts.

Diplomatic sources indicate that the U.S.

Department of Energy (DOE) is reviewing
whether to classify South Korea as a

sensitive country on its internal list,
a measure set to take effect on April 15.

The DOE defines a ""sensitive
country"" as requiring ""particular

consideration for policy reasons,
including national security, nuclear

nonproliferation, regional instability,
threats to national economic

security, or support for terrorism."""

"Turkey

The Turkish defense minister has
demanded that the Kurdistan Workers'

Party (PKK) surrender its weapons
following the group's declaration

of a unilateral ceasefire.

The PKK claims that a one-sided ceasefire
is not enough and accuses Turkey

of continuing to carry out attacks.

The conflict, which has lasted over four
decades, has claimed the lives of tens of

thousands of people and the PKK has been
designated as a terrorist organization

by Turkey and its Western allies."

"United States

US President Donald Trump has accused
media outlets such as CNN and MSNBC

of being ""corrupt"" and ""illegal""
for their critical coverage of him.

He claims that they write 97.6%

negative stories about
him and are ""influencing

judges"" and ""changing law.""

Trump has made similar attacks on the
media a central part of his message

since his first election in 2016."

"United States

The South African presidency
has described the US decision

to expel their ambassador, Mr.

Ebrahim Rasool, as ""regrettable.""

They have urged for ""diplomatic decorum""
between the two nations, following

comments from US Secretary of State Marco
Rubio that the ambassador was no longer

welcome due to his alleged racist views
and hatred for the US and its president."

"Gaza Strip

An Israeli airstrike in northern Gaza's
Beit Lahiya has reportedly killed five

people, according to Palestinian media.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has
not yet commented on the incident."

"Gaza Strip

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF)
carried out a strike against

three terror operatives attempting
to plant bombs in the Netzarim

Corridor area of the Gaza Strip.

The operation took place near where
Israeli troops are operating, and the IDF

has warned Palestinians to stay away from
the buffer zone along the Gaza border."

"Iraq

The Iraqi government and US-led
coalition announced on Friday that

US airstrikes in Al Anbar Province
resulted in the death of Abdallah

Makki Muslih al-Rufay'i, also known
as Abu Khadija, the second-in-command

of ISIS and another terrorist.

Abu Khadija was responsible for
the group's global operations,

logistics, and finance.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia
al-Sudani and US Central Command

confirmed the death of the terrorists.

After the airstrikes, coalition forces
went to the site and found the dead

terrorists who were wearing unexploded
'suicide vests' and multiple weapons."

"Lebanon

An Israeli drone strike has reportedly
hit a car in the southern Lebanese

town of Borj al-Mlouk, near the
Israeli border town of Metula.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has
not commented on the incident yet."

"Myanmar

On Friday, a junta airstrike hit a crowded
market in the village of Let Pan Hla in

the Mandalay Region, killing at least
nine people, including two children.

Junta airstrikes also targeted
Singu Township, approximately

five miles from the village."

"Myanmar

On Friday, an airstrike by Myanmar's
military in Let Pan Hla village killed

at least 27 civilians, including
six children, and injured 30 others.

The attack targeted a crowded
market area, according to the

Mandalay People's Defense Force."

"Nigeria

On Thursday, the Nigerian Air Force
carried out airstrikes in Katsina

State, targeting the fortified camps
of two notorious bandit kingpins, Gero

(Alhaji) and Alhaji Riga, in Unguwar Goga
Hillforest, Ruwan Godiya Ward, the Faskari

Local Government Area of the state.

The operation resulted in the
neutralization of over 20 bandits

and additional casualties in
the surrounding rocky hills."

"Nigeria

The Nigerian Army's 151 Task Force
Battalion, in collaboration with the

Civilian Joint Task Force and Hybrid
forces, conducted a successful raid on an

Islamic State of the West African Province
(ISWAP) enclave in Dalari, Borno State.

The operation resulted in the
neutralization of 4 insurgents

and the seizure of arms,
ammunition, and explosive devices."

"Pakistan

Security forces in Dera Ismail Khan
carried out an intelligence-based

operation, resulting in the
death of two terrorists.

This operation is part of an
ongoing effort to combat terrorism,

with 156 terrorists killed in
similar operations last month."

"Russia

Russia was attacked by dozens of
drones on March 15, with the Ministry

of Defense reporting that 126 were
allegedly ""intercepted and destroyed.""

The attacks targeted various regions,
including Volgograd, Belgorod,

Bryansk, Rostov, and Kursk, and
restrictions were imposed at

airports in Volgograd and Saratov."

"Sudan

On Friday, Sudanese paramilitary
Rapid Support Forces (RSF) shelled

the city of El-Obeid, killing six
people and wounding eight civilians.

The city has been under relentless RSF
bombardment for eight consecutive days."

"Syria

A kamikaze drone attack by the
Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) near

Teshreen Dam in the eastern Aleppo
countryside has resulted in two

fatalities, three injuries, and the
destruction of a military vehicle."

"Taiwan

Taiwan tracked three Chinese
military aircraft, nine naval

vessels, and one official ship
around its country between 6 a.m.

on Friday and Saturday.

All three aircraft were reported
to have crossed the median line

of the Taiwan Strait and entered
the countryâs southwestern Air

Defense Identification Zone."

"Ukraine

Russian aggression has resulted in
the deaths of two people and injuries

to 18 others in the Kherson region.

The shelling targeted critical
infrastructure, social facilities, and

residential areas, causing significant
damage to buildings and destruction

of gas pipelines, agricultural
structures, and private vehicles.

Multiple villages and towns,
including Kherson city, were

affected by the airstrikes."

"Ukraine

Russia launched a drone attack on Ukraine,
sending 178 Shahed-type UAVs and other

types of drones from various directions.

The Ukrainian Defense Forces
successfully countered the attack,

downing 130 Russian drones and losing
38 drone decoys without causing harm.

The impact of the attack was
registered in several regions,

including Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv,
Odesa, Sumy, Chernihiv, and Kyiv."

"Ukraine

A residential building in Chernihiv
was hit by a Russian strike drone

during an air raid alert, causing
a fire in a nearby parking lot.

Fortunately, there are
no reported casualties.

Emergency services are working
at the scene to eliminate the

consequences of the attack."

"Ukraine

A missile strike in Kryvyi Rih
injured 14 people, including two

children, and damaged infrastructure,
buildings, and vehicles.

Drone attacks in Synelnykove and
Pavlohrad districts disrupted

water supplies in several areas.

Additionally, Russian forces shelled
Nikopol, Marhanets, and Myrove

communities with artillery and drones,
although no casualties were reported."

"Ukraine

Russian forces have attacked Nikopol
with heavy artillery, resulting in

the death of a 70-year-old woman
and injuries to an 11-year-old girl.

The attack also damaged a
religious institution, two

private homes, and power lines."

"Ukraine

Ukrainian forces claimed to have
killed or wounded 1,180 Russian

soldiers over the past day.

Around 245 pieces of military equipment
were destroyed in the fighting."

"Ukraine

Russian forces have attacked
railway energy supply

infrastructure in Dnipropetrovsk
and Zaporizhzhia regions, Ukraine.

Despite this, train delays remain
minimal due to the deployment

of backup diesel locomotives.

Passengers are advised to check
for delayed trains and possible

changes in suburban train schedules."

"Ukraine

Russian forces launched strikes on the
Kharkiv region using drones, aviation,

and multiple rocket launcher systems.

The attacks resulted in four people
being injured, including three women

and a 53-year-old man, and caused
significant damage to 18 private homes,

five school buses, and one private
house, which was completely destroyed.

Fires also broke out in several
areas due to shelling, including

grasslands and forest underbrush."

"United States

The Pelham School District has been
affected by a cyberattack, which has

caused the internet, phone lines, and
email to be down for at least two weeks.

According to Superintendent Chip McGee,
the district's incident response plan

was implemented after an employee
experienced trouble with their computer.

The attack has impacted students'
access to Chromebooks and teachers'

access to Google Drive and email."

"Netherlands

A demonstration in support of Alawites
in Syria turned violent on Saturday

when clashes broke out between
protesters and counterprotesters.

The incident occurred outside the
International Criminal Court (ICC)

in The Hague, where a group of around
100-150 demonstrators gathered to

protest the escalating violence against
Alawites and Christians in Syria.

Police intervened to restore
order, but no arrests were made."

"Serbia

On Saturday, a significant anti-corruption
rally occurred in Belgrade, Serbia, with

tens of thousands of protesters, mostly
students, gathering to demand change.

The protest is seen as a culmination
of months-long anti-graft

demonstrations, which have posed
a challenge to President Alexander

Vucic's decade-long grip on power.

The rally has been met with tensions,
with Vucic's supporters camping in the

city center and the authorities taking
security measures to prevent clashes."

"Serbia

Over 107,000 protesters gathered in
Belgrade, Serbia's capital, to demand

anti-corruption reforms and greater
accountability from the government.

The protests, led by students,
were sparked by a November railway

disaster that killed 15 people and
exposed alleged corruption and lax

oversight in construction projects.

The movement has been gaining momentum,
with protests held in major cities

and rural areas across the country.

Government supporters, including
ultranationalists and militia members,

also gathered in Belgrade, leading
to concerns about potential clashes.

However, the protests remained largely
peaceful, with organizers taking

steps to prevent confrontations
and ensure a dignified atmosphere."

"United Kingdom

Thousands of protesters marched
through central London on Saturday

in support of Palestinians.

The pro-Palestine protest, organized
by the Palestine Coalition, began

at Piccadilly and made its way to
Whitehall, where a rally was held.

The march passed without incident,
according to the Met Police, who had

imposed conditions on the demonstration.

A smaller counter-protest was also held in
Coventry Street, near Piccadilly Circus.

Meanwhile, a separate demonstration near
the Tower of London protested plans to

build a new Chinese embassy, citing human
rights concerns and security risks."

"India

The Manipur Police, with the help of
central security forces, conducted

a massive security operation at a
hilltop of Dampi in the Churachandpur

district, successfully identifying and
dismantling two Improvised Explosive

Devices (IEDs) laid by insurgents
along the Manipur-Myanmar border ridge.

The operation also resulted
in the recovery of a large

number of arms, ammunition, and
explosives, including a .303

Rifle with a magazine, a single-barrel
gun locally manufactured, a.22

rifle locally manufactured, and two Pumpi
(locally manufactured long-range mortars).

In addition, they also confiscated
two 70 mm live rounds, four live

Pumpi rounds, eight anti-riot stun
shells, and two SMC carbine magazines."

"Israel

Israeli troops in southern Israel have
downed a drone attempting to smuggle

an AK-47 assault rifle from Egypt.

The military successfully confiscated the
weapon, thwarting the smuggling attempt."

"India

Early Saturday morning, two
unidentified people on a motorcycle

threw a grenade outside the Thakur
Dwar temple in Amritsar, damaging

its walls and shattering its windows.

No one was injured in the incident.

A search for the assailants was underway."

"Iran

On Monday, March 10, a 17-year-old Afghan
man, Rohullah, was killed by Iranian

security forces in Sistan and Baluchestan
province, with two others injured.

The shootings occurred after Iranian
troops chased a vehicle carrying

Afghan citizens near the village
of Shamshabad in Baluchistan."

"Iraq

Iraqi authorities have arrested three
Syrian nationals for distributing

materials promoting militant groups,
including Syria's Jabhat al-Nusra.

The individuals were detained in
Baghdad al-Jadida for possessing

printed and digital materials promoting
extremist ideology, which posed a

potential threat to public security."

"Nigeria

On Friday, security forces in
Zamfara State successfully thwarted a

terrorist attack on Mada town in Gusau
Local Government Area, eliminating

four assailants in the process.

The latest assault is believed to be
part of ongoing retaliatory strikes by

bandits following the neutralization of a
notorious criminal leader in the region."

"Pakistan

On Friday, the Punjab Counter-Terrorism
Department (CTD) arrested a suicide

bomber affiliated with the banned
Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)

in Lahore after a fierce gun
battle with several terrorists.

The bomber was captured during an
intelligence-based operation, and

authorities recovered a suicide
jacket, safety fuse wire, and

explosives from his possession.

Another terrorist managed
to escape the area."

"Pakistan

On Friday, an IED blast hit a police
vehicle in the Dadiwala area of Lakki

Marat, injuring three police officers.

After the blast, police engaged terrorists
in a gun battle, killing one of them."

"Pakistan

There was a roadside blast in Quetta that
killed a policeman and injured six others.

The incident occurred when a
vehicle of the Anti-Terrorism Force

(ATF) was patrolling the area."

"Pakistan

Friday night, terrorists riding
motorcycles threw two hand grenades at a

police post in the Khojri, Bannu district.

Police stated there were no
casualties in the attack."

"Pakistan

On Friday, terrorists attacked and
exchanged gunfire with security forces

during simultaneous attacks in Baka Khel
and Ghoriwala in the Bannu District.

A search for the assailants was underway."

"Philippines

Four members of the Dawlah Islamiya-Maute
Group (DI-MG) surrendered to government

authorities in Lanao del Sur, Philippines.

The individuals turned over high-powered
firearms, including a rocket-propelled

grenade launcher and several pistols."

"Philippines

Government forces killed a suspected
New People's Army (NPA) rebel during a

15-minute clash with several militants
in the village of Panaytayan, Mansalay,

Oriental Mindoro, Friday afternoon.

Troops recovered an M16 rifle
from the dead militant."

"Philippines

Sixteen members of the Bangsamoro Islamic
Freedom Fighters (BIFF) surrendered

to the Philippine Army in Datu Piang,
Maguindanao del Sur, on Friday.

The extremists, who were operating
in three municipalities, surrendered

16 high-powered firearms."

"Syria

The General Security forces have made an
arrest in connection with a grenade attack

on a security patrol in Baniyas city.

Reports also suggest that two of
the attackers may have been killed.

Additionally, security forces are
surrounding Talfita town in Rif

Dimashq after an ambush on their
colleagues, resulting in two injuries."

"United States

An active shooter incident occurred
at the Lewis and Clark County

Courthouse in Helena, Montana.

A woman made threats with a pistol,
prompting a response from law enforcement.

After leaving the building, she
was confronted by officers and

deputies who used deadly force when
she failed to comply with commands.

The woman died from her injuries.

The Montana Department of
Criminal Investigation is handling

the ongoing investigation."

"China

A Chinese naval fighter jet crashed
during a training exercise near the

town of Jialai on the southern island
of Hainan, south China, on Saturday.

The pilot safely ejected.

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) is
investigating the cause of the accident."

"Syria

Three civilians have been killed
in separate incidents involving

landmine explosions in eastern Syria.

In Homs, two civilians died due to the
explosion of a landmine in the eastern

countryside, while in Al-Raqqa, a child
died from shrapnel in an explosion

of a landmine in the Maâadan Desert.

These incidents demonstrate the
ongoing risks posed by unexploded

war remnants in the region."

"Syria

A 65-year-old civilian was killed in
Tal'areen village in eastern Aleppo

after an old landmine exploded.

This incident highlights the growing
concern about landmines scattered

across the area, emphasizing the need
for urgent action from authorities to

mitigate the humanitarian disaster."

"Syria

In the Idlib countryside,
two separate incidents have

occurred involving war remnants.

A child tragically lost their life
due to shrapnel from a 23-caliber

artillery shell in Al-Fawa'a Village.

Additionally, a civilian from Babolin
Village suffered severe injuries,

including the amputation of their
leg, from a landmine explosion."

"Syria

Multiple civilians have lost their
lives in Syria due to landmine

explosions in various regions.

The explosions occurred in Adman Village
in the northern Deir Ezzor countryside,

Ma'abatly district in the northern Aleppo
countryside, and Al-Mahsanly Village

in the eastern Aleppo countryside.

At least three civilians have been
reported dead, with the incidents

taking place in areas controlled by
both the Syrian Democratic Forces

(SDF) and the National Army."

"Syria

A blast from unexploded ordnance
in Latakia, Syria, has killed at

least three people and injured
12, with the cause still unclear.

The incident occurred in the Al-Rimal
neighborhood, and civil defense

teams are searching for others
who may be injured or missing."

"Thailand

Saturday morning, a bridge collapsed
in Bangkok, killing seven people

and injuring dozens of others.

The bridge was part of a
highway construction project."

"United States

An ultralight glider plane crashed into
woods near Cedar Lake Road in Deep River

on Friday afternoon, around 4:15 p.m.

Witnesses reported that the
plane was struggling to maintain

altitude before it went down in a
heavily wooded area near a house.

Injuries were reported, but the
extent is currently unknown.

First responders, including LIFE STAR,
arrived quickly and began performing

chest compressions on the pilot.

The investigation is in its preliminary
stages, according to state police."

"United States

A small plane, a Piper PA-31,
crashed at LaBelle Municipal

Airport on Friday afternoon.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
reported that the landing gear collapsed

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