Iranian Supreme Court members killed in Tehran, as more details emerge of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal
Cedric: Welcome to the Geopolitical
Report Daily for January 19, 2025.
Complete reports with casualty
information, interactive web maps, and
our IntelHub dashboard are available with
a Geopolitical Report Pro subscription.
Saturday was slower with
39 events collected.
We saw deadly attacks on Iranian
Supreme Court judges, and learned
more details about the Israel-Hamas
ceasefire, so let's get started.
Terrorism,
"Iran
On Saturday, a gunman targeted
three Iranian Supreme Court judges
near Ark Square in Tehran, killing
two of them and injuring another.
The attacker committed
suicide after the attack.
The identity of the assailant and
motive are under investigation."
"Iraq
Between Friday night and Saturday, Iraqi
forces arrested seven Syrian nationals
in central Baghdad for spying for ISIS.
The individuals were capturing
images of Popular Mobilization
Forces (PMF) headquarters and
other military sites to pass the
information to ISIS elements in Iraq."
"Israel
The IDF successfully intercepted
a ballistic missile launched
from Yemen at Israel.
Sirens sounded in Eilat and
nearby towns, but no injuries
or major damage were reported.
This is the second Houthi attack
today, with a previous missile
being shot down in central Israel."
"Israel
Police have received reports of debris
and shrapnel from a missile fired from
Yemen falling in the Jerusalem area.
Fragments fell in different locations,
including an open area near Moshav Bar
Giora and a gas station near Mevo Beitar.
A large part of the missile fell
in a field near Beitar Ilit.
There are no immediate reports
of injuries or damage."
"Israel
Police confirm that an armed civilian
shot and killed a Palestinian
terrorist in Tel Aviv who had seriously
wounded a man in a stabbing attack on
Levontin Street in the coastal city."
"Nigeria
The Department of State Services (DSS)
in Nigeria arrested ten suspected
Boko Haram members in Osun State.
The suspects were apprehended during
a raid in the Ilesa area, where they
were allegedly planning attacks."
"Pakistan
On Friday, a remote-controlled IED blast
killed a Frontier Corps (FC) member
and injured two others on a road in
the Nechara area of the Kalat district.
A search for those
responsible was underway."
"Philippines
On Saturday, gunmen ambushed and
killed a Moro couple riding a
motorcycle together on a highway in
Barangay Damalusay in Datu Paglas.
The couple's child survived
the ambush unharmed."
"Syria
Members of an ISIS cell targeted
a military post of the SDF-backed
Hajin Military Council Forces near
the Euphrates River in Theban town.
The attackers used machine guns and an
RPG, but no casualties were reported.
In a separate incident, another ISIS
cell attacked an SDF military post in
Ruwayshid village near Al-Suwar town,
but again, no casualties were reported."
Military Conflict
"Pakistan
On Friday, Pakistani security forces
killed five Khwarij terrorists,
including their ring leader Abdullah,
in an intelligence-based operation
in the Tirah area of Khyber District.
Another terrorist was
captured during the operation.
Troops also recovered weapons
and ammunition during the raid
on the terrorist hideout."
"Philippines
On Friday, the Philippine Navy held
an exercise near Scarborough Shoal
shoal in the South China Sea to
assert its sovereign rights over
waters also claimed by Beijing.
Friday's exercise involved some of
the Navy's largest ships, including
the frigate BRP Antonio Luna
and the patrol vessels BRP Ramon
Alcaraz and BRP Andres Bonifacio."
"Russia
The Special Operations Forces of
Ukraine successfully attacked the
Rosneft base in the Lyudinovo area.
The base is an oil depot that
supplies the Russian Armed Forces
involved in the war against Ukraine.
The attack caused a fire on the base."
"Russia
Ukrainian drones launched ten attacks
on an oil depot in the Tula region.
The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine
and Ukrainian-made drones were
credited for the successful strikes."
"Sudan
On Saturday, Rapid Support Forces (RSF)
targeted the Al-Shawak transformer
station in Gedares State, resulting
in casualties and widespread blackouts
in Gedaref and Kassala States."
"Sudan
On Saturday, the Rapid Support Forces
(RSF) conducted drone attacks on the
Sennar power station, causing blackouts
in Sennar State and the Atbara airport.
The strikes did not damage the airport."
"Syria
Turkish fighter jets conducted airstrikes
on the Teshreen dam and Al-Tinah
village, but no casualties were reported.
Syrian Democratic Forces retaliated
by attacking Turkish-backed factions.
No casualties were reported
in this incident either."
"Syria
A Turkish drone carried out two
airstrikes on a gathering of residents
at the Teshreen Dam in eastern
Aleppo, resulting in three injuries
and significant damage to the area."
"Syria
Two civilians died from injuries sustained
in a Turkish drone attack near Teshrin Dam
in Manbij countryside, eastern Aleppo."
"Syria
Fierce clashes broke out between
the SDF and Turkish-backed
factions of the National Army near
Teshreen dam in eastern Aleppo.
The factions are attempting to
advance and seize control of the
dam, with support from Turkish
aircraft attacking SDF positions."
"Syria
Turkish forces fired artillery shells
in Ain Eissa Town, injuring three
children who were taken to a hospital.
They also targeted a civilian convoy
from Mudon Al-Jazeera to Teshrin Dam,
but no casualties were reported."
"Syria
Turkey conducted airstrikes on the
villages of Dikan and Jaâdda in the
countryside of Serrin, south of Kobani.
The extent of damage and
casualties was unknown."
"Taiwan
Taiwan tracked 17 Chinese military
aircraft and six vessels around
its country between 6 a.m.
on Friday and Saturday.
13 aircraft crossed the median
line of the Taiwan Strait and
entered the countryâs southwestern
Air Defense Identification Zone."
"Ukraine
In the Kyiv region, three private
houses, two outbuildings, and
four cars were damaged by falling
debris from Russian targets.
The attack involved UAVs and
lasted for almost 8 hours.
Air defense forces were deployed,
and several Russian targets
were successfully downed.
Fortunately, there were no
civilian casualties or damage
to critical infrastructure."
"Ukraine
Ukrainian forces claimed to have
killed or wounded 1,340 Russian
soldiers over the past day.
Over 115 pieces of military equipment
were destroyed in the fighting."
"Ukraine
In Kyiv, a Russian missile
attack killed a security guard
and three people in a minibus.
The blast wave damaged buildings,
the subway entrance, and cars."
"Ukraine
Two people injured in a Russian
attack in Zaporizhzhia are
being treated in hospitals.
One woman is in serious condition,
while a man has moderate cut wounds.
Eight more people will
receive outpatient treatment.
The injuries include shrapnel
wounds, cut wounds, concussions,
bruises, and fractures.
The attack targeted an industrial
enterprise and caused damage
to civilian infrastructure."
"Ukraine
Yesterday, two houses were destroyed,
and three were damaged in the
village of Prystin in the Kupiansk
community of Kharkiv region due
to attacks by Russian troops.
No casualties were reported."
"Ukraine
The Russian military attacked the Kharkiv
and Chuhuiv districts, causing damage.
A fire broke out in a building,
but no casualties were reported."
"Ukraine
On Saturday, the Russian military
attacked communities in the Nikopol
district multiple times, damaging
a utility company, a religious
institution, and solar panels.
The attacks involved kamikaze drones,
Grad multiple rocket launchers, artillery,
and ammunition dropped from a UAV.
The Nikopol, Marhanets, and
Myrivsk communities were targeted.
Fortunately, no casualties were reported."
"Western Sahara
On Thursday, the Sahrawi People's
Liberation Army (SPLA) announced
that its forces shelled Moroccan
bases in the Ashrak Tourta area of
Western Sahara, reportedly resulting
in casualties and equipment."
"Western Sahara
On Friday, Units of the Sahrawi People's
Liberation Army (SPLA) reportedly targeted
a Moroccan command center in the Mahbes
sector of Western Sahara, resulting in
heavy losses of lives and equipment."
"Yemen
On Friday, the United States allegedly
carried out five airstrikes targeting
the Amran Governorate in northern Yemen.
The Houthi group's Al-Masirah channel
did not provide any additional
details about the resulting casualties
or damages from the attacks."
Political Conflict
"Israel
In the first stage of the ceasefire
and hostage deal with Hamas,
Israel will release a total of
1,904 Palestinian prisoners.
This includes detainees, security
prisoners, terrorists serving
life sentences, and women and
children held in Israeli jails.
The release will happen in stages,
with the first three female hostages
set to be released on Sunday.
The remaining hostages will be
released each Saturday until
the end of the 42-day deal.
The number of prisoners released will vary
depending on the category of the hostages.
Israel will also release over
1,000 Gazan detainees in exchange
for the bodies of the hostages."
Civil Unrest
"Israel
Hundreds of protesters in
Jerusalem marched in support of the
upcoming hostage-ceasefire deal.
The deal will release 33 hostages in
the first phase, and protesters carried
banners with the names of hostages
to be released in the second phase."
"Israel
Around 2,000 anti-government protesters
rallied outside IDF headquarters
in Tel Aviv a day before the Gaza
ceasefire-hostage release agreement.
The protesters chanted slogans
and held flags representing
solidarity with the hostages."
"United Kingdom
Pro-Palestinian protesters, including
Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell,
were arrested in Trafalgar Square
for breaching protest conditions.
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign rally
was changed to a static rally after
police restricted plans for a march.
Demonstrators broke through
a police line and were warned
to disperse or face arrest."
Weapons
"Iraq
The Turkish army announced the
seizure of weapons and ammunition
belonging to the PKK in the Claw-Lock
operation area in the Kurdistan Region.
The forces participating in the
operation detected a cave and
found numerous weapons, ammunition,
and living supplies inside, which
were subsequently disposed of."
Accidents
"Cambodia
On Thursday, a remnant anti-tank
mine explosion killed two Cambodian
deminers as they attempted to
remove it from a rice field in
northwestern Oddar Meanchey province.
The rice field was once a battlefield
between government forces and
Khmer Rouge soldiers during the
civil war between 1968 and 1975."
"Thanks for joining us for the January
19, 2025 Geopolitical Report Daily.
As a reminder, complete reports with
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