Trump plans for Iron Dome, and Iran warns against strikes on nuclear facilities
Cedric: Welcome to the Geopolitical
Report Daily for January 29, 2025.
Complete reports with casualty
information, interactive web maps, and
our IntelHub dashboard are available with
a Geopolitical Report Pro subscription.
We collected 69 events on Tuesday,
including Trump's plan for a US Iron Dome
and Iran's warning against strikes on its
nuclear facilities, so let's get started.
Terrorism
"Democratic Republic of Congo
On Monday, INTERPOL and AFRIPOL arrested
37 suspected terrorists linked to ISIS,
Al Shabab, and other foreign terrorist
groups during operations in East Africa.
During an operation in Somalia,
a suspected bomber and an
al-Shabab operative were arrested.
Furthermore, operatives arrested
four suspected Allied Democratic
Forces (ADF) militants in the
Democratic Republic of Congo."
"Democratic Republic of Congo
On Monday, an M23 mortar attack on a South
African National Defence Force (SANDF)
base near the Goma Airport killed three
SANDF soldiers and wounded another.
The deaths took place during a mortar
exchange between the Armed Forces
of the Democratic Republic of the
Congo (FARDC) and the M23 militia.
Furthermore, a fourth soldier injured
in battles over the past three
days succumbed to his injuries."
"India
Punjab Police arrested two
individuals on Tuesday in Amritsar
who are reportedly operatives of
the US-based terrorist Happy Passia.
The police recovered a hand grenade
and two pistols from their possession.
Police stated that the individuals
were involved in a grenade lobbying
incident outside of the Gumtala
police post in Amritsar on January 9."
"India
On Monday, Manipur security
forces arrested two Kangleipak
Communist Party (KCP) militants
during two separate operations.
One was arrested in the Thoubal
district, while the other occurred
in the Imphal West district."
"Malaysia
On Monday, police arrested four arms
smugglers, including two Indonesians, from
a boat in the waters off of Pera, Penang.
Police seized five pistols, an M4 rifle,
and 801 bullets during the arrests."
"Nigeria
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force
have dismantled a syndicate involved
in selling motorcycles to Boko Haram
terrorists in Niger and Kaduna states.
Three suspects were apprehended in
Niger State, and 22 motorcycles, master
keys, and stolen phones were recovered.
The syndicate specializes in trading and
modifying stolen motorcycles, which are
sold or rented to criminals, including
suspected Boko Haram operatives.
In a separate operation, a member of
an armed robbery and kidnapping gang
operating in Benue State was arrested.
The suspect confessed to kidnapping
21 doctors and carrying out
several robbery operations."
"Nigeria
Nigerian forces arrested a Boko Haram
terrorist during an operation in the
town of Mai-Hula, Bali Local Government
Area (LGA) of Taraba State on Sunday."
"Pakistan
Adnan Khan Wazir, the son of Malik Mir
Shamad Khan, the chief of the Mamandkhel
Wazir tribe, survived an explosion caused
by an improvised explosive device (IED)
on Monday within the jurisdiction of
the Cantonment Police Station in Bannu.
Wazir had been returning to his village
after attending a Jirga meeting against
narcotics trafficking in Karam Garhi."
"Pakistan
On Tuesday, a gunbattle at a check
post in the Gulistan area of Quila
Abdullah in Balochistan resulted
in the death of two soldiers and
the killing of five terrorists.
During the gun battle, the terrorists
rammed an explosive-laden vehicle
into the perimeter wall of the
post, killing two of the terrorists.
Troops successfully repelled the attack."
"Turkey
On Monday, the Turkish Interior Minister
announced that counter-terrorism forces
arrested 100 people suspected of having
links to the Daesh/ISIS terrorist group.
The operations occurred
across 24 provinces, including
Istanbul, Ankara, and Diyarbakir.
The ministry accused the individuals
of active involvement with Daesh,
financing the organization,
and promoting its propaganda
through social media platforms."
Military Conflict
"Democratic Republic of Congo
Clashes in the eastern Democratic
Republic of Congo's city of Goma
have resulted in at least 17
deaths and nearly 370 injuries.
The Congolese army is fighting against
M23 forces supported by the Rwandan army.
The United Nations has expressed concern
about the humanitarian situation in Goma,
describing it as ""extremely worrying.""
The fighting has displaced
over 400,000 people and raised
fears of a regional war."
"Democratic Republic of Congo
M23 has taken control of the
airport in Goma, a city in the
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Goma has been a battleground since
the Tutsi-led M23 armed group and
Rwandan forces entered the city.
The fighting has resulted in
casualties, overwhelmed hospitals, and
a humanitarian crisis with hundreds
of thousands of people displaced."
"Ethiopia
Fighting has been reported near Debre
Berhan town, north of Addis Ababa.
The Fanos claim to have caused damage
to government forces, using both
conventional and ambush attacks.
Government forces attempted
to send reinforcements but
were ambushed by the Fanos.
In Wollo, the Wollo and Gondar Fanos
launched a joint attack and took
control of a strategic location.
In Gojjam, government forces were
unable to reverse the Fano attack.
In the Semada area, government forces
have suffered military setbacks.
The government claims to have weakened
the Fanos, but they still control
over 85% of the Amhara region."
"Gaza Strip
The IDF conducted operations against
various threats in the Gaza Strip.
In central Gaza, a drone strike
was carried out as a warning.
In southern Gaza, warning shots were fired
at suspects who posed a threat to forces.
Similar actions were taken
in other areas of Gaza."
"India
On Tuesday, the National
Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted
raids on six locations across
Srinagar, Badgam, and Sopore.
The operations are linked to a
Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) case involving the
killing of two civilians from Chamyari
in Amritsar, Punjab, in June 2024."
"India
On Tuesday, the National Investigation
Agency (NIA) conducted raids
at 16 locations in Tamil Nadu
State in ISIS radicalization
and recruitment-linked cases."
"Iraq
On Tuesday, Iraq launched a
large-scale military operation on
ISIS targets in the Wadi-al-Shay
region of southern Kirkuk province.
The operation involves the
Counter-Terrorism Service, the Iraqi Army,
and special military forces, as well as
Iraqi and Global Coalition airstrikes.
The Wadi al-Shay region is a vital
conduit connecting the Kirkuk,
Saladin, and Diyala provinces.
Its rugged terrain, characterized
by valleys and semi-mountainous
landscapes interspersed with
water channels, has unfortun"
"Iraq
Security sources on Tuesday reported
that Turkish forces conducted airstrikes
on a PKK militant cave on a peak of
Mount Gara, overlooking the Sersang
subdistrict of the Al-Amadiya district."
"Iraq
On Tuesday, The Turkish Defense Ministry
announced that its forces killed two
PKK terrorists during operations in
the Kurdistan Region of northern Iraq."
"Lebanon
Israeli airstrikes in Nabatieh,
southern Lebanon, injured 24 people.
The Israeli military targeted Hezbollah
vehicles transporting weapons.
Lebanese Prime Minister Mikati
condemned the strikes, calling them a
violation of the ceasefire with Israel.
Mikati urged pressure on Israel
to implement the ceasefire
according to international law."
"Myanmar
On Sunday, Arakan Army (AA) insurgents
captured the junta Moe Hti military
base located between the town of Taungup
and Padaung after a five-day assault.
AA rebels found the bodies of
several junta soldiers and seized
weapons and ammunition at the base."
"Myanmar
On Monday, the Kachin Independence
Army (KIA), the All Burma Studentsâ
Democratic Front, and local resistance
groups launched a joint offensive
in Indaw Township to capture the
last junta military position.
The junta forces were forced to retreat
to a World War II-era underground hospital
and an adjacent Buddhist monastery in
the town, where they mounted a defense
against the resistance attack from there.
At least 800 civilians who took
shelter at a monastery in the town
are trapped by the fighting and
are being used as human shields.
Junta forces have killed two civilians and
wounded dozens of others in the battle."
"Myanmar
On Monday, the Kachin Independence
Army (KIA) announced its forces
had captured the Bhamo Airport
in Kachin State on Sunday.
KIA stated that they continue
to clash with junta forces to
seize the town completely."
"Pakistan
On Monday, Pakistani forces killed
three terrorists and wounded nine
others during an operation in the
Jani Khel area of the Bannu district."
"Sudan
According to reports, Rapid Support Forces
(RSF) killed more than 100 civilians
in attacks on villages near El Fasher.
The attacks targeted villages in
the Um Keddada area east of the
regional capital over the past week.
The Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM)
accused the RSF of killing over
100 civilians in the village of
Broush, which has led to the mass
displacement of Broush's residents.
This appears to be an effort by
the RSF to consolidate control
over the historic Darfur capital.
In the Um Keddada area east of El Fasher,
a local militia known as ""Al-Shawqara""
has been resisting attempts by the
RSF to seize control of the region."
"Sudan
In rural areas west of El Fasher,
sources reported that Rapid Support
Forces (RSF) carried out attacks on
the villages of Abu Jarbon, Golo, and
Shaqra between Saturday and Sunday.
During the attacks, the
RSF looted the villages and
arrested dozens of young people.
The RSF reportedly was amassing
thousands of troops equipped with heavy
weaponry in areas west of El Fasher,
suggesting preparations for a renewed
assault on the North Darfur capital."
"Sudan
On Monday, Sudanese forces made
fresh gains, tightening their
control on the capital of Khartoum.
Forces pushed into parts of eastern
Khartoum near Al-Rabat College in
the Burri district and deployed
on the southern front facing the
army headquarters towards the
Armed Forces Bridge â Koper Bridge.
They also advanced through large
sections of the Al-Azba and
Kafouri neighborhoods in the East
Nile locality of Khartoum Bahri.
This new phase aims to disrupt the Rapid
Support Forces (RSF) external supply lines
and cripple their ability to reorganize."
"Syria
SDF rocket launchers attacked Turkish
forces in the Al-Hamam mountains,
but no casualties were reported.
Turkish forces retaliated by
attacking positions in Beir Hissu
village and continued to bombard the
surrounding areas of the Teshreen Dam.
Turkish fighter jets executed
airstrikes on various locations, while
SDF drones attacked Turkish-backed
factions near Syriatel hill.
SDF also targeted a gathering of
Turkish-backed factions, resulting
in one death and one injury."
"Syria
Turkish fighter jets conducted
airstrikes on various locations in
the Aleppo countryside, including
the Teshreen dam and Sarin town.
The SDF retaliated by attacking
Turkish-backed factions in
different areas, resulting in
casualties and material damage.
The clashes between the two sides also
extended to the Deir Hafer frontline."
"Syria
Airstrikes by Turkish fighter jets
in Sarin town, Aleppo, resulted in
the death of a woman and two children
and injured four other civilians.
The airstrikes targeted an outdoor
market and surrounding areas,
including Teshreen dam, Al-Qasaq
mountains, Al-Sabt airbase, Sarin
countryside, and Al-Jadidah village."
"Syria
A Bayraktar drone shelled a position
in Ain Eissa Town in the Al-Raqqa
countryside, but there were no casualties.
Turkish forces also fired artillery shells
on positions on the M4 International
Road, but there were no casualties."
"Syria
Turkish forces attacked a house in the
SDF-controlled village of Um Harmal,
resulting in the death of two men and
a child, as well as serious injuries
to four women from the same family.
The injured civilians were transported
to hospitals in Al-Hasakah."
"Syria
The Turkish Defense Ministry
reported on Tuesday that its forces
killed 13 PKK/YPG terrorists in the
Operations Euphrates Shield/Peace
Spring Zones of northern Syria."
"Syria
A member of the Turkish-backed National
Army died and three others were
injured in the Dawn of Freedom area.
They got lost while trying to reach
Deir Hafer in SDF-held areas."
"Taiwan
Taiwan tracked seven Chinese naval
vessels and six military aircraft
around its country between 6 a.m.
on Monday and 6 a.m.
on Tuesday.
None of the aircraft crossed
the Taiwan Strait median line."
"Ukraine
On January 27, two people were killed,
and two others were wounded in the
Kherson region due to Russian attacks.
The Russians launched shelling attacks
and air strikes on multiple locations.
The Russian strikes damaged buildings,
houses, a garage, a warehouse,
and agricultural machinery."
"Ukraine
Over the past day, two residents
of the Donetsk region were
killed by Russian forces.
The killings occurred in
Rodynske, with one civilian
also being wounded in Pokrovsk."
"Ukraine
A museum of retro cars in the Kyiv region
sustained damage from debris from a
downed Russian drone during an air raid.
The attack also caused damage to private
houses, non-residential buildings,
and cars in three other districts.
No casualties were reported,
and emergency response teams are
working to address the aftermath."
"Ukraine
Russians attacked the village of Antonivka
in Kherson, killing a 49-year-old man and
injuring a 57-year-old woman with a UAV.
The woman has been taken to
the hospital for treatment."
"Ukraine
Two private houses in Chernihiv
have been partially destroyed
by debris from a Russian drone.
No one was injured in the incident.
The emergency services have
extinguished the fire, and a
National Police investigation
team is working at the scene."
"Ukraine
Heavy fighting with Russian troops
continues in urban areas of Chasiv
Yar and Toretsk, Donetsk region.
The Russians are storming positions
in the Kramatorsk and Toretsk
directions with artillery support.
Ukrainian forces have successfully
repelled Russian attacks in Vovchansk
and have not lost ground in other areas.
The Pokrovsk direction remains the hottest
on the entire line of combat, with ongoing
offensive missions by the Russians."
"Ukraine
Three people were injured
by Russian drones in the
Dniprovskyi district of Kherson.
A woman died in a nearby village
due to a Russian UAV strike."
"Ukraine
Ukrainian forces claimed to have
killed or wounded 1,380 Russian
soldiers over the past day.
Over 200 pieces of military equipment
were destroyed in the fighting."
"Ukraine
Ukraine's Defense Forces have
successfully shot down 65 Russian
Shahed-type attack drones and other UAVs.
However, 28 decoy drones launched
by Russia caused no damage.
The attack took place in various
regions of Ukraine, and although
there were no fatalities, there
was damage to private enterprises,
infrastructure, and vehicles."
"Ukraine
In the Dnipropetrovsk region, three
people, including an 11-year-old child,
were injured in Russian shelling.
The injured individuals, a boy,
a man, and a woman, were attacked
in the Synelnykove district.
They have been hospitalized, and their
condition is considered moderate."
"Ukraine
Over the past 24 hours, the occupiers
shelled eight settlements in the
Zaporizhzhia region 362 times.
Four people were injured in Russian
attacks in the Vasylivka district.
The Russians carried out eight airstrikes
on Stepnohirsk and launched various UAV
and MLRS attacks on several locations.
Russian forces also conducted
artillery strikes on multiple areas.
There were also reports of damage
to private houses, apartments, cars,
and an educational institution."
"Ukraine
A large-scale fire caused by
a Russian attack in the Sumy
region is being extinguished.
In addition, four Russian
Shaheds were shot down in the
sky over the Sumy region."
"Ukraine
Russian forces have launched a missile
strike on a private enterprise in
Mykolaiv, according to the mayor.
The attack occurred during an air raid
alert, and Ukraine's Air Force had
previously warned of the threat of
missile strikes in several regions."
"Ukraine
Russian forces shelled the village
of Novokairy in the Beryslav district
of the Kherson region with artillery,
injuring a 73-year-old woman.
The woman was transported to
a hospital for medical care.
In a separate incident, three people
were injured by Russian drones in
Kherson's Dniprovskyi district."
"Ukraine
The Russian military attacked Kupiansk
and the village of Prystin in the Kharkiv
region using artillery and drones.
A 66-year-old man was injured in
the shelling and was hospitalized.
Three houses and outbuildings were
damaged in the village of Prystin."
"Ukraine
Two private houses were destroyed, and
13 more were damaged in the Synelnykove
district of the Dnipropetrovsk
region due to a Russian strike.
Three people were injured, including
a 12-year-old boy with a shin
injury, a man with an eye injury,
and a woman with a head injury.
In the evening, the area was
attacked by a kamikaze drone,
resulting in damage to three private
houses, outbuildings, and a car.
The Nikopol district was also shelled by
Russians, affecting several communities
and causing damage to a private house."
Political Conflict
"Iran
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas
Araghchi warned against attacking
Iran's nuclear facilities, stating
that any such attack would be met with
an immediate and decisive response.
He expressed doubt that Israel and
the US will carry out such an attack.
Araghchi emphasized that attacking Iran's
nuclear facilities would have disastrous
consequences for the Middle East.
He also acknowledged the damage suffered
by proxy groups Hamas and Hezbollah
in their conflicts with Israel but
asserted that they will always endure
as a school of thought and an ideal."
"Lebanon
The IDF warned Lebanese civilians
not to return to southern Lebanon
due to ongoing troop deployment and
the need to dismantle Hezbollah.
The ceasefire agreement has been
extended, and the IDF will update
when it is safe to return."
"United States
President Donald Trump signed an
executive order to construct the
Iron Dome missile defense project,
emphasizing the need to protect Americans.
Trump highlighted the advancements
in technology and referenced
Israel's success with the system.
He also mentioned that President
Ronald Reagan had shown interest
in it during the Cold War.
The State Department confirmed that
the future Iron Dome is one of Defense
Secretary Pete Hegseth's priorities."
Civil Unrest
"Democratic Republic of Congo
Dozens of demonstrators attacked
foreign embassies in Kinshasa,
demanding that they oppose the advance
of Rwanda-backed M23 rebels into
Goma, a major city in eastern Congo.
The protesters also called on the
international community to pressure
Rwanda over the rebel advance."
"Israel
Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox extremists
blocked a road outside Jerusalem's
International Convention Center to
protest the enlistment of Haredi soldiers.
The High Court ruled that the
exemption from military service
is no longer valid, prompting the
government to work on a new law.
The protesters oppose any
ultra-Orthodox enlistment, fearing
it will lead to secularization."
"Libya
Protests in Libya have led to the
shutdown of two crude oil export
terminals, Ras Lanuf and Es Sider.
The Oil Crescent Region Movement
demanded that the headquarters of
local energy companies be transferred
to the western Libyan region.
They threatened to block production and
exports if their demands were not met.
The National Oil Corporation has
not commented on the events."
"Serbia
Serbia's Prime Minister Milos
Vucevic resigned to ease political
tensions and pressure caused
by anti-corruption protests.
The collapse of a concrete canopy in
Novi Sad, which killed 15 people, has
highlighted discontent with President
Aleksandar Vucic's autocratic rule.
Vucevic's resignation may lead to
an early parliamentary election.
Opposition parties are calling
for a transitional government
to ensure a fair election.
The student-led protests have
gained widespread support and demand
accountability for the canopy collapse."
Cyber
"China
Chinese tech startup DeepSeek
experienced a cyber attack that
disrupted user registration on its site.
The company's AI chatbot gained attention
for its new model, which was compared
to those from US companies like OpenAI.
DeepSeek's AI assistant became the
top downloaded free app on Apple's
iPhone store, sparking debates
on US-China competition in AI.
Some US tech industry observers
expressed concern about the
Chinese startup catching up with
American companies at a lower cost.
DeepSeek was founded in Hangzhou,
China, in 2023 and released its first
AI language model that same year."
"Japan
Japanese entertainment firm Sanrio, known
for creating Hello Kitty, experienced
a network breach at its theme parks,
Sanrio Puroland and Harmonyland.
The breach, believed to be a ransomware
incident, disrupted ticketing services
and other time-sensitive systems.
Limited services are expected to
continue until the end of the month."
"United Kingdom
Engineering giant Smiths Group
has experienced a cyberattack that
has affected its global systems.
The company has isolated the
affected systems and activated
business continuity plans.
Cybersecurity experts have been brought
in to investigate the incident."
"United States
Matagorda County officials confirmed
a cybersecurity breach that
affected several internal systems.
The breach occurred on Friday,
leading Judge Bobby Seiferman to
issue a Declaration of Disaster.
The emergency operations center was
raised to level 3, and progress has
been made in restoring online services.
The cause of the disruption
is still being investigated."
Weapons
"Nigeria
Troops of the 1 Brigade, in collaboration
with the Department of State Services,
intercepted a shipment of weapons intended
for terrorist groups in Zamfara State.
The operation was based on credible
intelligence and resulted in the
discovery of a cache of weapons.
The suspects fled the scene,
but efforts are underway to
locate and apprehend them."
"Philippines
On January 20, soldiers raided an
abandoned house in the interior area
of Pahamuddin, Cotabato Province,
seizing 19 assault rifles, including
M14 and M16 assault rifles and a .30
caliber Garand rifle.
The raid was conducted with the
assistance of local executives
and traditional Moro elders.
The members of the BIFF and Maute
militant groups storing the weapons
fled the area during the operation."
Accidents
"Afghanistan
Monday morning, a remnant ordnance
shell blast killed two children
while they were playing with it in
the Hoot Ghara area of Spin Boldak."
"South Korea
A passenger airplane caught fire at
an airport in Busan, South Korea.
The Air Busan plane was bound for Hong
Kong but caught fire before takeoff.
One person suffered a minor injury.
The fire started in the plane's tail,
but the cause was not mentioned.
All 169 passengers and seven crew
members were safely evacuated."
"Syria
A series of landmine explosions in
different locations in Syria has
resulted in multiple civilian casualties.
One civilian died, and another was
injured in Al-Sirmaniya Village in Hama.
In Al-Manara Village, another civilian
died, and one was injured while
working in an agricultural land.
A civilian also died in the
Al-Shariâia neighborhood in Hama City.
Additionally, four civilians were
injured in the Buqros Desert in
Deir Ezzor, and three people,
including a child, were injured in
Tadif City in Aleppo countryside.
Lastly, a young man was severely
injured in the Jabaliya area near Barza
Village in the Lattakia countryside."
Other Events
"Iraq
On Tuesday, Iraqi judicial courts
sentenced 15 terrorists to death or
life imprisonment in Nineveh Governorate
for terrorist attacks in the region."
"Turkey
The co-mayor of Siirt, Sofya AlaÄaÅ,
has been sentenced to six years and
three months in prison for alleged
membership in a terrorist organization.
She was previously a journalist
and was detained in June 2022
along with 15 other journalists.
Prosecutors claimed that her
headlines promoted violence
and criticized the state.
Despite being released in June 2023,
she was ultimately imprisoned."
"Thanks for joining us for the January
29, 2025 Geopolitical Report Daily.
As a reminder, complete reports with
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