Trump takes office, as Palestinians released in ceasefire deal
Cedric: Welcome to the Geopolitical
Report Daily for January 21, 2025.
Complete reports with casualty
information, interactive web maps, and
our IntelHub dashboard are available with
a Geopolitical Report Pro subscription.
Monday we tracked 54 events,
so let's get started.
Terrorism,
"In Afghanistan
Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF)
insurgents claimed responsibility for a
bomb blast at the central square in the
city of Pol-e-Khomri, which killed four
Taliban fighters and wounded two others.
A Taliban intelligence commander
was among those targeted.
However, his fate remains unclear."
"Democratic Republic of Congo
On Saturday, M23 insurgents seized
control of the key mining town of
Lumbishi in the South Kivu region.
According to sources, the rebels
are now progressing towards Numbi
and Shanje, two other locations in
the surrounding Kalehe territory."
"Ghana
A shootout between Ghanaâs army
and illegal miners at the AngloGold
Ashanti mine in Obuasi has resulted
in the deaths of seven miners,
according to the Ghana Armed Forces.
The incident occurred on Saturday night
when approximately 60 illegal miners
breached the mineâs security fence and
fired on a military patrol, leading
to a return of fire in self-defense."
"India
On Monday, security forces recovered
an IED during an operation in the
village of Dalan, Poonch district."
"Lebanon
On Monday, Lebanese forces
clashed with terrorists in the
Qasr-Hermel area after the militants
opened fire on them from Syria.
During the clash, one
Lebanese soldier was injured."
"Niger
On Saturday, four Moroccan truck drivers
went missing while crossing the border
area between Burkina Faso and Niger.
The incident occurred as three trucks,
one carrying a spare driver, were
traveling without an escort from Dori
in Burkina Faso to Tera in Niger.
This area is known for jihadi
threats, and the Moroccan Embassy in
Burkina Faso and a Moroccan transport
union confirmed the disappearance."
"Syria
Local gunmen attacked a military vehicle
of SDF members in Deir Ezzor, resulting
in one death and several injuries.
Violent clashes also occurred
along the Euphrates River in
Al-Kasra and Al-Kabr Towns."
"West Bank
An IDF reservist named Sgt.
First Class (res.)
Eviatar Ben Yehuda was killed, and
two others were wounded, including a
senior officer, after a roadside bomb
hit their vehicle in the West Bank.
The incident occurred during a
patrol in the town of Tamun."
"West Bank
Israeli settlers attacked the
Palestinian village of Turmusaya,
throwing stones and Molotov cocktails.
Multiple villages were targeted in
separate attacks throughout the West
Bank in protest of a hostage deal
rejected by the Israeli far-right."
"West Bank
Two Israeli settlers have been detained
for their suspected involvement in
attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank.
The IDF received reports of violent
rioting in several villages, where Israeli
citizens set fire to a house and property.
IDF troops and police officers
were dispatched to the villages
and used riot dispersal means.
Two suspects have been detained so far."
"West Bank
The Magen David Adom ambulance
service reports that two Israelis
in their 20s were shot near the West
Bank outpost of Ramat Gilad and are
in critical and serious condition.
A police officer shot
them after attacking him.
This came as settlers set
fire to homes and vehicles in
nearby Palestinian villages."
Military Conflict
"Gaza Strip
The IDF opened fire on Palestinian
suspects in southern Gaza's Rafah,
who posed a threat to troops.
Israeli forces are still deployed
in Gaza during the ceasefire with
Hamas and have warned Palestinians
not to approach their positions.
The IDF shot and hit the suspects in
Rafah, and the incident is under review."
"India
Sunday evening, terrorists killed a
soldier and injured another during
a gunbattle at Zaloora, Sopore.
The operation was still ongoing."
"India
On Monday, a joint operation involving
the Gariaband police, the Central Reserve
Police Force, the Commando Battalion for
Resolute Action (CoBRA), and Odishaâs
Special Operation Group resulted in
the killing of two Maoist women and
the recovery of an automatic weapon.
One soldier was injured in the encounter.
The operation also led to the defusing
of four improvised explosive devices
(IEDs) planted by the Maoists."
"Iraq
The Turkish Ministry of Defence
announced on Monday that its forces
killed two PKK terrorists during
an operation in the Operation
Claw-Lock Zone in Northern Iraq."
"Myanmar
On Monday, the Arakan Army released
two cargo ships that they captured last
Thursday, January 16, on the Naf River
near the Naikhongdia area of Myanmar.
The ships, which were carrying 50,000
bags of dried fish, betel nuts, and
other goods from Yangon, arrived
at Teknaf Port between 11:20 a.m.
and 11:50 a.m.
However, a third ship remains
under the Arakan Army's control."
"Russia
The city of Kazan, home to critical
military aviation enterprises,
experienced a drone attack.
The S.
P.
Gorbunov Kazan Aviation Plant produces
strategic bombers and helicopters, while
the Kazan State Government Gunpowder
Plant produces munitions and missiles."
"Sudan
Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attacked
an area in northeastern Um Kadadah
on Saturday and killed 14 civilians."
"Sudan
On Monday, the Sudanese army accused
the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)
of conducting ten drone strikes
on a power station in the city of
Dongola, resulting in power outages.
Sudanese forces stated they shot
down several of the drones."
"Sudan
The minister of information and
communication in Unity State announced
on Monday that the state government has
deployed the police, army, and National
Security Service to safeguard the lives
and property of Sudanese nationals.
This deployment was in response to violent
protests by South Sudanese youth following
the killing of South Sudanese nationals
in Wad Madani, Sudanâs Al Jazirah State."
"Sudan
Sudanese forces made significant gains
in the Bahri area of Khartoum North and
are close to controlling its center.
Rapid Support forces reportedly withdrew
heavy artillery, anti-aircraft weapons,
and infantry units from Al-Maouna Street
and the neighborhoods in central Bahri.
The RSF has denied its withdrawal
from some locations in the city."
"Syria
Twelve militiamen of the National Army
factions were killed in airstrikes
by SDF drones in eastern Aleppo.
Eight other militiamen were killed
in similar attacks the previous day.
The total number of Turkish-backed
militiamen killed in SDF attacks
in the past 24 hours is now 20.
Turkish forces launched heavy artillery
fire on the frontlines of the Teshreen
Dam and Qarrah Qarquzaq Bridge
while the SDF conducted infiltration
operations on faction positions."
"Syria
A Turkish drone targeted and disabled
a water tank in Hammarah village
near Al-Qahtaniyah in Al-Qamishli
countryside, as part of the ongoing
Turkish forces' escalation against
the SDF in northeastern Syria."
"Syria
An armed drone of Turkish forces
conducted two airstrikes on a
position in Abd Al-Aziz Mountain,
south of Al-Hasakah City.
Fortunately, there were
no casualties reported."
"Syria
Eight members of Al-Sultan Division
Mohamed Al-Fateh were attacked by SDF
drones near Teshrin Dam in eastern Aleppo.
In the same frontline, eight SDF
members were injured during ongoing
clashes between the two parties.
Additionally, SDF conducted a combing
campaign in various positions in
southern Manbij, villages north of
the dam, Tel Sairital, and Qorah
Qozak Bridge in eastern Aleppo."
"Syria
A member of the Military Operations
Administration was killed and
another member was injured by the
explosion of an old landmine in their
military vehicle near Dadikh town in
the eastern countryside of Idlib."
"Syria
The Turkish Ministry of Defence announced
on Monday that its forces killed two PKK
terrorists during an operation in the
Euphrates Shield Zone in northern Syria."
"Taiwan
Taiwan tracked six Chinese naval
vessels and four military aircraft
around its country from 6 a.m.
on Sunday to 6 a.m.
on Monday.
Four aircraft crossed the Taiwan
Strait median line in the countryâs
southwestern and eastern Air
Defense Identification Zone.
Taiwan also tracked two Chinese balloons
to the northeast of the nation."
"Ukraine
In the Donetsk region, one civilian
was killed, and two more were injured
due to Russia's shelling on January 19.
The head of the Donetsk Regional
Military Administration, Vadym
Filashkin, reported this on Facebook.
The casualties occurred in
Pokrovsk and Mykolaivka."
"Ukraine
Russian troops launched 319
attacks on 11 towns and villages
in the Zaporizhzhia region.
155 UAVs and four multiple-launch
rocket systems were used in the attacks.
160 artillery strikes
hit various locations.
Damage to residential buildings and
infrastructure was reported, but no
civilian casualties were reported."
"Ukraine
Ukraine's Defense Forces intercepted
93 Shahed-type attack UAVs and
other drones, while 47 decoy
UAVs disappeared from radar.
The Russians launched 141 UAVs and
decoy drones from multiple directions,
but the air raid was repelled."
"Ukraine
Two police officers in the Kupiansk
district of the Kharkiv region were
injured in a Russian drone attack.
The attack occurred in the village
of Osynovo, damaging a police car."
"Ukraine
In the Kherson region, one person was
killed, and two others were injured
in Russian strikes on January 19.
Several towns and villages were
targeted, resulting in damage
to 11 private houses and cars.
Additionally, a Russian drone
was intercepted and destroyed
during a nighttime attack."
"Ukraine
Ukrainian forces claimed to have
killed or wounded 1,690 Russian
soldiers over the past day.
Around 320 pieces of military equipment
were destroyed in the fighting."
"Ukraine
The Russian forces launched a missile
strike on Shostka, Sumy region, damaging
a critical infrastructure facility.
No injuries were reported, but
residential apartment buildings and an
infrastructure facility were damaged."
"Ukraine
Russian troops shelled the Nikopol
district of the Dnipropetrovsk
region using heavy artillery and
Grad multiple launch rocket systems.
The attack damaged an industrial
enterprise, a gymnasium, four
high-rise buildings, and a power line.
However, there were no
civilian casualties."
"Ukraine
In the village of Novodmitrivka,
Kherson region, a 59-year-old resident
was injured when Russian troops
dropped explosives from a drone.
The victim suffered an explosive
injury, contusion, and shrapnel
wounds to his face and legs.
He is currently in moderate condition
and under medical supervision."
"Ukraine
Russian troops attacked Mylove in the
Kherson region, damaging several private
houses and a local fortification point.
There were no casualties.
This follows a previous incident where
Russian troops shelled the village
of Stepanivka, injuring a woman."
"Ukraine
Russian troops attacked the Nikopol
district multiple times, using
heavy artillery and kamikaze drones.
Two men were wounded in the
shelling, and several buildings
and infrastructure were damaged."
"Ukraine
The Russian forces shelled Kherson on
January 20, injuring a 67-year-old man.
The Kherson Regional Military
Administration reported that the man
suffered blast trauma, a concussion,
and a shrapnel injury to his elbow.
Emergency medical assistance
was provided at the scene.
Previously, another man was
injured in a similar attack
in the village of Bilozerka."
Political Conflict
"China
On Saturday, the Myanmar military
and the Myanmar National Democratic
Alliance Army (MNDAA) insurgent group
signed a ceasefire, which halted
fighting near the border with China.
During a regular news briefing on Monday,
Chinese ministry spokesperson Mao Ning
stated that the two sides held talks in
Kunming, a southwestern city in China,
where they expressed gratitude to Beijing
for its efforts to promote peace."
"Gaza Strip
United Nations officials report
that over 630 trucks of humanitarian
aid have entered the Gaza Strip
as part of the ceasefire agreement
between Israel and Hamas.
Tom Fletcher, the United Nations
under-secretary-general for humanitarian
affairs, highlighted the urgency of the
situation, stating that after 15 months of
war, the humanitarian needs are immense.
At least 300 of the trucks
brought assistance to the
northern region of Gaza."
"Philippines
Last Friday, January 17, National
Bureau of Investigation (NBI) operatives
arrested a suspected Chinese spy and
two Filipino accomplices in Makati City.
The trio was allegedly using advanced
technology to gather data and scan
maps of critical infrastructure at
multiple locations in Luzon province."
"United States
The U.S.
Treasury Department's Office of Foreign
Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed
sanctions against a Chinese cybersecurity
firm and a Shanghai-based cyber actor.
The sanctions target Yin Kecheng,
who is assessed to have over a
decade of experience as a cyber
actor affiliated with China's
Ministry of State Security (MSS).
The Treasury Department states
that Kecheng was associated with
the recent breach of its network.
The hackers allegedly gained access to
no fewer than 400 computers belonging"
"United States
In his 2025 inaugural address,
Trump declared ""the golden age
of America begins right now.""
He promised to end the nation's
""decline,"" restore national unity,
and prioritize America's interests.
Trump outlined plans to declare a border
emergency, deport undocumented immigrants,
boost domestic energy production,
and impose tariffs on foreign goods.
He vowed to combat inflation,
restore law and order, and end the
""weaponization"" of the justice system."
"West Bank
Hundreds of people in Beitunia,
West Bank, celebrated the arrival
of two buses carrying 90 Palestinian
prisoners freed from an Israeli jail.
The prisoners were released as
part of a Gaza ceasefire deal,
which also saw the release of three
Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
The crowd displayed flags of various
Palestinian factions, including
terror groups, as well as the
Palestinian and Hezbollah flags."
"Yemen
Yemen's Houthi rebels will cease
attacks on vessels in the Red
Sea shipping corridor, except
for Israeli-affiliated ships.
They announced this decision through
their Humanitarian Operations Coordination
Center, citing the ceasefire-hostage
deal between Israel and Hamas.
The group will continue targeting
Israeli ships until all phases of the
ceasefire deal in Gaza are implemented.
A military statement is expected
from the Houthis later today."
Civil Unrest
"South Korea
On Monday, impeached South
Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol
defied a summons for questioning
following a violent outburst by
his supporters the previous day.
Yoon's backers had shattered windows
and stormed a court building, sparking
a six-hour standoff with authorities."
"South Sudan
Last Friday, January 17, protests
in Wau, South Sudan, left five
people dead and 18 injured.
The protests were in response
to the killing of South Sudanese
nationals by Sudanese army forces in
Wad-Medani, Al-Jazirah State, Sudan.
Two police officers were also
injured during the protests.
Police also apprehended at least 40
youths for looting shops in the town."
Cyber
"United Kingdom
On Monday, a ransomware attack
on the Blacon High School in
Chester forced it to close its
doors at least today and Tuesday."
Accidents
"India
On Monday, at least three wagons of a
goods train derailed near the Rangiagarh
railway station, Paradip, in the
Jagatsinghpur district of Odisha."
"Syria
A young man and a little girl were
killed by old landmine explosions in
different locations in Homs countryside.
Additionally, two civilians were
killed by a landmine explosion
in the Latakia countryside.
In Aleppo, a little boy was injured by a
landmine explosion in a village controlled
by the Turkish-backed National Army."
"United States
Sunday afternoon, a small plane
crashed near the North Perry Airport
after losing power shortly after
taking off, injuring the pilot.
An investigation was underway."
Other Events
"Iran
The Iranian army conducted a two-day
military drill in the Khorasan
Razavi province to improve combat
readiness and showcase new weapons.
The exercise included various military
units and focused on offensive security
operations against mock terrorist leaders.
Drones, missiles, bombs, helicopters,
and armored vehicles were used
in these specialized operations."
"Thanks for joining us for the January
21, 2025 Geopolitical Report Daily.
As a reminder, complete reports with
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