US and Iran move forward to round three of talks
Cedric: Welcome to the Geopolitical
Report Daily for April 20, 2025.
Complete reports with casualty
information, interactive web maps, and
our IntelHub dashboard are available with
a Geopolitical Report Pro subscription.
Saturday, we collected 56 events,
including Saturday's US-Iran talks
in Rome, and their upcoming talks
in Oman, so let's get started.
Iran and the United States have resumed
nuclear talks in Rome, Italy, with the
goal of finding common ground between
US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
The negotiations, mediated by Omani
Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, aim to
prevent a potential military strike on
Iran's nuclear sites and address Iran's
threats to pursue an atomic weapon.
The talks come amid heightened tensions
in the Middle East, including the
Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and US airstrikes
targeting Yemen's Houthi rebels.
Iran is seeking a deal to stabilize
its economy, which has been affected
by US sanctions and a weakened
currency, and Russia may play a
key role in any future agreement."
The second round of Iran-US nuclear
talks ended in Rome on Saturday after
approximately four hours of discussion,
with Iranian state media describing
the talks as ""constructive.""
A third round of talks is scheduled
to take place in the coming days.
The talks are being mediated, with the
Iranian and US delegations communicating
indirectly through an Omani official."
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas
Araghchi announced that the next
round of talks with the US will
be held in Oman on April 26.
The previous round of talks, held in
Rome, were described as constructive
and moving forward, with experts set
to meet in Oman before the main talks."
"Iraq
Turkey has dropped leaflets in the
Kurdistan Region, urging Kurdistan
Workers' Party (PKK) fighters to
surrender following a call by PKK founder
Abdullah Ocalan to disband the group.
The leaflets quote former PKK
members who have surrendered,
describing their positive
experiences with Turkish authorities.
This development comes after Ocalan's
historic message in February urging
the PKK to disarm and disband,
which has sparked hope for an end
to the nearly four-decade conflict
between Turkey and the PKK."
"Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin has
announced an Easter truce in the conflict
in Ukraine, starting this evening and
lasting until midnight on Sunday."
"United States
The US Supreme Court has temporarily
halted the deportation of alleged
Venezuelan gang members under
the 1798 Alien Enemies Act (AEA).
The Trump administration invoked the law
to detain and deport migrants accused
of belonging to the Tren de Aragua
gang, but the court has ordered a pause
on the removals until further notice.
Rights lawyers had filed an emergency
appeal to stop the deportations, citing
concerns that the migrants were being
targeted unfairly based on their tattoos."
"Tunisia
A court in Tunisia has sentenced 40
defendants, including leaders of the
opposition coalition National Salvation
Front, to prison terms of up to 66 years
on charges of conspiracy and terrorism.
The trial, described as a ""farce""
by a defence lawyer, is seen as
an attempt to stifle dissent by
President Kais Saied's government.
This move has been met with
criticism from human rights groups,
who have denounced a decline in
fundamental rights under Saied's
authoritarian style of governance."
"Benin
Suspected jihadist insurgents have
killed eight soldiers and wounded
13 in an attack on two military
outposts in northern Benin.
This incident is part of a recent
uptick in deadly Islamist attacks in
the region, which authorities attribute
to the spillover of militants from
neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger.
The area near the borders of these
three countries is a hotbed of
jihadist activity, and the attack
has raised concerns about the
effectiveness of Operation Mirador,
a joint military operation aimed
at combating jihadist groups."
"Ecuador
Thursday night, armed attackers, disguised
as soldiers, stormed a cockfighting event
in the rural community of La Valencia in
the Ecuadorian province of ManabÃ, killing
11 people and injuring nine others.
Police believe the assailants
belong to the Los Lobos cartel."
"Gaza Strip
A Hamas attack in the northern Gaza Strip
resulted in the death of Warrant Officer
G'haleb Sliman Alnasasra, 35, a tracker
in the Gaza Division's Northern Brigade.
Five others were wounded,
including three seriously.
The incident occurred during operations
to clear the area of Hamas infrastructure,
including tunnels, near the border.
The IDF carried out a wave of
strikes in the area to eliminate
the operatives behind the attack."
"India
The Punjab Police have arrested
13 people and busted two major
terror modules backed by Pakistan's
Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency.
The modules, operated by proscribed
terrorist outfit Babbar Khalsa
International (BKI) from abroad,
were led by France-based Satnam
Singh (alias Satta) and Greece-based
Jaswinder (alias Mannu Agwan).
The police seized various explosives,
including rocket-propelled
grenades, IEDs, and RDX, as
well as firearms and vehicles."
"Nigeria
Recent attacks in Nigeria have resulted
in the deaths of at least 34 people.
The attacks occurred in three
states: Kwara, Benue, and Borno.
In Kwara, a terror group identified as
Mahmuda, also known as the Mallam Group,
killed 15 vigilantes and villagers.
In Benue, 17 farmers were
killed by suspected herders who
invaded their communities in
the Sankera axis of the state.
Meanwhile, in Borno, two soldiers
and an unknown number of civilians
were killed by suspected Boko Haram
terrorists in Yamtake, Gwoza LGA.
These attacks have raised concerns
about the growing number of terror
cells and extremist groups in Nigeria."
"Nigeria
Boko Haram terrorists have
attacked the Dabna village in
Hong, Adamawa State, causing
destruction and fear among residents.
The attack occurred from 10 pm Friday
to 3 am Saturday, with the terrorists
burning houses and hoisting their flag.
This is the second attack in the area
in just three days, and residents are
fleeing due to fear of more attacks."
"Nigeria
Boko Haram terrorists attacked the village
of Dabna in the Yadim/Dugwaba District
of Hong Local Government Area between
late Friday and early Saturday morning.
The terrorists used sophisticated
weapons and improvised explosive
devices (IEDs), and hoisted their
flag after unleashing destruction.
Before the attack, the same
militants also attacked the town
of Garaha, three kilometers away.
However, security forces
repelled the attack."
"Nigeria
On Thursday night, three agents from
the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
(NDLEA) were admitted to the hospital
after sustaining gunshot wounds during
an armed attack while carrying out a
raid in the Jahi area of the Federal
Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja."
"Nigeria
Ten Adventist students who were kidnapped
on April 16, 2025, were rescued by
police operatives after a gun duel
with suspected kidnappers, with one
kidnapper neutralized and the students
released due to intense pressure.
The Edo State Police Command conducted
the operation in the Ohosu area."
"Philippines
On Thursday, government troops
shot a New People's Army (NPA)
militant during an encounter with
several rebels in Barangay Banali.
The rebel was a known
extortionist in the area.
The other militants fled the
scene during the fighting.
Soldiers recovered an M16
rifle from the dead rebel."
"Philippines
On Friday night, assailants on a
motorcycle lobbed three grenades at a
vehicle in the town of Buluan, injuring
a villager and damaging his vehicle.
The assailants fled the
scene after the attack."
"Sri Lanka
A gunman fired at a church in Manampitiya,
Sri Lanka, on Friday, but no one was hurt.
The suspect, who had a personal grudge
against the pastor, has been arrested.
This incident occurred six years after
the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that
killed 279 people and injured over 500."
"Syria
A shooting incident occurred in the
Karam Al-Lawz neighborhood in Homs.
Two gunmen on a motorcycle opened
fire on a mother and her daughters,
resulting in the immediate deaths of
the mother and one of her daughters.
The third daughter was severely
injured and was taken to
a hospital for treatment."
"Gaza Strip
Over the weekend, the Israeli Air Force
carried out airstrikes on over 150
targets in the Gaza Strip, including Hamas
infrastructure and terror operatives.
The 282nd Artillery Regiment and the
188th Armored Brigade also conducted
operations, killing over 40 terror
operatives and destroying multiple
targets, including a Hamas pickup
truck and a booby-trapped tunnel."
"Iraq
On Saturday, Turkish forces bombed
PKK positions 27 times in the Amediye
district, including the villages of
Sîpandar, GirgaÅ, Mijê, and Kevne Mijê.
Authorities reported there were
no casualties in the attack.
Also, in the past three days,
Turkish forces intensified their
attacks on Mount Gare and surrounding
villages in southern Kurdistan."
"Nigeria
Armed terrorists suspected to be members
of Boko Haram have invaded Gwoza local
government headquarters in Borno state.
The attack occurred on Friday night,
following a similar infiltration
into Yamtake village on Thursday,
where two soldiers and an unknown
number of civilians were killed.
The situation in Gwoza is
currently unclear due to
ongoing gunfire and explosions."
"Pakistan
Pakistani counter-terrorism forces
killed five terrorists during an
operation in the Dabbar mountain region
of the Duki district on Saturday."
"Somalia
Puntland regional forces declared the
total eradication of Islamic State
(ISIS) fighters from the Dooxada Miraale
region in Bari after a lengthy and
intensive military operation on Friday.
Puntland officials verified that ISIS
militants, who were entrenched in
the area, were killed during a nearly
12-hour confrontation, marking the
longest engagement between Puntland
forces and ISIS since February.
The regional government recognized
that several soldiers were
lost, although specific casualty
numbers were not released."
"Somalia
Puntland forces have made significant
progress in their fight against
ISIS, conquering critical bases
in the Cal-Miskaat mountains.
These operations have included the
seizure of key ISIS strongholds
and the elimination of numerous
militants, both foreign and local.
Puntland's security forces have
also received support from the
United States Africa Command and
the United Arab Emirates, providing
airstrikes and logistical support to
bolster the local forces' efforts.
The operations occurred in Dallaas,
Shilin, Cas, Buur0Gaa, and Dhanan."
"Syria
The Internal Security Forces, along
with Women's Protection Units, conducted
a security operation in Al-Hawl camp,
southern Al-Hasakah, to dismantle
ISIS cells and limit their activities.
On the first day, 27 members were
arrested and weapons were seized.
The operation aims to address
security threats and repeated
incidents within the camp, which
hosts members and families of ISIS."
"Syria
General Security forces stormed
the house of a leader of an armed
group in Damascus, resulting in
clashes and the leader's injury and
arrest, along with his group members.
Additionally, several young men
accused of drug dealing were arrested
in the same neighborhood, causing
tension and fear among civilians."
"Taiwan
Taiwan tracked 14 Chinese military
aircraft, five naval vessels,
and four official ships around
the country between 6 a.m.
on Friday and 6 a.m.
on Saturday.
Thirteen aircraft crossed the
Taiwan Strait median line in the
countryâs northern and southwestern
Air Defense Identification Zone."
"Ukraine
The Russian army conducted airstrikes
on Kupiansk, injuring five people,
including four women and one man,
due to acute stress reactions.
The attacks damaged over 10
private houses and outbuildings."
"Ukraine
Ukrainian forces claimed to have
killed or wounded 1,180 Russian
soldiers over the past day.
Over 410 pieces of military equipment
were destroyed in the fighting."
"Ukraine
On Saturday, the Russian army
launched a series of attacks in the
Dnipropetrovsk region of Ukraine,
targeting several communities with
guided aerial bombs and artillery.
The attacks caused damage to
property, including a private house
and a forest fire, but fortunately,
no casualties were reported.
The affected communities include
Novopavlivka, Nikopol, Tomakivka,
Synelnykove, Mezhova, and Pokrovsk,
with the consequences of the
attacks still being clarified."
"Ukraine
On the night of April 19, 2025,
Ukrainian forces successfully shot
down 33 out of 87 Russian drones
and repelled a large-scale attack
launched by Russian forces on Ukraine.
The attack included ground- and
air-launched missiles, anti-radar
missiles, and Shahed attack UAVs.
Ukrainian aviation, anti-aircraft missile
units, electronic warfare systems,
and mobile fire teams effectively
defended against the attack, with
36 decoy drones disappearing from
radar without causing further damage.
The overnight attacks affected several
regions in Ukraine, including Odesa,
Kharkiv, Sumy, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia."
"Ukraine
Over the past day, Russian forces
launched shelling attacks and airstrikes
on 36 settlements in the Kherson
region, including the city of Kherson.
As a result, nine people were wounded.
The attacks targeted residential
areas, damaging multiple buildings,
vehicles, and agricultural equipment."
"Ukraine
The Russian army carried out airstrikes
on the town of Kostiantynivka in the
Donetsk region, injuring one civilian.
The strikes caused significant damage
to warehouses, administrative buildings,
gas stations, and private homes.
The Ukrainian authorities urge
civilians to take precautions and
prioritize their safety due to
the ongoing dangerous situation."
"Ukraine
The Russian army has attacked a
residential building in Kherson,
despite Russian leader Vladimir
Putin's announced ""Easter truce""
in the war against Ukraine.
This incident was reported by Daria
Zarivna, an adviser to the head of the
Presidential Office, via Telegram."
"Ukraine
The Russian army launched rocket attacks
on the Odesa region, causing damage to
civilian infrastructure, including farm
warehouses and agricultural machinery.
The attacks resulted in local fires,
but no casualties were reported."
"Ukraine
Russian forces killed one civilian
and injured two others in the Donetsk
region over the past day, according to
Vadym Filashkin, the head of the Donetsk
Regional Military Administration."
"Ukraine
Russian forces launched a significant
attack on the Zaporizhzhia region
over the past 24 hours, targeting 12
localities with 328 strikes, including
airstrikes, artillery shells, and
204 UAVs of various modifications.
The attacks resulted in a 74-year-old
man being wounded and a fire
in the city of Zaporizhzhia.
Affected areas include Huliaipole,
Novodarivka, Shcherbaky, and others,
with multiple launch rocket systems
hitting at least 5 locations."
"Ukraine
Russian troops fired on Zelenivka, Kherson
region, injuring a 74-year-old woman.
She suffered explosive and
craniocerebral injuries and was
hospitalized in moderate condition."
"Ukraine
In the Kharkiv region, several incidents
occurred due to Russian shelling
and drone attacks, resulting in at
least seven people being injured or
suffering acute stress reactions.
A car fire in Horokhovatka village
injured one woman, while a house fire in
Sadovod village affected three people.
Additionally, a 60-year-old woman was
injured by an FPV drone attack in Podoly
village, and multiple fires broke out
in various villages, causing damage to
residential buildings and outbuildings."
"Ukraine
The Kherson City Military
Administration reported that
settlements in the Naddnipriansky
starosta district were de-energized
due to shelling by Russian forces.
Critical infrastructure was
damaged, and experts are assessing
the extent of the damage.
Emergency repairs will begin when
the security situation allows."
"Ukraine
Russian strikes caused fires in several
settlements in the Sumy region of Ukraine.
The fires, which occurred in Putivl,
Buryn, and Sumy communities, affected
non-residential buildings and vehicles.
Fortunately, the State Emergency
Service was able to extinguish the
fires without reporting any casualties.
Additionally, Russian troops fired 56
times at the border areas and settlements
of the Sumy region on the same day."
"Israel
Anti-government protesters have arrived
at Moshav Mazur, where Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu and his family are
expected to celebrate Mimouna, the
festival marking the end of Passover.
The protesters are holding a demonstration
and have placed a banner reading ""until
the last hostage"" in the field outside
the community, demanding a hostage deal."
"Taiwan
On April 19, 2025, an estimated 55,000
people gathered in Taipei to participate
in the ""Reject United Front, Defend
Taiwan"" rally, organized by YouTuber
Pa Chiung and the ""anti-communist,
safeguard Taiwan volunteers alliance.""
The rally aimed to call for the recall
of KMT lawmakers deemed pro-Chinese
Communist Party (CCP) and weaken Taiwan's
national defense and social unity."
"Turkey
A rally in the central town of Yozgat,
Turkey, saw around 100 tractors block
roads as drivers joined an anti-government
protest called by the main opposition CHP.
The protest, led by CHP leader Ozgur
Ozel, demanded the government's
resignation and an end to the
crackdown on opposition supporters.
The rally was in response to the
arrest of Istanbul's opposition
mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, and the
detention of nearly 2,000 people."
"United Kingdom
A large group of protesters gathered
in central London to demonstrate in
support of trans rights, following
a recent Supreme Court ruling
on the definition of a woman.
The ""emergency demonstration""
began in Parliament Square and
continued towards St James's Park."
"Australia
A man in his 50s was injured in a
light helicopter crash on K'Gari
(formerly Fraser Island) in Queensland.
He suffered minor head, arm, and hip
injuries and is in a stable condition.
He is being flown to the hospital
for treatment and was the only
person on board the aircraft."
"India
A four-storey residential building
in northeast Delhi's Shakti Vihar
area collapsed in the early hours
of Saturday, resulting in the deaths
of 11 people, including the building
owner and his family members.
The collapse is believed to have
been triggered by construction
work on the ground floor and
weakened structures due to years of
water damage from a nearby sewer.
The National Disaster Response
Force, fire services, and police
carried out rescue efforts."
"Syria
Recent explosions in Syria have
resulted in civilian casualties.
In the western countryside of
Hama, a civilian and his son
were seriously injured by an old
landmine near Al-Hakourah bridge,
and were taken to the hospital.
In a separate incident in Latakia, a
civilian died from wounds sustained
in an explosion near Bradon dam."
"Syria
Two civilians died and one was
injured in a landmine explosion
in Lattakia countryside.
Additionally, a civilian died
in a separate landmine explosion
in Deir Ezzor countryside."
"United States
A 1947 single-engine plane
crashed on Friday afternoon in
Alexander County, North Carolina.
The pilot, 74-year-old Gregory Alan Deal,
and his passenger suffered minor injuries.
The incident occurred near Rink Dam
Road in Taylorsville, and the FAA will
investigate the cause of the crash."
"United States
A plane crashed near Farm-to-Market
Roads 441 and 3082 in Wharton
County on Friday morning.
The pilot was the only person on
board and reported no injuries.
The cause of the crash is
currently unknown and is being
investigated by the FAA."
"United States
A small, non-commercial plane crash-landed
into the Platte River in Nebraska,
resulting in the deaths of three people.
Emergency crews searched the area
overnight, but unfortunately,
no survivors were found.
The cause of the crash is under
investigation by the Federal Aviation
Administration and the National
Transportation Safety Board."
"United States
A small single-engine plane has
crashed on a rural roadway in downstate
Illinois, resulting in a fatal outcome.
Authorities have confirmed that the crash
site is located near the border of Coles
and Cumberland counties, approximately
three miles south of Mattoon.
The roadway is currently shut down while
officials investigate the incident."
"Zimbabwe
Three unidentified miners died at
Mazoweâs Jumbo Mine when the rope of
an electric hoist snapped, causing
them to fall 45 meters down a shaft.
Police spokesperson Paul
Nyathi confirmed the incident."
Thanks for joining us for the April
20, 2025 Geopolitical Report Daily.
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