May 7, 2025 23:01 E137

US halts airstrikes on Houthi rebels

Cedric: Welcome to the Geopolitical
Report Daily for May 7, 2025.

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a Geopolitical Report Pro subscription.

On Tuesday, we collected 58 events,
including US President Trump

announcing a halt to US airstrikes on
Houthi rebels, so let's get started.

Israeli airstrikes targeted Houthi
infrastructure in Yemen, resulting

in three killed, 39 wounded, and
damage to a cement factory and a port.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF)
stated that the strikes aimed

to disrupt the Houthi regime's
military buildup and economy.

According to the IDF, the Hodeida
port was used for transferring

Iranian weapons and equipment, while
the Bajil concrete factory is a

key resource for the Houthi regime.

The strikes were carried out in response
to a previous ballistic missile attack

by the Houthis on Ben Gurion Airport."

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) conducted
airstrikes on the Houthi-controlled

Sanaa International Airport and
other targets near Yemen's capital.

According to the IAF, fighter jets
dropped 50 munitions, disabling

the airport within 15 minutes.

The strikes also hit power stations and
a cement factory, which the military

claims were used by the Houthis."

Israeli Air Force fighter jets
are currently striking the

Houthi-controlled Sanaa International
Airport in Yemen's capital.

The strike comes in response to repeated
missile and drone attacks on Israel,

including a hit on Ben Gurion Airport
on Sunday that wounded several people.

The IDF issued a warning ahead
of the strike, with explosions

reported in the area of the airport."

US President Donald Trump announced
an end to the US bombing campaign

against the Houthis in Yemen, citing
a claim by the Iran-backed rebels

that they no longer want to fight.

Trump states that the US will ""honor""
this and stop the bombings, as the Houthis

have agreed to stop attacking ships."

"India

On Tuesday, the Punjab Police recovered
explosives from Pakistan's ISI and

allied terrorist outfits, including two
RPGs and five hand grenades, during an

operation in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar."

"Cameroon

An explosion occurred approximately
1 kilometer from the Bafia military

base, resulting in the deaths of two
soldiers and injuring three others.

The incident is believed to be an
IED attack, although no group has

officially claimed responsibility."

"Gaza Strip

Two Hamas operatives, including
a platoon commander and a sniper

unit commander, have surrendered
to Israeli troops in Rafah, Gaza.

The pair, identified as Yousef Qadi
and Muhammad Zaarab, were involved

in the October 7, 2023, terror
attack and had been responsible

for holding Israeli hostages.

They provided intelligence information
about Hamas infrastructure during their

interrogation and were found to be
armed with knives when they surrendered.

The Israeli military continues to operate
in Rafah, with plans to expand its

operations to additional neighborhoods."

"India

A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
Assistant Commandant, Sagar Borade,

sustained serious injuries in an IED
blast during an anti-Naxal operation

in the Khasi Hills, Chhattisgarh.

The Khasi Hills are thought to be
a refuge for numerous high-profile

Naxal leaders, characterized by dense
forests and numerous deadly IEDs."

"India

On Monday evening, the Rayagada
district police and district

voluntary force detected and
defused four improvised explosive

devices (IEDs) in a forested area.

The operation was launched after receiving
a tip-off about Maoist-planted explosives.

Three of the IEDs were identified
as ""tiffin bombs"" and one

as a ""pressure cooker bomb.""

No arrests were made, but search
operations have been intensified to

ensure safety and security forces
in the region are on high alert."

"India

Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's
Budgam district have arrested two

terror associates during a naka-checking
operation, recovering a cache of

arms and ammunition, including a
pistol, a grenade, and live rounds."

"Iraq

The Directorate of Mine Affairs
in northern Duhok announced the

removal and neutralization of dozens
of unexploded ordnance and war

remnants in the al-Amadiyah district.

Notable discoveries included an armed
drone and an 82 mm artillery shell.

The recovered materials were safely
stored and disposed of, but the area

remains contaminated with landmines,
posing a threat to residents and

hindering development efforts."

"Kenya

Dozens of people were injured in clashes
between communities living in Challa

Division, Taita Taveta County, over the
ownership of over 4,800 acres of land.

The land has been at the center of
conflict between Taita, Taveta, Kamba,

and Maasai communities, with more than
5,000 squatters occupying the area.

The clashes started after a consultative
meeting convened by the Taita Taveta

County Assembly Land Committee turned
chaotic, forcing MCAs to flee."

"Nigeria

At least six people have been reported
killed in an attack on the Marit and

Gashish communities in the Barkin Ladi
Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The incident occurred on May 5,
with many others hospitalized.

The council chairman, Hon.

Stephen Pwajok Gyang, has condemned
the attack and urged for proactive

measures to prevent further violence."

"Nigeria

On Sunday morning, a suspected bandit
ambush occurred in Bauchi state,

northeast Nigeria, resulting in
the deaths of at least 19 people.

The attack targeted a local security
patrol in the Gwana district, causing

multiple fatalities among both the
security team and nearby residents.

The bandits also rustled a large number
of cattle and sheep from the district."

"Nigeria

On May 5, 2025, armed bandits launched
a coordinated attack on seven villages

in Maru Local Government Area, Zamfara
State, killing at least 12 people

and abducting an unknown number.

The attack is believed to be a
reprisal for a recent operation

by Nigerian Army troops against a
bandits' camp in the Dankurmi forest."

"Pakistan

In Jiwani, a remote-controlled bomb
targeted a Pakistan Coast Guard patrol

vehicle, injuring two personnel.

In Pishin, a Levies official's private
vehicle was damaged by a roadside bomb,

but the official escaped unharmed.

Meanwhile, Levies personnel in
Khuzdar prevented a potential

attack by defusing a 10kg explosive
device planted at a roadside.

Additionally, armed men kidnapped a
person at gunpoint from the Zehri bazaar."

"Pakistan

A security convoy in Pakistan's
southwestern Balochistan province

was targeted by a roadside bomb on
Tuesday, resulting in the deaths

of at least five paramilitary
personnel and injuries to six others.

The incident occurred in the Kachhi
district at around 11:45 a.m.

local time, when an improvised explosive
device struck a Frontier Corps convoy.

The area has been cordoned off, and a
search operation is underway to identify

those responsible for the attack."

"Russia

At least three police officers were killed
and several others injured in an attack

on traffic police in Makhachkala, the
capital of Russia's Republic of Dagestan.

The attack occurred on Monday when
police attempted to stop a car, and two

assailants were shot dead at the scene.

A criminal investigation has
been launched, and officials

are searching for additional
attackers who fled in a vehicle."

"South Sudan

On May 6, 2025, a Somali national was
killed in an armed ambush along the

Juba-Terekeka highway in South Sudan.

The attack, carried out by SPLA-In
Opposition (SPLA-IO) operatives,

resulted in the victim being burned
inside a commercial vehicle that was

set ablaze near the town of Terekeka."

"Syria

Gunmen from an ISIS cell attacked
a Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)

military post in Al-Bahra town, Deir
Ezzor, resulting in fierce clashes.

The incident has left at least two
SDF members dead, and the death

toll is expected to rise further."

"Syria

ISIS militants attacked a military post
in Al-Shuhayl town, Deir Ezzor, resulting

in clashes between the two sides.

Fortunately, no casualties were reported."

"Gaza Strip

Hamas has announced it is no longer
interested in hostage-ceasefire

deal talks with Israel, citing the
ongoing ""hunger war"" in Gaza.

A senior Israeli defense official warned
that if an agreement is not reached by

the end of US President Donald Trump's
visit to the Middle East, the IDF will

launch a wider offensive in the Strip.

The plan aims to ""conquer"" Gaza,
retain control, and prevent Hamas from

accessing humanitarian aid supplies.

Israel has stopped allowing aid
into Gaza since March 2, leading

to a worsening hunger crisis
and rising malnutrition rates."

"Germany

German lawmakers have elected conservative
leader Friedrich Merz as the new

chancellor in a second-round vote.

He won 325 votes out of 630,
securing an absolute majority.

This comes after his initial
defeat in the ballot."

"Kosovo

On Tuesday, the Special Prosecution
of the Republic of Kosovo and police,

after conducting several months of
investigations and applying special

investigative measures, arrested a Kosovo
citizen suspected of committing espionage.

Authorities also carried out searches
in two locations in Kosovo, seizing

material evidence, including several
phones, which are suspected to have

been used by the suspect during the
commission of the criminal offense."

"Myanmar

Myanmar's junta declared a new
post-earthquake truce on Tuesday,

days after the expiration of a
previous humanitarian ceasefire

it was accused of violating with a
continued campaign of air strikes.

The latest truce will run through May 31."

"United States

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
has ordered a reduction in the number

of active-duty four-star generals
and admirals by at least 20%.

The memo also calls for a 10% reduction
in general and flag officers and a 20% cut

in general officers in the National Guard.

The goal is to eliminate ""redundant
force structure"" and optimize

leadership by reducing excess
high-ranking officer positions."

"China

With tensions escalating between
India and Pakistan after the

Pahalgam terrorist incident,
China initiated a live ammunition

firing exercise in eastern Ladakh.

This exercise featured truck-mounted
artillery guns and long-range rockets.

Although it is taking place in Tibet,
which belongs to China, the timing and

the current situation between India and
Pakistan have caused concerns within the

Indian civil and military communities."

"Afghanistan

The Taliban has deployed additional
forces to Argo district in Badakhshan

province, following a protest
by local residents on Monday.

Over 30 people have been arrested, and
eyewitnesses report clashes between

Taliban fighters and civilians,
resulting in beatings, property damage,

and the disappearance of a woman.

The protest was sparked by the
Taliban's poppy eradication

campaign and the exclusion of locals
from decision-making processes."

"Gaza Strip

The Israeli military (IDF) carried
out an airstrike on a command center

in Gaza, targeting Hamas operatives.

However, Palestinian media said the
strike hit a school in the Bureij

area, which was being used as a shelter
for displaced Gazans, resulting in

the deaths of at least 18 people.

The IDF claims Hamas was using the site
to store weapons intended for attacks

on Israeli troops and civilians."

"India

On Tuesday, a Naxal/Maoists IED
blast injured two Central Reserve

Police Force (CRPF) members
during an ongoing operation in the

Kargegutta Hills in Telangana State.

Police recovered around 120
IEDs in the area since the

beginning of the operations."

"India

Between Monday night and Tuesday
morning, the Indian Army responded to

the unprovoked small-arms firing by
Pakistan in multiple sectors, including

Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, and Rajouri.

The gunfire marks the 12th consecutive
night of such provocations amid escalating

tensions between India and Pakistan."

"Lebanon

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have
confirmed carrying out airstrikes

in Lebanon, targeting a Hezbollah
""strategic weapons"" manufacturing and

storage site in the Beqaa Valley area.

The strike was in response to Hezbollah's
efforts to restore the facility,

which had been previously targeted.

Additional sites in the Srifa area
of southern Lebanon were also struck,

with the IDF citing violations of the
agreement between Israel and Lebanon."

"Myanmar

The Taâang National Liberation Army
(TNLA) claimed that junta forces

carried out two airstrikes on Kyaukme
town of northern Shan State on Monday.

No casualties were reported.

TNLA insurgents seized
Kyaukme on the same day."

"Myanmar

The Myanmar military junta has
launched airstrikes on three

Mandalay Region townships, including
Mogok and Singu, killing three

civilians and injuring many others.

A school in Ywartanshey village in
western Madaya Township was bombed on

Saturday, May 3, killing a 25-year-old
woman and wounding four others,

including a father and daughter who
were internally displaced people.

The airstrike occurred in an area with
no recent ground fighting, highlighting

the junta's increasing use of military
force against civilian areas."

"Myanmar

Since late April, over 600 junta
soldiers have been moving towards

the town of Hpakant in Kachin
State, trying to reassert control

over the roads surrounding this
significant jade-mining hub.

They have engaged in intense battles
with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA)

and the Kachin Peopleâs Defence Force
(PDF), who currently manage the key

roads linking Hpakant to other towns.

As of Tuesday, there are intense
clashes near Kat Hmaw, about

22 miles east of Hpakant."

"Russia

Ukraine has launched drone attacks on
Moscow for the second consecutive night,

with Russian authorities reporting
that at least 19 drones were shot down.

This comes as Russia prepares to
celebrate Victory Day on May 9, with

visiting world leaders expected to
attend the military parade in Moscow.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
has rejected Russia's offer of a

unilateral ceasefire and instead called
for a 30-day ceasefire to end the war.

The situation remains tense, with both
sides continuing to exchange strikes

and Ukraine's air force reporting
that 136 drones were launched into the

country overnight, with 54 shot down."

"Sudan

On Tuesday, Sudan's paramilitary
Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched

drone attacks on Port Sudan, hitting
key targets including the airport,

fuel depot, power substation, and
the main army base in the city.

The attack marks the third consecutive day
of RSF targeting the Sudanese army-aligned

government's seat of power, which is also
the central hub for humanitarian aid.

The RSF has increasingly relied on
drones since losing territory in

March, attacking deep into army-held
territory and causing widespread

blackouts and humanitarian crises."

"Syria

Yesterday evening, auxiliary factions
fired mortars in Harran village, located

in the western countryside of Al-Suwaidaa.

No casualties were
reported in the attacks."

"Taiwan

Taiwan tracked 16 Chinese military
aircraft and 12 naval vessels

around its country between 6 a.m.

on Monday and 6 a.m.

on Tuesday.

12 aircraft crossed the Taiwan
Strait median line in the countryâs

northern, southwestern, and eastern
Air Defense Identification Zones."

"Ukraine

A Russian airstrike on the village of
Starovirivka in the Kharkiv region on

May 6, 2025, left a 16-year-old teenager
wounded and destroyed a private house."

"Ukraine

Kharkiv was attacked by Russian
drones, resulting in multiple

fires and damage to buildings.

According to preliminary reports,
four people were injured and six

fires broke out in various districts,
including Shevchenkivskyi, Kyivskyi,

Kholodnohirsk, and Industrial.

The attack, which lasted over two
hours, also damaged or destroyed several

commercial and residential buildings."

"Ukraine

A drone attack occurred in the Odesa
district on May 5, resulting in

significant damage and loss of life.

A 29-year-old man died due to fatal
thermal burns from a damaged power line,

while a 19-year-old man was hospitalized
with combustion product poisoning.

In addition to the two victims,
private residential buildings,

outbuildings, an educational
institution, warehouses of a private

enterprise, and cars were damaged."

"Ukraine

Russia launched 136 attack UAVs and
decoy drones from various locations.

Ukraine's air defense systems
successfully destroyed 54 Russian

drones, while 70 decoy drones vanished
from radar without causing harm.

The attacks affected the Kharkiv,
Odesa, and Dnipropetrovsk regions,

resulting in four injuries and fires.

One Russian UAV remains active
in Ukrainian airspace, with

ongoing combat operations."

"Ukraine

Russian forces have launched a
missile attack on the suburbs of

Sumy, Ukraine, striking civilian
infrastructure with a ballistic missile.

The attack occurred around 17:30, with
the consequences still being clarified.

This incident comes after an air alert
was declared in several Ukrainian

regions earlier in the day due to the
threat of Russian ballistic weapons."

"Ukraine

The Russian army has been attacking
the Nikopol district in the

Dnipropetrovsk region, causing damage
to infrastructure and private property.

Three women were injured in the
attacks, and several buildings, cars,

and a gas pipeline were damaged.

Additionally, a dead tree caught fire
due to a Russian guided bomb, and an

enterprise and a power line were damaged.

There were no reported casualties
in the Novopavlivsk community."

"Ukraine

A morning attack in Kramatorsk,
Donetsk region, resulted in one

death and two injuries, with one of
the wounded in serious condition.

This is part of a larger incident where
Russian forces launched seven attacks on

the city, targeting the industrial zone."

"Ukraine

Ukrainian forces claimed to have
killed or wounded 1,430 Russian

soldiers over the past day.

Over 315 pieces of military equipment
were destroyed in the fighting."

"Ukraine

A man was wounded in the Sinelnykivsky
district of the Dnipro region due

to Russian troops' morning shelling.

The wounded individual was hospitalized
and is in serious condition."

"South Africa

South African Airways (SAA) has fallen
victim to a significant cyber attack,

which began on May 3rd and temporarily
disrupted access to its website,

mobile app, and internal systems.

The airline's swift response measures
contained the incident and minimized

disruption to core flight operations.

An investigation is underway to determine
the root cause and full scope of the

incident, with a focus on potential
external cybercrime activities."

"United States

Anonymous hackers have breached the
system of GlobalX Air, a charter

company headquartered in Miami, Florida,
used by the Trump administration

for deportations, and leaked
flight records and passenger lists.

The leaked data, spanning from
January 19 to May 1, reveals the

identities of those deported,
flight details, and destinations."

"United States

There was a reported shooting at the
Candlewood Suites on Wabash Avenue in

downtown Terre Haute, killing one person.

A person reported hearing gunshots
and called 911, leading to a response

from multiple police agencies.

One person was taken into custody,
and a crime scene investigation

unit was seen entering the hotel.

The area is currently under a heavy
police presence, and residents

are advised to avoid the area."

"Indonesia

A bus carrying 34 passengers overturned
in West Sumatra province, killing

at least 12 people and injuring
23 others, including the driver.

The accident occurred when the
bus's brakes malfunctioned near

Padang city, causing the driver
to lose control of the vehicle.

The cause of the accident is being
investigated, but poor safety

standards and infrastructure are
common issues in Indonesia, leading

to frequent road accidents."

"Syria

A civilian was killed and another was
injured in Abu Dafnah village, located

in the eastern countryside of Idlib.

The incident occurred when an old landmine
exploded in a water well, where the

civilians were attempting to clean it."

"Syria

In Maâarat al-Numan city, Idlib
countryside, an explosion of a

war remnant landmine injured four
children, who were subsequently

taken to a hospital for treatment."

"Syria

Recent explosions in northern Syria
have resulted in two reported incidents.

An elderly man lost his life in a
landmine explosion near Kherbet Baselhaya

Village in Aleppo, while two girls
were injured in a separate landmine

explosion near Al-Ghadfa Town in Idlib."

"United States

On Monday evening, a small plane crashed
in Jackson Township, killing the pilot.

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