Violent protests in Turkey after the mayor of Istanbul arrested
Cedric: Welcome to the Geopolitical
Report Daily for March 24, 2025.
Complete reports with casualty
information, interactive web maps, and
our IntelHub dashboard are available with
a Geopolitical Report Pro subscription.
Sunday, we collected 61 events,
including the arrest of the Mayor
of Istanbul and the violent protests
that followed, so let's get started.
"Turkey
On Saturday, riots erupted in Istanbul
and several other Turkish cities
following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor
Ekrem ImamoÄlu on corruption charges.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya
announced that 323 suspects were
detained, and a police officer suffered
an acid attack during the protests."
"Turkey
A Turkish court has jailed Istanbul
Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu pending
trial, sparking concerns of a
major backlash from protesters.
Imamoglu, a key rival of President
Tayyip Erdogan, was arrested as part
of a corruption investigation, with
a separate ruling on a terror-related
investigation still pending."
"Israel
Police arrested three protesters and
forcefully pushed others away from
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's
private residence in Jerusalem.
The clashes occurred when demonstrators
attempted to breach crowd control
barriers, and one protester hit a
Border Police officer in the head."
"Israel
Crowds of protesters have gathered outside
the Government Quarter in Jerusalem
as the cabinet meeting gets underway.
The meeting's top item is a motion
of no-confidence for Attorney General
Gali Baharav-Miara, who is not
present due to a conflict of interest.
Justice Minister Yariv Levin is
leading the meeting in her absence."
"United Kingdom
On Saturday, thousands of demonstrators
gathered outside the Israeli embassy in
London, condemning Israeli aggression
and the UK government's complicity.
The event is part of a growing wave
of pro-Palestine demonstrations
across the UK, reflecting
public outrage over the British
government's stance on the conflict."
"India
A joint search operation by the Special
Operations Group (SOG) of local police
and the Army in the Bhalra forest
area of Bhaderwah has led to the
discovery of a terrorist hideout in
the Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir.
The operation resulted in
the recovery of a pistol,
ammunition, and other explosives.
A separate search operation
is also underway in the
adjoining Kishtwar district."
"Syria
The General Security Administration
in Homs City discovered a significant
stash of weapons and ammunition in
an old well in Al-Madabae' Village.
The cache included Kalashnikov
rifles and machine guns, as well as
medium and light ammunition boxes.
Additionally, a weapon depot was
found in Kafr Abd Village, which is
predominantly inhabited by Shiites
in northern Homs countryside.
These findings are believed to
belong to the former regime."
"Democratic Republic of Congo
Last Friday, March 21, a Ugandan
military commander of 409
Brigade died at Bondo barracks.
The commander suffered gunshot wounds
last Wednesday during a battle with Allied
Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels in Fataki."
"India
A violent confrontation occurred on
Saturday between the United National
Liberation Front (UNLF) and Arambai
Tenggol in Kongpal Chingangbam Leikai,
Imphal East district of Manipur.
Four UNLF militants were injured
in the clash and have been taken
into custody, with some undergoing
treatment in a hospital."
"India
Maoists triggered an improvised explosive
device (IED) in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur
district, injuring two security personnel
from the Special Task Force (STF).
The blast occurred around 5:45 pm,
but the vehicle was not directly
hit, and the personnel suffered
minor injuries due to shockwaves.
A combing operation is underway
to trace the attackers."
"Indonesia
Last Friday, West Papua National
Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization
(TPNPB-OPM) insurgents attacked and
killed six teachers in Anggruk District,
Yahukimo Regency, Papua Highlands.
The separatist group claimed the
teachers were intelligence agents of
Indonesia, but the Indonesian National
Armed Forces (TNI) has denied this.
The TNI has evacuated dozens of
teachers and medical personnel to
avoid further attacks by the OPM.
The incident has sparked concerns for
the safety of civilians in the region."
"Israel
An Iran-backed Houthi ballistic missile
launched at Israel was successfully
intercepted by air defenses, with
no reports of injuries or damage.
The missile was shot down before crossing
the country's borders, marking the fifth
Houthi attack on Israel in the past week."
"Kenya
At dawn Sunday morning, suspected
al-Shabab terrorists attacked a
National Police Reservist Camp in
Fafi, Garissa County, killing six
people and injuring four others."
"Mali
On Saturday, two members of the
Movement for the Salvation of Azawad
(MSA), an armed group allied to Maliâs
junta, were killed in an IED blast
in the northeast of the country.
The incident occurred while they were
working as security on a food convoy bound
for Menaka, the main town in the region."
"Nepal
Last Tuesday, March 18, deployed
Kathmandu Police arrested four commanders
from the Netra Bikram Chand-led
Nepal Communist Party (NCP) in Kavre.
The police arrested the commanders
after an exchange of gunfire
between them and the police at
Roshi Rural Municipality in Kavre.
The arrest comes a week after the
government banned the party's activities
due to its violent activities,
including blasts in the capital."
"Nigeria
A female Nigerian Navy personnel
and two others who were kidnapped
from their residence in Abuja on
Friday night have been rescued by
the police and military authorities.
The kidnappers had demanded a ransom of
â¦500 million for the naval officer and
â¦200 million each for the two civilians.
However, no ransom was paid, and the
victims were rescued unharmed in a
joint operation led by the Police
Command's Anti-Kidnapping Unit.
Four suspects were arrested, and â¦3.2
million, suspected to be
ransom money, was recovered.
The victims are receiving medical
attention at the Nigerian Army Clinic."
"Nigeria
On Saturday, terrorists ambushed
and killed at least nine vigilantes,
known as Askarawa, in the Anka Local
Government Area (LGA) of Zamfara State.
The attack occurred following
their successful involvement in a
successful joint operation with
security forces against heavily
armed bandits in a forest battle.
The vigilantes were members of
the Community Protection Guards, a
security outfit established by Governor
Dauda Lawal to combat banditry."
"Pakistan
Four laborers from Punjab, Pakistan,
were shot dead by unidentified assailants
in the Kalat district of Balochistan.
The victims, identified as Zeeshan,
Khalid, Dilawar Hussain, and Muhammad
Amin, were attacked while drilling a tube
well for a local landowner at iftar time.
The attackers fled the scene,
and the victims died instantly."
"Pakistan
The Counter-Terrorism Department
(CTD) in Pakistan has arrested
a suicide bomber, Shamsullah,
who was trained in Afghanistan.
Initial investigations suggest
he was trained by Jamaat-ul-Ahrar
commanders and tasked with
carrying out attacks in Pakistan.
The CTD also apprehended 11
suspected terrorists and seized
explosives, detonators, and cash
during 166 intelligence-based
operations across various cities."
"Pakistan
Terrorists ambushed police personnel
near Kot Mubarak but were forced to
retreat after a fierce exchange of fire.
Meanwhile, the Counter-Terrorism
Department (CTD) arrested 11
militants affiliated with banned
organizations during operations
in different districts of Punjab.
The arrested suspects were planning
to target important buildings and
police in Lahore and other cities.
The CTD recovered explosives,
detonators, and other prohibited
materials during the operations."
"South Sudan
At least four people were killed in
a cattle raid in Twic County, Warrap
State, by suspected assailants from
neighboring Unity State's Mayom County.
The incident occurred on Friday
night in the village of Ayien Amuol
Boma in Turalei Payam, Twic County."
"Syria
Two ISIS gunmen opened fire on a civilian
and his oil stores in Al-Hawayej Village,
eastern Deir Ezzor, citing non-payment of
zakat (charitable giving) as the reason.
Fortunately, no casualties were reported."
"Syria
Security forces have arrested a
high-ranking ISIS member, Raafat Rahmoun
(also known as Aby Sohaib Al-Adnany),
in Al-Tabaka City, western Al-Raqqa.
According to reports, he was
the military Emir of ISIS in
Al-Hasakah and Deir Ezzor regions.
The SDF and the International Coalition
forces carried out the operation."
"Syria
A violent incident occurred in
the sheep market of Hama city,
resulting in the deaths of three
people and injuries to five others.
The cause of the clashes is unknown,
and the injured have been taken
to the hospital for treatment."
"Afghanistan
The US has removed bounties on three
senior Taliban figures, including
Sirajuddin Haqqani, the interior
minister and leader of the Haqqani
network, which has been responsible
for numerous attacks in Afghanistan.
The move comes after the Taliban released
US prisoner George Glezmann and appears
to be a step towards improving bilateral
relations between the two countries.
The decision to lift the bounties
was confirmed by officials in
Kabul, including the Taliban's
interior ministry spokesman."
"Ethiopia
The Ogaden National Liberation Front
(ONLF) accused the Ethiopian federal
government of exploiting natural
resources in the Somali Region
(Ogadenia) without local consent.
ONLF spokesperson Abdilqadir Hassan
Hirmoge warned that continued
marginalization could lead to renewed
instability and a collapse of the
fragile 2018 peace agreement."
"Gaza Strip
The Israeli military has issued
an immediate evacuation warning
for Palestinians in the Tel
Sultan neighborhood of Rafah,
southern Gaza, due to ongoing
military operations in the area.
Residents were instructed to move on
foot to the al-Mawasi area via a specific
route, with vehicles prohibited."
"India
Authorities in India sounded a
high alert in the anti-Naxal/Maoist
operations theatre of Chhattisgarh
and Jharkhand following a ""spike""
in IED blasts and recoveries.
Security forces have intensified
operations in core Naxal areas, leading to
an increase in the recovery of improvised
explosive devices and related blasts, as
the Union government aims to eliminate
Left-Wing Extremism from the country
by March 2026, according to officials."
"Gaza Strip
The Israeli military has begun ground
operations in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza,
aimed at destroying Hamas infrastructure
and expanding a buffer zone.
The operation involves airstrikes and is
intended to allow Palestinian civilians
to evacuate the area for their safety."
"Gaza Strip
Hamas has confirmed that one of
its senior political leaders, Salah
al-Bardawil, was killed in an Israeli
airstrike on Khan Younis in Gaza.
At least 19 people, including
women and children, were killed
in overnight strikes, according to
Hamas-run medical authorities and
European and Kuwaiti hospitals."
"Lebanon
Lebanese state media reports that
an Israeli drone strike hit a car in
the town of Aita al-Shaab, near the
border with Israel, resulting in an
unspecified number of casualties.
This incident follows a rocket attack
on the Israeli town of Metula yesterday,
which triggered a significant escalation
of violence since the November ceasefire,
with Israel launching airstrikes
on Hezbollah sites in Lebanon."
"Pakistan
The Pakistan Army conducted a security
operation in the Ghulum Khan Kalay
area of North Waziristan, resulting
in the deaths of 16 militants.
The operation thwarted an attempt
by terrorists to cross into
Pakistan from Afghanistan."
"Sudan
On Sunday, a Rapid Support Forces
(RSF) artillery attack in Omdurman
killed three civilians, including two
children, and wounded eight others.
Eyewitnesses stated the attacks were
some of the heaviest in recent months,
following the Sudanese army's seizure
of the presidential palace and other
strategic locations in Khartoum.
RSF troops still hold several areas
in Khartoum, including the airport
and the capital south and west."
"Sudan
A recent drone attack in Omdurman,
Sudan, claimed by the Rapid Support
Forces (RSF), has destroyed a supersonic
tactical bomber believed to be a Sukhoi
Su-24, a Soviet-era Russian aircraft.
The attack, which occurred on a
Friday in March, highlights the
increasing role of foreign-supplied
drones in Sudan's ongoing conflict.
Military analysts suggest that the
RSF used a Chinese-made Feihong
FH-95 unmanned combat aerial vehicle
(UCAV) to conduct the strike."
"Sudan
A Sudanese activist group reports that
at least 45 people, including 12 women,
were killed in recent attacks by the
Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the city of
al-Maliha in western Darfur on Saturday.
The RSF, a paramilitary group,
has taken control of the town,
which is a key location near
the borders of Chad and Libya."
"Syria
Fierce clashes broke out between
the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)
and factions of the National Army
on the Teshreen Dam frontline.
However, no casualties have been reported.
This incident coincides with a
security escalation in SDF-controlled
areas in the Aleppo countryside."
"Syria
A kamikaze drone attack by the SDF has
resulted in the deaths of three members
of the National Army factions at the
Telat Siriatil frontline, located west
of Teshreen Dam and east of Aleppo."
"Syria
Fighters of the Tell Tamer Military
Council in Cizir Canton shot
down a Turkish bomb-laden drone
before it reached its target."
"Syria
Members of the SDF successfully shot down
an armed Turkish drone in the Tel Tamr
countryside, preventing it from carrying
out airstrikes on military positions.
The drone was downed before
it could launch any attacks."
"Taiwan
Taiwan tracked 13 Chinese military
aircraft, eight naval vessels,
and two official ships around
the country between 6 a.m.
on Saturday and Sunday.
Eleven aircraft crossed the median line
of the Taiwan Strait and entered the
countryâs northern, southwestern, and
eastern Air Defense Identification Zone."
"Ukraine
Russian forces have fired at the border
areas and settlements of the Sumy
region, resulting in 25 explosions.
The Krasnopilia community was
attacked by UAVs and air strikes,
causing significant damage.
Other communities, including Yunakivka,
Myropilia, Bilopilia, and Vorozhbianka,
were also shelled, with reports of damaged
non-residential premises and injuries."
"Ukraine
Russian shelling in the Donetsk region
resulted in two fatalities and one injury.
The attacks targeted the village of
Donetske and the city of Pokrovsk, with a
46-year-old man killed in his home and a
76-year-old man fatally wounded outside.
A 69-year-old local
resident was also injured."
"Ukraine
Russia launched around 150 drones
in Ukraine, resulting in 10 reported
injuries and six confirmed deaths.
Damage assessments were not
reported in the attacks."
"Ukraine
An explosion occurred at a police
building in the Odesa region on
Sunday, resulting in the death of a
woman and injuries to several others.
The incident is currently under
investigation by law enforcement
officers and the Security
Service of Ukraine (SBU)."
"Ukraine
A police vehicle detonated an
anti-personnel mine, likely a ""petal""
mine, damaging its wheel but leaving
the officers unharmed in Beryslav.
Separately, a civilian was injured in
the village of Mykilske after stepping
on a mine, resulting in explosive
trauma and a partial foot amputation."
"Ukraine
Russian forces have shelled the
village of Oleksandrivka in the Kharkiv
region, injuring three civilians.
The head of the Kharkiv Regional Military
Administration, Oleh Syniehubov, urged
residents not to ignore air raid alerts."
"Ukraine
A Russian attack on Kyiv resulted in
damage to multiple buildings, including
a kindergarten and a restaurant, and
the loss of at least three lives.
The victims include an 80-year-old woman,
a 5-year-old child, and a 29-year-old man.
Ten people were injured,
and several others were left
with acute stress reactions."
"Ukraine
A Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia
on Saturday night left six people
hospitalized, including a 9-month-old boy.
According to reports, the victims are
receiving the necessary medical care, and
their condition is assessed as moderate."
"Ukraine
Russian forces have shelled the
Kherson region, injuring two people.
In Inhulets, a 76-year-old woman was
injured with blast and craniocerebral
trauma and was transported to the
hospital for medical assistance.
In Komyshany, a 52-year-old man
suffered blast and craniocerebral
trauma, concussion, and shrapnel
wounds to the abdomen, with his
condition being assessed as serious."
"Ukraine
Ukrainian forces claimed to have
killed or wounded 1,470 Russian
soldiers over the past day.
Around 495 pieces of military equipment
were destroyed in the fighting."
"Ukraine
The Russian military launched
147 Shahed-type attack UAVs and
various imitator drones from
different directions into Ukraine.
As of Sunday, March 23, the Ukrainian
Air Force and Defense Forces had
successfully downed 97 of these
drones, and 25 enemy imitator drones
had been lost without causing harm.
The attack affected several regions,
including Kyiv, Kharkiv, Sumy,
Chernihiv, Odesa, and Donetsk."
"Ukraine
The city of Sloviansk in the Donetsk
region was attacked, resulting
in over 20 private houses being
damaged and a woman being wounded.
The attack occurred at approximately
10:00 PM, with high explosive aerial bombs
hitting the Cherevkivka neighborhood."
"Ukraine
Over the past day, the Chernihiv region
experienced 14 Russian attacks, resulting
in 31 explosions across four communities.
A fire broke out in the Varvynka
community due to a drone hit,
destroying a residential building
and a bathhouse, while neighboring
households and several cars were damaged.
Additionally, a non-residential building
caught fire in the Snova community
after being struck by an FPV drone,
and hits were reported in Semenivka and
Talalayivka rural communities, though
fortunately, no injuries were reported."
"Ukraine
On March 23, Russian forces launched
a glide bomb strike on the Mezhova
community in the Dnipropetrovsk
region, destroying two houses,
but no casualties were reported.
Later that day, they attacked the Nikopol
district with kamikaze drones, damaging
infrastructure, but no people were harmed.
Ukrainian air defense forces shot down
three Russian drones over the region."
"Ukraine
Russian forces targeted civilian
infrastructure in the Myropillia
community, resulting in the
death of a 61-year-old woman
and injury to another person.
Several private homes were
also damaged or destroyed."
"Ukraine
The Kharkiv region has been affected
by attacks from the Russian army,
resulting in damage to residential
buildings and social infrastructure
and injuries to civilians.
According to Oleh Syniehubov,
the head of the Kharkiv Regional
Military Administration, at
least five people were injured.
The attacks involved FPV drones,
guided aerial bombs, and unidentified
UAVs, causing damage to buildings,
ambulances, and private homes.
The Ukrainian defenders successfully
repelled Russian assaults in the
Vovchansk and Kupiansk sectors."
"West Bank
The IDF, Israel Police, and Shin
Bet have successfully foiled an arms
smuggling attempt in the West Bank,
confiscating two hunting rifles and
arresting 20 wanted individuals.
The operation is part of a series
of counterterrorism efforts aimed
at maintaining the safety and
security of Israeli citizens."
"Yemen
US forces reportedly conducted fresh
airstrikes in Yemen on Saturday,
targeting multiple locations, including
the international airport in the
western coastal city of al-Hodeidah.
According to Yemen's al-Masirah TV
channel, the US carried out three
separate airstrikes on Hodeidah
International Airport on Saturday night.
However, the media outlet reported no
casualties or damage from the strikes."
"Somalia
A Kenya-registered cargo aircraft
has crashed near Mogadishu, Somalia,
killing all five people on board.
The DHC-5D Buffalo plane, operated by
Trident Aviation Ltd, was returning from
delivering supplies to African Union
forces when it crashed on Saturday.
Preliminary reports indicate that
the aircraft experienced mechanical
problems earlier but were said to
have been fixed before the crash.
The Somali Civil Aviation Authority
is conducting a thorough investigation
into the cause of the accident."
"South Africa
On Saturday, an Impala Mk I
performing a solo aerobatic routine
crashed at at the West Coast Airshow
in Saldanha, killing the pilot.
The individual was a decorated
former Air Force pilot and
highly experienced test pilot."
"Syria
At least three civilians have died
in separate incidents involving
landmine explosions in Syria.
The incidents occurred in Al-Malaja
Village in Idlib, Al-Sukhna City in
Homs, and the Talkalakh area in Homs."
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24, 2025 Geopolitical Report Daily.
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