Yoon detained on Insurrection charges and a Chinese delegation visits Japan
Cedric: Welcome to the Geopolitical
Report Daily for January 15, 2025.
Complete reports with casualty
information, interactive web maps, and
our IntelHub dashboard are available with
a Geopolitical Report Pro subscription.
Tuesday we mapped 55 incidents,
including a deadly attack in Cameroon
and a Chinese delegation visit
to Japan, so let's get started.
Terrorism,
"Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan's State Security Service (SSS)
thwarted an Iranian-backed assassination
plot against a Jewish community leader.
Two suspects were arrested: Agil Aslanov,
a Georgian with a criminal background,
and Azerbaijani Ceyhun Ismayilov.
Aslanov allegedly met Iranian operatives
in September 2024, who offered
him $200,000 to kill the target.
He received $2,000 as a retainer
and collected intelligence on
the leader's movements in Baku.
The SSS has initiated a
terrorism case against them."
"Cameroon
Suspected Boko Haram terrorists attacked a
Cameroon military camp in Ngoum on Monday,
killing three security force members.
The militants seized weapons and set fire
to an army vehicle during the attack."
"Denmark
On Monday morning, the Copenhagen office
of Global Aktion, a Danish NGO focused
on international solidarity, was the
target of a Molotov cocktail attack.
The incident, which resulted
in significant property damage,
is being investigated as an act
of politically motivated arson.
Graffiti messages were also found
at the scene, including phrases
such as ""The Sahara belongs to
Morocco"" and ""Stop supporting
terrorism."" The office was destroyed."
"India
On Tuesday, a landmine explosion
injured six Indian soldiers
near Khamba Fort in the Nowshera
sector of the Rajouri district."
"Israel
A woman in Mevo Beitar near Jerusalem
discovered that her home had been hit by
a Houthi missile when she went for a walk.
Despite being woken by sirens,
she didn't hear the impact.
The missile was found on her roof,
and the military confirmed it was
part of a Houthi ballistic missile.
The military attempted to intercept it
but provided no additional information."
"Israel
Red alert sirens have been
triggered in central Israel due
to a missile launch from Yemen.
The IDF intercepted the missile, and there
are no reports of injuries or damage.
Sirens sounded in various areas,
including the West Bank and Jordan
Valley, but not in Tel Aviv."
"Niger
On Sunday night into Monday morning,
a violent clash erupted between
farmers and herders in a village
in Amourzouk, southern Niger.
The incident resulted in the deaths of
three individuals, including a village
chief, and left five others injured.
Authorities have since arrested three
suspects in connection with the fighting."
"Nigeria
On Tuesday, the Akwa Ibom State Police
Command announced that 24 armed sea
pirates attacked a Marine Police
Patrol Team (MPPT) in the coastal
water of the state, killing two marine
officers and wounding two others.
Police also stated that another officer
was missing following the attack.
A search was underway for the
assailants and the missing officer."
"Nigeria
Militants affiliated with ISWAP, a
faction of Boko Haram, attacked two
communities in Chibok, Borno state.
The assault resulted in loss of life,
destruction of a church and homes, and
looting of food supplies and livestock.
The attacks occurred in Tsikarkur
village and Zillang, and casualties
and property damage were reported."
"Somalia
Puntland forces killed at least 26 ISIS
terrorists, including five foreigners,
and seized several of their bases
during operations in the Cal Miskaad
Mountain Range in the Bari Region.
During the operations, troops
also downed nine drones, including
surveillance and explosive-laden types."
"Somalia
The Somali Police Force has confirmed
that the explosions heard in Mogadishu on
Monday night were caused by fake landmines
planted by the al-Shabab militant group
in a commercial district of the city.
According to residents, nine
explosions were reported across
various parts of Mogadishu.
However, in a statement released Tuesday,
the police assured the public that the
devices posed no threat and resulted in no
injuries, fatalities, or property damage."
"South Sudan
On Sunday, an attack by armed assailants
near the village of Buong in Akobo
County, Jonglei State, resulted in the
deaths of at least four women, with an
additional two women sustaining injuries."
"Syria
Clashes were reported between
Hezbollah and locals in Al-Misreyah
village on the Syria-Lebanon border.
No casualties were reported.
Hezbollah attacked from three directions.
Locals called for military reinforcement.
Hezbollah stored weapons in the village
and others in the Al-Qusayr countryside."
"Syria
Gunmen from an ISIS cell carried out a
surprise attack in eastern Deir Ezzor,
targeting a military vehicle of Syrian
Democratic Forces in Al-Zarr village.
The attackers used light and medium
weapons, but no casualties were reported."
"Syria
Turkiye's intelligence agency conducted
a cross-border operation in Syria to
capture a suspect involved in a 2013
bomb attack near the Syrian border.
The attack killed 53 people, and
Turkiye accused a group loyal to Syria's
President at the time, Bashar Assad.
Turkiye's National Intelligence Agency
(MIT) located the suspect, Muhammed Dib
Korali, inside Syria and apprehended him.
Another Turkish national involved
in the attack, Yusuf Nazik, was
also captured by the MIT in 2018."
"Thailand
Tuesday morning, a Muslim insurgent
IED blast hit a border patrol truck,
killing two border patrol policemen
on a road in Ban I Kuedae, Tambon Si
Banphot of the Si Sakhon district."
Military Conflict
"Gaza Strip
Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip
resulted in the deaths of 18 people,
including six women and four children.
Two strikes in Deir al-Balah
killed a pregnant woman and her
four children, while another 12
people were killed in Khan Younis.
The Israeli military has not
commented on the incident, but
they claim to only target terror
operatives who hide among civilians."
"Gaza Strip
An Israeli airstrike in Gaza's Deir
al-Balah resulted in the death of 10
Palestinians and injuries to others.
The IDF has not yet responded, but they
have consistently maintained that they
do not intentionally target civilians,
as Hamas often uses them as shields."
"Mali
The Malian army has killed
23 terrorists in the Mopti
Region over the past two days.
They conducted an operation in Doro
village, killing three terrorists
and seizing weapons and equipment.
The air forces targeted Berdosso
village, killing 20 terrorists.
Two terrorist trucks carrying
logistical equipment were
destroyed in the Timbuktu region.
Several militant outfits and
separatists recently formed an alliance
called the Azawad Liberation Front.
The Malian government considers
these groups, along with JNIM and
FLM, to be terrorist organizations."
"Myanmar
On Saturday, Arakan Army (AA) insurgents
launched an assault on two junta
military outposts on the Ann-Padan
road, close to Gokkyi, approximately
32 kilometers from the town of Padan.
Ongoing junta air and artillery strikes
made it difficult to assess the battle
situation at the time of the attack."
"Myanmar
Junta forces carried out two
airstrikes on the village of Taung
Maw Oo, Pauktaw Township, on Sunday.
The attacks destroyed several
shops and houses in the area.
On Monday, the junta conducted two
other airstrikes on the village.
No casualties were reported
in the airstrikes."
"Myanmar
Last week, between Thursday and Friday,
junta forces arrested 16 displaced
Arakanese youths in the town of Kyonpyaw
on allegations that the individuals were
informants for the Arakan Army (AA).
Before their arrests, junta
soldiers assaulted them."
"North Korea
On Tuesday, North Korea launched
multiple short-range missiles
from a northern Inland area.
The missiles flew about 155 miles
before splashing down in waters between
the Korean Peninsula and Japan."
"Pakistan
Between Sunday and Monday, Pakistani
forces killed two Tehreek-e-Taliban
Pakistan's (TTP) terrorists during
an operation in the Tirah Valley
area of the Khyber District."
"Pakistan
Between Sunday and Monday,
Pakistani security forces killed
six Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan's
(TTP) terrorists during an
operation in the Tank District."
"Russia
Ukraine launched a major drone and missile
attack on Russian regions, damaging
factories and causing school closures.
Russia claimed to have downed
over 200 Ukrainian drones and 5
US-made ATACMS ballistic missiles.
Flight restrictions were imposed in
several Russian cities, and an industrial
enterprise in Engels was damaged.
The governor of the Bryansk region
confirmed the missile attack but did
not specify the type of missiles used."
"Sudan
On Monday, artillery fire reportedly
killed at least 120 people during
clashes between Sudanese forces
and Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Sudanese troops have control of
most of Omduran, while the RSF
holds Khartoum North and some
other areas of the capital."
"Sudan
On Monday, Sudanese forces clashed
with Sudan People's Liberation
Movement-North (SPLM-N) forces in the
Dilling area of South Kordofan State.
Sudanese troops claimed to have retaken
the strategic locations of Karkaraia and
Hajar al-Jawad on the road connecting
Dilling to the state capital of Dadugli."
"Sudan
Sudanese forces and allied militias
reportedly killed 13 civilians and
detained several women in the village
of Kambo Tayba in the Um Al-Qura
area of Al Jazirah State on Monday."
"Sudan
On Monday, drone attacks on the
hydroelectric Merowe Dam in Sudan's
Northern State damaged power transformers
for the second time in a week, leaving
surrounding areas without electricity.
The Sudanese Armed Forces accused the
Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of targeting
the dam, alleging it was part of a
campaign to cripple infrastructure."
"Syria
Fighter jets, believed to be Jordanian,
conducted airstrikes on two houses
in Al-Shiâab Village in Al-Suwaydaa
countryside on the Syria-Jordan border.
One of the houses belonged to Jihad
Al-Saeed, a prominent arms and drugs
smuggler between Syria and Jordan.
Al-Saeed had been previously
arrested by the former regime but was
released shortly before its fall."
"Syria
Fierce clashes broke out between the
National Army and Syrian Democratic Forces
(SDF) after an infiltration operation
by the SDF in Al-Saidiyyah village.
Six National Army militiamen,
including a commander, were killed,
and a military vehicle was destroyed.
The SDF later withdrew from the area.
In a separate incident, a kamikaze drone
from the National Army attacked SDF
gatherings, resulting in the death of
one SDF fighter and injury to another."
"Syria
The Turkish National Defense
Ministry announced on Tuesday that
its forces neutralized nine PKK/YPG
terrorists during operations in the
Operation Euphrates Shield and Peace
Springs Zones of northern Syria.
Turkish authorities use the
term ""neutralize"" to imply the
terrorists in question surrendered
or were killed or captured."
"Taiwan
Taiwan tracked 10 Chinese military
aircraft and four naval vessels
around its country between 6 a.m.
on Monday and 6 a.m.
on Tuesday.
Five aircraft crossed the Taiwan
Strait median line in the nationâs
northern and southwestern Air
Defense Identification Zone.
One Chinese balloon was also
tracked to the north of Taiwan."
"Ukraine
Ukrainian forces claimed to have
killed or wounded 1,330 Russian
soldiers over the past day.
Over 215 pieces of military equipment
were destroyed in the fighting."
"Ukraine
Russian aircraft attacked an
infrastructure facility in Sumy,
Ukraine, damaging administrative
and warehouse buildings.
The blast wave also broke windows
in a nearby residential building.
No casualties were found
in the damaged premises."
"Ukraine
Russian strikes in the Kherson
region resulted in nine injuries.
The attacks targeted multiple areas,
causing damage to buildings and vehicles.
A 44-year-old man was hospitalized
with serious injuries in Molodizhne."
"Ukraine
The Defense Forces of Ukraine have shot
down 58 Russian Shahed attack UAVs and
other drones used by the Russian army
to attack Ukraine since January 13.
The attacks occurred from
various directions in Russia.
Ukrainian forces successfully
repelled the air attack and downed
the UAVs in multiple regions.
Some damage to buildings and property was
reported, but there were no fatalities."
"Ukraine
Russian forces conducted 196
attacks targeting 12 settlements
in the Zaporizhzhia region.
The attacks included airstrikes,
UAV attacks, MLRS attacks,
and artillery strikes.
Twelve reports were filed about
destroyed residential buildings
and infrastructure, but no civilian
injuries or fatalities were reported."
"Ukraine
Russian troops attacked Kozacha
Lopan in the Kharkiv region,
resulting in the death of a resident.
The attack also caused
damage to a gas pipeline.
Law enforcement agencies are currently
investigating the type of weapon used."
"Ukraine
A Russian drone attacked a civilian
vehicle in the Velykopysarivka community
of the Sumy region, resulting in the
death of a woman and injuries to a man.
The woman died while being
transported to the hospital."
"West Bank
The Palestinian Authority's
health ministry reported that
four individuals were killed in an
Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) strike
on the West Bank city of Jenin."
Political Conflict
"Japan
On Tuesday, Japan announced that a
Chinese military delegation was on a rare
exchange visit to Japan as the two Asian
nations work to ease diplomatic relations.
According to Japan's Chief Cabinet
Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, members
of China's Eastern Theater Command
of the People's Liberation Army (PLA)
were meeting with their Japanese
counterparts and senior Japanese defense
officials from Monday through Friday."
"Lebanon
Lebanon's new prime minister, Nawaf Salam,
vowed to expand state control over all of
Lebanon's territory and fully implement UN
Resolution 1701, which requires Hezbollah
to withdraw from southern Lebanon.
This commitment comes after a ceasefire
in November that ended a conflict
between Hezbollah and Israel, which
left Hezbollah significantly weakened."
"South Korea
Impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol was
detained at his residence and taken
away for questioning regarding his
brief implementation of martial law.
A warrant was executed at 10:33 a.m., and
Yoon was seen leaving the presidential
residence compound in a convoy of
vehicles headed to the Corruption
Investigation Office for High-ranking
Officials (CIO) office in Gwacheon."
"South Sudan
The authorities in Yei River County,
Central Equatoria State, have confirmed
that last Friday, fourteen members of
a faction of the South Sudan National
Resistance Army (SSNRA) officially
declared their allegiance to the
Transitional Government of South Sudan.
This faction reportedly
broke away from Gen.
Thomas Cirillo's National
Salvation Front (NAS).
The decision to align with the
Transitional Government came after a
series of successful dialogues with
the leadership of Yei River County,
culminating in signing an agreement
that disbanded the rebel group."
Civil Unrest
"Bolivia
Thousands of supporters of former
Bolivian President Evo Morales
arrived in the capital city of La
Paz on Monday, following a four-day,
100-kilometer (62-mile) march.
The group, consisting primarily of
Indigenous people, are protesting economic
hardship and demanding the resignation
of current President Luis Arce.
Estimates of the group's size vary, with
the government citing around 2,300 people
and the organizers reporting 5,000.
The protesters have set up camp
near the city's main square."
"Israel
Dozens of Israelis are protesting
against a planned ultra-Orthodox
draft law that limits the conscription
of Haredi men into the army.
They are calling for the ultra-Orthodox
to share the burden of military service.
Defense Minister Israel Katz will present
his plan to expand the draft gradually."
"Israel
Hundreds of right-wing demonstrators
in Jerusalem are protesting the
ongoing hostage negotiations
between Israel and Hamas.
They believe that releasing terrorists
will lead to future violence.
The protesters are mainly from
Israel's religious Zionist community.
Traffic is blocked in both
directions, and police are present.
Earlier, family members of slain soldiers
spoke out against the negotiations,
questioning the Prime Minister's
decision to engage with Hamas."
Cyber
"Russia
Russia's main electronic trading
platform for government and corporate
procurement, Roseltorg, has confirmed
that a cyberattack targeted it.
While the affected systems have been
restored, the website remains offline.
The pro-Ukraine hacker group Yellow
Drift has claimed responsibility, stating
they deleted 550 terabytes of data.
This attack is impacting clients,
including government agencies
and state-owned companies."
Accidents
"India
Five passenger train coaches
derailed near the Villupuram
railway station on Tuesday morning.
No one was injured in the incident,
which is being investigated."
"Nigeria
On Saturday, a vehicle carrying
wedding guests crashed in the Kwana
Maciji area of the Pankshin Local
Government Area (LGA), killing 19
wedding guests and injuring 11 others."
"Syria
A civilian was killed in the explosion of
a missile in Abo Taltal Village in Aleppo.
Another civilian, who was displaced
from Deir Ezzor, was killed in the
explosion of a landmine in Al-Mahsanly
Village in Jarablus countryside.
Both incidents involved war remnants."
"Syria
A civilian died in the explosion of
a landmine near Ashma Radi Village
in the eastern Hama countryside.
Two civilians also died in a landmine
explosion near Al-Kashma Town in
eastern Deir Ezzor countryside.
Another landmine exploded under a fuel
tank on the road between Deir Ezzor and
Al-Sukhna in eastern Homs countryside,
but no casualties were reported."
"United States
On Tuesday morning, a small plane crashed
into a shed in the town of Conway.
Two people on board were
not injured in the crash."
Thanks for joining us for the January
15, 2025 Geopolitical Report Daily.
As a reminder, complete reports with
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