Hanwei Global Security Information
This issue summarizes security intelligence from2025414to20across global regionsupdates.According tosecurity riskassessments, regional security levelsas shown on the global risk map, Afghanistan, Syria, Myanmar, Pakistan, Nigeria, Sudan, Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, and other areas are classified as extremely high-risk zones. During this period, these regions experienced frequent security incidents such as armed conflicts and terrorist attacks.Chinese enterprises operating abroad should enhance their security precautions. (This information is solely for internal risk assessment purposes.)
Middle East Region
(1) Iraq
Two provinces declare state of emergency due to sandstorms.On April 14, several central and southern provinces in Iraq were hit by severe sandstorms, leading to flight cancellations, power outages,and crop damage, with over 1,800 people hospitalized for respiratory illnesses caused by the sandstorms.Dhi Qar and Najaf provinces implemented emergency measures, with their civil defense teams on standby. Dhi Qar declared a state of emergency, mobilizing all medical facilities to address the surge in suffocation cases, while Najaf directed medical institutions to remain fully alert and ensure adequate supplies like oxygen. Meanwhile, Iraq's General Directorate of Traffic issued warnings urging drivers to exercise caution, recommending reduced speed, hazard light usage, maintaining safe distances, and stopping if visibility drops to zero. Health experts warned that sandstorms pose significant risks to respiratory patients, advising mask-wearing and avoiding outdoor activities.
Footage of the sandstorm
(2) Palestine and Israel
Palestinian death toll in Israel-Palestine conflict reaches 51,000.From April 14 to 20, Israeli forces continued attacks on the Gaza Strip, causing heavy casualties. On April 19 alone, Israeli military operations in Gaza killed at least 92 and injured 219. As of April 19, since the latest escalation of the conflict, Israeli military actions in Gaza have resulted in 51,157 Palestinian deaths and 116,724 injuries.
Scene of the attack on Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza
Modi'in, Israel, hit by Houthi missile strike.On April 14, a Houthi missile struck Modi'in in central Israel, causing no casualties or property damage.
(3) Yemen
US airstrikes kill 84 and injure 204.On April 14, the Houthi-controlled capital of Yemen, Sana'a, was attacked by a US drone, resulting in at least 7 deaths and 29 injuries. On the evening of April 16, the US military conducted over 12 airstrikes in northern Yemen, with no immediate reports of casualties or property damage. On April 17, the port of Ras Issa in Yemen's western Hodeidah Province was hit by US airstrikes, killing at least 74 and injuring 171. The airstrikes also triggered explosions and fires. On April 19, Sana'a and northern provinces of Yemen were subjected to 42 US airstrikes, causing at least 3 deaths and 4 injuries.
Scene of the US airstrike on Ras Issa Port in Hodeidah Province on April 17
Houthis claim to have shot down a US drone.On April 19, Yahya Saree, a spokesman for Yemen's Houthi group, stated that the organization had shot down a US MQ-9 drone with a surface-to-air missile that day.
(4) Lebanon
Southern Lebanon attacked by Israel, leaving 3 dead and 4 injured.On April 15, the village of Aitaroun in southern Lebanon was attacked by an Israeli drone, killing 1 and injuring 3, including a child. On April 16, the villages of Mays al-Jabal and Aita al-Shaab in southern Lebanon were targeted by Israeli forces, resulting in 2 deaths and 1 injury.
(5) Jordan
Foils an attack plot.On April 15, the Jordanian military thwarted an attack plot in the capital Amman, arresting 16 suspects and seizing 10 homemade rockets from their residence. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects were members of the Muslim Brotherhood, trained and funded in Lebanon, and planned to carry out attacks in Jordan using rockets and drones.
Asia-Pacific Region
(1) Pakistan
Attack on police vehicle in Balochistan kills 3 and injures 16.On April 15, a vehicle transporting police officers in Pakistan's Balochistan Province was hit by a bomb in the Mastung district, killing at least 3 officers and injuring 16. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. According to a recent report by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, Pakistan witnessed 354 terrorist attacks in the first quarter of this year, resulting in 897 deaths and 542 injuries. 98% of these attacks occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces.
(2) Myanmar
Protests at Myanmar-Thailand border spark unrest.On April 14, media reported that protests and subsequent riots occurred in Myawaddy City, Karen State, along the Myanmar-Thailand border on the 13th. That day, 277 foreign nationals engaged in telecom fraud gathered at the border to protest Thailand's prohibition of their return home via Thailand. During the incident, protesters attempting to forcibly cross the river into Thailand clashed with border forces. In response, Thailand stated it would arrange orderly repatriation through formal diplomatic channels.
(3) Australia
Chinese Consulate General in Melbourne issues safety reminder.On April 19, the Chinese Consulate General in Melbourne, Australia, reported that two Chinese citizens were swept away by waves while walking on coastal rocks in Victoria, resulting in one death and one missing. The Consulate urgently reminded Chinese citizens and tourists in its jurisdiction to enhance safety awareness and pay close attention to water-related hazards.
(4) Japan
Chinese Consulate General in Niigata issues safety reminder.On April 19, the Chinese Consulate General in Niigata, Japan, reported frequent cases involving personal safety, public security, and telecom fraud targeting Chinese citizens or tourists. The Consulate reminded Chinese citizens in its jurisdiction: Japan is prone to natural disasters like earthquakes; understand destination safety conditions before travel and prepare accordingly; avoid high-risk activities; resolve disputes rationally; guard against telecom fraud. Enhance safety awareness to ensure travel security.
Africa Region
(1) Nigeria
Multiple attacks leave 30 dead and many injured.According to monitoring reports from Hanwei International's West Africa security officers and media coverage, on April 15, suspected armed herders attacked Otobi community near Otukpo in Benue State, Nigeria, killing 7 and injuring many, with multiple houses burned. The same day, Mandafuma Bridge along Biu-Damboa road in Borno State was bombed by suspected ISWAP militants, severely damaging the structure. Simultaneously, Banga and Larh communities in Hong LGA, Adamawa State, were attacked by Boko Haram, leaving 4 civilians and 2 security personnel dead.4April17, a shooting occurred in central Nigeria's Benue State,resulting in17deaths.That day, policereceived reports of numerous“suspected armed militants invading”a community in Benue State。Security forces arrivedandexchanged fire with the attackers.18repelled the attackers. During their escape, the attackers opened fire on local farmers,resulting in17deaths.
Security Alert. According to the monitoring report by Hanwei International's security officer in West Africa, recent attacks in Nigeria's Benue and Plateau states have resulted in dozens of deaths. In response, Chinese enterprises and personnel in Plateau and Benue states are specifically reminded to enhance security awareness, strengthen preventive measures, improve emergency response capabilities, and ensure the safety of lives and property.
(2) South Africa
Conflict at Walter Sisulu University in Eastern Cape Leaves 1 Dead and 3 Injured. From April 14 to 15, protests and subsequent clashes erupted at the Mthatha campus of Walter Sisulu University in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, leaving 1 dead and 3 injured. The protests were triggered by students' dissatisfaction with poor bedding conditions in dormitories. On the 14th, a large number of students complained to the dormitory manager and clashed with dormitory staff. During the confrontation, dormitory staff fired at protesting students, causing multiple casualties. Protesters later set fire to the dormitory manager's car and attacked his family. Some students attempted to block nearby highways but were stopped by police.
(3) Niger
Attack on Niger-Benin Oil Pipeline in Tahoua Region.On April 16, the Niger-Benin oil pipeline, funded by China National Petroleum Corporation, was attacked by unidentified armed assailants near the town of Dossey, west of Kouliki in the Birni-N'Konni area of Niger's Tahoua Region, sparking a fire. This marks the fourth attack on the pipeline within half a month.
Foreign National Kidnapped in Agadez City.On April 14, media reported that a 67-year-old Swiss citizen was kidnapped by unidentified armed militants from his home in the Dagmanett 2 district of Agadez City in central Niger on the 13th. This is the second kidnapping of a foreign national in the Agadez region recently. No group or individual has claimed responsibility so far.
(4) Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
Ongoing Armed Conflict in the East. From April 14 to 20, clashes continued between the DRC government forces and the rebel group "M23 Movement" in the eastern provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, causing heavy casualties. On the 14th, the "M23 Movement" launched attacks on civilians in and around Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province, killing at least 52 people and injuring nearly 100.
Passenger Boat Capsizes in Equateur Province, Leaving 148 Dead and 150 Injured.On April 15, a wooden passenger boat in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) caught fire and capsized on the Congo River in the northwestern Equateur Province, resulting in at least 148 deaths and 150 injuries, with hundreds missing. The vessel, carrying approximately 500 passengers, departed from the port of Matankum and was en route to the Bolomba region. During the journey, a sudden fire broke out onboard, leading to the capsizing. Currently, around 250 passengers have been rescued, while over 100 remain missing.
(5) Benin
Military Camps Attacked in Alibori ProvinceOn April 17, two military camps in the Kandi area of Alibori Province, Benin, were attacked by armed militants from the terrorist group "Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin" (JNIM), causing casualties with unspecified numbers.
(6) Sudan
Ongoing Armed Conflict.From April 14 to 20, the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces continued clashes in the capital Khartoum and multiple areas in the central and western regions. Notably, large-scale confrontations occurred between the conflicting parties in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State, and Um Kadada, with several neighborhoods and marketplaces subjected to artillery shelling and drone strikes, resulting in 118 civilian deaths, nearly 200 injuries, and mass displacement. Additionally, statistics indicate that the two-year-long armed conflict has claimed approximately 30,000 lives in Sudan and displaced over 12.85 million people.
Europe and America
(1) United States
Florida State University Shooting Leaves 2 Dead and 7 Injured.On April 17, a shooting incident occurred at the Tallahassee campus of Florida State University in the United States, leaving at least 2 dead and 7 injured. Police reported that the shooter was a student at the university who was wounded and arrested after resisting arrest. The motive behind the attack remains unclear.
(2) Ukraine
Ongoing Russia-Ukraine Armed ConflictFrom April 14 to 19, Russia's special military operation in Ukraine continued. The Russian Ministry of Defense recently released a combat report stating that over the past week, the Russian military used high-precision guided weapons and drones to strike Ukrainian military targets, including military airfields, weapon depots, and drone production factories. They also gained control of the settlement of Preobrazhenka in the Donetsk region. On the fronts of Belgorod, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, Russian forces repelled multiple Ukrainian offensives and launched several counterattacks, destroying dozens of Ukrainian tanks, armored vehicles, 12 artillery pieces, mortars, 5 HIMARS multiple rocket launcher systems, and 1 transport-loading vehicle. Hundreds of drones were intercepted and shot down. In the Kursk direction, Russian forces have reclaimed most of the Kursk region. On the Ukrainian side, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that hundreds of battles occurred along the frontlines this week, with Ukrainian forces repelling Russian attacks on multiple fronts and successfully advancing in the Druzhba area northeast of Toretsk. Ukrainian air force, missile troops, and artillery struck 10 Russian personnel, weapon, and equipment concentration areas, as well as multiple air defense and artillery systems. Nearly 100 drones were intercepted and shot down. Additionally, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that, in observance of Orthodox Easter on April 20, combat operations in the special military operation zone would be suspended from 18:00 on April 19 to 00:00 on April 21.
(3) Ecuador
Two attacks resulted in 17 deaths and multiple injuries.On April 14, a shooting occurred at Lineal Park on Trinitaria Island in the southern part of Guayaquil, the capital of Guayas Province, Ecuador, leaving 6 dead and multiple injured. On April 18, an armed attack in El Carmen, Manabí Province, western Ecuador, killed at least 11 people and injured 9. Twelve armed militants arrived at a cockfighting venue in a rural area of El Carmen by vehicle and opened fire on the crowd, causing multiple casualties. The attack is believed to be linked to conflicts of interest between organized crime gangs.
(4) France
Judicial systems in multiple locations were attacked.From April 13 to 17, attacks targeting prisons, residences of prison officers, and the juvenile justice system occurred in multiple locations across France, resulting in damage or destruction to several buildings and 30 vehicles. Among the incidents, seven cars were set on fire in the parking lot of the National Prison Administration School in Agen, Lot-et-Garonne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine; the Melun detention center in the Paris suburbs suffered structural damage, with one police car burned; part of the Aix-Luynes prison was set ablaze; and in the Bouches-du-Rhône department, at least two cars belonging to prison staff were burned. Authorities stated the attacks were linked to the Justice Ministry's crackdown on drug trafficking. No group has claimed responsibility so far.
(5) Canada
Three attacks leave 2 dead and 3 injured. On April 14, a stabbing incident occurred at No. 9 Nicol Street in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada, injuring one person; on April 15, a shooting took place in the 2700 block of 12th Avenue SE in Calgary, Alberta, leaving two injured; the same day, a shooting in Toronto's Riverdale community, Ontario, resulted in two deaths.
(6) Russia
Energy facilities across multiple regions attacked by Ukraine.From April 14 to 18, energy and power facilities in Russia's Voronezh, Moscow, Bryansk, and Oryol regions were targeted by Ukrainian drone strikes, damaging seven power facilities including high-voltage lines and substations, causing blackouts in some residential areas. On April 18, the Russian Defense Ministry reported intercepting and destroying 209 Ukrainian drones in these regions.
(7) Belize
Knife-wielding hijacking leaves 1 dead and 3 injured.On April 17, a small passenger plane operated by Belize's Tropical Airlines was hijacked by a knife-wielding U.S. military veteran, resulting in one death and three injuries. Shortly after takeoff, the man entered the cockpit with a knife and ordered the pilot to fly him out of the country. After being refused, he stabbed one pilot and two passengers before being fatally subdued by another passenger. The plane landed safely in Ladyville, Belize.
Maritime Security
(1) Mozambique
Bulk carrier fire injures 4.On April 14, media reported that the Liberia-flagged coal-laden bulk carrier 'Altzek' caught fire near the port of Nacala in Mozambique's Nampula province on April 13, injuring four. Preliminary investigations suggest the fire was caused by an engine room explosion.
