Hanwei Global Security Information
This issue summarizes the security intelligence and dynamics across various global regions from December 16 to December 22, 2024. According to security risk assessments, the security levels of these regions are as shown on the global risk map, with Afghanistan, Syria, Myanmar, Pakistan, Nigeria, Sudan, Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, and other areas being classified as extremely high-risk zones. During this period, frequent security incidents such as armed conflicts and terrorist attacks occurred in these regions, requiring overseas Chinese enterprises to enhance their security precautions. (This information is solely for internal risk assessment purposes.)
Middle East Region
(1) Syria
Israeli airstrikes injure 36 people.On December 16, military bases and other targets in the coastal Tartus region of Syria were hit by Israeli missile strikes, injuring at least 36 civilians. This marks the most severe attack on the area since 2012.
US forces kill 14 terrorists from extremist groups.On December 16, the US military conducted airstrikes on targets including camps of the extremist group "Islamic State" (ISIS) in Syria, killing 12 ISIS terrorists. On December 19, US forces carried out a "precision airstrike" targeting ISIS leader Abu Yusuf in Deir ez-Zor Governorate, resulting in the deaths of Abu Yusuf and another ISIS member.
(2) Palestine and Israel
Palestinian death toll in the Israel-Palestine conflict exceeds 45,000.From December 16 to 22, the Israeli Defense Forces continued airstrikes on central and southern Gaza, causing significant Palestinian casualties. As of December 18, the latest round of the Israel-Palestine conflict has resulted in 45,097 Palestinian deaths and 107,244 injuries. Among these, Israeli bombings on December 18 across multiple areas in Gaza killed 38 people and injured nearly 100.
Scene of the attack on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza on December 16
Attacks across Israel injure 14 people.On December 16, a military facility in Jaffa, central Israel, was hit by a missile attack from Yemen's Houthi rebels, with details on casualties and property damage unknown. On December 19, the outskirts of Tel Aviv, Israel, were struck by Houthi missiles, with debris severely damaging a school but causing no casualties. On December 20, "military targets" in the Jaffa area of Tel Aviv were attacked by drones launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels and Iraqi militia forces, injuring 14 people.
(3) Yemen
Hajjah Governorate hit by US-UK airstrikes.On December 16, areas controlled by the Houthi forces in Hajjah Governorate, northwestern Yemen, were subjected to airstrikes by the US-UK coalition, with no reports of casualties or property damage yet. On December 21, "a missile storage facility and a command and control center" in the Houthi-controlled area of Sana'a, Yemen, were again targeted by US-UK coalition airstrikes.
Multiple areas bombed by Israeli forces resulted in 9 deaths and 3 injuries.On December 19, two power stations in the Yemeni capital Sana'a, as well as port and oil facilities in Al Hudaydah Governorate, were struck by dozens of Israeli warplanes, killing at least 9 people and injuring 3. Israeli military spokesperson Hagari stated that the airstrikes "paralyzed" all activities at the ports controlled by the Houthi forces.
Asia-Pacific Region
(1) Afghanistan
Two traffic accidents in Ghazni Province left 52 dead and 65 injured.On December 18, two traffic accidents occurred in Ghazni Province, eastern Afghanistan, resulting in a total of 52 deaths and 65 injuries. One accident took place in the suburbs of Ghazni City, the provincial capital, involving a collision between a bus and a tanker truck. The other occurred in the Andar District of the province, where a bus collided with a truck.
Scene of the bus and tanker truck collision
(2) Pakistan
Multiple attacks resulted in 26 deaths and 9 injuries.On December 17, a security checkpoint in Shangla District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, was attacked by terrorists with rockets, killing 2 police officers and injuring 3. On the same day, a military vehicle escorting vaccines was targeted by an improvised explosive device in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, injuring 6 people. On December 19, a car near the Giloti Telenor Tower in Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was intercepted and robbed by 7 armed bandits, who stole 359,000 in cash, 6 mobile phones, and 1 laptop. On December 21, an armed attack on a checkpoint in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northwestern Pakistan, killed 16 soldiers, while 8 terrorists were neutralized.
(3) India
A police station in Punjab was attacked with grenades.On December 17, a grenade explosion occurred near the "Islamabad" police station in Amritsar, Punjab, India, damaging surrounding buildings, with no reports of casualties. Police stated that the criminal gangs may have "deliberately orchestrated the explosion for attention," and 10 suspects have been arrested so far.
(4) Thailand
A shooting in Bueng Kan Province left 3 dead and multiple injured.On December 19, a shooting incident in Nong Hua Chang Subdistrict, Phon Charoen District, Bueng Kan Province, Thailand, resulted in 2 deaths and multiple injuries. The shooter fired at multiple people before barricading himself in a house and committing suicide.
(5) Myanmar
Shan State rescues kidnapped Chinese citizen.On December 18, Myanmar police killed six kidnappers in Tachileik, Shan State, successfully rescuing a 78-year-old Chinese businessman who had been abducted. The businessman was kidnapped outside his foreign exchange shop in Tachileik on December 13. On the evening of the 18th, police located the hideout where the businessman was held and engaged in a firefight with the kidnappers, resulting in the deaths of all six kidnappers and the rescue of the Chinese citizen.
Africa Region
(1) Nigeria
Two stampedes result in 42 deaths and multiple injuries.On December 18, a stampede occurred at an Islamic high school in Bashorun District, Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State in southwestern Nigeria, leaving at least 32 children dead and many others injured. The incident happened during a school event where cash was being distributed to 5,000 children, leading to a scramble that triggered the stampede. The event organizer has been arrested, and an investigation is underway. On December 21, another stampede occurred outside a Catholic church in Maitama District, Abuja, the capital, killing at least 10 people and injuring many others. The tragedy unfolded when over 3,000 people gathered to receive food and clothing donations.
Scene of the stampede in Abuja, the capital
Security Alert.According to a monitoring report by Hanwei International's West Africa security officer, around 4 PM on December 21, four suspected Fulani armed kidnappers attempted a random abduction of vehicle passengers on the A3 highway near Okpatu Town, Enugu State, but failed. Around 5 PM the same day, the group reappeared at the same location to attempt another kidnapping. Soldiers at a checkpoint shot and killed one kidnapper, while the others fled into dense forest. With Christmas and New Year approaching, relevant regional units and projects are urged to enhance security awareness and remain vigilant against potential kidnapping and attack trends, as well as activities by Biafran separatist groups in surrounding areas.
(2) South Africa
Eastern Cape traffic accident leaves 14 dead and 11 injured.On December 16, a collision between a six-passenger SUV and a minibus full of passengers on the N9 highway near the town of Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, resulted in 14 deaths and 11 injuries. The cause of the accident is under investigation.
(3) Niger
Oil pipeline attacked. On December 17, the Niger-Benin oil pipeline was attacked and set ablaze at the border between Lido and Karakara areas in Dosso Region, Niger. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
(4) Democratic Republic of the Congo
Two attacks leave 5 dead and 2 injuredOn December 16, the Djugu area of Ituri Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was attacked by CODECO militias, resulting in 3 deaths and 2 severe injuries. On the same day, Buleusa town in Walikale Territory, North Kivu Province, was shelled by M23 rebels, causing 2 deaths.
Boat capsizing in Mai-Ndombe Province kills 25.On December 17, an overloaded boat capsized on the Fimi River in Mai-Ndombe Province, central DRC, killing at least 25 people, including several children, with dozens missing. The boat, carrying over 100 passengers and a large amount of cargo, had departed from Inongo, the provincial capital of Mai-Ndombe, and capsized after traveling several hundred meters along the Fimi River.
(5) Kenya
Attack on convoy in Northeastern Province kills 9.On December 20, a Kenyan military convoy was attacked by militants from the extremist group Al-Shabaab in Wajir County, Northeastern Province, resulting in the deaths of 9 soldiers.
(6) Sudan
Armed conflict continues.From December 16 to 22, the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces continued intense clashes in areas around the capital Khartoum, the western city of Omdurman, and multiple fronts in central Sudan, causing heavy casualties on both sides and among civilians. The year-long armed conflict has resulted in approximately 28,700 deaths and displaced over 12.23 million people in Sudan. Notably, the capital of North Darfur State, El Fasher, was attacked by the Rapid Support Forces on December 17 and 18, killing 25 civilians and injuring 27.
Europe and America
(1) United States
4 shooting incidents leave 11 dead and 16 injured.On December 16, a shooting at a school in Madison, the capital of Wisconsin, killed 1 teacher and 2 students, with 6 injured. The same day, a shooting in Houston, Texas, left 2 dead. On December 17, a shooting in Baltimore, Maryland, killed 1 and injured 9. On December 18, a shooting at a residence in Utah resulted in 5 deaths and 1 severe injury. According to the Gun Violence Archive on December 18, the U.S. has recorded 491 mass shootings in 2024, with over 16,100 deaths from gun violence.
Scene of the December 17 shooting in Baltimore, Maryland
(2) Ukraine
Russia-Ukraine armed conflict persists.From December 16 to 22, Russia's special military operation in Ukraine continued. The Russian Ministry of Defense recently released a combat report stating that over the past week, Russian forces conducted a series of strikes using long-range precision weapons targeting the command post of Ukraine's State Security Bureau, the Ukrainian "Ray" Design Bureau, and multiple deployment sites of "Patriot" air defense missile systems. They also gained control of two settlements in the Donetsk region. Russian troops repelled multiple Ukrainian attacks and launched several offensives in the directions of Kharkiv, Avdiivka, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. They shot down 243 Ukrainian drones and three U.S.-made "HIMARS" rockets, preventing Ukrainian forces from advancing in the Kursk region. On the Ukrainian side, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine recently reported that hundreds of battles occurred along the front lines this week, with Ukrainian forces continuing efforts to block Russian advances. Ukrainian troops targeted Russian personnel concentrations, ammunition depots, and command posts in multiple directions, shooting down one "Iskander-M" ballistic missile, one "Kinzhal" hypersonic missile, one cruise missile, and 165 drones.
(3) Croatia
A knife attack in the capital Zagreb left 1 dead and 6 injured.On December 20, a knife attack occurred at an elementary school in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, resulting in the death of a 7-year-old girl and injuries to one teacher and five students. Police stated that the attacker was a "young male" who has been detained, and an investigation is underway.
Near the scene of the school incident
(4) Ecuador
A shooting in Guayas Province left 7 dead and 2 injured.On December 16, media reported that a shooting occurred on the 15th in the Nueva Prosperina district of northwestern Guayaquil, Ecuador, killing 7 people and injuring 2. Police have launched an investigation into the attack.
(5) Russia
Commander of Moscow's NBC Defense Forces assassinated.On December 17, Lieutenant General Kirillov, commander of the Russian Armed Forces' Radiological, Chemical, and Biological Defense Troops, and his aide were assassinated near a residential building on Ryazan Avenue in Moscow. A suspect from Uzbekistan has been arrested. According to the suspect's confession, he was recruited by Ukrainian intelligence. Upon arriving in Moscow, he followed instructions to place an electric scooter equipped with a high-powered improvised explosive device near the entrance of Kirillov's residential unit. The device was remotely detonated as Kirillov and his aide exited the building.
Missile attack in Kursk Oblast leaves 6 dead and 10 injured.On December 20, the city of Rylsk in Russia's Kursk Oblast was hit by a Ukrainian missile attack, resulting in the deaths of 6 people, including 1 child, and injuring 10 others, with severe damage to some buildings.
Tatarstan Republic attacked by Ukrainian drones.On December 21, the industrial and residential areas of Kazan, the capital of Russia's Tatarstan Republic, were attacked by multiple Ukrainian drones, causing fires in two residential buildings, with casualties unknown.
Scene of the drone attack on the high-rise residential building 'Azure Paradise' in Kazan
(6) Italy
Chinese national attacked and injured in La Spezia Province.On December 16, a Chinese national was attacked and injured on a street in La Spezia, La Spezia Province, Liguria, Italy. Currently, two assailants have been arrested by the police.
(7) Germany
Vehicle plows into crowd in Magdeburg, killing 5 and injuring over 200.On December 20, a vehicle plowed into a crowd at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, the capital of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, resulting in 5 deaths and over 200 injuries, with 40 in serious condition. At the time of the incident, a black car drove into the Christmas market, violently hitting the crowded crowd. The suspect has been arrested by the police. Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspect is from Saudi Arabia and is a psychiatry and psychotherapy expert in the state, with the motive for the attack still unclear. The Chinese Embassy in Germany stated that no reports of Chinese casualties have been received so far.
Scene of the incident
Maritime Safety
(1) India
Two ships collide near Mumbai, killing 15.On December 18, an Indian Navy speedboat collided with a ferry in waters near Mumbai, resulting in at least 15 deaths. At the time of the incident, the speedboat was conducting an engine test and, after losing control, collided at high speed with the normally operating ferry. The ferry, carrying over 110 people, has seen 99 rescued.
Rescue scene
(2) Greece
Migrant boat capsizes off Rhodes, killing 8.On December 20, a boat carrying migrants capsized in waters off Rhodes in southeastern Greece, resulting in at least 8 deaths. Earlier that day, the ill-fated boat had attempted to land on the coast near Rhodes but quickly fled after being spotted by the Greek Coast Guard, losing control and capsizing during the escape. Greek police have arrested the boat's operator and launched an investigation into the incident.
(3) Tunisia
Migrant boat sinks, killing 20.On December 20, an illegal migrant boat sank near the coastline 24 kilometers north of Sfax, Tunisia, resulting in 20 deaths and multiple missing persons. Currently, the Tunisian National Guard has rescued 5 individuals in the incident area and continues to search for the missing.
