Hanwei Global Security Information

This issue summarizes the security intelligence dynamics in various regions worldwide from December 2 to December 8, 2024. According to security risk assessments, the security levels of each region are as shown on the global risk map, with Afghanistan, Nigeria, Myanmar, Pakistan, Ukraine, Palestine, and Israel being extremely high-risk areas. During this period, these regions experienced frequent security incidents such as armed conflicts and terrorist attacks. Chinese enterprises operating abroad are advised to enhance their security precautions. (This information is solely for internal risk assessment purposes within our company.)

Middle East Region

(1) Syria

Government forces and opposition armed groups continued clashes across multiple provinces.From December 2 to 8, Syrian government forces engaged in ongoing clashes with opposition armed groups and extremist organizations in northwestern Syria, including Aleppo, Hama, and Homs provinces, resulting in the deaths of over 170 Syrian soldiers, including one senior Iranian military advisor, and nearly 100 civilians. This week, opposition forces successively captured key towns in northern Syria, including Aleppo, the fourth-largest city Hama, and parts of Homs province, while threatening Daraa province in the south and Deir ez-Zor province in the east. With support from the Russian Aerospace Forces, government forces targeted opposition and extremist strongholds and supply lines in rural areas of Hama and Homs provinces, killing hundreds of opposition and extremist fighters, downing over 100 drones, and destroying several vehicles and weapons. Currently, the Syrian government has reinforced troop deployments in southern Daraa and Suwayda provinces, reestablishing defensive positions and security perimeters.

Chinese Embassy issues urgent advisory.On December 5, the Chinese Embassy in Syria issued an urgent advisory to Chinese citizens in Syria: The ongoing intense conflict in northwestern Syria has further deteriorated the security situation. The embassy advises Chinese citizens in Syria to take advantage of remaining commercial flights to return to China or leave the country as soon as possible. Those with the means may also consider exiting via relevant land border crossings, ensuring safety to mitigate risks.

U.S. military base in Syria attacked, injuring 3.On December 3, a U.S. military base in eastern Syria was attacked with rockets and mortar shells, injuring three U.S. soldiers.

(2) Palestine and Israel

The Palestinian-Israeli conflict has resulted in over 44,600 Palestinian deaths.From December 2 to 8, the Israeli Defense Forces continued to launch airstrikes on central and southern Gaza, resulting in significant Palestinian casualties. As of December 6, the latest round of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has claimed the lives of 44,612 Palestinians and injured 105,834. Among these, on the 4th, Israeli forces bombed a displaced persons' tent camp in Khan Younis in southern Gaza and three houses in northern Gaza City, killing at least 31 people and injuring 88, with dozens trapped under rubble awaiting rescue.

Residential areas in northern Gaza City attacked

Israel faces joint strikes.On December 3, Yemen's Houthi forces and Iraqi resistance groups jointly launched three strikes on "Zionist strongholds" in northern Israel. The Houthis claimed that two drone attacks hit their targets, while another operation struck a key location at the port of Eilat in southern Israel. Israel did not respond to these incidents.

(4) Lebanon

Multiple clashes during ceasefire result in casualties.On December 4, multiple clashes occurred during the Lebanon-Israel ceasefire agreement, causing several casualties. Both sides accused each other of violating the truce. Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri stated that Israel had violated the agreement "at least 54 times" since its enactment, launching large-scale attacks on southern Lebanese towns and other areas, resulting in dozens of casualties. On the Israeli side, senior military officials condemned Hezbollah for firing two shells into Israel and conducted airstrikes on multiple targets in Lebanon.

Lebanese southern towns Talousa and Haris attacked by Israel

Asia-Pacific Region

(1) Pakistan

Tribal conflict in Balochistan leaves 1 dead, 2 injured.On December 2, an armed conflict broke out between two tribes over a land dispute in the Baghbana Mehmoodani area of Huzdar, Balochistan, Pakistan, resulting in 1 death and 2 injuries.

Shooting in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa kills 1.On December 2, a shooting occurred at a clinic in Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, killing 1 person. The deceased was a local chairman of the Pakistan People's Party, and police are currently investigating the case.

Scene of the incident

Attack on Balochistan security forces camp injures 2.On December 2, unidentified gunmen attacked a security forces camp in Nushki, Balochistan, Pakistan, injuring 2 security personnel. No group has claimed responsibility for the incident so far.

(2) Australia

Melbourne shooting leaves 2 dead.On December 2, a shooting incident occurred on Parsons Street in the Rye area of the Mornington Peninsula, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, resulting in 2 deaths. Police preliminarily determined the shooting to be a "targeted" attack and are currently making every effort to apprehend the fugitives.

(3) Georgia

Anti-government protests in the capital Tbilisi led to clashes between police and civilians, injuring 26 people.From December 1 to 6, anti-government protests continued in the capital and other areas of Georgia, sparking clashes between police and civilians and leaving 26 injured. During this period, thousands of pro-European protesters gathered on Rustaveli Avenue in downtown Tbilisi to protest the suspension of European integration. Protesters erected barricades and threw fireworks at the police, who responded with water cannons and tear gas. Demonstrators also blocked roads leading to the country's main commercial port in the Black Sea city of Poti. Additionally, several Georgian ambassadors abroad resigned, and some universities suspended classes while institutions went on strike to protest the authorities' rejection of European integration.

Scene of the protest in the capital Tbilisi

(4) Mongolia

Chinese Embassy in Mongolia issues safety reminder.On December 7, the website of the Chinese Embassy in Mongolia reported that serious criminal cases and fatal traffic accidents have occurred frequently in Mongolia recently, resulting in casualties among Chinese citizens. In the early hours of December 4, two Chinese suspects, along with two Mongolian suspects, kidnapped and extorted two other Chinese citizens in Ulaanbaatar, leading to one death and one injury. The Chinese Embassy in Mongolia urges Chinese citizens and enterprises in Mongolia to further enhance their safety awareness, closely monitor the local security situation, pay attention to traffic safety, and strengthen self-protection measures.

(5) South Korea

Martial law incident results in injuries to lawmakers.On December 3, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol issued an emergency martial law order at the Yongsan Presidential Office in Seoul to safeguard the liberal constitutional order and eradicate "anti-state forces" within the country. Subsequently, large numbers of martial law troops and civilians breached the National Assembly walls in an attempt to enter and demand Yoon Suk-yeol withdraw the emergency martial law order. The crowd used hammers and rifles to break windows and storm the assembly hall, injuring some National Assembly staff. In the early hours of December 4, South Korea lifted the emergency martial law. In response, the Chinese Embassy in South Korea issued a notice on the 4th, reminding Chinese citizens in the country to strengthen safety awareness, reduce unnecessary outings, exercise caution when expressing political opinions, and comply with official decrees issued by South Korea to ensure personal and property safety.

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Scene of large crowds gathering

Africa Region

(1) Nigeria

Multiple attacks resulted in 16 deaths, 1 injury, and 9 kidnappings.On December 3, a village in Sokoto State, Nigeria, was attacked by bandits, leaving 9 dead and 1 injured. On December 4, a Catholic priest was abducted by unidentified armed men in Enugu State and remains missing. On December 5, a bridge in Zamfara State, Nigeria, was bombed by bandits, killing 6 and injuring 8. On the same day, armed militants attacked a hotel in Ogun State, resulting in 1 death.

(II) Democratic Republic of the Congo

Two attacks left 19 dead and multiple kidnappings.On December 2, the village of Badangi-Mbao in Beni Territory, North Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, was attacked by the Ugandan rebel group Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), killing at least 10 and abducting several others. On December 4, another village in Oicha, North Kivu Province, was attacked by the ADF, leaving 9 dead—including an infant—and 3 kidnapped, with multiple houses burned down. In response, the Chinese Embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo warned Chinese nationals to avoid travel to high-risk areas such as North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri Provinces, urging those already there to evacuate or relocate to safer zones. In emergencies, contact local police and the embassy immediately.

Mysterious disease claims 79 lives.On December 4, the Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo reported an unidentified illness in Kwango Province since October 24, with 376 cases and 79 deaths. Symptoms include headache, fever, respiratory distress, and anemia, primarily affecting adolescents aged 15 and older.

(III) Benin

Benin military patrol ambushed, leaving 3 dead and 4 injured.On December 2, a Benin military patrol protecting a crude oil pipeline in Malanville, Alibori Department, was attacked by unidentified armed men, killing 3 and injuring 4. The pipeline, funded by China National Petroleum Corporation, has suffered 5 attacks this year. No group has claimed responsibility.

(IV) Guinea

Stampede at Nzérékoré City Stadium kills 135.1On February 2, media reported that a football match in Nzérékoré City, Nzérékoré Prefecture, southeastern Guinea, sparked controversy over referee decisions on the 1st, leading to a stampede that resulted in 135 deaths, multiple injuries, and over 50 people missing. During the incident, fans clashed due to dissatisfaction with the rulings. Both sides threw stones and engaged in physical altercations, and a stampede occurred as the crowd attempted to climb over stadium fences to escape, causing massive casualties.

Scene of the incident

(5) Sudan

Armed conflict continues.From December 2 to 8, 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 the central region, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides and among civilians. The year-long armed conflict has claimed approximately 27,100 lives in Sudan and displaced over 12 million people. Notably, on December 2, the Rapid Support Forces shelled the Zamzam refugee camp in North Darfur State in western Sudan, killing 8 civilians and injuring 13, including women and children.

(6) Central African Republic

Chinese Embassy in CAR issues urgent security alert.On December 4, the Chinese Embassy in the Central African Republic issued an urgent security reminder: Currently, the CAR is experiencing a surge in severe security incidents, with an extremely grim and complex security situation, and rising risks of massacres and kidnappings targeting foreign nationals. All regions outside the capital Bangui are classified as high-risk (red zone). The embassy urgently reiterates that Chinese citizens should avoid traveling to areas outside Bangui. Organizations and individuals already in these regions should evacuate or relocate to safer areas as soon as possible. Those who have not yet registered are advised to promptly submit their personal information to the embassy.

Europe and America

(1) United States

3 shootings leave 5 dead and 7 injured.On December 3, a shooting at a residence in southwestern Chicago killed 3 and injured 5; on December 4, Andrew Witty, CEO of UnitedHealth Group's UnitedHealthcare, was shot dead outside a hotel in New York City; the same day, a shooting at Feather River Christian School in Palermo, Butte County, California, injured 2 students, with the suspect committing suicide. According to the U.S. Gun Violence Archive, as of December 5, over 15,500 people have died and more than 29,700 have been injured in gun violence incidents across the country this year.

(2) Ukraine

Russia-Ukraine armed conflict persists.From December 2 to 8, Russia's special military operation in Ukraine continued. The Russian Ministry of Defense recently reported that over the past week, the Russian military conducted six group strikes using high-precision weapons and attack drones against Ukraine's military-industrial energy facilities, military airport infrastructure, drone assembly and storage sites, electronic intelligence centers, ammunition depots, as well as deployment points of Ukrainian armed forces, foreign instructors, and mercenaries. They also gained control of six settlements in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, shot down 441 Ukrainian drones, intercepted two U.S.-made HIMARS rockets, and destroyed eight Ukrainian unmanned boats. The Russian forces repelled multiple Ukrainian attacks and launched several offensives in the Kharkiv, Avdiivka, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson directions. On the Ukrainian side, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated that this week, Ukrainian forces engaged in hundreds of battles with Russian troops in the Kharkiv, Pokrovsk, and Kurakhove directions, repelling multiple Russian assaults. The Ukrainian Air Force, missile troops, and artillery units carried out four strikes on Russian personnel and weapon concentration areas. Additionally, Ukrainian operations in the Kursk region are ongoing.

(3) Ecuador

Armed attack in El Oro Province leaves 10 dead.On December 2, an armed attack occurred in El Guabo, El Oro Province, southern Ecuador, resulting in at least 10 deaths. That day, a group of armed militants indiscriminately shot at people sleeping in a rented house in the La Victoria district of El Guabo, killing several Ecuadorians and Colombians. Police investigations suggest the attack may be linked to conflicts between organized crime gangs.

Two shootings leave 6 dead and 1 injured.On December 4, a shooting in the El Cambio parish of Machala, El Oro Province, Ecuador, left 3 dead and 1 injured. On the same day, another shooting in the Bahía de Caráquez area of Sucre Canton, Manabí Province, Ecuador, killed 3 members of the same family. Police are currently investigating the case.

Scene of the shooting in Machala parish, El Oro Province

(4) Canada

Vancouver stabbing incident leaves 1 dead and 2 injured.On December 4, a stabbing incident occurred in downtown Vancouver, Canada, resulting in two injuries and one suspect being shot dead by police during a confrontation. On the same day, a man attacked customers with a knife at a restaurant inside the Vancouver Central Public Library before being fatally shot by police. The identity of the assailant is currently under investigation.

(5) Italy

Chinese national injured in robbery in Naples.On December 4, a Chinese tourist was robbed in the southern Italian city of Naples. During the incident, a man snatched the Chinese national's phone on the street and assaulted him, causing injuries. The Chinese man has been hospitalized, and the attacker has been arrested.

Maritime Safety

(1) Red Sea

Houthi forces claim attack on U.S. warship.On December 2, Yemen's Houthi forces announced that the group had launched an attack on a U.S. destroyer and three supply ships in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden on December 1. The assault involved 16 ballistic missiles, one cruise missile, and a drone, achieving "precision strikes." The U.S. military has yet to respond to these claims.

(2) Egypt

Cargo ship sinks near Red Sea Governorate.On December 2, a Comoros-flagged cargo ship sank near the coast of El Qoseir in Egypt's Red Sea Governorate due to extreme weather conditions, with all crew members safely evacuated. The vessel was originally en route from Yemen to Egypt's Tawfik Port but lost control and collided with a reef due to severe weather and technical failures, resulting in a 60-centimeter hull breach and subsequent sinking. Authorities are now taking measures to prevent leaked diesel from spreading to the coastline.

(3) Australia

Boat capsizes north of Perth, leaving one dead and one injured.On December 3, a cargo ship capsized near Gingin Beach north of Perth, Australia, due to severe weather, killing one person and injuring another.