Hanwei International Security Weekly (August 18-24, 2025)
Issue 34 of 2025, Total Issue 509 Date: August 25, 2025
Hanwei Global Security Information
This issue compiles global regional security intelligence and information dynamics from August 18 to 24, 2025. Based on security risk assessments, the security levels of various regions are as shown in the Global Risk Map. Afghanistan, Syria, Myanmar, Pakistan, Nigeria, Sudan, Ukraine, Palestine, and Israel are classified as extremely high-risk areas. During this period, security incidents such as armed conflicts and terrorist attacks occurred frequently in these regions. Chinese-funded enterprises stationed abroad must enhance their own security precautions. (This information is for the internal risk assessment of our company only.)
Middle East Region
(I) Syria
Suicide attack in Deir ez-Zor Governorate kills 3 people: On August 22, two members of the extremist group "Islamic State" carried out a suicide attack on a checkpoint in the city of Mayadin, eastern Deir ez-Zor Governorate, Syria. The attack killed 1 security personnel; one attacker died in the explosion, and the other was shot dead by security forces.
1 militant killed in Idlib Governorate: On August 20, U.S. forces and the international coalition launched a raid against Islamic State militants in rural areas of Idlib Governorate, northwestern Syria, killing 1 militant and arresting multiple militants, including 3 foreign women.
(II) Palestine and Israel
Israeli-Palestinian conflict kills 62,600 Palestinians: From August 18 to 24, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched continuous attacks on multiple locations in the Gaza Strip, resulting in heavy casualties. The Gaza Strip health department stated in a declaration on August 21 that IDF military operations in the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours had killed 70 Palestinians and injured 356 others. As of August 23, since the outbreak of the new round of Israeli-Palestinian conflict, IDF military operations in Gaza have killed 62,622 Palestinians and injured 157,673 others. In addition, over 500 humanitarian workers have been killed in Gaza.
Scene of bombing in central Gaza
Large-scale protests erupt in Israel: On August 18, hundreds of demonstrations took place across Israel, demanding that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reach an agreement with the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) to end the war in the Gaza Strip and release the remaining detainees. On the same night, nearly 500,000 people gathered at Tel Aviv Square and surrounding streets in central Israel, strongly urging the government to release all detainees and end the war. Israeli police stated that 38 protesters were arrested for disturbing public order.
Scene of protest demonstration in Tel Aviv
(III) Iran
Police attack in Sistan and Baluchestan Province kills 5 people: On August 22, two security patrol teams were attacked by armed forces near the Daman outpost in Shahrdan City, Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Iran, resulting in the death of 5 police officers. Currently, the attackers are at large, and the police have launched a relevant investigation.
6 militants killed in Sistan and Baluchestan Province: On August 23, Iranian military and police forces launched a raid on a hideout of militants in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, southeastern Iran, killing 6 militants, arresting 2 others, and seizing multiple pieces of equipment including cars and motorcycles. It is reported that this group of armed personnel entered Iran from the eastern border in recent days, equipped with U.S.-made automatic weapons, hand grenades, grenade launchers, suicide vests, and various explosive devices, and planned to attack a key facility in eastern Iran.
Asia-Pacific Region
(I) Afghanistan
Traffic accident in Herat Province kills 76 people: On August 20, a passenger bus in Herat City, Herat Province, Afghanistan, collided with a truck and a motorcycle, triggering a fire. The accident killed 76 people and injured 3 others. The police stated that the accident was caused by the passenger bus "speeding".
Accident scene (uploading...)
(II) Pakistan
2 bombings kill 1 and injure 2: On August 18, a vehicle of the Pakistani joint forces was attacked by a bomb in the jurisdiction of Lakki Marwat Sadar Police Station, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, injuring 2 people; on the same day, a roadside bomb explosion occurred in Balochistan Province, Pakistan, killing 1 passerby.
(III) Australia
Shooting in Sydney kills 1 and injures 1: On August 18, a shooting incident occurred outside a hotel in the western district of Sydney, the capital of New South Wales, Australia, resulting in 1 death and 1 serious injury. At the time of the incident, one attacker shot two victims consecutively and then fled the scene by car. The police stated that this was a targeted shooting incident and an investigation into the incident has been launched.
(IV) Japan
Tear gas spray incident in Tokyo injures 11 people: On August 23, a tear gas spray incident occurred in a catering building in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo, Japan, injuring 11 people. The person involved has been detained by the local police, and the specific cause of the incident is under further investigation.
Chinese Embassy in Japan issues security alert: On August 18, the Chinese Embassy in Japan issued a security alert stating that "recently, multiple incidents of Chinese citizens being attacked and defrauded have occurred in various parts of Japan, with losses amounting to tens of millions of yen. The Chinese Embassy in Japan reminds Chinese tourists to Japan and Chinese citizens residing in Japan to enhance their awareness of self-protection and safeguard their lives and property."
Africa Region
(I) Nigeria
Multiple attacks kill 80 people and kidnap many others: According to the monitoring report of Hanwei International's security officer stationed in West Africa:
In the late night of August 17, armed bandits attacked Tsafe Town, the headquarters of the Tsafe Local Government Area in Zamfara State, killing 2 police officers;
On the morning of August 18, the terrorist organization "Boko Haram" attacked Dalori Gari Village in the Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State, killing 4 local security officers and kidnapping several people;
On the same evening, suspected Fulani armed herders launched attacks on multiple villages including Manden, Join, Jiblang, Koppang, Mihdihin, and Jilem in the Chakfem Community of Mangu Local Government Area, Plateau State, killing at least 15 local villagers and destroying a large number of houses;
In the early morning of August 19, armed bandits attacked a mosque in the Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State, killing at least 50 worshippers and kidnapping several people;
On the same evening, armed bandits attacked the Kakangi Community in the Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing 5 people;
On the afternoon of August 20, suspected Fulani armed herders attacked Egwuma and Ogbai Communities in the Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State, killing 4 people and leaving 2 missing.
35 extremist militants killed: On August 22, the Nigerian military launched air strikes on 4 assembly points of extremist militants in the border area between Nigeria and Cameroon, killing at least 35 militants and injuring many others.
(II) South Africa
Chinese citizen abducted in Johannesburg: On August 19, a Chinese man was abducted by armed forces in Johannesburg, South Africa. Currently, the whereabouts of the Chinese citizen and the identity of the kidnappers are unknown, and relevant investigations are underway.
(III) Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
Attack on eastern villages kills 52 people: On August 18, media reported that multiple villages in the Beni and Lubero regions of eastern DRC were attacked by the "Allied Democratic Forces (ADF)" from August 9 to 16, killing 52 people, including many women and children. As search and rescue work proceeds, the death toll may increase.
(IV) Niger
Terrorist attack in Tillabéri Region kills 20 people: On August 18, media reported that a truck was attacked by armed forces in the Komabangou area of Téra Department, Tillabéri Region, Niger on the 16th, resulting in the death of 20 civilians. On that day, the truck was intercepted by armed personnel while returning from the market. The attackers forced all passengers to get off, shot and killed the driver and 19 men, and then set the vehicle on fire. It is reported that the attackers may be members of the extremist group "Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (EIGS)".
(V) Zimbabwe
Chinese citizen robbed in Harare: On August 20, a purchasing staff member of a Chinese-funded mining enterprise was robbed near "Small London" in Harare, Zimbabwe. On that day, after shopping in a mall, the purchasing staff was driving away when robbers smashed the car window with a hammer and snatched a backpack containing more than 20,000 U.S. dollars in cash. Currently, the police have filed a case and launched an investigation into the robbery.
(VI) Sudan
Armed conflict continues: From August 18 to 24, the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces continued to exchange fire in multiple parts of Sudan. This week, the two warring parties engaged in continuous battles for control of El Fasher City in North Darfur State in western Sudan. On the 21st, the Abu Shouk refugee camp in El Fasher City was shelled, killing 5 children and 4 women, and injuring 18 others. The armed conflict that has lasted for more than two years has resulted in over 30,000 deaths and more than 12.9 million displaced people in Sudan. In addition, Luca Renda, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, stated on August 19 that more than 120 humanitarian workers have been killed in Sudan since the outbreak of the armed conflict.
Europe and America Region
(I) United States
Scene of the shooting in Prince George's County, Maryland (uploading...)
Bus accident in New York State kills 3 Chinese citizens: On August 22, a tourist bus carrying more than 50 passengers in the United States crashed into the central median of the highway near Genesee County in western New York State and then rolled into a roadside ditch, killing 3 Chinese citizens and injuring 9 others. Currently, the cause of the accident is still under investigation.
(II) Ukraine
Russia-Ukraine armed conflict continues: From August 18 to 24, Russia's special military operation in Ukraine continued. The Russian Ministry of Defense recently released a battle report stating that over the past week, the Russian military has carried out 6 cluster strikes on targets such as Ukrainian military-industrial complex enterprises, energy security facilities, military airport infrastructure, tactical missile system positions, ammunition depots, oil refineries, and material warehouses using high-precision weapons and attack drones. The Russian air defense system intercepted 13 aerial bombs, 20 "HIMARS" rockets, and shot down 2,117 drones. It has taken control of a total of 9 settlements in the Donetsk region and the Dnipropetrovsk region.
On the Ukrainian side, within this week, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces stated that the Ukrainian Air Force, air defense missile forces, and electronic warfare forces have launched attacks on multiple targets such as Russian military, logistics, and energy facilities. They shot down 1,230 various types of drones, as well as several "Iskander-M" ballistic missiles and Kh-101 cruise missiles. They have retaken control of most areas of Toretsk in Donetsk. They attacked the Novoshakhtinsk Oil Refinery in Russia's Rostov Oblast and the Russian military fuel material base in Voronezh Oblast. On the 21st, the plant of U.S.-based Flextronics in Mukachevo, Ukraine, was attacked by 2 Russian cruise missiles and caught fire, injuring at least 15 people. In addition, on the 19th, Russia handed over the remains of 1,000 Ukrainian military personnel killed in action to Ukraine and retrieved the remains of 19 Russian military personnel from Ukraine.
(III) Ecuador
(IV) Colombia
Police helicopter attacked in Antioquia Province kills 12 and injures 7: On August 21, a helicopter of the Colombian National Police was attacked by an armed drone while cracking down on drug trafficking groups in northern Antioquia Province, killing 12 police officers and injuring 7 others.
Bomb attacks in Cauca Province kill 6 and injure 36: On August 21, two bomb attacks occurred near the Marco Fidel Suárez Air Force Base in northern Cali, Cauca Province, southwestern Colombia, killing at least 6 people and injuring more than 36 others. Currently, no organization or individual has claimed responsibility for the bomb attacks.
(V) Germany
Gas station robbery in Saarland kills 1 and injures 1: On August 21, a robbery occurred at a gas station in Volklingen City, Saarland, western Germany. A police officer was shot and killed while pursuing the suspect. The police stated that after the gas station was robbed, two police officers exchanged fire with the suspect during the pursuit, resulting in the death of 1 police officer and the injury of 1 suspect.
Scene of the incident (uploading...)
(VI) Mexico
13 murder suspects arrested in Mexico City: On August 21, Mexican police arrested 13 suspects allegedly involved in murder in Mexico City, the capital. Among them, 3 were directly involved in the murder of Guzmán, the private secretary of Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada, and Muñozda, a consultant, and the other 10 provided logistical support.
(VII) Russia
Attacks in multiple locations kill 1 and injure 2: On August 18, media reported that two sections of the highway (Relizsk-Krupez and Relizsk-Khomutovka) in Kursk Oblast, Russia, were attacked by Ukrainian drones on the 17th, killing 1 person and injuring 2 others, including a Russian military general; on August 18, a diesel warehouse in Rostov Oblast, Russia, was hit by debris from a Ukrainian drone, triggering a fire; on August 22, the weapons and fuel warehouse at the Marinivka military airport in Volgograd Oblast, Russia, was attacked by Ukrainian drones, and there is no report yet on casualties and property losses.
Maritime Security
(I) Turkey
Migrant shipwreck in the Aegean Sea kills 4 people: On August 18, an illegal migrant ship wrecked in the Aegean Sea waters of Izmir Province, western Turkey, killing 4 people and leaving many others missing. 2 people were rescued. Currently, the maritime search and rescue operation is still ongoing.
(II) United States
Bulk carrier explosion and fire at the Port of Baltimore: On August 18, the bulk carrier "W-Sapphire", loaded with coal, exploded and caught fire at the Port of Baltimore, the United States. No casualties were reported. Currently, the ship has been moved to a designated anchorage, and the cause of the explosion is still under investigation.
