Hanwei Global Security Information
According to the security risk assessment, the security levels of various regions are as shown in the Global Risk Map. Afghanistan, Syria, Myanmar, Pakistan, Nigeria, Sudan, Ukraine, Palestine, Israel and other regions are classified as extremely high-risk areas. During this period, security incidents such as armed conflicts and terrorist attacks occurred frequently in these regions, and Chinese-funded enterprises stationed abroad need to strengthen their own security precautions.
(This information is for the company's internal risk assessment only)
Middle East Region
(1) Three attacks in Syria leave 10 dead and 37 injuredOn December 13, a joint US-Syrian patrol was attacked by a gunman in Palmyra, Homs Province, central Syria, resulting in 6 deaths and 3 injuries. The deceased included 2 Syrians, 2 US soldiers and 1 American translator, while the 3 injured were all US soldiers. An investigation by the Syrian Ministry of the Interior showed that the gunman was a member of the extremist group Islamic State (ISIS) and was killed in the exchange of fire. On December 12, a wedding in the village of Abidin, Daraa Province, southern Syria, was attacked with a grenade by unidentified armed men, injuring 33 people including several children. So far, no organization or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack. On December 14, a Syrian security force patrol was attacked in Idlib Province, northwestern Syria, causing 4 deaths and 1 injury. The explosion attack in Daraa Province caused 33 injuries: On December 12, a wedding in the village of Abidin, Daraa Province, southern Syria, was attacked with a grenade by unidentified armed men, injuring 33 people including several children. So far, no organization or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack.
(2) Israeli military's violation of the ceasefire agreement causes heavy casualties between Palestine and IsraelOn December 9, the Media Office of the Gaza Strip in Palestine issued a statement saying that since the entry into force of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, the Israeli military has carried out 738 blockades, air strikes and artillery shellings on the Gaza Strip, resulting in 386 civilian deaths and 980 injuries. In addition, on December 11, the Gaza Strip Ministry of Health released the latest statistical report stating that since the outbreak of a new round of large-scale Israel-Palestine conflicts on October 7, 2023, Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip have killed a total of 70,373 Palestinians and injured 171,079.
(3) Southern Lebanon hit by Israeli air strikesOn December 9, the town of Jaba'a in Nabatieh Province, southern Lebanon, was hit by multiple air strikes by the Israel Defense Forces, causing damage to some houses, with no casualties reported yet. The Israeli military stated that the air strike targets were mainly training bases and other facilities of the Radwan Force, an elite armed unit of Hezbollah. UNIFIL was attacked by the Israeli military again at the attack site: On December 9, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) stated that the Israel Defense Forces seriously violated United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 on the same day by opening fire on a peacekeeping convoy patrolling near the "Blue Line" in Lebanon, causing no casualties. This was the second time UNIFIL peacekeepers had been attacked by the Israeli military within a month.
Asia-Pacific Region
(1) Afghanistan:
Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan issues security reminderOn December 13, the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan announced that the security situation in Afghanistan has been severe and complex recently, and incidents of Chinese citizens being attacked and suffering casualties have occurred one after another in the border area between Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Further attacks against Chinese citizens and enterprises cannot be ruled out. The embassy in Afghanistan once again reminds Chinese citizens not to travel to Afghanistan for the time being. Chinese citizens and enterprises already in Afghanistan, especially in the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border area, must closely monitor the local security situation, effectively strengthen security precautions, and evacuate from the above areas as soon as possible. In case of emergency, please call the police in a timely manner and contact the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan.
(2) Pakistan:
Armed attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa leaves 8 dead and 8 injuredOn December 9, Pakistani troops on a blockade mission were attacked by armed men in the Gulam area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province in northwestern Pakistan. A firefight then broke out between the two sides, resulting in 6 deaths and 6 injuries of Pakistani soldiers, and 2 armed men were killed and 2 injured. At present, no organization has claimed responsibility for the attack.
(3) Border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand causes hundreds of casualtiesFrom December 8 to 14, Thailand and Cambodia continued to have armed conflicts in multiple border provinces, resulting in hundreds of deaths. During this period, Thailand launched multiple rounds of attacks using heavy weapons such as F-16 fighter jets, rocket launchers and armored vehicles, penetrating 80 kilometers into Cambodian territory. On the Cambodian side, Information Minister Neth Pheaktra condemned on the 13th the Thai military's attacks on Cambodian civilians and residential villages, as well as the destruction of civilian infrastructure, and called on Thailand to immediately stop military operations against Cambodia. In terms of casualties, as of December 13, 15 Thai soldiers and 7 civilians had been killed, and more than 270 soldiers injured. The conflict also caused hundreds of casualties in Cambodia, displaced 400,000 people, closed more than 900 schools, and damaged a large number of infrastructure such as residences, buildings and bridges.Chinese Embassy in Thailand issues security reminder: On December 9, the Chinese Embassy in Thailand reminded Chinese citizens in relevant areas of seven provinces including Ubon Ratchathani, Sisaket, Surin, Buriram, Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi and Trat to closely monitor the security situation in the border area, strengthen precautions and avoid traveling to the border area. In case of emergency, please call the police in a timely manner and seek assistance from the Chinese embassy and consulates in Thailand.
(4) Three attacks in Australia leave 16 dead and 30 injuredOn December 8, a shooting occurred in Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, Australia, injuring 1 person. On December 9, two cars were robbed at knifepoint by multiple people in Underwood Crescent, Queensland, and the suspects fled the scene in the robbed vehicles. On December 14, a shooting occurred at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, resulting in 16 deaths and 29 injuries. On the same day, when a Jewish holiday celebration was held at the Bondi Park Playground on Bondi Beach, 2 gunmen sprayed gunfire at the crowd from a nearby pedestrian overpass. The gunmen are currently at large, and the police have classified the incident as a terrorist attack against Australian Jews.
(5) South Korea:
Explosion in South Chungcheong Province injures 2 peopleOn December 9, an explosion and fire broke out at a thermal power plant in Taean County, South Chungcheong Province, South Korea, injuring 2 people. At present, the cause of the explosion is unknown, and the relevant departments are investigating.
Africa Region
(1) Nigeria:
Multiple attacks leave 24 dead and many kidnappedAccording to the monitoring report of Hanwei International's security officer in West Africa, on the night of December 7, armed militias attacked Tingno and Waduku villages in Lamurde Local Government, Adamawa State, causing dozens of deaths. On December 9, an armed gang attacked Mashayar Zaki village in Maru Local Government, Zamfara State, killing 2 local villagers and injuring 3. On the night of the same day, an armed gang attacked Tudun Wada Rido village in Chikun Local Government, Kaduna State, killing 2 local villagers. On December 10, an armed gang attacked Tse Ajogo village in Rafin Kada Community, Wukari Local Government, Taraba State, killing 17 local villagers and injuring 7. On the night of December 11, an armed gang attacked Rane village in Dankadu Community, Bakura Local Government, Zamfara State, killing 3 local villagers and kidnapping several people.Security Warning: On December 13, according to the monitoring report of Hanwei International's security officer in West Africa, armed men of Nigerian Islamic extremist organizations are planning to launch terrorist attacks during Christmas, targeting Christian areas in Plateau State, Benue State and Kaduna State. Chinese citizens in Nigeria are reminded to strengthen security precautions and avoid traveling to the above areas in the near future.
(2) South Africa:
Chinese Embassy in South Africa issues security reminderOn December 9, according to the news from the WeChat official account "Consular Express", vicious cases such as kidnapping of Chinese citizens have occurred in many places in South Africa recently. The Chinese Embassy in South Africa reminds Chinese citizens, enterprises and institutions in South Africa to effectively strengthen security precautions: avoid going out during peak commuting hours, night and other high-incidence periods of crimes; do not take local minibuses; do not go to or pass through areas with poor public security; do not store or carry large amounts of cash in business premises or residences; and avoid going to "Internet-famous scenic spots" that are remote, sparsely populated and have poor public security.
(3) Democratic Republic of the Congo:
Armed conflict in South Kivu leaves 74 dead and 83 injuredFrom December 4 to 10, the government forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the anti-government armed group March 23 Movement (M23) continued to have armed conflicts in South Kivu Province in eastern DRC. On December 10, the M23 occupied Uvira, an important town in South Kivu Province, eastern DRC. The ongoing armed conflict has caused at least 74 deaths and 83 injuries, displaced more than 200,000 people, and thousands of people have crossed the border to seek refuge in Burundi and Rwanda.
(4) Sudan:
Armed conflict continuesFrom December 8 to 14, the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces continued to exchange fire in many parts of Sudan. This week, the conflict was mainly concentrated in Sudan's capital Khartoum and its surrounding areas, as well as the three central and southern states of North Kordofan, South Kordofan and West Kordofan. In Khartoum, the two sides used heavy weapons such as tanks and rocket launchers to compete for the Yarmouk Military Factory and several bridges along the Nile. In the central and southern regions, the Sudanese Rapid Support Forces announced full control of the Heglig Oilfield in South Kordofan State and almost the entire area of West Kordofan State. The armed conflict that has lasted for more than two years has killed more than 30,000 people in Sudan, injured tens of thousands, and displaced more than 12.85 million people. In addition, the facilities of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei in South Kordofan State were attacked by drones on the 12th, resulting in 6 deaths and 7 injuries, all of whom were Bangladeshi peacekeepers.
Europe and America Region
(1) United States:
Four shooting incidents leave 4 dead and 12 injuredOn December 9, a shooting occurred at Kentucky State University, resulting in 1 death and 1 injury, and the suspect has been detained. On December 10, a shooting occurred at a residence on Sussex Street in West Detroit, Michigan, resulting in 1 death and 1 injury. On December 11, a shooting occurred at East Park in the 3800 block of North Whittier Street, Tampa, Florida, injuring 2 people. On December 13, a shooting occurred at Brown University, resulting in at least 2 deaths and 8 serious injuries, and the suspect is at large.
(2) Ukraine:
Russia-Ukraine armed conflict continuesFrom December 8 to 14, Russia's special military operation in Ukraine continued. The Russian Ministry of Defense recently released a battle report saying that in the past week, the Russian military launched one large-scale attack and five joint attacks using weapons such as the Kinzhal hypersonic missile. It attacked Ukraine's military-industrial enterprises and their supporting fuel and energy facilities, transportation and airport port infrastructure used by the Ukrainian army for combat, assembly workshops, storage sites, pre-flight preparation and launch sites for long-range attack drones, oil and military material warehouses, as well as temporary deployment points of the Ukrainian armed forces and foreign mercenaries, and has controlled 8 towns including Seversk. On the Ukrainian side, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces stated that this week, the Ukrainian Air Force, missile troops and artillery attacked Russian military personnel assembly areas, ammunition depots and multiple artillery systems, intercepting and shooting down hundreds of drones and hundreds of rockets. Ukraine has made important tactical progress in the Kupiansk direction, controlling two residential areas and several blocks in the northern part of Kupiansk city. Ukrainian drones attacked the Filanovsky oil platform operated by Lukoil-Nizhnevartovsk Oil Company in the Caspian Sea, Russia, and an unmanned attack boat destroyed an oil tanker engaged in Russian oil trade.
(3) Ecuador:
Prison riot in El Oro Province leaves 13 inmates deadOn December 8, a riot broke out at a prison in Machala, El Oro Province, southwestern Ecuador, killing at least 13 inmates. On the afternoon of the same day, an explosion occurred about 100 meters outside the prison, followed by a riot inside the prison. At present, the riot has subsided and the relevant departments have launched an investigation.
(4) Haiti:
Gang conflict in Port-au-Prince leaves 49 dead and many injuredFrom December 8 to 9, large-scale gang conflicts broke out in Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, resulting in at least 49 deaths and many injuries, including gang leader Kempes Sanon. The conflict was triggered by internal strife among members of the gang alliance. At present, the conflict is still continuing, and the death toll may further increase.
(5) Russia:
Multiple attacks in various places injure 16 peopleOn December 9, Cheboksary, the capital of the Chuvash Republic in Russia, was attacked by a Ukrainian drone, injuring 9 people. On December 12, a residential building in Tver, the capital of Tver Oblast in Russia, was attacked by a drone and caught fire, injuring 7 people. In addition, Russia's air defense system shot down 287 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones over the Moscow region, Bryansk Oblast, Kaluga Oblast, Tula Oblast, Novgorod Oblast, Yaroslavl Oblast and Lipetsk Oblast on December 11.
(6) Colombia:
Chinese Embassy in Colombia issues security reminderOn December 10, the Chinese Embassy in Colombia reminded Chinese citizens in Colombia to guard against kidnapping crimes. Recently, the security situation in Colombia has deteriorated, violent crimes have occurred frequently, and vicious cases such as kidnapping and extortion involving Chinese citizens have occurred frequently. At present, Norte de Santander Province in Colombia is an extremely high-risk area, and Arauca Province, Santander Province, Boyaca Province, Meta Province, Tolima Province, Huila Province, Risaralda Province, Antioquia Province, La Guajira Province, Nariño Province, Cesar Province, Magdalena Province, Sucre Province, Choco Province, Bolivar Province, Cauca Province, Valle del Cauca Province and Caqueta Province are high-risk areas.
