Hanwei Global Security Intelligence

This bulletin summarizes global security developments from 20 July to 26 July 2026. In accordance with security risk assessments, risk levels for all regions are marked on the global risk map. Afghanistan, Syria, Myanmar, Pakistan, Nigeria, Sudan, Ukraine, Palestine and Venezuela are classified as Extremely High-Risk Zones. Armed conflicts, terrorist attacks and other security incidents occurred frequently in these regions during the period. Chinese-funded enterprises overseas shall strengthen security precautions.

(This intelligence is for internal corporate risk assessment only)

Middle East

(1) Syria

Bus collision kills 35 people. On 25 July, two buses collided on the highway linking Deir ez-Zor Governorate and Damascus, claiming at least 35 lives and injuring 30 others. The Interior Ministry of Syria’s transitional government confirmed one bus carried security forces personnel of the Interior Ministry, while the other was a civilian passenger bus.

(2) Iraq

Drone strikes target the Kurdistan Region. On 21 July, the U.S. Consulate in Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, came under drone attack with no reported casualties. On 24 July, Erbil, capital of the Kurdistan Region, was targeted by six drones; five were shot down near Erbil International Airport and one crashed on farmland and triggered a fire.

Anti-terror operations launched in northern Iraq. On 20 July, Iraqi Special Operations Forces conducted rapid counter-terrorism operations in the Zajitoun Valley, Kirkuk Governorate in northern Iraq, demolishing six hideouts of Islamic State militants.

(3) Iran

Persistent armed clashes between Iran and the United States. Armed confrontations continued between Iran and the United States from 20 to 26 July, alongside ongoing U.S. maritime blockade against Iran. U.S. forces carried out airstrikes for five consecutive days, targeting Iranian military operation hubs, maritime combat installations, naval bases, aircraft hangars, drone storage facilities and military logistics infrastructure.

In retaliation, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched cruise missile and attack drone strikes against U.S. military bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan and Iraq.

On 24 July, the IRGC issued a statement announcing strikes on multiple U.S. targets within Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait and Bahrain. Its Aerospace Force attacked Azraq U.S. Military Base in Jordan, damaging several U.S. fighter jets. A U.S. troop garrison was hit, causing U.S. military casualties. In Erbil, northern Iraq, IRGC forces destroyed one Patriot air defense missile system and a U.S. surveillance balloon. Attacks also targeted three ammunition and equipment depots at Udairi U.S. Military Base in Kuwait and facilities of the U.S. Fifth Fleet in Bahrain.

Casualty statistics: According to figures released on 26 July by the U.S. Department of Defense Defense Casualty Analysis System, since the launch of large-scale joint U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran on 28 February, total U.S. military casualties reached 642, including 18 fatalities. Iran’s Ministry of Health stated on 25 July that U.S. strikes against Iran since 27 June have killed at least 59 people and wounded nearly 666.

Merchant vessel attack leaves 1 dead, 3 injured. On 25 July, an Iranian merchant ship sustained an explosion after a long-range Ukrainian strike in the Caspian Sea. One crew member was killed and three wounded; the wheelhouse was completely destroyed, rendering the vessel unseaworthy. Iran’s Foreign Ministry issued a strong condemnation, describing the strike as an act of aggression violating fundamental principles of the UN Charter and posing security threats to all Caspian littoral states.

(4) Palestine & Israel

Israel-Palestine conflict death toll in Gaza exceeds 73,200. Israel launched multiple strikes across Gaza between 20 and 26 July with repeated civilian casualties.

20 July: Israeli missile strikes on two residential buildings in Gaza City killed six people, including four children.
21 July: An Israeli airstrike hit an apartment building in central Gaza City, killing four and wounding multiple civilians. On the same day, an airstrike targeted a vehicle near the Nuseirat Refugee Camp in central Gaza, leaving two dead and four injured.

Data released by the Gaza Health Ministry on 21 July: Since the entry into force of Phase One of the Gaza ceasefire agreement in October 2025, Israeli military operations in Gaza have killed 1,168 people and injured 3,798. Since the outbreak of the latest round of Israel-Palestine conflict in October 2023, Israeli military actions in Gaza have caused 73,206 deaths and 173,894 injuries.

Scene of airstrike in Gaza City

West Bank attacks kill 5, wound 4. On 24 July, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched military search and blockade operations in Nablus and adjacent towns in the West Bank. Four Palestinians were killed and four injured, while one IDF soldier died during the operation.

(5) Yemen

Multiple Saudi airstrikes reported. On 24 July, the Houthi movement stated Saudi Arabia carried out repeated airstrikes targeting Houthi-controlled Red Sea port city Al Hudaydah and Kamaran Island, with no immediate reports of casualties or property losses. On 25 July, the Saudi-led Coalition announced strikes on Houthi military targets in Al Hudaydah Governorate, in response to recent Houthi assaults on Red Sea merchant shipping.

(6) Bahrain

Navigational facilities targeted. On 20 July, Iranian drones attacked navigation equipment at Bahrain International Airport. Navigational services remained uninterrupted, and all passenger and transit flights operated normally. Bahrain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement condemning repeated Iranian missile and drone assaults on Bahraini civilian infrastructure.

Asia-Pacific Region

(1) Afghanistan

Severe floods kill 20 people. On 20 July, heavy floods and mudslides struck Nuristan Province, Afghanistan. At least 20 people died and over 100 remain missing; one hotel and dozens of shops were destroyed. Rescue operations are ongoing.

(2) Pakistan

Counter-terror operation in Balochistan kills 10 militants. On 22 July, Pakistani security forces conducted anti-terror raids in southwestern Balochistan Province. Ten terrorists were killed, two suicide bombers and their accomplices arrested, and a large cache of arms, ammunition and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) seized.

Suicide car bombing at checkpoint kills 14, injures 24. On 23 July, a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (SVBIED) struck a security checkpoint in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, northwestern Pakistan, killing at least 14 people and wounding 24. Security forces launched follow-up clearance operations and killed three militants. No group has claimed responsibility; investigations are underway.

Scene of the attack

(3) Thailand

Armed assault on Narathiwat checkpoint kills 5 soldiers, injures 6 civilians. On 22 July, armed militants attacked a checkpoint in southern Narathiwat Province. Six attackers arrived in pickup trucks, opened fire and threw bombs before fleeing. Thai security authorities launched a full manhunt and imposed maximum security alerts across the region, ordering all checkpoints to maintain heightened vigilance.

(4) Republic of Korea

Knife attack in Seoul leaves one injured. On 23 July, a stabbing incident occurred at a residential complex in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, injuring one person. The suspect has been detained by police, and case details remain under investigation.

Scene of the incident

(5) India

Tunnel explosion at hydropower project in Sikkim kills 20. On 20 July, an explosion and tunnel collapse hit an under-construction hydropower plant in Sikkim State. At least 20 workers died. Twenty-seven personnel were working inside the tunnel at the time; two escaped and five remain trapped. Project operators suspect massive methane buildup within rock strata triggered the blast.

(6) Sri Lanka

Robbery and abduction cases targeting Chinese nationals reported in Colombo. On 24 July, Sri Lankan police confirmed a string of incidents in Colombo involving cash robberies, abductions and killings targeting Chinese citizens, all under investigation.

The Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka immediately activated its consular protection emergency mechanism and urged Sri Lankan police to accelerate investigations and apprehend perpetrators. The Embassy reiterated safety reminders for Chinese nationals in Sri Lanka: travel in groups, avoid carrying large sums of cash, refrain from late-night outings, and do not visit secluded locations alone.

Africa

(1) Nigeria

Serial armed attacks kill 51, abduct 45. Monitoring reports from Hanwei International West Africa Security Officer:

21 July: Armed militants raided a community in Kaiama Local Government Area, Kwara State; 1 killed, 2 abducted.
22 July: Bandits attacked two communities in Talata Mafara LGA, Zamfara State, killing at least 30 people. On the same day, armed groups targeted 11 communities in Mayanchi, Maru LGA (Zamfara State), abducting no fewer than 40 residents. Another attack in Agbaje Community, Idanre LGA, Ondo State led to three abductions including one farmer. Overnight, a village in Kebbi State came under assault, killing over 20 civilians and triggering mass displacement.

Cholera outbreak kills nearly 200 people. On 22 July, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported an escalating cholera epidemic in Borno State, northeastern Nigeria, with nearly 200 fatalities. As of 12 July, 198 cholera deaths were recorded alongside more than 35,000 suspected cases. MSF stated shortages of clean drinking water, sanitation infrastructure and medical services drive the spread of the disease.

(2) Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

Armed attacks in Ituri Province kill 32 civilians. Between 23 and 25 July, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a Ugandan rebel group, carried out two raids in Mambasa Territory, eastern Ituri Province, killing at least 32 civilians across multiple villages. Search operations continue, and the death toll may rise. Neither local DRC authorities nor the Congolese military have issued official responses to the attacks.

Prison breakout in Kinshasa. On 21 July, multiple inmates attempted to escape from the Military Prosecutor’s detention facility in Ngaliema, Kinshasa, capital of the DRC. Stationed defense and security forces deployed emergency measures and prevented a mass breakout. Manhunts for fugitives are ongoing.

(3) Mali

Military helicopter shot down in Mopti Region. On 20 July, an army helicopter tasked with casualty evacuation was destroyed in Mopti Region, Mali; all crew members perished. The extremist group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) claimed responsibility for the strike.

(4) Sudan

Ongoing armed conflict. Heavy fighting persisted nationwide between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) from 20 to 26 July. Main battle zones concentrated in Kordofan, Darfur and Blue Nile regions. SAF, allied with local Darfur armed factions, recaptured five strategic locations including Bara and Birkay in North Kordofan State from the RSF. Sustained combat caused extensive civilian casualties.

21 July: A drone strike on a water source in Tina, North Darfur, killed at least 21 civilians and wounded dozens.
24 July: Drone attack in Berber, south of Al-Obeid (capital of North Kordofan), killed 15 civilians and injured seven.

On 20 July, UN Secretary-General Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric noted worsening humanitarian crises across Sudan amid continuous combat. Hundreds of thousands of displaced persons in North Kordofan and Darfur face severe food insecurity, and nearly 4,000 households require urgent shelter and basic supplies.

Villages under attack in Blue Nile State

Europe & Americas

(1) United States

Shooting incident in Arizona leaves nine injured. Media reports on 20 July referenced a shooting in Tucson, Arizona’s second-largest city on 19 July, with nine wounded. The gunman opened fire on crowds in a commercial district and was shot and seriously injured by responding patrol officers. He has been arrested; police investigations continue, and the suspect’s identity remains undisclosed.

Arson attack in New York injures three. On 20 July, an arson incident unfolded outside a federal building in Manhattan, New York City. A male suspect threw combustibles and fired an airsoft gun toward the premises, triggering fires and explosions. Two law enforcement officers and one civilian sustained injuries. The suspect is in custody, and investigations are underway.

(2) Ukraine

Russia-Ukraine armed conflict continues (20–26 July). The Russian Ministry of Defence published weekly combat summaries: Russian forces deployed air and land-based long-range precision weapons and attack drones to strike Ukrainian drone manufacturing/storage sites, fuel and energy infrastructure, and troop deployment zones. Long-range strikes targeted Ukrainian Black Sea ports and vessels supporting Ukraine’s armed forces, destroying a military equipment warehouse at Yuzhne Port (Odesa Oblast), multiple drone factories and five oil storage tanks. Russian air defence systems intercepted dozens of guided bombs, U.S.-supplied rockets and 4,480 drones. Russian troops secured six residential areas in Kharkiv, Donetsk and other frontline regions. On 24 July, air defences intercepted and destroyed 571 Ukrainian drones over Moscow City, Moscow Oblast, 14 other Russian federal subjects, Crimea, the Sea of Azov and Black Sea waters.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported Ukrainian troops repelled Russian assaults along multiple axes including Kupiansk, Pokrovsk and Oleksandrivka. Ukrainian forces targeted Russian troop concentrations and key military assets, conducting long-range strikes on Russian military bases, oil and energy infrastructure and military objectives within Russian-controlled territories in Ukraine.

(3) Russian Federation

Drone attacks kill 27, injure 160.

20 July: Multiple Ukrainian drone strikes hit Moscow Oblast, injuring 10 people including three Chinese citizens.
21 July: Mass drone assault on Belgorod Oblast killed nine civilians and wounded 77. On the same day, 149 Ukrainian drones and artillery barrages targeted Kursk Oblast (five injured); one drone crashed into an apartment building in Vladimir Oblast and ignited a fire.
22 July: Repeat drone strikes on Belgorod Oblast killed three civilians and injured 13. Mass drone attacks hit Krasnodar Krai (one dead, ten injured); a logistics centre in Stavropol Krai was struck, causing five injuries.
24 July: Ukrainian forces attacked a factory in Kirov Oblast, killing six and wounding 26.
25 July: A tourist camp in Russian-administered Zaporizhzhia was targeted, killing eight and injuring 14.

Scene of attacks in Belgorod Oblast

(4) Germany

Bank hostage crisis in Bavaria leaves one dead. On 23 July, a hostage-taking incident occurred at a bank in Regensburg, Bavaria. The armed suspect wielded bladed weapons; one civilian succumbed to wounds. No demands have been received from the perpetrator, and motives remain unclear.

Vehicle ramming attack in Berlin kills one, injures 16. On 25 July, a vehicle ploughed into pedestrians near Tiergarten Park in central Berlin, killing at least one person and injuring 16, many critically. Police are conducting a large-scale manhunt for the suspect.

(5) Mexico

Mayor shot dead in Morelos State. On 22 July, Valentín Lavín Romero, Mayor of Temoac in central Morelos State, was fatally shot inside municipal offices. Two armed gunmen entered the building, opened fire and fled on motorcycles. This marks the third assassination of a municipal mayor in Mexico this year.

Journalist murdered in Oaxaca State. On 22 July, journalist Francisco Leyva was killed in southern Oaxaca State. This is the fourth journalist killing recorded since June. Investigations have been initiated.

(6) Argentina

Fan unrest in Buenos Aires leaves multiple injured. Media reports on 20 July covered riots breaking out overnight on 19 July in Buenos Aires. The unrest followed Argentina’s 0-1 defeat against Spain in the FIFA World Cup Final. Thousands of Argentine fans gathered near the Obelisk; some threw bottles at police, who deployed tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds. At least 15 arrests were made.

Maritime Security

(1) Gulf of Oman & Strait of Hormuz

Oil/chemical tanker attacked; two crew injured. On 20 July, a Kuwaiti-flagged product tanker came under assault near the eastern exit of the Strait of Hormuz. Two crew members were hurt and fuel tanks caught fire.

U.S. forces engage tanker in the Gulf of Oman. On 24 July, U.S. troops opened fire on an oil tanker heading toward Iran in the Gulf of Oman, disabling the vessel. U.S. Central Command stated the ship violated U.S. maritime blockade orders against Iran and attempted to break the blockade at least four times despite repeated warnings. This was the second merchant vessel disabled by U.S. gunfire since the United States reinstated the Iran maritime blockade on 14 July. Twelve other vessels were forced to alter course.

Tanker mine explosion in the Strait of Hormuz. On 26 July, an oil tanker deviated from designated Iranian shipping lanes, struck a naval mine and exploded, catching fire and losing propulsion. Rescue teams are evacuating crew. The IRGC noted repeated prior warnings that vessels diverting from officially announced routes bear all resulting consequences.

(2) Red Sea

Houthi strikes target oil tankers. On 23 July, the Houthi movement announced ballistic missile, cruise missile and drone attacks on Saudi tankers MV ENCELIA and MV LAYLA for violating Houthi maritime prohibitions covering the Red Sea; both vessels sustained fires after impacts.

(3) Black Sea

Cargo ship attack kills six, injures two. On 20 July, Ukrainian authorities reported a Russian cruise missile strike on Turkish-flagged MV Golden Lion, sailing under Guinea-Bissau registry near Odesa Port, northern Black Sea. Six crew members (including four Indian nationals) died, two were injured and four remain missing; eight sailors were rescued.

LPG tanker attacked; three crew injured. On 20 July, a Liberian-flagged liquefied petroleum gas tanker en route from Egypt to Ukraine was attacked approximately 20 nautical miles off Romania’s northwestern coast in the Black Sea, leaving three crew injured. Romanian rescue services evacuated all sailors to safety. Romanian President Dan stated authorities are investigating the circumstances, causes and liabilities of the incident.

(4) Indonesia

Speedboat accident off Sulawesi leaves captain missing. On 24 July, a speedboat carrying 11 foreign tourists suffered structural rupture amid extreme weather near Gorontalo Province, eastern Sulawesi. The captain went missing. The vessel carried 13 people: two Indonesian crew and eleven European tourists. Eleven European tourists and one Indonesian crew member have been recovered; search teams continue efforts to locate the captain.

(5) South China Sea

Vietnamese vessel sinks; 23 crew missing. Overnight on 24 July, Vietnamese ship MV KHOI NGUYEN 18 sank in the South China Sea. The vessel carried 62 crew; 39 have been rescued while 23 remain unaccounted for.

Hanwei International Security Weekly（July 20 –26，2026）