Hanwei Global Security Intelligence
This issue compiles global security intelligence updates from August 17 to August 23, 2026. Per security risk assessment, regional security levels are shown on the Global Risk Map. Regions including Afghanistan, Syria, Myanmar, Pakistan, Nigeria, Sudan, Ukraine, Palestine and Venezuela are classified as extremely high-risk areas. During this period, armed conflicts, terrorist attacks and other security incidents occurred frequently in these regions. Chinese enterprises operating overseas shall strengthen security precautions. (This brief is for internal corporate risk assessment only)
Middle East
(I) Syria
Multiple locations hit by Israeli airstrikes. On August 18, Abu al-Zuhur military airport in Idlib Governorate, northwestern Syria sustained repeated Israeli airstrikes, severely damaging the airport runway with no casualties reported. On August 22, an Israeli drone struck a civilian vehicle in Beit Jin, Rural Damascus Governorate, Syria, injuring multiple civilians. Syria’s transitional government strongly condemned the attacks, stating they grossly violated Syria’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity and openly breached international law.
(II) Iraq
Kurdistan Region targeted by drone attacks. On August 17, the Counter-Terrorism Directorate of Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government issued a statement confirming two “Hadid 110” drones loaded with explosives flew in from the Iranian border and separately struck the office of the Kurdistan Regional Prime Minister and the residence of the Director of the Kurdistan Region Security Directorate in Pirmam District, Erbil Governorate. No casualties resulted. The Kurdistan Region strongly condemned the assault and deemed it an act of aggression.
(III) Iran
Ongoing maritime standoff with the United States. Between August 17 and 23, the 60-day negotiation window for the Iran-US memorandum of understanding expired. Talks remain suspended while both sides maintain a standoff in the Strait of Hormuz. On August 17, the United States announced it would continue its maritime blockade against Iran. On August 20, U.S. Vice President Vance stated that hostilities between the United States and Iran had “entered a new phase,” and economic pressure on Iran constituted the “most effective measure.” In response, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement the same day, strongly condemning new U.S. economic and trade sanctions against Iran and affirming Iran would deploy “all tools and capabilities” to safeguard national interests and the legitimate rights of the Iranian people. On August 21, the Commander of the Iranian Navy stated that key waters within the Strait of Hormuz remain under Iran’s “full control,” and Iran maintains “round-the-clock surveillance of all movements of hostile external forces.” Separately, U.S. Department of Defense casualty figures updated on August 19 showed that since the launch of U.S. military operations against Iran on February 28, 18 U.S. service members have been killed and 757 wounded.
(IV) Palestine and Israel
The Israel-Palestine conflict has killed 73,400 people in the Gaza Strip. From August 17 to 23, Israel launched strikes across multiple sites in Gaza, causing numerous casualties. On August 18, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out an airstrike on the western port area of Gaza City, killing six people including one child and injuring 14 others. On August 19, an IDF attack targeted the headquarters of Gaza municipal police, killing nine people – mostly police officers and staff – and wounding more than a dozen civilians. Statistics released by the Gaza Ministry of Health on August 20 showed that since the first-phase Gaza ceasefire agreement took effect in October 2025, IDF operations in Gaza have killed 1,273 people and injured 4,223. Since the outbreak of the renewed Israel-Palestine conflict in October 2023, Israeli military operations in Gaza have killed over 73,407 people and injured 174,335.
Child injured in airstrike
(V) Lebanon
Southern Lebanon attacked by the IDF. On August 21, Israeli strikes hit southern Lebanon with casualties reported, though exact figures remain unconfirmed. The IDF stated it had detected several “suspects” entering a building in Balashit within the southern Lebanese “security buffer zone” who “posed a threat” to Israeli soldiers, and subsequently targeted the building. Per the Emergency Operations Center of Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health on August 21, since hostilities reignited between Lebanon and Israel on March 2, Israeli attacks have killed 4,348 people and wounded 12,307 across Lebanon.
(VI) Saudi Arabia
Multiple locations attacked by Houthi forces. On August 18, Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed responsibility for a drone attack using multiple unmanned aerial vehicles against a Saudi Aramco refinery in Jizan, southwestern Saudi Arabia. On August 20, Houthi forces launched drone strikes on an airport and a Saudi Aramco oil facility in Najran, southern Saudi Arabia. No casualties or property damage have been reported to date.
Asia-Pacific
(I) Afghanistan
Bombing in Kabul leaves 42 injured. On August 17, an explosive attack occurred outside a private school in Kabul, Afghanistan, seriously injuring at least 42 students as they were leaving campus. No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack, and relevant authorities are investigating the incident.
(II) Pakistan
Roadside bomb attack in Quetta kills two and wounds two. On August 17, a civilian transport vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED) on the outskirts of Quetta, capital of Balochistan Province, Pakistan, leaving two dead and two injured. No party has claimed responsibility. 49 terrorists killed. On August 21, Pakistan’s military issued a statement confirming that Pakistani security forces, in joint operations with police over recent days, eliminated 49 terrorists. Twelve were killed across districts in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, and 37 were killed during ten operations in southwestern Balochistan Province. Large quantities of weapons, ammunition, explosives and remote IED detonators were seized during the operations.
(III) Philippines
Shooting incident in Zamboanga leaves two dead and nine injured. On August 18, a shooting took place at the high school section of Ateneo de Zamboanga University in Zamboanga City, Philippines, killing at least one person and wounding nine. The gunman, a Grade 7 student, entered the school armed with a rifle and a handgun before committing suicide on campus after the attack.
(IV) Japan
Train collision in Tochigi Prefecture kills four. On August 20, a train struck pedestrians at a station in Kanuma City, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, causing four fatalities. The sequence and cause of the accident are under investigation.
Scene of incident
(V) New Zealand
Assault in Waikato injures four. On August 17, a stabbing attack at a residence in Maroa, Hamilton, Waikato Region, New Zealand left four people wounded.
(VI) Thailand
Violent assaults in three southern provinces injure two. On the evening of August 22, multiple violent attacks erupted in Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani Provinces in southern Thailand, injuring at least two people and damaging public infrastructure and civilian property across several sites. Attackers set fire to vehicle tires and district administrative offices, and destroyed utility poles and convenience stores. Narathiwat Province sustained the heaviest impact with at least 11 major incidents overnight, including a car bombing that wounded two people. A curfew was imposed across Narathiwat from 22:15 on August 22 until 06:00 on August 23.
(VII) India
Stampede in Bihar kills seven and wounds ten. On August 17, a stampede at a Hindu temple in Lakhisarai District, Bihar, northeastern India killed at least seven people and injured more than ten. Approximately 50,000 worshippers had gathered at the temple and surrounding area. Crowd surging and pushing triggered the stampede amid fears that a fallen utility pole on-site was live.
Africa
(I) Nigeria
Series of attacks kill 37 and trigger multiple abductions. Per monitoring reports from Hanwei International West Africa Security Officers, between August 15 and 17, bandits launched successive raids on Unguwar Guru Community in Kankia Local Government Area, Katsina State, killing 13 people, abducting numerous women and girls, and displacing over 3,000 residents. From midnight August 17 to early morning August 18, gunmen attacked Bimper Community in Mangu Local Government Area, Plateau State, killing at least 24 and wounding several. On August 18, a merchant was kidnapped in Gubuchi Community, Makarfi Local Government Area, Kaduna State. On August 19, 75 people were abducted and held in a cave deep within a forest in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area, northwestern Kaduna State; Kaduna State Police subsequently launched a rescue operation and freed all 75 hostages. On August 21, another abduction incident occurred in Niger State, central Nigeria, with 60 people seized. A police spokesperson stated armed assailants surrounded the site while local residents attended prayers at a mosque before abducting civilians and fleeing. The exact number of abductees and identity of attackers remain unconfirmed. Boat sinking in Sokoto State kills 53. On August 20, a wooden vessel capsized in Sokoto State, northwestern Nigeria, killing 53 people with several missing. The boat carrying over 77 passengers sank shortly after departure. Preliminary investigations attributed the sinking to “severe overloading.”
(II) South Africa
Shooting in Western Cape kills two and injures one. On August 17, a shooting incident at a farm in De Hoop, Robertson, Western Cape, South Africa left one person dead and one injured. A man opened fire on a neighbor’s vehicle and engaged in a shootout with police. The attacker was killed by officers during the exchange, and one police officer sustained injuries.
(III) Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
Ebola outbreak causes 2,476 fatalities. On August 18, latest figures released by the DRC Ministry of Health showed that as of that date, the DRC had recorded 5,208 confirmed Ebola cases including 2,476 deaths. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention stated this outbreak represents the deadliest Ebola epidemic on record in the DRC. If not rapidly contained, it risks becoming the most lethal Ebola outbreak recorded globally.
(IV) Sudan
Armed conflict continues. Between August 17 and 23, sustained clashes took place across Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. This week fighting was concentrated in North Kordofan State (central), Blue Nile State (southeast), North Darfur State and West Kordofan State (west). Both sides fought repeatedly over state capitals, transport arteries, cross-border supply routes, energy and power infrastructure, and border crossings. Statistics indicate Sudan’s armed conflict spanning more than three years has killed at least 59,000 people.
(V) Somalia
Armed clashes in South West State kill 50. On August 17, fighting erupted between Somali Federal Government troops and supporters of former South West State President Lafta Gareen in Baidoa, capital of South West State, killing at least 50 people. The Somali Ministry of Defence stated armed militias launched a vehicle-borne explosive attack on federal army positions in the early morning, followed by direct combat. Military forces killed nearly 30 armed fighters and captured several others.
(VI) Chad
Intercommunal conflict in Batha Region kills ten. On August 20, intercommunal violence erupted in Batha Region, central Chad, killing at least ten people and wounding more than ten. The incident occurred roughly 20 km east of Oum Hadjer amid a farmland dispute between communities. The Government Delegate for Batha Region has traveled to the conflict zone to restore calm and security and prevent further escalation.
(VII) Central African Republic
Gold mine collapse in Nana-Mambéré Province kills 100. On August 18, a gold mine near Zamboye Village in Nana-Mambéré Province, western Central African Republic collapsed, killing more than 100 people. With multiple miners trapped underground, the death toll is expected to rise. Rescue operations remain underway.
Europe and the Americas
(I) United States
Mid-air collision kills one and injures two. On August 19, a Pennsylvania State Police helicopter collided with a light aircraft at Carlisle Airport, United States. The pilot of the light aircraft was killed, and two personnel aboard the helicopter were injured. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.
Scene of incident
(II) Ukraine
Russia-Ukraine armed conflict ongoing.Between August 17 and 23, continuous hostilities persisted between Ukraine and Russia. The Russian Ministry of Defence recently published combat reports stating that over the past week, the Russian Armed Forces carried out large-scale strikes using land-, air- and sea-based precision weapons and long-range drones against military industrial facilities, logistics hubs and warehouses in Kyiv City and Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine. Targets also included military depots, port infrastructure and a Ukrainian Navy patrol vessel at the ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk, Yuzhne and Izmail. Air defence systems intercepted 12 guided aerial bombs, two U.S.-supplied HIMARS rockets and 3,797 fixed-wing drones. Five populated areas were seized in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. On the Ukrainian side, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed Ukrainian troops repelled Russian assaults on multiple fronts this week. The Ukrainian Air Force, missile troops and artillery struck 12 Russian troop concentrations and destroyed numerous tanks, armored vehicles and artillery systems. Attacks targeted storage, launch and control sites for offensive drones in Crimea and Kherson regions. Separately, on August 19, Kyiv, capital of Ukraine, came under attack by Russian Iskander-M, Zircon and other ballistic missiles plus hundreds of drones, causing 15 fatalities and 39 injuries. On August 21, a shopping mall in Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast was struck, killing at least 15 people and wounding 130.
Residential building targeted in the August 19 attack
(III) Russia
Drone strike kills six and injures four. On August 17, a village in Valuysky District, Belgorod Oblast, Russia was hit by a Ukrainian drone attack that killed six residents and injured four. On August 23, Orenburg City, Orenburg Oblast, Russia sustained a drone attack with no casualties; drone debris ignited a warehouse belonging to e-commerce platform Ozon.
(IV) Sweden
School attack in Fagersta kills one and injures three. On August 21, a sword attack at a school in Fagersta, central Sweden killed one person and injured at least three, including two boys under 18 in critical condition. Swedish police confirmed the incident took place at a senior high school in Fagersta. The suspect is an 18-year-old male, and the motive remains unknown.
(V) Spain
Shooting in Huelva Province kills three. On August 17, a shooting incident occurred in Isla Cristina, Huelva Province, Spain, leaving at least three dead. The Spanish Civil Guard is investigating the cause.
Scene of incident
(VI) Germany
Fan clashes in Mannheim leave 85 injured. On the evening of August 21, fan violence erupted during the first round DFB-Pokal match between SV Mannheim and 1. FC Kaiserslautern at a stadium in Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. A total of 85 people were injured, including 35 police officers. Multiple fans have been detained, and police are investigating suspected criminal offences.
Clash scene
(VII) United Kingdom
Wedding convoy attacked in Birmingham. On August 19, a wedding motorcade in Birmingham, UK was targeted with petrol bombs, igniting multiple supercars with no reported casualties. As the convoy of luxury vehicles was parked roadside, three masked men inside a vehicle across the road threw five petrol bombs at the motorcade. The suspects fled the scene, and the incident is under investigation.
Maritime Security
(I) Strait of Hormuz
Bulk carrier attack kills one crew member. On August 18, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Security Advisory No. 115 reported that Greek bulk carrier Minoan Dignity was “struck by an unidentified projectile” while exiting the Strait of Hormuz. The Chief Engineer was killed and the engine room sustained damage. Remaining crew members were rescued by the Oman Coast Guard.
(II) Gulf of Aden
Oil tanker hijacked. On August 20, UKMTO issued an advisory confirming an oil tanker had been boarded and seized by armed personnel in the Gulf of Aden with no casualties reported. While sailing west through the Gulf of Aden approximately 136 nautical miles (252 km) east of Mukalla, Yemen, the vessel broadcast a distress call via VHF radio reporting an unauthorized approaching craft. UKMTO confirmed six armed individuals boarded and took control of the tanker, which altered course toward Somalia. Relevant authorities are investigating the hijacking.
(III) Somalia
Cargo ship hijacked. On August 17, UKMTO released a notice stating a cargo vessel was boarded and hijacked by eight armed personnel four nautical miles south of Mareero, Somalia. Relevant authorities have launched an investigation.
(IV) Black Sea
Attack on Turkish merchant vessel kills one and injures eight. On August 22, Turkish-operated merchant ship Ural was struck by a drone near Novorossiysk, a Russian Black Sea port, killing one sailor and wounding eight. Separately, British media reported more than 35 merchant vessels were attacked in the Black Sea in July this year, resulting in 23 seafarer fatalities.
(V) Tunisia
Migrant vessel capsizes, killing 11 with three missing. On the night of August 21, a migrant boat sank in southeastern Tunisian waters, leaving 11 dead, three missing and two rescued. Reports state the vessel suffered engine failure en route to Italy before capsizing.
(VI) Bay of Bengal
Panamanian-flagged bulk carrier sinks with multiple crew missing. On August 22, Panamanian-flagged bulk carrier Ocean Victory sank approximately 240 nautical miles off Paradip Port, Odisha, India, in the Bay of Bengal, leaving 22 crew members missing. The vessel carried 24 seafarers: 20 Chinese nationals, three Myanmar nationals and one Bangladeshi national. The Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy have initiated search and rescue operations. Two survivors have been recovered by a merchant ship, while the rest remain unaccounted for. The root cause of the sinking has not yet been disclosed.
