Calls for defections and armed operations against government installations and property have increased in recent months. On August 6, a group of rogue soldiers assaulted a military garrison in Valencia. While two of the assailants were killed during the incident and another seven were captured…
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The attacks in Spain are notable for numerous reasons, despite seeming to fit within the general pattern of attacks types witnessed in Europe over the past year, it had the potential to be one of, if not the, deadliest, most damaging, and symbolic militant attacks by any group in Europe in years.
On August 10, North Korea released a statement detailing a planned missile test that would be operational by mid-August. Using four Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missiles, the statement threatened that it was “seriously examining the plan for an enveloping strike at Guam.” The statement also included details about the trajectory of the launch, noting that the missiles “cross the sky above Shimane, Hiroshima, and Koichi Prefectures of Japan,” fly for 3,356 kilometers over 1,065 seconds and would “hit the waters 30 to 40 km away from Guam.” This statement is part of a series of back-and-forth diplomatic provocations between the US and North Korea following Pyongyang’s recent breakthroughs in their weapons program.
The Lahore suicide bombing attack reportedly occurred at 17:30 (local time) along Ferozepur Road, in the vicinity of the Arfa Karim Tower and one kilometer away from the Punjab Province Chief Minister’s house, where he was holding a meeting at the time. At least 26 people were killed and 53 others injured, including police officers and civilians.
On July 14, three Arab-Israelis conducted a shooting attack inside the Temple Mount/al-Aqsa Compound in Jerusalem, in which they killed two Israeli Policemen and wounded a third. All three militants were subsequently shot and killed. In the aftermath of the attack, Israel closed the compound to all visitors in order to search it for additional weapons that may have been hidden on the premises. The compound was reopened by Israel on July 16 after metal detectors were placed at its entrances. Additionally, during the overnight hours of July 22-23, Israeli authorities placed closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras inside the compound as added security measures to prevent future attacks.
While attacks by Wilayat Sinai in North Sinai, particularly the triangle area between al-Arish, Rafah and Sheikh Zuweid which is the group’s main area of operation, are common, this recent attack is highly notable due to its large scale, sophistication, and reports that it resulted in heavy casualties on both sides. This is compared to the more frequent, near-daily attacks in the area that largely include small arms fire and IED have a more limited effect, and result in smaller numbers of casualties…
Over the past weeks and months, a marked uptick of asymmetric attacks perpetrated by the Islamic State (IS) has been recorded in the Diyala, Salahuddin and central Anbar Provinces. The uptick of IS attacks comes amidst persistent territorial setbacks for the Sunni jihadist militant group to pro-government forces across Iraq
On June 23, an AFP spokesperson stated that following the initial rounds of heavy fighting in Marawi that began on May 23, only Bangolo, Marinaut, Raya Madaya and Lilod remain contested. Overall, the AFP estimates that approximately 225 militants and 50 soldiers have been killed since the operation commenced, along with another 26 civilians. A brief eight-hour ceasefire between the AFP and Maute fighters occurred in Marawi on June 25, during which time delegates met to discuss the issue with the remaining hostages in the city, believed to still be numbering at around 150.
Current Situation: In recent weeks, there has been an uptick in incidents of civil unrest in Tunisia, mostly in outlying southern areas, which has resulted in service disruptions at energy projects. These events culminated in the stoppage of oil and gas production at fields in Tataouine and Kebili governorates on June 1 due to ongoing…
Security officials confirmed on June 12 that the alert level had been raised in the provinces of Krabi, Phang Nga, and Phuket due to an increased threat of militancy. As a result, security at Krabi’s international airport as well as crossings, public spaces, and government buildings across all three provinces has reportedly been bolstered. On the same day, both Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan and a Royal Thai Police spokesperson made statements downplaying the alert, stating that it was part of a normal procedure intended to protect against the general threat of militancy, and not related to any specific threat.
