WEEKLY INTERNATIONAL NEWS REVIEW – Dec.20th – Dec.26th 2025

SUDAN

DRONE STRIKE CUTS POWER ACROSS SUDAN, KILLS 3

On December 18, 2025, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched drone strikes on eastern Sudan, targeting Atbara’s Al-Muqrin power station and civilian areas. The attack killed three, including two rescue workers, and caused widespread blackouts in Port Sudan, Khartoum, and other regions. A young girl also died in a strike.

COLOMBIAN MERCENARIES IN SUDAN’S WAR

Investigations revealed that hundreds of Colombian mercenaries have fought alongside Sudan’s RSF. Recruited via WhatsApp and trained in Dubai, they transited through Libya or Somalia, where Emirati military presence was confirmed, before deploying to Darfur. At least 80 participated in the siege of El-Facher. The network, linked to retired Colombian colonel Alvaro Quijano, sanctioned by the US, is accused of human trafficking. The Emirates deny involvement, but documents and geolocated footage tie them to the operation. Colombia recently criminalized mercenary recruitment.

DRONE STRIKE KILLS 10 IN DARFUR MARKET

On December 21, 2025, a drone strike on Al-Malha market in North Darfur killed ten people, according to emergency responders. Meanwhile, Médecins Sans Frontières warned of a measles outbreak with over 1,300 cases since September, as vaccine delays leave children unprotected. In neighboring Kordofan, aid groups evacuated Kadougli, under RSF siege for 18 months, amid famine and escalating violence.

TURKEY PLEDGES MORE SUPPORT FOR SUDAN’S ARMY AMID WAR

On December 25, 2025, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Sudan’s de facto leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhane, in Ankara, vowing to strengthen cooperation in defense, trade, and agriculture. Turkey, a key backer of Sudan’s army, has supplied drones and humanitarian aid, while condemning RSF atrocities in Darfur and Kordofan.

DRC

UVIRA: M23 POLICE AND INTELLIGENCE STILL PRESENT

On December 18, 2025, despite the M23’s announced withdrawal from Uvira, South Kivu, local and security sources reported that rebel police and intelligence agents remained deployed at strategic points across the city. A civil society representative confirmed M23 elements were still at the town hall, police stations, and banks. The Congolese military accused the M23 of staging a “media stunt” and repositioning forces on hills overlooking Uvira. The Congolese government spokesperson, Patrick Muyaya, stated the withdrawal would only be valid if verified by Congolese forces retaking full control.

CLASHES NEAR UVIRA

On December 22, 2025, heavy fighting broke out between M23 rebels and pro-Kinshasa Wazalendo militias on the outskirts of Uvira, despite the M23’s claimed withdrawal. Civilians reported exchanges of fire in southern neighborhoods and near Kalundu port on Lake Tanganyika. Both the Congolese army and M23 accused each other of shelling the city. The M23’s seizure of Uvira, a strategic border city with Burundi, had triggered a humanitarian crisis, displacing over 200,000 people and forcing 80,000 to flee to Burundi, where at least 8 have died of cholera.

FORCED RECRUITMENT AND ABUSE BY ADF REBELS

Minors shared accounts of their forced recruitment by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in eastern DRC. They described months of brutal training, forced conversions to Islam, and participation in pillaging and combat. Some of them became addicted to drugs administered by rebels after a combat injury. They suffered severe beatings.

NEW CLASHES REPORTED NEAR UVIRA

On December 26, 2025, new fighting erupted around Uvira as Congolese forces bombed two M23 speedboats at Kalundu port, setting them ablaze, according to local civil society leader Martin Mafikiri Mashimango. Residents reported seeing an aircraft strike the port, while a security source confirmed drone attacks on the vessels. Overnight clashes also occurred on Kavimvira hill between Wazalendo militias and M23 fighters.

NIGERIA

ALL KIDNAPPED STUDENTS AND STAFF REUNITED WITH FAMILIES

On December 25, 2025, the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora announced that all 315 students and staff abducted from St. Mary’s Mixed Boarding School in Papiri, Niger State, in November had been accounted for and reunited with their families. Initially, 50 escaped immediately after the attack, and 100 were freed on December 7.

JOINT OPERATIONS WITH US

On December 26, 2025, Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar confirmed ongoing collaboration with the US on counterterrorism operations, following Christmas Day airstrikes in northern Nigeria. Tuggar stated that Nigeria provided intelligence for the strikes, which targeted Islamic State terrorists in Sokoto State, and that President Bola Tinubu had approved the action. The US Africa Command confirmed the strikes were conducted at Nigeria’s request.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

RUSSIAN PARAMILITARIES VOW TO “REPEL PROVOCATIONS” AHEAD OF ELECTIONS

On December 23, 2025, Alexander Ivanov, representative of Russian paramilitaries in the Central African Republic, stated that Russian forces are prepared to “repel any provocation” during the country’s general elections, though he expects the vote to proceed peacefully. Ivanov, sanctioned by the EU and US as a leader of the Wagner-linked Officers’ Union for International Security, acknowledged employing “highly experienced” Wagner veterans. Russian forces, deployed since 2017, have been pivotal in stabilizing CAR, securing lucrative mining and security contracts. President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, seeking a third term, remains the favorite. Ivanov declined to comment on the potential transition from Wagner to the Russian Defense Ministry’s “Africa Corps”.

WAGNER’S “SUCCESS STORY” BEHIND TOUADÉRA’S RE-ELECTION BID

On December 23, 2025, as Central Africans prepared for elections, a mural in Bangui depicted Russian President Vladimir Putin and Wagner mercenaries, symbolizing the group’s key role in stabilizing the country. Since 2018, Wagner, now operating as OUIS, has helped the government regain control of 90% of the territory, in exchange for mining concessions. Analysts note Wagner’s unique economic model in CAR, where they fund operations through local resource exploitation. Despite accusations of human rights abuses, Wagner’s presence is credited there with preventing civil war and securing major cities.

GUINEA

RIGHTS GROUP ACCUSES JUNTA OF KILLING 70 PROTESTERS

On December 22, 2025, the civil society collective “Tournons la page” (TLP) accused Guinea’s military junta, led by General Mamadi Doumbouya, of killing at least 70 people during protests, between 2022 and 2025. The report, released days before the December 27 presidential election, also documents arbitrary arrests, forced disappearances, torture, and a systematic crackdown on dissent. Protests have been banned since 2022. The junta, in power since a 2021 coup, faces criticism for failing to conduct independent investigations into the killings. Prominent civil society figures Oumar Sylla and Mamadou Billo Bah have been missing since their July 2024 abductions. The election, meant to restore constitutional order, is widely seen as lacking credible opposition.

LEBANON

ISRAELI STRIKES KILL ONE, INJURE ANOTHER IN THE SOUTH

On December 21, 2025, Israeli airstrikes in Yater, 5 km from the Israeli border, killed one person and wounded another, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. The Israeli military stated it targeted Hezbollah members in the area. Earlier, Lebanese troops dismantled an Israeli spy device in Yaroun. Despite a November 27, 2024 ceasefire, Israel maintains five border positions and regularly strikes Lebanon, claiming Hezbollah rearmament. Over 340 Lebanese have been killed by Israeli fire since the truce.

ITALY PLANS TO KEEP MILITARY PRESENCE AFTER PEACEKEEPERS’ DEPARTURE

On December 22, 2025, Italy’s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto announced Italy would maintain a military presence in Lebanon after the UN peacekeeping force (UNIFIL) withdraws starting December 31, 2026. Italy, the second-largest UNIFIL contributor with 1,099 troops, aims to support regional stability and the Lebanese Armed Forces.

ISRAELI DRONE STRIKE KILLS 3 NEAR SAIDA

On December 22, 2025, an Israeli drone strike killed three people in a vehicle near Saida, southern Lebanon. The Lebanese state news agency reported the incident, while Israel claimed it targeted Hezbollah members.

FORMER LEBANESE GENERAL DISAPPEARS

On December 23, 2025, retired Lebanese officer General Ahmad Shoukr vanished, possibly abducted or killed by Israeli agents. Investigators suspect he was lured by two Swedish nationals. Ahmad is the brother of Hassan Shoukr, a militant involved in the 1986 capture of Israeli pilot Ron Arad, whose fate remains unresolved. The case has long been a national concern in Israel.

FORMER SYRIAN INTELLIGENCE OFFICER KILLED

On December 23, 2025, Ghassan al-Soukhni, a former Syrian intelligence officer linked to Bachar al-Assad’s regime, was killed in northern Beirut. Lebanese authorities arrested a suspect, citing a financial dispute as the motive. Al-Soukhni, close to Syrian special forces commander Souheil al-Hassan, had fled Syria after Assad’s fall in December 2024. The case highlights the presence of former Syrian regime figures in Lebanon.

ISRAELI STRIKES KILL 3  

On December 25, 2025, Israeli strikes killed three people in Lebanon: two in Hawsh al-Sayyed Ali (North) and one in Majdal Selm (South). Israel claimed it killed Hussein Mahmoud Marchad al-Jawhari, a Qods Force operative planning attacks from Syria and Lebanon, and a Hezbollah member.

PALESTINE

ISRAEL BANS 14 NGOS FROM GAZA

On December 18, 2025, Israel announced that 14 international NGOs, including Save the Children and American Friends Service Committee, were banned from operating in Gaza and the West Bank. The government stated that 14 registration requests were rejected by late November, claiming Israel “encourages humanitarian action” but will not allow “hostile actors” or “support for terrorism.” The UN and NGOs condemned the process as “vague, arbitrary, and highly politicized,” warning of a collapse in aid operations. Critics say the new rules aim to silence reporting on Gaza’s conditions.

ISRAELI STRIKE KILLS 6 AT GAZA SCHOOL

On December 19, 2025, an Israeli airstrike hit the Martyrs School in Gaza’s Tuffah neighborhood, killing six civilians, including a four-month-old baby, a 14-year-old girl, and two women, as well as leaving two missing under rubble. The school served as a shelter for displaced families. The Israeli military claimed it targeted “suspects” during operations near the “Yellow Line” and expressed regret for any harm to non-combatants. Mahmoud Bassal of Gaza’s Civil Defense and Mohammed Abou Salmiya of al-Shifa Hospital confirmed the casualties. Survivors and witnesses, including Abdallah al-Nader, described the attack as unprovoked. Hamas called it a “flagrant violation” of the October 10 ceasefire.

ISRAELI FORCES KILL 2 PALESTINIANS IN WEST BANK

On December 20, 2025, Israeli forces shot dead two Palestinians in separate incidents in the northern West Bank. In Qabatiya, south of Jenin, a 16-year-old died after allegedly throwing a stone at soldiers. In Silat al-Harithiya, West of Jenin, a 22-year-old was killed for reportedly throwing explosive. The Palestinian Health Ministry and Wafa news agency identified the victims. The Israeli military confirmed both were “neutralized” during operations. No Israeli injuries were reported.

ISRAEL APPROVES 19 NEW SETTLEMENTS

On December 21, 2025, Israel’s security cabinet approved 19 new settlements in the West Bank, bringing the total to 69 in three years. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defense Minister Israel Katz stated the move aims to “block a terrorist Palestinian State.” Five are existing outposts; two, Ganim and Kadim, will be reestablished after being dismantled 20 years ago. The UN recently reported record settlement growth in 2025, condemning it as a threat to Palestinian statehood. Over 500,000 Israelis now live in West Bank settlements, illegal under international law.

ISRAELI COURT SETS DEADLINE FOR MEDIA ACCESS TO GAZA

On December 21, 2025, Israel’s Supreme Court gave the government until January 4, 2026, to respond to a petition by the Foreign Press Association (FPA) demanding independent media access to Gaza. Since October 2023, Israel has restricted foreign journalists to embedded reporting with its troops. The FPA, representing hundreds of international media, welcomed the court’s ultimatum after two years of delays.

ISRAEL DEMOLISHES PALESTINIAN HOMES IN EAST JERUSALEM

On December 22, 2025, Israeli bulldozers demolished a four-story building housing about 100 Palestinians in Silwan, East Jerusalem, citing lack of permits. Residents, including Eid Shawar and his five children, were evicted with only minutes to gather belongings. NGOs called it the largest demolition of 2025 and part of a “systematic policy of forced displacement.” The Palestinian Governate condemned the move as an attempt to “empty Jerusalem of its original inhabitants.” Israel has demolished over 100 Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem this year.

CIVILIANS UNDER FIRE NEAR “YELLOW LINE”

On December 22, 2025, Israeli airstrikes and artillery continued to hit areas east of Khan Younis, within the Israeli-controlled side of the demarcation “Yellow Line” dividing Gaza. Civilians like Oum Ahmed and her children, living in tents near destroyed homes, reported relentless bombardment. The Israeli military accused Hamas of crossing the line for “terrorist activities” and claimed operations were to counter “direct threats.” Khan Younis mayor Alaa al-Batta and residents said the strikes aim to “force displacement” westward. Since October 10 ceasfire, at least 401 Palestiniens have died in Gaza.

ISRAEL PROBES TEEN’S DEATH IN WEST BANK, VIDEO CONTRADICTS MILITARY CLAIM

On December 23, 2025, Israel’s military opened an investigation into the killing of 16-year-old Rayan Abou Moualla in Qabatiya, West Bank. The army initially claimed he rocks at soldiers, but a video showed him walking unarmed before being shot. His father, Mohamed Abdel Qader Abou Moualla, said his son was buying supplies and carried nothing unlawful. The Palestinian Red Crescent accused Israel of blocking medics. Since October 7, 2023, over 1,000 Palestinians and 44 Israelis have died in West Bank violence.

ISRAELI DEFENSE MINISTER VOWS PERMANENT GAZA PRESENCE

On December 23, 2025, Defense Minister Israel Katz declared Israel would “never leave Gaza,” suggesting military outposts in the North. His office later clarified there was “no intention to establish settlements”. Opposition leader Gadi Eizenkot criticized the government’s mixed signals.

ISRAEL REJECTS 14 COUNTRIES’ CALL TO HALT SETTLEMENT EXPANSION

On December 25, 2025, Israel dismissed a joint appeal from 14 countries, including France, the UK, Canada, and Japan, to stop West Bank settlement expansion. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the request “morally reprehensible,” insisting Israel would not restrict Jews’ right to live in “the Land of Israel.”

ISRAELI SETTLERS ATTACK PALESTINIAN HOME, INJURE INFANT

On December 25, 2025, five Israeli settlers were arrested for attacking a Palestinian home in Sa’ir, near Hebron, injuring an eight-month-old baby. Police said settlers threw stones at the house. In a separate incident, a reservist soldier on a quad bike rammed a praying Palestinian man in Deir Jarir, near Ramallah. The soldier, armed and in civilian clothes, was stripped of his weapon and reservist status. The victim’s father said the attacker is a known settler who provokes locals.

GAZA HOSPITAL SUSPENDS SERVICES DUE TO SHORTAGE

On December 26, 2025, al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat, central Gaza, suspended most services due to fuel shortages, maintaining only emergency, maternity, and pediatric care. Ahmed Mehanna of the al-Awda Health Association said the hospital, which treats 1,000 patients daily, needs 1,000–1,200 liters of diesel but has only 800 liters left. The ceasefire has failed to resolve Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, with only 100–300 aid trucks entering daily, below the agreed 600.

SYRIA

3 KILLED IN CLASHES BETWEEN SECURITY FORCES AND ALAWITE LOYALISTS

On December 24, 2025, three members of Syria’s former regime were killed in clashes with security forces on the outskirts of Jableh, Latakia province. State TV reported the incident, while the official SANA news agency mentioned confrontations with “outlaws” linked to the ousted Assad regime. The Alawite-majority coastal region, Assad’s stronghold, has seen frequent security operations against regime remnants. In March, over 1,700 Alawites were killed in sectarian massacres, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).

BOMBING AT ALAWITE MOSQUE IN HOMS KILLS 8

On December 26, 2025, an explosion at the Ali Ben Abi Taleb mosque in Homs’ Wadi al-Dahab district killed eight people and wounded 18 during prayers. The Syrian Interior Ministry blamed explosive devices planted inside the mosque. Saraya Ansar al-Sunna, a Sunni extremist group, claimed responsibility on Telegram, vowing further attacks against “infidels and apostates.” The same group claimed a June suicide bombing at a Damascus church that killed 25. The attack is the latest in a series targeting Syria’s Alawite minority since Islamist groups took power a year ago.

EASTERN EUROPE

RUSSIAN STRIKES IGNITE MASSIVE FIRE AT UKRAINE’S OIL TERMINAL

On December 20, 2025, Russian strikes on Odessa region caused a major fire at Ukraine’s largest vegetable oil terminal, killing 1 employee and injuring 2 others. The attack, part of Moscow’s intensified campaign against Odessa’s port and energy infrastructure, destroyed hundreds of tons of sunflower oil and marked the fifth and most destructive strike on the Allseeds terminal since Russia’s invasion in 2022.

UKRAINE REPORTS RUSSIAN INCURSION AND CIVILIAN DEPORTATIONS NEAR SUMY

On December 21, 2025, Ukrainian forces clashed with Russian troops in Grabovske village, Sumy region, as Russia attempted a border breakthrough. Ukraine’s military claimed to repel the attack, denying Russian presence in nearby Riasne. Human rights ombudsman Dmytro Loubinets accused Russia of forcibly deporting about 50 civilians from Grabovske to Russia, arrested on December 18 and transferred on December 20. Regional head Oleg Grygorov urged evacuations as Russia claimed capture of nearby Vyssoke.

ODESSA HIT AGAIN

On December 22, 2025, Russian strikes damaged energy and maritime infrastructure in Odessa region, injuring 1 person and cutting power to over 120,000 households. Governor Oleg Kiper reported hits on industrial sites and an agricultural warehouse. Reconstruction Minister Oleksiï Kouleba said Russia aims to destroy maritime logistics. The strikes followed Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian-linked tankers in the Black and Mediterranean Seas.

RUSSIAN STRIKES KILL 2, CAUSE BLACKOUTS

On December 23, 2025, Russian drone and missile strikes killed 2 people, 1 in Kiev region, 1 in Khmelnytsky, and injured over 10, including children across 13 regions. Zelensky reported 650 drones and 30 missiles launched, causing emergency power cuts. Poland’s air force was put on alert due to strikes near its border. Zelensky awaited results from US-brokered talks in Florida, where negotiators worked on security guarantees for Ukraine.

UKRAINE WITHDRAWS FROM SIVERSK AMID RUSSIAN ADVANCE

On December 23, 2025, Ukraine’s military announced its withdrawal from Siversk, Donetsk region, citing Russian numerical and equipment superiority. The Russian army had claimed Siversk’s capture, advancing towards key cities Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. Siversk, once home to 11,000, is now largely destroyed. Russia has accelerated its offensive, recently capturing the logistical hub of Pokrovsk.

US PROPOSES FRONTLINE FREEZE

On December 24, 2025, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced a revised US peace plan that no longer requires Ukraine to withdraw from Donetsk or renounce NATO membership, two key Russian demands. The 20-point plan proposes freezing the frontline and creating demilitarized zones. Zelensky said no consensus was reached on Donetsk or the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which the US suggests managing jointly with Russia. The Kremlin’s Dmitri Peskov said Moscow is “formulating its position.” Zelensky also pledged to hold presidential elections “as soon as possible” after any deal.

COLOMBIAN MERCENARY SENTENCED IN RUSSIAN-OCCUPIED UKRAINE

On December 24, 2025, a Russian court in occupied Donetsk sentenced Colombian national Oscar Mauricio Blanco Lopez to 19 years in prison for “mercenary activities” after he fought for Ukraine. The Russian Prosecutor General’s Office said Blanco, 42, signed a contract with the Ukrainian army in May 2024 and was captured in December 2024. Russia systematically prosecutes foreign fighters as mercenaries.

MYANMAR

JUNTA USES VIOLENCE TO FORCE VOTER PARTICIPATION

On December 23, 2025, the UN condemned Myanmar’s military junta for using “brutal violence” and intimidation to coerce citizens into voting in upcoming elections, while armed opposition groups employ similar tactics to deter participation. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk stated that authorities are arresting dissenters and imposing “extremely severe sentences,” citing three youths in Hlainghaya, Yangon, jailed for 42 to 49 years for posting anti-election posters. Türk also reported threats against displaced persons in Mandalay, warning of attacks or property seizures if they fail to return and vote. Opposition armed groups have abducted election workers and bombed administrative offices in Hlegu and Okkalapa North. The elections, starting December 28, are widely seen as a junta attempt to legitimize its rule after the 2021 coup.

ELECTIONS TO CONCLUDE ON JANUARY 25 AMID SKEPTICISM

On December 25, 2025, Myanmar’s junta announced the third and final phase of its tightly controlled elections will take place on January 25, 2026, following votes on December 28 and January 11. The Union Election Commission, controlled by the military, stated that 63 of 330 townships will participate in the final phase. International observers and the UN have dismissed the elections as a junta ploy to improve its image, noting the absence of Aung San Suu Kyi’s dissolved party and the ongoing civil war. Critics argue the process is rigged, with only pro-military candidates allowed and harsh laws punishing dissent.

ROHINGYA REFUGEES DENOUNCE ELECTIONS AS MEANINGLESS

On December 26, 2025, Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar camps rejected Myanmar’s military-organized elections as irrelevant, citing their statelessness and ongoing persecution. Kabir Ahmed, 51, former mayor of a Rohingya town in Maungdaw, asked, “Who will vote, and why?” after the 2017 military crackdown forced 1.17 million Rohingyas into exile.

INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE & INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

BURUNDI: UN ACCUSES GOVERNMENT OF RETALIATION AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYERS

On December 23, 2025, the UN Committee against Torture formally concluded that Burundi had retaliated against four lawyers, Armel Niyongere, Lambert Nigarura, Dieudonné Bashirahishize, and Vital Nshimirimana, for cooperating with the UN in 2016. The lawyers had contributed to a critical civil society report and publicly condemned the violent repression of 2015 protests against President Pierre Nkurunziza’s controversial third-term bid. Three were disbarred, one suspended, and all four had their assets seized in 2019. The UN committee called on Burundi to immediately lift professional bans, restore their property, and provide full reparations. The lawyers fled into exile after the crackdown.

RUSSIA’S AFRICA CORPS DELIVERS WEAPONS TO MADAGASCAR

On December 23, 2025, Lieutenant General Andrei Averianov, deputy head of Russian military intelligence and leader of the Africa Corps, met with Madagascar’s de facto leader, Colonel Michaël Randrianirina, in Antananarivo. According to National Assembly President Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, a Russian delegation of about 40 military personnel arrived with drones, handguns, and AK assault rifles, handed over to Randrianirina’s government. Russia’s Africa Corps, successor to Wagner, is known to operate in several African countries, including Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Equatorial Guinea.

BELGIUM JOINS SOUTH AFRICA’S ICJ CASE AGAINST ISRAEL

On December 23, 2025, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) announced Belgium’s decision to join South Africa’s case accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza. Belgium’s intervention does not signal support for either side but aims to provide its interpretation of international law. The ICJ had previously issued binding provisional measures in January 2024, ordering Israel to prevent genocidal acts and ensure humanitarian access.