Hanwei International Security Weekly ( April 13 -19 , 2026)

Based on security risk assessments, the security levels of various regions are shown on the global risk map. Afghanistan, Syria, Myanmar, Pakistan, Nigeria, Sudan, Ukraine, Palestine, Venezuela and other regions are classified as extreme high-risk areas. During this period, security incidents such as armed conflicts and terrorist attacks occur frequently in these regions. Chinese-funded enterprises stationed overseas shall enhance their own security precautions.

Transitional government takes over US military bases.

On April 16, forces of the Syrian Transitional Government took control of the Kasrak Military Base in Hasakah Governorate, northeastern Syria. Prior to this, it had taken over the Shaddadi Military Base, Rumaylan Military Base in Hasakah Governorate, and the Al-Tanf Military Base in southern Syria. With this, the Syrian Transitional Government has taken over all US military bases in Syria.

Kurdish region hit by drone attack.

On April 15, a camp belonging to the Kurdish opposition group (Komala) in Sulaymaniyah Governorate, northern Iraq, was attacked by two drones, triggering explosions. Casualties remain unknown. No organization has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.

Temporary ceasefire with the US and Israel continues.From April 13 to 19, the 10-day temporary ceasefire agreement between Iran, the United States and Israel remained in effect. The two sides held the first round of talks in Pakistan with no results yet. During this period, the parties clashed over navigation issues in the Strait of Hormuz.

On April 15, the US Central Command announced that it had imposed a blockade on all maritime traffic to and from Iranian ports starting April 13. On April 19, the USS Spruance, a US guided-missile destroyer, intercepted an Iranian cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman, struck the ship’s engine room and forced it to stop. US Marines subsequently took control of the vessel.

In response, the Iranian military accused the United States of flagrantly violating the ceasefire agreement. Iranian Navy Commander Shahram Irani stated that the US maritime blockade against Iran is essentially “piracy.” Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said Iran would control passage through the Strait of Hormuz until the war ends completely.

Casualties:

Police officers killed in attack in Sistan and Baluchestan Province.

On April 16, patrol police officers conducting a rescue mission were ambushed in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, southeastern Iran, leaving three dead.

Israeli strikes kill 72,300 in Gaza.From April 13 to 19, Israel continued launching attacks on multiple areas of the Gaza Strip, causing heavy casualties. On April 14, Israeli strikes hit Gaza City, Jabalia city and the Shati Refugee Camp in Gaza City, killing at least 10 people and injuring 9 others.

According to data released by the Gaza Health Ministry on April 17, Israeli operations in the Gaza Strip have killed 765 people and injured 2,140 since the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement took effect in October 2025. Since the outbreak of the large-scale new round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict on October 7, 2023, Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip have killed 72,344 people and injured 172,242 others.

Israeli forces injured in attacks.

On April 13, northern Israel was targeted by five rockets. Israel’s air defense system intercepted the projectiles, with falling debris injuring one person. On April 14, Israeli forces came under gunfire in central Gaza, wounding one soldier.

Continuous Israeli strikes cause heavy casualties.From April 13 to 17, Israel carried out sustained strikes on multiple regions of Lebanon, resulting in massive casualties. The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health announced on April 17 that Israeli strikes and air raids in Lebanon between March 2 and April 17 had killed 2,294 people and injured 7,544 others.

On April 16, Lebanon and Israel announced a 10-day temporary ceasefire starting at 17:00 on the same day. However, on the second day of the ceasefire, Israeli forces attacked a motorcycle and a car on the road between the towns of Quneit and Beit Yahoun in southern Lebanon, killing one person and injuring three. On April 17, the Lebanese military issued a statement noting violations of the current ceasefire, recording multiple Israeli attacks and intermittent shelling in some villages.

UNIFIL peacekeepers attacked, 1 killed and 3 injured.

On April 18, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) stated that a peacekeeping patrol was ambushed in southern Lebanon, killing one French peacekeeper and injuring three others, two of them seriously. UNIFIL condemned the deliberate attack on peacekeepers and urged the Lebanese government to investigate the perpetrators and hold them accountable.

School shooting kills 10 in Kahramanmaraş.

On April 15, a shooting occurred at Ece Çalık Middle School in Kahramanmaraş Province, Türkiye, killing 9 people and injuring 13. The attacker was an 8th-grade student at the school who entered two classrooms with five guns and seven magazines and opened fire, before committing suicide.

Floods kill 93.

On April 18, a report by the United Nations Population Fund showed that recent floods in Afghanistan have affected more than 73,000 people. Over the past 12 days, the floods have killed 93 people, injured 181, destroyed thousands of houses, and damaged farmland and roads.

Multiple attacks kill 7, injure 8.On April 13, a Pakistani military convoy was ambushed by the Baloch Liberation Army in the Ahori area of Awaran, killing 5 and injuring 4. On the same day, a police officer was abducted and killed by unidentified assailants about 40 kilometers south of Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.

On April 14, an armed attack targeting security personnel guarding polio vaccination teams occurred in Hangu District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, northwestern Pakistan, killing one person and injuring four. Police shot and killed two attackers during the exchange, while others fled. No group has claimed responsibility.

Taliban artillery fire kills 3 in Pakistan.

On April 15, Kitkot village in Bajaur District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan, was shelled by the Afghan Taliban, killing three people including two children and injuring three others. Pakistani forces immediately returned fire, destroying enemy artillery positions and related outposts.

Gang clash kills 1 in Dhaka.On April 13, media reported that a turf war between the “Alex Gang” and the “Arman-Sharuk Gang” broke out on April 12 in the Mohammadpur area of Dhaka, Bangladesh, leaving one dead and several injured.

Kidnapping in Parañaque.

On April 14, a Filipino businessman was kidnapped in Parañaque City, Metro Manila, on his way home, with a ransom of 50 million Philippine pesos (approximately 833,400 US dollars) demanded. During a police rescue operation, a shootout with the criminal gang occurred, resulting in four suspects being killed, the hostage rescued, and one police officer wounded.

Chinese Embassy in Japan issues security alert.On April 17, the Chinese Embassy in Japan issued a security alert noting a continued deterioration of public security in Japan, with frequent criminal cases targeting Chinese citizens. Incidents include a current member of the Japan Self-Defense Forces breaking into the Chinese Embassy in Japan with a knife; right-wing elements openly harassing Chinese citizens watching a marathon; Chinese students being targeted by “crash gangs” on the streets of Tokyo; and a Hong Kong tourist being assaulted at a restaurant in Hokkaido.

Car ramming kills 1, injures 1 in Melbourne.

On April 18, a car rammed into a crowd outside the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in Australia, killing one person and critically injuring another. The vehicle drove onto the sidewalk and struck two young people. The driver has been arrested by police, and relevant investigations are underway.

Shooting kills 3 in Kota Tinggi.On April 19, a shooting occurred at a restaurant in Kota Tinggi, Johor State, Malaysia, leaving three dead. The suspect has been arrested, and the case is under further investigation.

Multiple attacks kill 12, abduct 28.According to monitoring reports by HW International’s West Africa Security Officer:

Security Alert 1:On April 17, per HW International’s West Africa Security Officer, the security situation in central Nigeria has tightened, with elevated risks in the capital Abuja, Niger State and surrounding areas. Armed militants may target transportation hubs, public facilities and key sites for sabotage. Chinese-funded enterprises and individuals are advised to stay vigilant, strictly implement security precautions, strengthen on-duty arrangements and access control, reduce non-essential travel, avoid crowded and sensitive areas, ensure smooth communication and effective operation of emergency response mechanisms, and effectively protect personnel and assets.

Security Alert 2:

On April 18, per HW International’s West Africa Security Officer, anti-government armed groups in Nigeria plan to launch attacks in Anambra, Imo, Abia, Rivers and Akwa Ibom States in the near future. Enterprises and personnel in these regions are urged to enhance security awareness, strengthen precautions, avoid non-essential travel, stay away from crowded and sensitive areas, and maintain unobstructed communication.

Bomb attack kills 2, injures several in Blida.

On April 13, a suicide bombing occurred in Blida City, Blida Province, Algeria, killing two people and injuring several others including a police officer. Two suicide bombers strapped with explosives attempted to approach the central police facility and nearby sports venues in Blida before being stopped by security personnel. They then detonated their explosives near the targets, wounding one police officer and several nearby civilians. No organization or individual has claimed responsibility.

Chinese personnel robbed in Kolwezi.On April 17, a timber factory camp operated by Chinese personnel in the Musompo area of Kolwezi, the capital of Lualaba Province, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), was robbed by multiple gunmen. One Chinese citizen and one Congolese security guard were injured. Approximately 20,000 US dollars in cash and more than a dozen electronic devices were stolen.

Chinese Embassy in the DRC issues security alert.

On April 14, the Chinese Embassy in the DRC issued a security alert noting multiple cases of armed road robberies and home burglaries in Kolwezi, Lubumbashi, Likasi and other areas recently, causing substantial property losses and some injuries. Chinese citizens in the DRC are advised to strengthen security precautions, reduce unnecessary travel, and ensure personal and property safety.

Attack kills 1, injures several in Cabo Delgado.

On April 13, armed militants attacked Nkoe Village in Macomia District, Cabo Delgado Province, Mozambique, leaving one dead and several injured.

Armed conflict continues.From April 13 to 19, clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces persisted across Sudan. Heavy fighting occurred this week in North Darfur, Kordofan, Blue Nile State and other regions, with both sides fighting repeatedly for core areas, causing massive civilian casualties and property losses.

Team bus robbery kills 1.On April 12, the bus carrying a Ghanaian football team was robbed by armed men, killing one player. The team of Berekum Chelsea Football Club was returning after a Ghana Premier League match when it was held up by six gunmen. There were 30 players and staff on board; all were safe except one who died from serious injuries.

Three shootings kill 9, injure 3.

Russia-Ukraine armed conflict continues.From April 13 to 19, Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine continued. The Russian Ministry of Defense recently released a battle report stating that over the past week, Russian forces had launched large-scale strikes on Ukraine’s defense industrial facilities and energy infrastructure using land-, air- and sea-based long-range precision weapons and attack drones. Russian forces also struck 154 targets including Ukrainian container terminals, armored equipment parking areas, ground robot system test sites, and temporary deployment sites of Ukrainian armed forces and foreign mercenaries.

Russian air defense systems shot down 9 guided aerial bombs and 2,700 fixed-wing drones. Russian forces gained control of two settlements in Kharkiv Oblast.

On the Ukrainian side, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated that hundreds of battles took place on the front lines this week, with Ukrainian forces repelling Russian attacks and launching multiple offensives in several directions, targeting Russian troop and equipment concentrations, drone control points, command posts and other facilities. Ukrainian forces continued long-range drone strikes against targets inside Russia and Crimea.

Shooting in Kyiv kills 6, injures 10.

On April 18, a shooting occurred at a supermarket in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, killing 5 people and injuring 10. The gunman, born in Moscow and holding Ukrainian citizenship, was shot dead by police. Ukrainian security services have classified the incident as a terrorist attack, with investigations ongoing.

Tuapse attacked, 2 dead and 2 injured.On April 16, Tuapse in Krasnodar Krai, Russia, was hit by a large-scale drone attack from Ukraine, killing two people, injuring two others, and damaging five residential buildings and one apartment building.

Traffic accident kills 2 Chinese citizens, injures 10 in Transbaikal.

On April 18, a bus overturned at the 417-kilometer mark of the Chita–Zabaykalsk highway in the Transbaikal Krai, Russian Far East, killing two Chinese citizens and injuring at least ten others. The bus was carrying 44 Chinese citizens traveling from Manzhouli, China, to Chita, Russia. The investigative authorities of the Investigative Committee of Russia in the Transbaikal Krai have opened a criminal case into the accident.

Shooting kills 1 in Villefranche.

On April 13, a shooting occurred at a shopping mall in Villefranche, eastern France, killing a minor. Two suspects have been arrested, and police are investigating the incident.

Two attacks kill 9, injure 1.

Explosion kills 1, injures 4 in Völklingen.

On April 18, an explosion occurred in an underground pedestrian passage in Völklingen, Saarland, southwestern Germany, killing one person and seriously injuring four. The type of explosive is unknown, and it is unclear whether the incident is criminal or accidental.

Shooting kills 5 in Guayaquil.

On April 18, an attack occurred in a commercial district in southern Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city, killing five people including a 7-year-old child. Several armed men arrived at the scene in a white car in the afternoon, opened fire on the crowd, and fled. Police have launched an investigation.

US strikes kill 7.From April 13 to 15, the US military conducted three consecutive days of military strikes against so-called “drug-running vessels” in the Eastern Pacific, killing a total of seven people.

Multiple vessels attacked.On April 18, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued a notice receiving multiple reports of vessel attacks near the Strait of Hormuz.

Refugee boat capsizes, 250 missing.

On April 15, the UNHCR and IOM offices in Bangladesh issued a joint statement saying a refugee boat capsized in the Andaman Sea, leaving around 250 people missing. The trawler departed southern Bangladesh and sank en route to Malaysia due to “strong winds, high waves and overcrowding.”

Tanker attacked.On April 16, a Liberian-flagged oil tanker was attacked by a Ukrainian drone in Russia’s Black Sea territorial waters, injuring the Turkish captain.