Weekly Global Security Report By Intelligence Fusion

Friday 15th April 2022

A rundown of the global security landscape, highlighting key incidents that have taken place in each region in the last seven days;

MIDDLE EAST & ASIA

Israel and Palestine

Multiple casualties have been reported during a series of shootouts between Israeli forces and the gunmen from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group (PIJ) in the West Bank city of Jenin this week. The clashes are part of an ongoing escalation in Israeli military operations across the West Bank following a series of stabbing and shooting attacks in Israeli cities.

Elsewhere in the West Bank, Israeli military operations have increased with counterprotests also intensifying, leading to frequent clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli personnel. Going forwards, additional clashes are expected in towns and cities across the West Bank this week, particularly in the cities of Ramallah, Bethlehem, Nablus and Jenin. Shooting and stabbing attacks similar to those seen in Tel Aviv and Ashkelon are also possible, despite increased deployment of security forces personnel and recent crack downs.

At the time of writing, major incidents such as protests or armed clashes have not been recorded along the border between Gaza and Israel, though groups in Gaza such as the PIJ have threatened to carry out operations in Gaza if Israeli operations continue in Jenin.

NORTH AMERICA

Canada

Activists of Save Old Growth have continued their second week of their campaign to demand the government end all old growth logging in British Columbia. The activists see old growth as necessary to absorb carbon, hold soil and reduce the severity of floods and landslides among other benefits. Activists have spent the week blocking the Trans-Canada Highway among other transport links. Tactics have included sitting across the road, including locking oneself to a barrel full of concrete at the height of rush hour traffic. Activists have also disrupted a dinner hosted by Al Gore during the TED Global Conference at the Vancouver Club. Several arrests have been made during the protest campaign.

Environmental activism across North America and Western Europe has increased, with groups like Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil undertaking mass mobilisation activities in the United Kingdom, causing significant disruption and a fuel shortage in the southeast of the country due to the disruption at fuel depots. Other protests by Extinction Rebellion have been recorded in the Netherlands and Finland. Environmental activists continuously cause significant disruption to amplify their message through media coverage. This disruption includes blocking transport links or targeting businesses contributing to climate change both directly and indirectly. Businesses should remain alert to such protests groups in order to mitigate the threats to their assets and people.

EUROPE

United Kingdom

The past seven days have seen multiple protests across London with several more planned protests scheduled. The Ukraine war, border security efforts, environmental activism, Israel/Palestine, rising costs of living along with the recent fines issued against Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak are some of the issues being addressed by protestors across the city.

Locations have included 10 Downing Street, Parliament Square, the Russian Embassy, St Paul’s Cathedral and various government buildings. Previous incidents have drawn large crowds which have required a large police presence and caused traffic delays due to roads becoming closed off to vehicle traffic.

With all these issues featuring in public discussion at the moment, the likelihood of protests across London at any given time has increased. For any movement, travel or operations in the city, it will be necessary to keep in mind the locations of major landmarks/spaces, embassies and government buildings in order to anticipate and mitigate any travel delays that protests cause.

AFRICA

South Africa

At least 306 people have been killed after the heaviest rains in over 60 years caused flooding and landslides in the Kwa-Zulu Natal Province. The storm has left thousands destitute, especially those living in shacks and RDP homes, and left key rail/road routes — including the key N3 road — and businesses flooded. This led Transnet to temporarily suspend shipping at its Durban terminals on the evening of the 12th April due to access to terminals affected.

Telecommunications, water and electricity supply were also affected with water pumps unable to operate with electrical substations destroyed or submerged. Although recovery efforts are well underway, more rainfall is forecast over the weekend so disruption can be expected to continue. In response to the flooding, some have called for better technical/non-technical climate change adaptation measures to be put in place and for the country to reduce dependency on fossil fuels.

The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) has previously warned of more frequent and intense weather events due to rising temperatures. The south-eastern Africa region has been hit by five tropical storms over consecutive weeks since January 2022 and more are expected in the coming months.

SOUTH AMERICA

Colombia

This week, four soldiers of the Colombian Army were killed in an ambush in the department of Meta. The Rapid Deployment Force was targeted with explosive devices and gunfire in the municipality of Uribe while conducting a planned security operation. A fifth soldier was wounded. The attack is believed to have been conducted by FARC dissidents under the command of alias Gentil Duarte. Authorities have confirmed that security operations will continue in the area to locate those who are responsible for the attack.

Colombia has continued to see significant activity by illegal armed groups. In addition to the ambush, other incidents have been recorded including clashes between the ELN and the Clan del Golfo in the Dept. of Valle del Cauca, an attack on soldiers in the Dept. of Antioquia that left three dead, and an explosive device was thrown at a police station in the Dept. of Cauca. Presidential elections in the country are planned for the 29th May, and the security landscape will play a factor.

Source: https://www.intelligencefusion.co.uk/