THE FRONTLINE REPORT

It's Tuesday, November 25th. November 24, 2025 saw Russian drones kill seven across Ukraine as Moscow targeted Kharkiv and energy infrastructure, while Ukrainian forces struck back at Russian territory, killing three in Rostov region. In Pakistan, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar suicide bombers attacked the Federal Constabulary headquarters in Peshawar, killing six. Israeli operations continued in Gaza despite the October ceasefire, with at least four Palestinians killed in drone strikes and unexploded ordnance incidents. In Lebanon, Hezbollah held funeral processions for its chief of staff, killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs the previous day—the first strike on the Lebanese capital since June. Sudan's Army chief Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan rejected a US-led ceasefire proposal as "the worst yet," while the rival Rapid Support Forces announced a unilateral three-month humanitarian truce. NATO launched "Freezing Winds 25" maritime exercises in the Baltic Sea with 20 allied ships and 5,000 troops.

• IDF drone strike killed one Palestinian man in Bani Suheila, southern Gaza, for allegedly crossing the "yellow line" demarcation
• Unexploded ordnance left by Israeli forces killed one Palestinian child and wounded several others in Gaza City's northern districts
• Artillery and helicopter strikes targeted areas northeast of Rafah and outskirts of Khan Younis despite ceasefire in effect since October 10
• IDF conducted raids across Jenin, Nablus, Ramallah, and al-Khalil in the occupied West Bank, arresting at least 16 Palestinians overnight
• Israeli settlers blocked Palestinian farmers from accessing lands near Beit Furik, east of Nablus; one Palestinian youth injured
• Israeli military convoy of five vehicles advanced into Quneitra Province, Syria, establishing checkpoint restricting civilian movement
• Syrian authorities extended curfew across Homs following sectarian violence sparked by weekend killings of married couple
• Syrian General Security Service conducted counter-ISIS raid in Kafr Janneh, Aleppo Province—first such operation since Syria joined Global Coalition
• IRGC Ground Forces dismantled Ansar al-Furqan terror cell in Sistan and Baluchistan Province, seizing two suicide vests
• Hezbollah held funeral for chief of staff Haytham Ali Tabatabai, killed November 23 in Israeli strike on Beirut's Haret Hreik suburb
• Sudan's Gen. al-Burhan rejected US-led Quad ceasefire proposal, accusing UAE of bias and proposal of "eliminating" armed forces
• RSF announced unilateral three-month humanitarian truce hours after SAF rejection of peace proposal
• UN Security Council convened to discuss Gaza, West Bank, and Lebanon situations; ambassadors urged ceasefire compliance

Gaza ceasefire enters seventh week amid continued military operations

The October 10 ceasefire between Israel and Hamas remained technically in effect but under severe strain on November 24. Gaza's Government Media Office reported that Israeli forces had committed nearly 500 violations since the truce began, killing 342 Palestinians including more than 70 children. UN experts issued a statement warning that Israel's continuing attacks constitute a violation of the ceasefire agreement and urged member states to act decisively.

On November 24 specifically, Israeli forces killed at least four Palestinians across the Strip. A drone strike in Bani Suheila, southern Gaza, killed one man whom the IDF accused of crossing the yellow line—the demarcation separating Israeli-controlled territory from areas under Hamas control. In northern Gaza City, a Palestinian child died and several others were critically wounded when unexploded ordnance left by Israeli forces detonated. Artillery, air raids, and helicopter strikes continued targeting areas beyond the agreed withdrawal line in both the Rafah corridor and Khan Younis outskirts.

Hezbollah buries chief of staff as Iran vows revenge

The November 23 Israeli airstrike on Beirut's densely populated Haret Hreik neighborhood—the first strike on the Lebanese capital since June 2025—dominated regional attention throughout November 24. The strike killed Haytham Ali Tabatabai, Hezbollah's acting chief of staff and the most senior commander eliminated since the November 2024 Lebanon ceasefire. Five people died and 28 were wounded in the attack.

Hezbollah held funeral processions for Tabatabai on November 24 in the southern suburbs. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps condemned what it called a cowardly assassination and flagrant violation of the ceasefire, calling for revenge. The strike raised concerns about the durability of the nearly year-old Lebanon truce, though Hezbollah's political council stopped short of announcing retaliatory operations. The White House endorsed Israel's action, with officials telling Israeli media they considered the elimination a wonderful thing.

Syrian interim government confronts multiple security challenges

Syria's transitional authorities faced overlapping crises on November 24. In Homs, a sweeping curfew remained in effect following weekend sectarian violence triggered by the killing of a married couple from the Bani Khalid Bedouin tribe. Armed men from the tribe had moved through Alawite-majority neighborhoods, torching properties and vehicles. Security forces arrested 120 suspects as tensions remained elevated.

In Quneitra Province, Israeli forces conducted their second incursion in as many days. A convoy of three Humvees, one pickup truck, and one van advanced toward Al-Samdaniyah Al-Sharqiyah village before moving to Tel Krum Jaba. Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the road connecting Um Batna with Al-Ajraf, restricting civilian movement in the area near the Golan Heights.

Meanwhile, Syria's General Security Service conducted what was described as its first counter-ISIS operation since joining the Global Coalition Against ISIS, raiding suspected cells in Kafr Janneh, Aleppo Province.

Sudan peace efforts collapse as humanitarian crisis deepens

Sudan's 19-month civil war saw a significant diplomatic setback on November 24 when Army chief Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan publicly rejected the latest ceasefire proposal from the US-led Quad mediators (United States, Egypt, UAE, and Saudi Arabia). Al-Burhan called the proposal the worst yet, accusing it of seeking to eliminate the Armed Forces while maintaining RSF positions. He singled out the UAE for criticism, alleging biased involvement in favor of the RSF.

Hours later, RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo announced a unilateral three-month humanitarian truce, which the SAF did not acknowledge. The war has killed over 40,000 people according to UN figures, though actual tolls are assessed to be significantly higher. More than 14 million people have been displaced. Twenty-three children died of malnutrition in a single month at one hospital in Kadugli.

• Russian drones killed four and wounded 17 in Kharkiv overnight attack targeting three city districts; residential buildings and educational facility damaged
• Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast killed two civilians (42-year-old woman and 39-year-old man) and left 60,000 without electricity
• Russian shelling in Zaporizhzhia region killed one 40-year-old man working in a field
• Russian forces targeted energy infrastructure across Donetsk, Chernihiv, Sumy, Odesa (Izmail port), and Kyiv regions
• Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian territory killed three people and wounded 8-10 in Rostov region; oil operations suspended at Novorossiysk port
• Explosions reported in Crimea near Sevastopol and Kacha airfield from Ukrainian UAV attacks
• Russian forces claimed liberation of Zatyshne settlement in East Zaporizhzhia; 150 combat clashes reported across front lines
• NATO launched "Freezing Winds 25" maritime exercises in Baltic Sea with ~20 allied ships and 5,000 troops; runs through December 4
• Polish authorities arrested third suspect (Ukrainian citizen Volodymyr B.) in railway sabotage case linked to Russian intelligence
• Russian drones violated Moldovan airspace; one crashed on private building roof in Cuhureștii de Jos
• German Eurofighters and Romanian F-16s scrambled in response to drone incursions into NATO member airspace overnight

Russia's largest drone swarm of November strikes Ukrainian cities

Russian forces launched what Ukrainian officials described as a massive overnight drone attack on November 23-24, with the heaviest concentration targeting Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city. Four people died and 17 were wounded, including two children aged 11 and 12, as drones struck the Shevchenkivskyi, Saltivskyi, and Kholodnohirskyi districts. Eight residential buildings and an educational facility sustained damage. Power lines were severed across affected areas.

The attack extended beyond Kharkiv. In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, strikes killed a 42-year-old woman and 39-year-old man while leaving 60,000 consumers without electricity. Russian shelling in Zaporizhzhia region killed a 40-year-old civilian working in agricultural fields. Energy infrastructure was targeted across at least seven oblasts, including a substation in Kharkiv, port facilities in Odesa's Izmail, and energy installations near Kyiv.

Russia's Defense Ministry claimed to have intercepted 249 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 116 over the Black Sea, suggesting the attacks were part of coordinated mutual strikes.

Ukraine conducts "most productive" night attack on Russian territory

Ukrainian forces responded with what Commander Robert Brovdi of the Unmanned Systems Forces called November's most productive night attack on Russian territory. Strikes targeted Rostov region, where regional officials reported three people killed and between 8 and 10 wounded with multiple residential buildings damaged. At Novorossiysk, Russia's major Black Sea port, drone impacts forced suspension of oil loading operations and damaged multiple structures.

Explosions were also reported in occupied Crimea near Sevastopol and around Kacha airfield. Local Telegram channels noted that Russian air defense systems did not appear to engage the incoming UAVs during the Crimean strikes. The attacks represented continued Ukrainian efforts to degrade Russian logistics and energy infrastructure deep behind front lines.

NATO exercises and drone incursions test alliance borders

The Russian drone swarm that struck Ukraine also violated the airspace of two NATO members. Six Russian drones entered Moldovan airspace during the overnight attack, with one Gerbera-type drone crashing onto the roof of a private building in Cuhureștii de Jos. Moldovan authorities evacuated civilians and deployed explosives specialists. Additional drones were tracked flying from Vinogradovca-Vulcănești toward Romania.

Romanian air defenses detected at least two drone incursions into national airspace. German Eurofighter Typhoons scrambled at 06:28 on November 25, followed by Romanian F-16s at 07:37. Ro-Alert warnings were issued to populations in Tulcea and Galați counties near the Ukrainian border. The incursions marked another instance of Russian munitions straying into NATO territory during strikes on Ukraine.

NATO Baltic exercises begin amid infrastructure security concerns

Against this backdrop, NATO commenced the Freezing Winds 25 maritime exercise on November 24. Approximately 20 allied ships and 5,000 troops began operations in the Baltic Sea, with exercises scheduled to run through December 4. Finland, which joined NATO in 2023, hosted the drills focused on maritime infrastructure security and repelling amphibious attacks.

In Poland, authorities announced the arrest of a third suspect in the November 17 railway sabotage case. Ukrainian citizen Volodymyr B. was charged with acting on behalf of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Services and assisting perpetrators who damaged the Warsaw-Lublin railway line—a key corridor for Ukrainian military aid deliveries. Poland responded by closing its last Russian consulate in Gdansk and deploying up to 10,000 soldiers under Operation Horizon to guard critical infrastructure.

• Suicide bombers attacked Federal Constabulary headquarters in Peshawar at 08:00 local time; three FC personnel and three attackers killed
• Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (TTP splinter faction) claimed responsibility for Peshawar attack targeting morning parade assembly
• Eleven wounded in Peshawar attack transported to Lady Reading Hospital; all reported in stable condition
• Pakistani forces allegedly struck Afghanistan's Khost Province overnight; Taliban claims 10 civilians killed (9 children, 1 woman)
• Additional Pakistani strikes reported in Kunar and Paktika provinces, wounding four civilians
• Pakistan-Afghanistan ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkey in October remained technically in effect despite escalation
• Indian security forces conducted heightened operations across Kashmir including hospital inspections and cordon-and-search operations
• Saudi Arabia offered mediation between Taliban and Pakistan amid escalating tensions

TTP faction targets Pakistani paramilitary headquarters

Three attackers launched a coordinated assault on the Federal Constabulary headquarters in Peshawar on the morning of November 24. The attack began just after 08:00 local time as approximately 150-400 security personnel gathered for the first working day parade. One attacker, clad in a traditional chaddor, approached the main gate and detonated explosives. Two additional militants attempted to breach the compound but were shot dead by FC personnel before gaining entry.

Three Federal Constabulary members died in the initial blast, with 11 people wounded—all reported in stable condition at Lady Reading Hospital. Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a splinter faction of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility. Video footage showed the moment of detonation followed by the two remaining attackers' failed infiltration attempt.

President Asif Ali Zardari condemned what he called a cowardly act by foreign-backed terrorists. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif credited security forces with preventing a larger tragedy. The attack came less than two weeks after a November 12 suicide bombing outside an Islamabad court killed 12 people, also claimed by TTP factions.

Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions escalate after cross-border strikes

Hours after the Peshawar attack, the Taliban government in Kabul accused Pakistan of launching overnight airstrikes in three eastern provinces. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid stated that Pakistani forces bombed a civilian home in Gurbuz district, Khost Province, at approximately midnight (19:30 GMT), killing nine children—five boys and four girls—and one woman. Additional strikes in Kunar and Paktika provinces reportedly wounded four more civilians.

Pakistan's military did not immediately confirm or comment on the alleged strikes, though on November 25 it announced killing 22 militants in a separate raid in Bannu district. The military statement referred to the targets as Khawarij—Islamabad's term for militants it accuses Afghanistan and India of supporting.

The October 19 ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkey following deadly border clashes that killed approximately 70 people remained technically in effect. However, two rounds of follow-up talks in Istanbul had collapsed, with Pakistan demanding written guarantees that TTP fighters would not operate from Afghan soil—guarantees Kabul refused to provide. All Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossings have remained closed since October 2025.

• Trump and Xi held hour-long phone call addressing Taiwan, trade, and Ukraine on November 24
• Xi Jinping stated Taiwan's return to China is "important part of post-war international order" during call
• South Korean President Lee Jae Myung warned of "very dangerous situation" with North Korea where accidental clash is "possible at any time"
• North Korea installing barbed wire fences along DMZ—first such installation since end of Korean War
• Chinese Foreign Ministry criticized Japan's planned missile deployment on Yonaguni Island (68 miles from Taiwan) as provocation
• Philippines Coast Guard dispatched vessel to shadow Chinese naval forces at Scarborough Shoal following November 21-23 standoff
• USS George Washington carrier strike group maintained presence in South China Sea

Trump and Xi discuss Taiwan amid worst China-Japan crisis in years

U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held an hour-long telephone call on November 24, their second conversation since Trump's return to office. Xi pressed Trump on Taiwan's status, stating that Taiwan's return to China is an important part of the post-war international order. The call occurred against the backdrop of the most severe China-Japan diplomatic crisis in years.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi had previously stated that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger a Japanese military response. Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi visited Japan's southwestern islands November 22-23, announcing that plans to deploy medium-range surface-to-air missiles on Yonaguni Island—just 68 miles from Taiwan—were steadily moving forward. On November 24, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning criticized the deployment as a deliberate attempt to create regional tension and provoke military confrontation, warning that Beijing is determined and capable of safeguarding its national territorial sovereignty.

South Korean president warns of "very dangerous" peninsula situation

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung issued a public warning on November 24 that North and South Korea are in a very dangerous situation where an accidental clash is possible at any time. Lee noted that North Korea is refusing dialogue and has begun installing barbed wire fences along the Demilitarized Zone—the first such fortifications since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War.

Inter-Korean ties have become very hostile and confrontational, Lee stated, describing the North's behavior as extreme. The warning came as 38 North, a monitoring organization, published satellite imagery confirming continued modernization and expansion efforts at North Korea's Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center throughout 2025. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has declared 2025 a crucial year for nuclear weapons production; analysts estimate the country possesses approximately 50 nuclear warheads with fissile material for 40 more.

South China Sea tensions persist near Scarborough Shoal

Maritime tensions continued in the South China Sea following a November 21-23 standoff at Scarborough Shoal. A Philippine Bureau of Fisheries patrol aircraft received up to 40 warnings from PLA Navy warships and aircraft, was shadowed by a Chinese fighter jet, and documented the presence of Chinese destroyer Zhanjiang and frigate Dali in disputed waters. The Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Cabra was dispatched to monitor China Coast Guard vessels operating off Western Luzon.

The USS George Washington carrier strike group maintained its presence in the South China Sea, extending the continuous U.S. carrier deployment in the region that began in early November. Australian destroyer HMAS Brisbane also conducted a routine transit through the area on November 22 as part of a four-month Regional Presence Deployment.

• RSF announced unilateral three-month humanitarian truce in Sudan; SAF rejected US-led ceasefire proposal same day
• Nigerian troops repelled Boko Haram assault on Magumeri town, Borno State; seven militants killed, no civilian casualties
• Alliance of Sahel States senior officials convened in Ouagadougou for November 24-25 summit preparation meeting
• M23 offensive continued in eastern DRC; recent fighting reported in Masisi and Walikale districts of North Kivu
• Al-Shabaab operations persisted in Somalia amid ongoing 2025 Shabelle offensive
• JNIM fuel blockade of Bamako and major Malian cities continued since September 2025

Sudan sees diplomatic breakthrough and breakdown on same day

November 24 brought both hope and disappointment for Sudan's peace prospects. The Rapid Support Forces, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), announced a unilateral three-month humanitarian truce, calling it a first step toward political resolution of the conflict. Hours earlier, however, Army commander Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan had publicly rejected the latest ceasefire proposal from the US-led Quad mediators.

Al-Burhan characterized the proposal as the worst yet, accusing it of seeking to eliminate the Armed Forces while preserving RSF positions. He singled out the UAE for allegedly biased involvement in negotiations and criticized US African affairs adviser Massad Boulos for attempting to impose conditions on the Sudanese military. The RSF's truce announcement went unacknowledged by the SAF.

The diplomatic impasse leaves Sudan's humanitarian catastrophe unaddressed. The war has killed over 40,000 people according to UN estimates, displaced more than 14 million, and triggered what aid organizations describe as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. In El Fasher alone, RSF forces reportedly killed approximately 1,300 people in the days following their October 26 capture of the city.

Nigerian forces repel Boko Haram attack in Borno State

Nigerian troops operating under Operation Hadin Kai successfully repelled a Boko Haram assault on Magumeri town in Borno State during the night of November 22-23. The insurgents attacked late Saturday, setting fire to several homes and vehicles before retreating around 03:00 following a coordinated response by military forces, Civilian Joint Task Force members, and local hunters.

Seven Boko Haram fighters were killed in the engagement. One vehicle belonging to a CJTF member was destroyed, and several structures were damaged, but no civilian casualties were reported. The attack represents continued JAS faction activity in northeastern Nigeria despite sustained military pressure through Operation Hadin Kai.

Sahel alliance coordinates amid ongoing jihadist pressure

Senior officials from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger convened in Ouagadougou on November 24-25 for a preparatory meeting ahead of the Alliance of Sahel States Foreign Ministers summit scheduled for November 26 in Bamako. The three military-led governments, which formed the AES confederation after withdrawing from ECOWAS, focused on coordinating strategic positions on defense, security, diplomacy, and development.

The meeting occurred as Mali faced continued pressure from JNIM, the al-Qaeda affiliate that has maintained a fuel blockade of Bamako and other major cities since early September 2025. The group has attacked army convoys and burned fuel trucks, prompting travel advisories from the United States, Germany, United Kingdom, and Japan urging citizens to leave Mali.

• Gen. Dan Caine (Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff) visited American troops in Puerto Rico and aboard Navy warship in Caribbean
• 10,000-16,000 U.S. troops now stationed in Caribbean theater—largest buildup since 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis
• USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group (6,000+ personnel) deployed to Caribbean region
• "Cartel de los Soles" designation as Foreign Terrorist Organization took effect November 24 after Federal Register publication
• Multiple airlines suspended Venezuela flights following FAA advisory citing "worsening security situation and heightened military activity"
• U.S. State Department imposed visa restrictions on unnamed Haitian government official for supporting designated terrorist gangs
• Honduran President Xiomara Castro arrived in Mexico for bilateral meeting with President Claudia Sheinbaum

US Caribbean buildup reaches Cuban Missile Crisis levels

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine visited American troops in Puerto Rico and aboard a Navy warship in the Caribbean on November 24, marking his second visit since the military buildup began. The deployment represents the largest U.S. military concentration in the Caribbean since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, with between 10,000 and 16,000 personnel now stationed in the theater.

The USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group, comprising more than 6,000 personnel, has deployed to the region. Additional forces include Marines on amphibious vessels and approximately 5,000 personnel at Puerto Rico bases. The buildup accompanies Operation Southern Spear, the counter-narcotics campaign launched September 2 that has conducted 21 strikes on alleged drug trafficking vessels, killing at least 83 people.

Venezuela terrorist designation takes effect amid airline exodus

The U.S. State Department's designation of Venezuela's Cartel de los Soles (Cartel of the Suns) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization officially took effect November 24 following publication in the Federal Register. The designation, announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on November 16, alleges that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and senior military officials lead the organization.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated the designation brings whole bunch of new options against the Maduro government. Venezuela's Foreign Ministry rejected the designation as a ridiculous fabrication intended to justify an illegitimate and illegal intervention. Analysts at the Washington Office on Latin America noted the cartel may not exist as a formal organization, and it was not mentioned in the January 2025 U.S. International Narcotics Control Strategy Report.

International airlines continued suspending Venezuela service following an FAA advisory citing worsening security situation and heightened military activity. Iberia, TAP Air Portugal, LATAM, Avianca, GOL, Caribbean Airlines, and Turkish Airlines all halted or suspended routes, affecting approximately 1,500 travelers in Colombia alone. Flight-tracking data showed widespread rerouting to avoid Venezuelan airspace.

• Ukrainian Cyber Alliance conducted destructive attack on Donbas Post, Russian-operated postal service in occupied eastern Ukraine
• Attack destroyed 1,000+ workstations, ~100 virtual machines, and "several dozen terabytes" of data
• Donbas Post confirmed November 24 its systems were disrupted by "external interference"; branches and call center suspended
• Microsoft Azure struck by 15.72 Tbps DDoS attack against Australian public IP address from 5,000+ sources

Pro-Ukrainian hackers cripple Russian postal service in occupied territories

The Ukrainian Cyber Alliance (UCA) executed a destructive cyberattack against Donbas Post, the Russian state-owned postal operator serving occupied Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The attack, executed approximately November 21 with effects confirmed November 24, represents one of the most significant pro-Ukrainian cyber operations targeting Russian-occupied infrastructure.

Donbas Post acknowledged its systems had been disrupted by external interference on November 24. The UCA claimed to have destroyed more than 1,000 workstations, approximately 100 virtual machines, and several dozen terabytes of data. Corporate networks, web platforms, and email systems were rendered inoperable. Postal branches and call center operations were suspended across the occupied territories.

The attack coincided with Ukrainian kinetic strikes on energy infrastructure in the occupied regions that reportedly left 500,000 people without power. It remains unclear whether the cyber operation and physical attacks were coordinated. The Ukrainian Cyber Alliance, formed in 2016, has significantly increased operations since Russia's 2022 invasion.