THE FRONTLINE REPORT

It's Sunday, November 30th. November 29, 2025 witnessed Russia's largest aerial assault on Ukraine in a month with 596 drones and 36 missiles killing five and leaving over 500,000 without power, Ukrainian naval drone strikes on two Russian shadow fleet tankers and a major oil terminal, a mass shooting at a California birthday party killing four including three children, a bar massacre in central Mexico leaving seven dead, Israeli drone strike killing two Palestinian brothers gathering firewood in Gaza, Nigerian forces repelling a 300-strong Boko Haram assault on Chibok, Myanmar junta airstrikes killing approximately 25 civilians across multiple regions, and a cyberattack disrupting UK broadband services. The day saw confirmed fatalities exceeding 50 across armed conflicts and mass violence incidents spanning six global theaters.

• Israeli drone strike killed two Palestinian brothers aged 8 and 11 gathering firewood in southern Gaza near Yellow Line
• Third Palestinian killed in separate Rafah incident with Israeli forces claiming elimination of suspects conducting suspicious activities
• Gaza death toll surpassed 70,000 mark since October 2023 according to Hamas-run Health Ministry
• Settler attack on Khalayel al-Loz village south of Bethlehem injured 10 Palestinians with one shot and three beaten
• IDF paratroopers destroyed explosives lab in Jenin during ongoing West Bank operations

Israeli drone strike kills two children gathering firewood in Gaza

An Israeli drone strike in Bani Suheila, east of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, killed two Palestinian brothers on November 29. The victims were identified as Juma Abu Assi, aged 8, and Fadi Abu Assi, aged 10 to 12. The children were reportedly gathering firewood for their wheelchair-bound father near the Israeli-controlled Yellow Line when the strike occurred. Their uncle, Alaa Abu Assi, stated they were innocent children collecting wood.

The Israel Defense Forces stated it eliminated suspects who crossed into the Israeli-controlled part of Gaza and conducted suspicious activities near the border area. The IDF maintains a buffer zone along the Gaza border that restricts Palestinian movement and access. The strike occurred during the ongoing ceasefire period that began in October 2025, though sporadic violence has continued.

A third Palestinian was killed in a separate incident in the Rafah area on November 29. The IDF claimed to have eliminated a person it described as a terrorist. Israeli forces also conducted artillery and air bombardment in al-Qarara, northeast of Khan Younis, injuring three Palestinians. The Hamas-run Health Ministry announced that Gaza's total death toll had surpassed 70,000 people, reaching exactly 70,100 since October 7, 2023.

Settler violence injures 10 Palestinians in West Bank

A group of Israeli settlers attacked the village of Khalayel al-Loz, south of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, on November 29, injuring 10 Palestinians. One Palestinian was shot in the thigh while three others were beaten during the assault. Video footage showed settlers wearing white shirts and skullcaps, with at least one carrying a semi-automatic rifle, throwing stones at Palestinian homes and residents.

The IDF declared a closed military zone in the area following the incident. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs expressed being appalled by the attack. Settler violence in the West Bank has escalated significantly since October 2023, with international observers documenting hundreds of attacks on Palestinian communities.

IDF operations continue in Jenin and Tubas

Israeli paratroopers from the Maglan special forces unit discovered and destroyed an explosives manufacturing laboratory in Jenin during ongoing operations in the northern West Bank on November 29. The facility was found hidden within the camp and contained materials for producing improvised explosive devices. IDF forces also withdrew from Tubas after completing a four-day counterterrorism operation in that area.

• Russia launched 596 drones and 36 missiles in largest assault on Ukraine in a month killing five and injuring 52
• Over 500,000 Kyiv residents lost electricity as strikes targeted critical energy infrastructure across capital
• Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 558 drones and 19 missiles while 22 locations sustained direct hits
• Poland scrambled fighter jets and activated maximum air defense readiness under Operation Wschodnia Zorza
• Ukraine struck two Russian shadow fleet tankers with naval drones in Black Sea off Turkish coast
• Ukrainian drones attacked Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal at Novorossiysk halting all oil loading operations
• Ukraine delegation departed for United States peace talks as diplomatic efforts intensified

Russia unleashes largest aerial assault in a month

Russia launched a massive combined drone and missile barrage against Ukraine overnight on November 29, deploying 596 drones and 36 missiles in the largest such attack in a month. The assault killed at least five people, including a woman and child in Kherson, and injured more than 52 across multiple regions. Ukrainian air defense forces intercepted 558 drones and 19 missiles, but 22 locations were directly hit and 17 more damaged by falling debris.

The weapons arsenal included five Kh-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, 23 Kh-101 and Iskander-K cruise missiles, four Iskander-M ballistic missiles, and hundreds of Iranian-made Shahed drones along with Russian Gerbera drones. Critical energy infrastructure was targeted across Ukraine, including TPP-5, TPP-6, Trypilska thermal power plant, and the Kyiv Hydroelectric Power Plant. Over 500,000 consumers in Kyiv lost electricity as a result of the strikes.

Residential buildings in Sviatoshynskyi, Dniprovskyi, Darnytskyi, Shevchenkivskyi, and Solomyanskyi districts of Kyiv sustained significant damage. In Kherson, Russian forces killed a 34-year-old woman and a six-year-old child when a drone dropped explosives on their vehicle. Thirteen others were injured in the Kherson attacks. The widespread assault demonstrated Russia's continued capability to conduct large-scale aerial operations despite nearly three years of war.

NATO allies respond with enhanced air defense posture

Poland scrambled fighter jets and activated ground-based air defense systems to maximum readiness under Operation Wschodnia Zorza in response to the massive Russian assault. Spanish, Swedish, and German forces supported the Polish air defense operations. Moldova temporarily closed its airspace due to drone incursions into its territory during the Russian attack. The coordinated NATO response reflected the alliance's concern about potential spillover from the intensified Russian aerial campaign.

Ukraine conducts first-ever attack on Russian shadow fleet

In a significant escalation of maritime warfare, Ukraine conducted its first-ever attack on Russia's shadow fleet oil tankers using Sea Baby naval drones. Ukrainian forces struck two Gambian-flagged tankers, the Kairos and the Virat, in the Black Sea approximately 28 to 35 nautical miles off the Turkish coast. The Kairos, measuring 274 meters with a carrying capacity of nearly 70 million dollars in oil, suffered explosions and fire. All 25 crew members were evacuated by Turkish rescue vessels.

The Virat, already sanctioned by the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, and Canada, sustained damage above the waterline. Turkish authorities deployed 12 tugboats and Coast Guard vessels for rescue operations. The attacks targeted vessels that form part of Russia's shadow fleet, which operates outside international regulations to evade sanctions and continue oil exports. Both tankers were en route to Russian ports when attacked.

Ukrainian drones strike major Russian oil terminal

Ukrainian drones attacked the Caspian Pipeline Consortium Marine Terminal at Novorossiysk at 4:06 AM Moscow time on November 29. The VPU-2 mooring device was significantly damaged and cannot be restored, forcing all oil loading operations to halt. The terminal is critical infrastructure for Kazakhstan, which relies on the CPC for 80 percent of its oil exports, totaling 63 million tons in 2024.

Kazakhstan formally protested the attack and activated contingency plans to redirect exports through alternative routes. The strike represents a major blow to regional oil logistics and demonstrates Ukraine's expanding capability to target Russian economic infrastructure far from the front lines. The attack also complicated Kazakhstan's position as a neutral state in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, as its oil exports have become entangled in the war.

Frontline combat continues across multiple sectors

Ukrainian forces reported 271 combat engagements across the front on November 29. The Ukrainian General Staff stated that approximately 1,160 Russian casualties occurred in the preceding 24 hours. Russian forces conducted three missile strikes, 40 airstrikes with 110 guided aerial bombs, and 3,813 artillery strikes. The heaviest fighting occurred around Pokrovsk, where Russian forces continued clearing operations, and near Hulyaipole in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, where Russian troops entered the southeastern part of the city.

Russian forces conducted 540 strikes on 20 settlements in Zaporizhzhia Oblast alone. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed destruction of 103 Ukrainian drones overnight across multiple regions including Belgorod, Rostov, and Crimea. A Ukrainian drone struck a high-rise building in Volgograd, injuring two civilians, while another caused a fire at the Afipsky oil refinery in Krasnodar.

Ukraine delegation departs for US peace negotiations

A Ukrainian delegation led by Rustem Umerov departed for the United States for peace talks on November 29, coinciding with the massive Russian aerial assault. The timing of Russia's largest attack in a month as Ukrainian negotiators traveled to Washington was seen by analysts as an attempt to strengthen Moscow's negotiating position. A United States-drafted 28-point peace plan remained under discussion, with American envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed to visit Moscow the following week.

• Myanmar junta conducted airstrikes across Karenni State killing at least five people and destroying several buildings
• Air raids in Rakhine State killed nearly 20 civilians in Rathedaung and Ponnagyun Townships ahead of December elections
• Ongoing combat operations continued in Sagaing Region between resistance forces and junta troops
• Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko arrived in Naypyitaw as second foreign head of state since 2021 coup

Myanmar junta airstrikes kill approximately 25 civilians

The Myanmar military junta conducted airstrikes across multiple regions on November 29, killing approximately 25 civilians. In Karenni State's Demoso Township, airstrikes killed at least five people and destroyed several buildings. The attacks targeted areas where resistance forces have maintained control against junta forces for extended periods.

In Rakhine State, air raids killed nearly 20 civilians in Rathedaung and Ponnagyun Townships. The strikes occurred ahead of December elections scheduled for areas controlled by the Arakan Army, an ethnic armed organization that has captured significant territory in Rakhine State. The timing of the attacks appeared designed to disrupt electoral preparations and demonstrate junta authority in contested regions.

Ongoing combat operations continued in Sagaing Region between People's Defense Force resistance units and junta troops. The region has been a focal point of armed resistance since the February 2021 military coup. Civilian casualties from junta airstrikes have mounted steadily throughout 2025 as the military has increasingly relied on air power to compensate for losses of ground control to resistance forces.

Belarus leader visits Myanmar in diplomatic breakthrough

Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko arrived in Naypyitaw on November 29, becoming only the second foreign head of state to visit Myanmar since the February 2021 military coup. The visit signals the junta's efforts to secure international legitimacy despite widespread condemnation and sanctions from Western nations. Belarus, a close ally of Russia, has maintained diplomatic and economic ties with Myanmar's military government throughout the post-coup period.

• Over 300 ISWAP and Boko Haram terrorists launched coordinated multi-front assault on Chibok in Borno State
• Nigerian forces from 28 Task Force Brigade repelled attack with no casualties or equipment losses reported
• Nigerian Air Force conducted four major airstrikes along terrorist escape route toward Timbuktu Triangle
• Military reported obliterating significant number of fighters with surviving militants dispersing into forested terrain

Nigeria repels major Boko Haram assault on Chibok

Over 300 ISWAP and Boko Haram terrorists launched a coordinated multi-front assault on Chibok, Borno State, in the early hours of November 29. The town, infamous for the 2014 kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls, came under attack from multiple directions as militants attempted to overrun military positions. Troops of the 28 Task Force Brigade, Sector 4 Operation Hadin Kai, successfully repelled the assault.

Following the terrorist withdrawal, the Nigerian Air Force conducted four major airstrikes along the escape route toward the Timbuktu Triangle area. Military sources stated the airstrikes obliterated a significant number of the fighters as they attempted to retreat. The Nigerian military reported no casualties or equipment losses on their side while inflicting substantial losses on terrorist forces. Surviving militants dispersed into forested terrain during the withdrawal.

The attack represents one of the largest coordinated assaults by ISWAP and Boko Haram in recent months. Chibok remains a strategic target for insurgent groups operating in northeastern Nigeria, and the town's symbolic significance due to the 2014 kidnapping makes it a priority for terrorist organizations seeking to demonstrate their continued operational capability. Nigerian security forces have maintained heightened alert status in Borno State amid ongoing counterinsurgency operations.

• Gunman opened fire at child's birthday party in Stockton killing four people including three children aged 8, 9, and 14
• Eleven others wounded in shooting at banquet hall with 100 to 150 attendees during family celebration
• San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office stated early indications suggest targeted incident with suspect at large
• Gunmen stormed La Resaka bar in Tula killing seven people and seriously wounding five in fuel gang dispute
• At least seven attackers armed with R-15 assault rifles entered bar and opened fire indiscriminately

Mass shooting at California birthday party kills four

A gunman opened fire at a child's birthday party in Stockton, California, on November 29, killing four people and wounding 11 others. The shooting occurred shortly before 6:00 PM at a banquet hall on Lucile Avenue during a family celebration with 100 to 150 attendees. The victims included three children aged 8, 9, and 14, along with one adult aged 21. All four died at the scene or shortly after being transported to area hospitals.

San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Heather Brent stated that early indications suggest this may have been a targeted incident rather than a random act of violence. The suspect fled the scene and remained at large as of the end of November 29. Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, joined local authorities in the investigation. California Governor Gavin Newsom was briefed on the incident.

Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi noted the tragedy occurred during the Thanksgiving weekend, stating that families should be together instead of at the hospital standing next to their loved ones praying that they survive. The shooting represents one of the deadliest mass casualty incidents in California in 2025. Stockton, located in San Joaquin County approximately 80 miles east of San Francisco, has struggled with gun violence in recent years.

Mexico bar massacre leaves seven dead in cartel violence

Gunmen stormed La Resaka bar in Tula, Hidalgo state, approximately 60 miles north of Mexico City, around 1:30 AM on November 29, killing seven people and seriously wounding five others. At least seven attackers armed with R-15 assault rifles entered the establishment and opened fire indiscriminately. Four victims died at the scene while three more succumbed to their injuries at hospital. The wounded remained in serious condition.

The Hidalgo State Security Bureau connected the massacre to ongoing disputes between rival fuel theft gangs known as huachicoleros fighting for control of the area. Violence has intensified in the region following the March 2025 arrest of a suspected local gang leader. The attack occurred in Colonia El Llano on the outskirts of Tula, a city that has become a flashpoint for cartel-related violence due to its strategic location along fuel pipeline routes.

Federal and state forces launched operations to identify and apprehend the perpetrators, but no arrests had been made as of the end of November 29. The massacre highlights the continuing challenge of cartel violence in Mexico, particularly related to fuel theft operations that have proliferated across central Mexican states. Hidalgo has seen escalating violence as criminal groups battle for control of lucrative illegal fuel tapping operations from state oil company PEMEX pipelines.

• Youfibre UK broadband ISP suffered distributed denial of service attack causing intermittent connectivity nationwide
• Attack on Netomnia network infrastructure disrupted services with CEO confirming we are under attack on social media
• Cyberattack reportedly extended to Germany approximately one hour after initial UK disruption

DDoS attack disrupts UK broadband provider

Youfibre, a United Kingdom broadband internet service provider operating on the Netomnia network, suffered a distributed denial of service attack on November 29, causing intermittent connectivity issues for customers nationwide. CEO Jeremy Chelot confirmed the incident on social media, stating that customers should bear with the company as they were under attack. The company worked to mitigate the attack and restore full service to affected subscribers.

The cyberattack targeted the underlying Netomnia network infrastructure that Youfibre uses to provide internet services. Customers across multiple regions reported connectivity problems and service disruptions throughout the day. The attack reportedly extended to Germany approximately one hour after the initial disruption in the United Kingdom, suggesting a coordinated campaign against internet infrastructure.

DDoS attacks flood targeted servers or networks with overwhelming amounts of traffic to make services unavailable to legitimate users. The incident adds to growing concerns about cyberattacks targeting critical telecommunications infrastructure in Europe. Attribution for the attack remained undetermined as of the end of November 29, with Youfibre and Netomnia working with cybersecurity specialists to investigate the source and prevent future incidents.

No significant conflict developments, military operations, terrorist attacks, or security incidents were documented across South & Central Asia theater on November 29, 2025. The absence of immediate events during this reporting period reflects normal variance in daily conflict cycles rather than resolution of underlying security challenges affecting this region.