THE FRONTLINE REPORT

It's Wednesday, December 24th. On the 23rd, Russia launched its largest aerial assault in weeks, killing at least 3 Ukrainian civilians including a 4-year-old child and plunging over 300,000 consumers into darkness. The attack involved 635 drones and 38 missiles targeting energy infrastructure across 13 oblasts. Ukraine withdrew from Siversk amid intensifying ground combat while confirming strikes on Russian oil terminals. The Thailand-Cambodia border conflict entered its third week with approximately 80 dead and 1 million displaced. Pakistan suffered a police ambush killing 5 officers in Karak district. Israeli operations in Gaza continued with 12 deaths reported in 24 hours. Yemen and Houthis agreed to exchange nearly 2,900 prisoners in the largest swap in 11 years. Major cyberattacks on French and Romanian infrastructure remained unresolved.

• Israeli operations in Gaza killed 12 Palestinians in 24 hours with strikes on al-Maghazi and al-Bureij refugee camps
• Defense Minister Katz announced Israel will never fully withdraw from Gaza and plans Nahal infantry outposts in north
• Gaza Government Media Office reported 875 ceasefire violations since October 10 with 406 killed and 1,118 injured
• Lebanese Army Commander accused Israel of spreading misinformation after strike killed Warrant Officer Ali Abdullah
• Yemen government and Houthis agreed to exchange nearly 2,900 prisoners in largest swap in 11 years
• Agreement includes release of 1,700 prisoners by Houthis and 1,200 by government including 7 Saudi nationals

Israeli operations kill 12 in Gaza amid ceasefire violations

Israeli military operations in Gaza killed 12 Palestinians in 24 hours on December 23, including 8 bodies recovered from rubble and 4 new fatalities. Artillery shelling and airstrikes struck al-Maghazi refugee camp, al-Bureij refugee camp, and Gaza City's al-Tuffah neighborhood. The Gaza Government Media Office reported 875 ceasefire violations since October 10, 2025, with 406 Palestinians killed and 1,118 injured since the ceasefire began. Operations targeted densely populated neighborhoods, displacement shelters, and roads used by ambulances. The cumulative death toll since October 2023 reached approximately 70,668 Palestinians killed and 171,152 wounded according to Gaza health authorities.

Israel announces permanent military presence in Gaza

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on December 23 that Israel's military will never fully withdraw from Gaza and plans to establish Nahal infantry outposts in northern Gaza. The statement contradicted ceasefire framework provisions requiring Israeli withdrawal. Katz stated the outposts would prevent Hamas from regaining control and ensure long-term security for Israeli communities near Gaza. Palestinian officials condemned the announcement as evidence Israel seeks permanent occupation. The declaration came amid ongoing operations that Gaza officials characterize as systematic ceasefire violations targeting civilian infrastructure and residential areas.

Lebanon disputes Israeli claims after officer killed

Lebanese Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal accused Israel on December 23 of spreading misinformation to undermine confidence in the Lebanese Armed Forces following an Israeli airstrike near Sidon on December 22. The strike killed Warrant Officer Ali Abdullah, whom Israel claimed was a Hezbollah operative. The Lebanese Army stated Abdullah was conducting routine military duties and had no connection to Hezbollah. The incident strained implementation of the November 2024 ceasefire agreement requiring Lebanese Armed Forces deployment to southern Lebanon. Lebanese officials accused Israel of deliberately targeting army personnel to obstruct the ceasefire implementation process.

Yemen prisoner exchange marks largest humanitarian breakthrough

Yemen's government and Houthi forces signed an agreement in Muscat, Oman on December 23 to exchange nearly 2,900 detainees in the largest prisoner swap in 11 years. Houthis will release 1,700 prisoners in exchange for 1,200 from the internationally recognized government, including 7 Saudi nationals consisting of 2 air force pilots and 23 Sudanese nationals. UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg called it a positive and meaningful step. The agreement was reached through negotiations facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross and Omani mediation. The exchange represents the most significant humanitarian progress in the Yemen conflict since 2014.

• Russia launched 635 drones and 38 missiles across 13 Ukrainian oblasts killing at least 3 civilians including 4-year-old child
• Attacks struck Burshtynska and Ladyzhynska thermal power plants and Kanivska Hydroelectric Plant leaving 300,000 without power
• Rivne, Ternopil, and Khmelnytskyi oblasts lost electricity almost completely while Zaporizhstal steel plant shut down
• Poland scrambled fighter jets and activated air defenses to highest readiness as NATO responded to strikes
• Ukraine confirmed withdrawal from Siversk town in Donetsk Oblast citing Russian numerical advantage
• 126 combat clashes documented across frontline with Russia claiming capture of Vilcha, Prilipka, and Ukrainsk
• Ukrainian forces struck Tamanneftegaz oil terminal damaging pipelines, docks, and two ships with fires over 1,000 square meters

Russia launches third-largest combined aerial assault of war

Russia launched 635 drones and 38 missiles across 13 Ukrainian oblasts overnight December 22-23, killing at least 3 civilians including a 4-year-old child in Zhytomyr Oblast. One woman died in Kyiv Oblast from drone debris, while 5 were injured in Sviatoshynskyi District including a 16-year-old girl and 48-year-old woman with serious shrapnel wounds. One person was killed in Khmelnytskyi Oblast. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 587 drones and 34 missiles, achieving an 88 percent success rate. The attack marked one of the largest combined aerial assaults of the war, occurring just two days before Christmas and amid ongoing peace negotiations.

Energy infrastructure devastated across western Ukraine

Direct strikes hit the Burshtynska and Ladyzhynska thermal power plants and Kanivska Hydroelectric Plant on December 23. Three oblasts, Rivne, Ternopil, and Khmelnytskyi, lost electricity almost completely. Over 300,000 consumers were left without power. Zaporizhstal, Ukraine's major steel producer, suffered complete power cutoff forcing emergency production shutdown. DTEK reported its seventh attack on thermal plants since October. The strikes targeted critical energy infrastructure supplying western regions hundreds of kilometers from the frontline. Emergency repair crews worked to restore power as temperatures dropped below freezing.

NATO and Poland respond to Russian aerial campaign

Poland scrambled fighter jets and activated ground-based air defenses to highest readiness near its Ukrainian border on December 23, though no airspace violations occurred. Germany's Eurofighters stationed at Malbork and French Rafales participated in the NATO air policing response. The alliance tracked Russian missiles and drones approaching NATO airspace during the mass attack. Polish authorities maintained elevated alert status throughout the morning as strikes continued across western Ukraine. The response demonstrated NATO's integrated air defense coordination in response to Russian operations near alliance territory.

Ukraine withdraws from Siversk amid ground combat

Ukraine's General Staff confirmed withdrawal from Siversk on December 23, a strategically important town in Donetsk Oblast approximately 30 kilometers east of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. The withdrawal decision cited Russia's significant numerical advantage and constant pressure from small assault groups in difficult weather conditions. The General Staff emphasized preserving soldier lives as the primary factor. The frontline saw 126 combat clashes, with heavy fighting in Pokrovsk, Kupyansk, and Zaporizhzhia directions. Russia claimed capture of Vilcha and Prilipka in Kharkiv Oblast and Ukrainsk west of Donetsk city. Ukrainian forces struck back at Russian territory with attacks on oil terminals and military facilities.

Ukrainian strikes damage Russian oil terminal and aircraft

Ukrainian forces struck the Tamanneftegaz oil terminal in Krasnodar region on December 23, damaging pipelines, two docks, and two ships while igniting fires over 1,000 square meters. The terminal serves as a key logistics hub for Russian military operations. Ukrainian partisans reportedly destroyed two Su-30 fighter jets at Lipetsk airfield through sabotage operations. The attacks demonstrated Ukrainian capacity to strike military and economic targets deep inside Russian territory. Russian authorities confirmed fires at the oil terminal but provided limited damage assessments. The strikes came one day after the car-bomb assassination of Lt. General Fanil Sarvarov in Moscow.

• Armed militants placed explosives on Bermudez Bridge near Pasto airport then opened fire on Colombian security forces
• U.S. Embassy issued security alert warning of escalated violence in Nariño Department due to territorial disputes
• U.S. Southern Command conducted 29th precision strike on drug vessel in eastern Pacific killing 1 person
• Campaign brings total deaths to at least 105 since September amid criticism of extrajudicial killings
• Haiti's Ti Rach gang resurged in Northwest Department with armed robberies and assaults in Saint-Louis-du-Nord

Colombian militants attack bridge near Pasto

Armed militants placed explosive devices on the Bermudez Bridge between Pasto and Pasto airport in Colombia's Nariño Department on December 23, then opened fire on Colombian Army and National Police units responding to the incident. The U.S. Embassy issued a security alert warning that violence has escalated in several municipalities in Nariño Department due to territorial disputes among illegal armed groups, likely ELN or FARC dissident factions competing for coca-growing areas. No casualties were reported from the bridge attack. Colombian authorities increased security patrols along major transportation routes in the department.

U.S. conducts 29th strike on drug vessel

U.S. Southern Command conducted another precision strike on an alleged drug-smuggling vessel in the eastern Pacific on December 23, killing 1 person. This was the 29th known strike since early September 2025, bringing total deaths to at least 105. The campaign, part of pressure on Venezuelan President Maduro, faces criticism from lawmakers and human rights organizations who characterize the strikes as extrajudicial killings conducted without publicly provided evidence. The strikes target vessels suspected of transporting drugs from South America toward Mexico and the United States. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized the operations under the renamed Department of War.

Haiti gang violence spreads to Northwest Department

Haiti's Ti Rach gang, affiliated with the Viv Ansanm coalition, resurged in Saint-Louis-du-Nord in the Northwest Department on December 23 with armed robberies and assaults. The violence spread to previously safer areas beyond Port-au-Prince. Armed gangs now control approximately 85 percent of Port-au-Prince, with over 5,600 killed in 2024 alone. The Northwest Department had been relatively stable compared to the capital, but gang expansion threatens to destabilize additional regions. Haitian National Police forces remain stretched thin attempting to maintain security across multiple departments.

• Thailand-Cambodia border conflict entered third week with approximately 80 dead and 1 million displaced since December 8
• ASEAN foreign ministers concluded emergency talks with agreement to hold defense official talks December 24
• Daily artillery and rocket exchanges continued across 817-kilometer border with fighting in multiple provinces
• United States urged both sides to end hostilities and withdraw heavy weapons while China dispatched special envoy
• Taiwan detected 6 Chinese PLA aircraft sorties and 6 PLAN vessels with 2 aircraft crossing median line
• UK Preston Crown Court convicted 3 men for ISIS-inspired plot to attack Manchester Jewish community

Thailand-Cambodia conflict enters third week with diplomatic breakthrough

The border war between Thailand and Cambodia reached its third consecutive week on December 23, with approximately 80 people killed including 21 soldiers and dozens of civilians and nearly 1 million displaced. Daily artillery and rocket exchanges continued across the 817-kilometer border, concentrated in Thailand's Sisaket, Surin, and Sa Kaeo provinces and Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey, Banteay Meanchey, and Preah Vihear provinces. ASEAN foreign ministers concluded emergency talks in Kuala Lumpur with Thailand and Cambodia agreeing to hold defense official talks on December 24 at the Ban Pakkad-Pailin border crossing. Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow stated a ceasefire cannot just be declared, it needs discussion.

International pressure mounts for ceasefire

The United States urged both Thailand and Cambodia on December 23 to end hostilities, withdraw heavy weapons, and cease emplacement of landmines. China dispatched special envoy Deng Xijun for shuttle diplomacy between Bangkok and Phnom Penh. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk warned civilians are increasingly at risk from intensifying airstrikes and artillery fire. The conflict has displaced 525,000 Cambodians and over 400,000 Thais since fighting resumed December 8. Thailand deployed F-16 fighter jets, artillery, and drones while Cambodia responded with BM-21 multiple rocket launchers firing Grad rockets across the border.

Taiwan detects Chinese military operations in strait

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence detected 6 Chinese PLA aircraft sorties and 6 PLAN naval vessels operating around Taiwan on December 23, with 2 aircraft crossing the Taiwan Strait median line into Taiwan's northern and southwestern Air Defense Identification Zone. Taiwan deployed combat air patrol aircraft, navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response. The operations continued China's pattern of daily military pressure on Taiwan amid ongoing tensions over sovereignty. PLA aircraft have conducted thousands of sorties near Taiwan throughout 2025, with the majority crossing the median line established during the Cold War.

UK convicts three in ISIS plot targeting Manchester Jews

Preston Crown Court in the United Kingdom convicted three men on December 23 for planning what prosecutors described as potentially the deadliest terrorist attack in UK history. Walid Saadaoui, Amar Hussein, and Bilel Saadaoui were found guilty of terror-related offenses for planning an ISIS-inspired armed assault targeting Manchester's Jewish community with assault rifles and pistols. The convictions came amid heightened security concerns following the December 14 Bondi Beach attack in Sydney that killed 15 at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration. UK authorities stated the plot was advanced and could have resulted in mass casualties.

• M23 rebels clashed with Congolese army and Wazalendo forces between Makobola and Munene villages in South Kivu
• UN Security Council extended MONUSCO mandate condemning Rwanda for backing M23 offensive that killed 400 civilians
• Alliance of Sahel States summit concluded in Bamako with leadership transfer to Burkina Faso's Traoré
• Three junta-led nations launched joint television channel and established Confederation Bank for Investment
• Sudan PM Kamil Idris presented peace plan to UNSC calling for monitored ceasefire and RSF withdrawal
• Nigerian security forces arrested 2 suspected ISWAP fighters in Lagos and 28 Muslims kidnapped in Plateau State

DRC fighting continues as UN extends peacekeeping mandate

M23 rebels clashed with Congolese army forces and Wazalendo fighters between Makobola and Munene villages along the RN5 highway in South Kivu on December 23. The UN Security Council extended MONUSCO's peacekeeping mandate on December 20, condemning Rwanda for backing the M23 offensive that killed at least 400 civilians between Bukavu and Uvira. Fighting has displaced over 200,000 people from the Uvira region since M23's December 10 capture of the strategic town. Humanitarian organizations struggled to access displaced populations amid ongoing security concerns. The conflict continues despite international diplomatic pressure for ceasefire negotiations.

Sahel alliance summit concludes with institutional expansion

The Alliance of Sahel States summit concluded in Bamako, Mali on December 23 with leadership transfer from Mali's Goïta to Burkina Faso's Traoré. The three junta-led nations, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, launched a joint television channel and established the Confederation Bank for Investment and Development. The alliance represents a geopolitical realignment away from ECOWAS and toward closer cooperation between military governments that seized power through coups. The Sahel remains plagued by JNIM and ISGS jihadist violence, with a fuel tanker blockade to Bamako ongoing since September. Security conditions have deteriorated across the region despite increased military cooperation.

Sudan prime minister presents peace plan to UN

Sudanese Prime Minister Kamil Idris presented a comprehensive peace plan to the UN Security Council on December 23 calling for a UN, African Union, and Arab League-monitored ceasefire, RSF withdrawal, and disarmament. Fighting continued in North Kordofan State, where the Sudanese army recaptured a town southwest of al-Rahad. RSF forces mobilized near the Chad border, prompting Sudan Liberation Movement leader Minni Arko Minawi to urge North Darfur residents to defend their lands against RSF invaders. The war has killed over 40,000 and displaced millions as it approaches its 1,000th day.

Nigeria faces continued security threats

Nigerian security forces arrested 2 suspected ISWAP fighters in Lagos on December 23 who had fled conflict-affected northeastern Nigeria. Separately, 28 Muslims were reportedly kidnapped while traveling to a religious gathering in Plateau State. The kidnappings demonstrated the expansion of security threats beyond traditional conflict zones in the northeast. Armed groups have increased attacks on travelers and rural communities across Nigeria's Middle Belt region. Security forces maintained heightened alert status across multiple states amid concerns about holiday season attacks.

• Five Pakistani police officers killed in militant ambush near oil and gas fields in Karak district Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
• Attackers opened fire on patrol vehicle then doused it in gasoline and set it ablaze killing all officers
• Counter-Terrorism Department operation killed 8 suspects following the attack near MOL Pakistan facilities
• Turkey's National Intelligence captured senior ISIS-K operative Mehmet Gören assigned to conduct suicide attacks

Militants kill five police officers in Karak ambush

Five Pakistani police officers were killed on December 23 when militants ambushed their patrol vehicle in Karak district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, near oil and gas fields operated by MOL Pakistan. The attackers opened fire on the vehicle, killed all officers, then doused it in gasoline and set it ablaze. The deceased officers were identified as Constables Shahid Iqbal, Safdar, Arif, Samiullah, and driver Muhammad Abrar. A subsequent Counter-Terrorism Department operation killed 8 suspects. No group claimed responsibility, though the Pakistani Taliban is suspected given the region's security profile. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, stating the police have always played a frontline role in the fight against terrorism.

Turkey captures senior ISIS-K operative

Turkey's National Intelligence Agency announced on December 23 the capture of Mehmet Gören, a senior ISIS-K operative who had been assigned to conduct suicide attacks in Turkey, Europe, Pakistan, and Afghanistan from training camps along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Gören was detained in a coordinated operation. Turkish authorities stated he was a high-value target involved in planning multiple attacks across several countries. The capture demonstrated continued counter-terrorism cooperation targeting ISIS-K networks operating between Central Asia and South Asia. ISIS-K has maintained active cells in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.

• France La Poste DDoS attack continued through December 23 knocking offline websites and digital platforms
• Over 250,000 employees affected with package deliveries blocked during Christmas rush
• Romanian National Water Management Agency struggled to recover from BitLocker ransomware affecting 1,000 systems
• Staff resorted to telephone and radio communications while operational technology remained unaffected
• Russian strike on Ukraine energy infrastructure represented major cyber-physical attack on SCADA systems

French postal service cyberattack blocks Christmas deliveries

The France La Poste DDoS attack that began December 22 remained unresolved through December 23, knocking offline all information systems, websites, mobile apps, and the Digiposte digital identity platform. Over 250,000 employees were affected, with package deliveries blocked during the peak Christmas rush. Paris post offices turned away customers unable to process transactions. A Russian hacktivist group claimed responsibility for the attack, though French authorities have not confirmed attribution. La Banque Postale redirected payment approvals to SMS as technicians worked to restore services. The attack represented one of the most significant disruptions to French critical infrastructure during the holiday season.

Romanian water agency ransomware recovery continues

Romania's National Water Management Agency struggled to recover from a BitLocker ransomware attack on December 23 that began December 20, affecting approximately 1,000 computer systems across 10 of 11 regional river basin organizations. Staff resorted to telephone and radio communications while operational technology controlling dams and flood defenses remained unaffected. The attackers left a ransom note demanding negotiations within 7 days. Romanian cybersecurity authorities worked to isolate infected systems and restore administrative functions. The attack demonstrated continued vulnerability of critical infrastructure agencies to ransomware despite increased cybersecurity investments following previous incidents.

Russian strikes target Ukrainian SCADA infrastructure

The Russian strike on Ukraine's energy infrastructure on December 23 represented the most significant cyber-physical attack of the day, deliberately targeting digital control systems and SCADA networks managing power generation and distribution. Attacks on the Burshtynska and Ladyzhynska thermal power plants and Kanivska Hydroelectric Plant struck both physical infrastructure and the industrial control systems managing operations. Ukrainian cybersecurity teams worked alongside repair crews to restore both physical and digital infrastructure. The coordinated assault demonstrated Russia's integrated approach combining kinetic strikes with cyber operations to maximize disruption of critical infrastructure.