Executive Summary

It's Saturday, January 31st. On the 30th, Sub-Saharan Africa recorded the day's highest casualty toll with Boko Haram attacks killing 36 in northeastern Nigeria, while Islamic State claimed the Niger airport assault. Ukraine suffered continued Russian strikes killing 7 civilians across four regions on Day 1,436 of the war, though an energy infrastructure truce provided temporary respite. Syria achieved a significant milestone with Kurdish SDF forces agreeing to military integration with the transitional government in Damascus. Pakistan announced elimination of 46 fighters in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa counter-insurgency operations. Iran-US tensions remained elevated with direct military threats exchanged. Burkina Faso's junta dissolved all political parties. The CISA 2015 cybersecurity framework expired without congressional renewal.

Syria's Kurdish forces agree to historic military integration with Damascus

The Syrian Democratic Forces and Syria's transitional government signed a comprehensive military integration agreement on January 30, marking a watershed moment in the country's post-Assad transition. The accord establishes a phased process for merging the Kurdish-led SDF—which controls much of northeastern Syria—with the Syrian Arab Army under a unified command structure. France announced it "actively facilitated" the negotiations, which took place in Damascus between SDF Commander-in-Chief Mazloum Abdi and transitional government officials.

Under the agreement, the SDF will form a new military division comprising three brigades, with a separate brigade for Kobani forces to be affiliated with Aleppo Governorate. The transitional government will deploy units to administrative centers in Hasakah and Qamishli, while assuming control of all border crossings, oil fields, and civilian institutions. Local security forces throughout the northeast will be merged into the national structure. The deal addresses one of the most complex challenges facing Syria's new leadership: integrating autonomous military forces that have operated independently since 2012.

Israeli airstrikes hit southern Lebanon despite ceasefire

Israeli aircraft struck multiple targets across southern Lebanon's Zahrani district on Friday evening, hitting areas including Zefta, al-Nmeiriyeh, Azza, Kafra, al-Mseilih, Tuffahata, and al-Najjariyah. The strikes caused electrical outages across several towns and damaged a vehicle showroom and auto repair workshop in Daddawiyeh, injuring 2 people. The Israeli military stated it was targeting "Hezbollah infrastructure sites." These operations continue despite the November 2024 ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon. Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem issued statements calling for regional solidarity with Iran amid escalating tensions.

US strike kills three al-Qaeda operatives in Yemen's Marib

American forces conducted an airstrike in Yemen's Marib province on January 30, killing 3 al-Qaeda members at a residential compound. The strike represents continued US counter-terrorism operations in Yemen, which persist amid the broader regional instability. Meanwhile, Houthi forces removed telecommunications equipment and vehicles from at least 6 unstaffed UN offices in Sanaa without explanation. UN Yemen Coordinator Julien Harneis warned that further restrictions would worsen the humanitarian crisis affecting 21 million people requiring aid. The UN noted 73 colleagues have been detained by Houthis since 2021.

Iran-US tensions reach critical threshold

Iran's military issued direct warnings to US forces, with Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia stating that American aircraft carriers possess "serious vulnerabilities" and that numerous US military assets in the Persian Gulf remain "within the range of our medium-range missiles." The USS Abraham Lincoln strike group is currently positioned in the region as part of a broader US military buildup. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan in Istanbul, declaring Iran's missile program "non-negotiable." The US Treasury Department announced new sanctions, targeting Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni Kalagari and businessman Babak Morteza Zanjani for alleged IRGC money laundering.

In a separate diplomatic rupture, South Africa declared Israel's chargé d'affaires Ariel Seidman persona non grata, giving him 72 hours to leave the country over alleged "insulting attacks" against President Ramaphosa and "unacceptable violations of diplomatic norms." Israel issued a reciprocal expulsion of South Africa's senior representative.

Sources: Al Jazeera, Reuters, French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Anadolu Agency, CBS News, Press TV, US Treasury Department, Syrian Democratic Forces, UN Yemen

Russian attacks kill seven civilians across Ukraine on day 1,436 of war

Russian forces launched coordinated drone and artillery strikes across Ukraine on January 30, killing 7 civilians and wounding at least 22 others in attacks spanning four oblasts. The deadliest strike hit Vilniansk in Zaporizhzhia region, where a drone attack killed 3 people—two women and one man—while destroying residential buildings and sparking fires. Regional Military Administration head Ivan Fedorov reported 841 Russian attacks struck 34 settlements across Zaporizhzhia oblast in the preceding 24 hours.

In Kryvyi Rih—President Zelenskyy's hometown—Russian strikes on a residential area killed an elderly woman and wounded three others. Regional Defence Council head Oleksandr Vilkul confirmed the attack targeted a private residential neighborhood. Donetsk oblast recorded 2 civilian deaths and three injuries in strikes on Raihorodok and Oleksiievo-Druzhkivka, while Kharkiv region reported one person killed in Khatnie village. In Odesa, a man succumbed to injuries sustained in Tuesday's attack, raising that incident's death toll to four.

Combat operations intensify as territorial gains continue

Ukrainian military officials recorded 157 combat clashes across the front lines on January 30. Russian forces launched one missile strike, 42 air strikes using conventional munitions, and deployed 106 guided aerial bombs (KABs) against Ukrainian positions and settlements. Artillery units conducted 3,117 shellings of Ukrainian settlements and military positions. Russian forces also employed an estimated 4,358 kamikaze drones over the 24-hour period.

The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed capture of Berestok village in Donetsk oblast's Konstantinovka direction, as well as Ternovatoye in the Zaporizhzhia sector. Ukrainian General Staff reported eliminating 1,310 Russian troops in the preceding 24 hours, bringing claimed total Russian losses since February 24, 2022 to approximately 1,238,710 personnel. Ukrainian forces also reported destroying one tank, four armored vehicles, 15 artillery systems, and 555 drones.

Energy truce and prisoner exchange provide brief respite

Ukraine's Ministry of Energy reported no attacks on energy infrastructure overnight January 29-30—the first such respite in an extended period. The pause came after US President Trump stated he personally asked President Putin to halt attacks on Ukrainian cities for one week due to extreme cold, with overnight temperatures in Kyiv reaching -23°C (-9.4°F). Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed Trump's request but stated the agreement extended only until February 1. Despite the temporary energy truce, 454 residential buildings in Kyiv remained without heating.

In a significant humanitarian development, Ukraine received the bodies of 1,000 soldiers from Russia in exchange for the remains of 38 Russian servicemembers. Separately, Ukrainian drone operations killed a hospital employee on the grounds of Graivoron hospital in Russia's Belgorod region, according to regional emergency response authorities.

Sources: Al Jazeera, Ukrainian General Staff, Ukrinform, South Front, Global Security, Democracy Now, Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration

No significant conflict developments, military operations, terrorist attacks, or security incidents were documented in the Americas theater on January 30, 2026. 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.

Boko Haram attack kills 36 in coordinated northeast Nigeria operations

Suspected Boko Haram fighters conducted two deadly attacks in Borno State on January 30, killing 36 people in the deadliest incident of the day globally. In the first attack, militants assaulted a construction site in Sabon Gari town, opening fire on workers who had traveled to the area for employment. Senator Aliyu Ndume and relatives of the victims confirmed 25 laborers were killed in the assault. Hours earlier, a pre-dawn attack on a Nigerian Army base in the same region killed 9 soldiers and 2 members of the Civilian Joint Task Force. Sixteen security personnel sustained injuries in that operation.

Islamic State claims responsibility for Niger airport assault

The Islamic State in the Sahel (EIS) via Amaq News Agency claimed responsibility for the January 28-29 coordinated attack on Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, Niger's capital. The assault, involving both gunfire and explosives, targeted the shared military-civilian facility and lasted approximately two hours beginning around midnight. Nigerien security forces killed 20 attackers and arrested 11, while suffering 4 soldiers wounded. Russian troops reportedly defended their sector of the airport complex. The attack damaged several civilian aircraft, including an Air Côte d'Ivoire plane.

Niger's military government responded by accusing France, Benin, and Ivory Coast of supporting the attack, though no evidence was provided. The US State Department ordered departure of non-emergency personnel and issued a Level 4 travel advisory for Niger following the incident.

Burkina Faso junta dissolves all political parties

Burkina Faso's military government issued a decree on January 30 dissolving all political parties and seizing their assets, marking a significant consolidation of authoritarian control. Interior Minister Emile Zerbo justified the decision by citing the "proliferation of parties leading to divisions" within the country. The move comes as the Sahel nation faces an intensifying insurgency from jihadist groups including JNIM and Islamic State affiliates, with the military junta struggling to maintain security across much of the territory.

US AFRICOM conducts airstrike targeting al-Shabaab near Mogadishu

US Africa Command announced a coordinated airstrike with Somali Federal Government forces targeting al-Shabaab militants approximately 56 kilometers southwest of Mogadishu on January 29. Casualty figures were not disclosed. The operation occurred as Turkey deployed F-16 fighter jets to Somalia and Jubaland state forces secured a victory against al-Shabaab in Kuda. The ongoing conflict in South Sudan continued to deteriorate, with UN Flash Update #3 documenting fighting between SSPDF, SPLA-IO, and White Army forces that has displaced over 180,000 people since December 2025.

Sources: ABC News, Al Jazeera, OkayAfrica, US News & World Report, Wikipedia, US State Department, Senator Aliyu Ndume, Nigerien Armed Forces

Myanmar junta continues airstrikes as KIA retakes mining zone positions

Myanmar's military conducted sustained airstrikes on the Minletpan scam center compound in Karen State, which the Karen National Union seized more than two months ago. Despite the aerial campaign, junta forces have been unable to recapture the facility near the Thai border. In northern Myanmar, the Kachin Independence Army retook military camps in a mining zone following a junta offensive, demonstrating continued resistance capability among ethnic armed organizations.

The UN Secretary-General issued a statement marking five years since the military takeover, noting a "rapidly deteriorating situation" with 5.2 million people now displaced internally and across borders. Myanmar election results released January 29-30 showed the junta-aligned Union Solidarity and Development Party winning 232 of 263 lower house seats and 109 of 157 upper house seats in Phase 3 voting—elections widely dismissed as neither free nor fair. Thai Foreign Minister stated ASEAN's five-point consensus plan has "failed" to halt the violence.

China conducts combat patrols at disputed Scarborough Shoal

China's Southern Theater Command executed naval and air patrols around Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, describing them as "combat readiness patrols" in response to "infringement provocations." The operations occurred days after US-Philippines joint exercises in the area. The shoal lies within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone but is claimed by China and has been a persistent flashpoint. Simultaneously, senior officials from ASEAN and China met in Cebu, Philippines for the 25th consultation on implementing the Declaration of Conduct, agreeing on the importance of maintaining peace through dialogue and restraint.

In an enforcement action with regional security implications, Chinese authorities executed 11 individuals connected to criminal scam compound operations along the Myanmar border. The executed were members of the "Ming family" syndicate that operated with Myanmar militia cooperation.

Sources: Myanmar Now, RAPPLER, Spectrum News NY1, WHBL, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UN Secretary-General, Thai Foreign Ministry

Pakistan forces kill 46 fighters in twin Balochistan operations

Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations announced completion of two major counter-insurgency operations on January 30. In Harnai District, security forces killed 30 fighters identified as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan members on the district outskirts. In Panjgur District, operations eliminated 11 Baloch separatist fighters—Pakistani military claims alleged Indian backing without providing evidence. Security forces recovered ammunition and money allegedly linked to a December bank robbery. No Pakistani military casualties were reported.

A separate operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Bannu District killed 5 TTP fighters, including commander Zewaran alias Al-Badri, during a 10-hour joint security force and police operation employing more than 25 quadcopter strikes. Three civilians, including two women, were killed during the operation, with several more injured.

Kashmir anti-terror operation enters third week

Indian security forces intensified operations in the Chatroo belt of Kishtwar District, hunting 3 Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) fighters in snowbound forest terrain. The operation, involving paratroopers, Rashtriya Rifles, and local police, was originally launched January 18 following intelligence inputs. Mobile internet services remained suspended in a 6-kilometer radius covering Singhpora, Chingam, and Chatroo villages. An initial January 18 gunbattle in Sonnar forest resulted in one paratrooper killed (Havildar Gajendra Singh) and seven soldiers wounded, three critically, before militants escaped using terrain cover.

The Pakistan-Afghanistan border remained closed since October 2025 following cross-border clashes, with Pakistan demanding Taliban address TTP sanctuary issues. NPR reported trade has ground to a halt, affecting 60% of Afghanistan's pharmaceutical imports which originated from Pakistan. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa revenue has declined 53% due to the closure.

Sources: Al Jazeera, The Tribune, Social News XYZ, Pakistan ISPR, Indian Ministry of Defense, NPR

US cybersecurity framework weakens as CISA 2015 expires

The Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 (CISA 2015) expired on January 30, 2026 after a temporary extension from November 2025 lapsed without congressional reauthorization. The expiration removes statutory liability protections and incentives encouraging private sector companies to share cyber threat information with federal agencies—a framework credited with improving public-private cybersecurity coordination over the past decade.

Murphy Law Firm announced an investigation into a data breach at The Phia Group, a healthcare-focused administrative services company, with personal and sensitive information compromised. The ShinyHunters threat group claimed theft of approximately 10 million lines of data from Match Group dating platforms including Hinge, Match.com, and OkCupid.

Iran's military-grade GPS jamming operations continued disrupting Starlink satellite internet service since January 8, causing 80% connectivity reduction in some areas with packet loss ranging from 30-80%. The "Bizarre Bazaar" cybercrime operation targeting exposed Large Language Model (LLM) service endpoints remained active, monetizing unauthorized access to AI systems.

Sources: Paul, Weiss law firm, GlobeNewswire, Rest of World, France 24, Cyware