Terrorism Watch

US-Iran Tensions: The U.S. military carried out “self-defense” strikes in southern Iran on Monday (May 25, 2026), targeting missile launch sites and boats placing mines. This latest escalation came even as President Donald Trump stated on social media that negotiations were “proceeding nicely.” According to U.S. Central Command, the strikes were conducted “to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces,” while emphasizing that the military was “using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire.” “U.S. forces conducted self-defense strikes in southern Iran today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces,” Capt. Tim Hawkins, a CENTCOM spokesperson, said, as quoted by FOX News. “Targets included missile launch sites and Iranian boats attempting to emplace mines. U.S. Central Command continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire,” Hawkins added. No further details were available at the time of filing this report, including speci...

A new survey suggests most Germans lack confidence in the Bundeswehr’s ability to defend the country amid growing concerns over security in Europe. The findings come as senior military officials warn that Russia could pose a direct threat to NATO within the coming years. Confidence low According to Digi24, citing dpa and polling institute Insa, only 17 percent of respondents said they believed the German armed forces could adequately defend the country. Around 72 percent said they did not trust the Bundeswehr’s defensive capabilities. The survey was conducted between May 21 and 22 on a representative sample of 1,005 people. The findings were published by the German newspaper Bild. Russia fears The poll also showed mixed views regarding the threat posed by Russia. According to Digi24, 38 percent of respondents said they were worried about a possible Russian attack, while 50 percent said they were not concerned. That figure was slightly lower than a similar survey conducted in ...

Deadly Attacks: A suicide car bomb near a train in Quetta killed 24 people and injured over 50, highlighting rising separatist violence by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). Targeting Chinese Projects: The BLA opposes China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) investments, attacking Chinese workers, infrastructure, and mining operations, citing exploitation of local resources. International Implications: Balochistan’s rare-earth minerals and strategic location attract global attention, with the US investing $1.25bn in mining projects amid Pakistan-China tensions.   Balochistan Train Blast: A deadly blast targeting a train carrying Pakistani soldiers in Balochistan has raised questions about the worsening security situation in Pakistan’s southwest, where separatist attacks have become more frequent and more deadly over the past two years. At least 24 people were killed and more than 50 injured after a suicide car bomb exploded near the train in Quetta, the capital of Pakistan’s Ba...

Reconnaissance Mission: Two doctors, Dr Muzammil Shakeel and Dr Shaheen Saeed, allegedly used a family trip in August 2025 to survey key government buildings and crowded public areas in Lucknow for a terror attack. Explosive Plans: Investigators claim they researched TATP chemical suppliers and intended to set up a covert explosives manufacturing base, mimicking the Delhi Red Fort blast methods. Targeted Locations: Sensitive sites included Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha, Lok Bhawan, Bapu Bhawan, and public spaces like Imambada, Lal Bagh, Aminabad, with detailed on-foot surveys and mobile tracking confirming their presence  India’s premier anti-terror agency has uncovered a chilling plot to target key government buildings in Lucknow, allegedly linked to the same terror module accused in the Delhi Red Fort blast case. According to the National Investigation Agency’s chargesheet, two doctors – Dr Muzammil Shakeel and Dr Shaheen Saeed – allegedly used a seemingly ordinary family trip from ...

The Russians fired the Oreshnik missile at Ukraine's capital Kyiv. The missile strike was carried out two days after 18 Russian students were killed in a Ukrainian drone strike on Moscow. The Oreshnik strike is seen as a response to the drone attack on Moscow. The Ukrainians do not possess any weapon to stop the strike of this Russian Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) that flies as fast as Mach 10 or 10 times the speed of sound. This translates to a speed of 12,300 kilometers an hour or 3.4 kilometers per second. That means the 230 km Delhi to Chandigarh in about a minute or the 120 km Mumbai to Pune aerial distance in a little over half a minute and the 270 km aerial distance between Bengaluru and Chennai in 80 seconds. The dangers of MIRV missile What makes this missile more dangerous is its ability to carry a Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) warhead. This is a type of ballistic missile payload, that allows a single missile to carry multiple nuc...

Jerusalem: Israel expects India to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation, two senior Israeli officials told ThePrint, adding that the same has been conveyed to Indian officials at various diplomatic levels. The IRGC, the Israeli officials said, has already been sanctioned by nearly 44 countries and Tel Aviv has presented the threats the Iranian organisation poses to various countries including India.  “We have certain expectations from India with regards to the IRGC. Forty-four countries have designated the IRGC as a terrorist organisation. It is time for India to take similar steps for the IRGC,” one Israeli official said. A second official highlighted the case of Australia, which last year designated IRGC as a “state sponsor of terrorism”. The move came after Australian security forces investigated at least two anti-Semitic attacks in Sydney and Melbourne in 2024 and identified links to the IRGC, a branch of the Iranian armed forces. C...

BLA's Growing Strength and Female Suicide Wing TP Tyagi, Defence Expert, said that the Jaffar Express incident demonstrates that the Balochistan Liberation Army is no longer just a small group. Tyagi, in a conversation with ANI, said that within the Balochistan Liberation Army, a wing of female suicide bombers has been formed. "This incident demonstrates that the Balochistan Liberation Army is no longer just a small group; it now includes a women's brigade. Within that, a wing of female suicide bombers has been formed. They are now taking up arms and are prepared to fight against Pakistan for their independence," he said. Wider Unrest in Pakistan Tyagi said that apart from the BLA, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, Afghan Taliban and more groups are rising against the government in Pakistan. "At a time when the Balochistan Liberation Army is active on one side, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan is on another, the Afghan Taliban is on a third, and people in PoK and Sindh are als...

A sprawling terror conspiracy stretching far beyond Faridabad has come to light after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) uncovered the Faridabad terror module’s plans for multiple bomb-making facilities, repeated high-intensity explosions and coordinated strikes targeting crowded and high-security locations across India. Investigators now believe the dismantled Faridabad terror module was only the starting point of a much larger operation designed to create sustained panic through serial attacks. Nearly 2,900 kilograms of fertiliser were seized by the NIA during the probe. According to reports, the seizure allegedly meant for explosive preparation may have prevented a chain of devastating attacks. Agencies say the accused were not preparing for a single strike, but were allegedly building a network capable of carrying out repeated explosions across different states over an extended period. Officials probing the case say the Faridabad facility was allegedly planned as an operationa...

A large-scale security operation unfolded across parts of Kashmir on Monday as the National Investigation Agency (NIA), backed by Jammu and Kashmir Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, carried out coordinated searches linked to an ongoing terror-related investigation. The raids, spread across Srinagar and Shopian districts, targeted locations suspected to have connections with extremist and separatist networks under the agency’s scanner. Among the sites searched was the residence of former Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shahzada Aurangzeb in Shopian district, signalling an intensified focus on organisations and individuals previously accused by security agencies of involvement in anti-national activities in Jammu and Kashmir. Raids conducted across Srinagar and Shopian Security teams launched simultaneous searches at multiple locations early in the day as part of the NIA’s continuing investigation into alleged terror-linked networks operating in the Valley. Another location...

  Request was met with silence on call with Middle Eastern leaders, Axios reports; it comes as Israeli officials said alarmed that emerging deal 'does not serve Israel's interest' US President Donald Trump told the leaders of several Arab and Muslim countries in a Saturday phone call that he expects them to normalize relations with Israel if he reaches a deal to end the war with Iran, two US officials told the  Axios news site  on Sunday. Trump also referenced the request in a social media post, and suggested that Iran could “perhaps” also establish relations with Israel. But the ask was reportedly met with silence from the Arab and Muslim leaders. The request suggests that Trump is seeking to offer Israel an upside in the nascent deal to end the war, whose  reported terms  have raised alarm in Jerusalem. Channel 12 reported on Sunday that senior Israeli officials have warned, “As it seems, [the agreement] does not serve Israel’s interest.” Other officials have ...

  New Delhi:  Since the Covid pandemic, India has pitched itself as the world's next factory floor -- an alternative to China. Apple suppliers expanded in the nation. Semiconductor plans were announced. New industrial parks were promised. The push was not without results -- India's electronics exports surged from $8.6 billion in 2015 to an all-time high of $47 billion in 2025. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is expecting electronics exports to reach  $120 billion  by 2026 end. But just as India doubles down on manufacturing, China has tightened its grip on the very supply chains that power those factories. Beijing's new State Council Decrees 834 and 835 -- that restrict exports -- have triggered anxiety across India's electronics and auto sectors. Industry executives have warned that China's restrictions on export of critical machinery and components could disrupt expansion plans, delay investments and expose India's continued depe...

  An explosive drone impacted in the northern border community of Metula, following sirens that sounded a short while ago, the IDF says. According to Hebrew media reports, the drone exploded on the roof of a home in the community. There are no reports of injuries. More from today’s Liveblog: Pope says concept of ‘just war’ is ‘outdated,’ warns against use of conflict to distract from domestic issues Sirens in north warn of suspected drone attack Iran says charging fees for ‘navigational services’ through Hormuz, rather than imposing tolls Source  https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/hezbollah-explosive-drone-hits-home-in-metula-no-injuries-reported/

  Syria held follow-up parliamentary elections on Sunday in the Kurdish-majority northeastern province of Hassakeh and the town of Kobani, areas that were reintegrated under Government control after fighting in January. Other parts of Syria voted for the People’s Assembly last October, almost a year after the Assad dynasty was ousted in a rebel offensive. However, at that point, large swaths of the country’s northeastern region were still under the control of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, notably Hassakeh and Kobani. The country is still reeling from the devastating impact of its uprising-turned-civil war from 2011 until 2024, as scepticism remains among large segments of its minorities now living under Islamist rule, while millions of Syrians live in poverty.       In January, a Government offensive against Kurdish fighters reintegrated that part of the country with Damascus, under interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s Islamist-led authoriti...

  At least 20 people are feared dead and many injured after a powerful explosion ripped through a shuttle train in Pakistan’s Balochistan province on Sunday, officials said. The banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for the blast. The shuttle train was heading from Quetta Cantonment to the railway station in the city when it was targeted near Chaman Phatak, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan reported. A BLA spokesperson has said the attack was carried out as the train was transporting military personnel from the cantonment area. While the government has officially confirmed 14 deaths so far, including three personnel of the Frontier Corps, officials say that the toll is likely to increase. Local police officials, however, have said that 20 people are feared dead, even though some media reports have already reported a higher toll. Pakistan’s Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi has said there were civilian passengers in the shuttle train, and the explosion...

  The government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has effectively paved the way for the resurgence of a radical Kurdish Islamist network that seeks to establish a sharia-based independent Kurdish state spanning territories in Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran, after Turkish courts quietly dismantled key terrorism convictions of members of the group and reframed years of organized militant activity as ordinary criminal conduct. The group, known as the Kürdistan İslami Devrim Hareketi (Kurdistan Islamic Revolution Movement in English, Tevgera Şoreja İslamiya Kürdistan in Kurdish, KİDH), first emerged publicly in the 1990s as a clandestine Islamist Kurdish organization advocating an armed campaign to create an Islamic Kurdish state across what it described as the divided Kurdish lands of the Middle East.  Turkish judicial documents, police investigations and court rulings reviewed by Nordic Monitor describe the organization as combining Kurdish nationalism with radical Islami...

  When peace talks happen, they are meant to shape the future of a country. But one group is almost always missing from the table: children. This absence is striking.  Children are among those most affected by conflict, yet they are rarely included in decisions about how peace is built. And today, as peace processes themselves are changing, their exclusion may be getting worse.  Recent research  on children’s involvement in peace processes highlights a worrying trend. As peace negotiations become more fragmented and focused on short-term deals, there is even less space for groups like children to be included. A changing landscape of peace For many years, peace agreements were seen as opportunities to transform societies. In places like Colombia, peace negotiations aimed not only to end violence but also to address deeper issues such as inequality, justice, and political participation. In these more ambitious processes, there was at least some space, however limited, ...