News – November 2023


  • Belgium helps UNMAS continue supporting operations in Iraq

    November 27, 2023

    The Belgian government once again contributed about $802,000 to the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in Iraq in support of essential mine action operations. Delivering effective and sustainable explosive hazard management assistance as well as offering technical and advisory support to the national mine response authorities are among the activities that will take place, according ...

  • U.S. Navy Detains 5 After Failed Attempt to Capture Merchant Ship, IKE in Persian Gulf

    November 26, 2023

    Five people suspected of attempting to hijack a merchant ship in the Gulf of Aden are in U.S. Navy custody, a defense official confirmed to USNI News on Sunday. The five had boarded and attempted to take control of the M/V Central Park, a tanker owned by an Israeli businessman, on Sunday while the ship was ...

  • UK: Riot police attacked by ‘hostile’ crowd in Auchinleck

    November 26, 2023

    Riot police officers came under attack from a “hostile” crowd during large-scale disorder in an East Ayrshire village. One officer had to be taken to hospital for treatment after being hit by a firework as trouble flared in Auchinleck on Saturday evening. Footage on social media showed officers in helmets and carrying riot shields as they ...

  • India: 13-yr-old boy mistakes bomb for ball, sustains severe injuriesies

    November 26, 2023

    A 13-year-old boy was injured while trying to play with a bomb, mistaking it for a ball, in Deganga of North 24-Parganas on Sunday afternoon. He mistook the contents of the packet for balls. He picked up one in his hand and threw it. As soon as the object hit the ground, it exploded. Later, police ...

  • Cambodia: CMAC to train dogs to smell for drugs

    November 26, 2023

    Heng Ratana, the Executive Director of the Cambodian Mines Action Center (CMAC), says CMAC will be collaborating with the National Police to train dogs to sniff out drugs. The aim of this training is to combat and prevent drug trafficking in Cambodia. Ratana said that mine detection dogs had been helping CMAC deminers in searching anti-personnel ...

  • Israeli-owned ship hit in suspected Iran drone attack

    November 25, 2023

    An Israeli-owned cargo ship was damaged in a suspected drone attack by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the Indian Ocean, a US defence official said on Saturday. “We are aware of reports that there was a suspected IRGC-initiated Shahed-136 UAV (that) struck a civilian motor vessel in the Indian Ocean,” the official said, confirming the ...

  • Northern Ireland: Viable device found during security alert in Dungiven

    November 25, 2023

    A viable device has been discovered during a security alert in County Londonderry, police have said. The alert happened in the Ballyquin Road area of Dungiven on Friday afternoon. Officers attended the scene and cordons were put in place following a report of a suspicious object. Ammunition Technical Officers (ATO) examined the object and declared it ...

  • Israel: Second wave of hostage releases set for Saturday

    November 25, 2023

    Hamas will release another 13 Israeli hostages on Saturday as part of the ongoing temporary ceasefire deal. Egypt has received the list from Hamas of the 13 hostages to be released, security sources said. Israeli authorities say in exchange 42 Palestinian prisoners will be released the same day under the deal. Read more… Source: The Jerusalem Post  

  • EOD Airmen train at Fort Irwin’s National Training Center

    November 24, 2023

    In a unique inter-service collaboration, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal flight from the 812th Civil Engineer Squadron recently teamed up with the Army’s C Company, 2916th Aviation Battalion, “Desert Dustoff,” for an intensive series of training exercises at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California. The objective was to put the EOD team through physically and ...

  • Out of Control: The Trafficking of Improvised Explosive Device Components and Commercial Explosives in West Africa

    November 24, 2023

    The use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in West Africa expanded dramatically over the last decade. IED-building networks have established material and training links across conflict areas in West and Central Africa, and their designs have remained constant and inexpensive throughout the region—helping to increase their use in attacks against domestic and international security forces, ...

  • Liberia: National Security Institutions, Others Benefit from C-IED Training

    November 24, 2023

    The Liberia National Commission on Arms (LiNCA) has collaborated with the Small Arms Survey, an international organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, to provide state security institutions and key ministries of government training focusing on counter-improvised explosive devices (C-IEDs). The training, which started on Wednesday, November 22–24, brought together 26 participants from state security agencies, which include ...

  • UK: Man sentenced for possessing an explosive substance – High Wycombe

    November 23, 2023

    Following an investigation by Thames Valley Police, a man has been sentenced for possessing an explosive substance in High Wycombe. At Aylesbury Crown Court yesterday (22/11), Jack Coleman, aged 19, of Amersham Hill, High Wycombe, was sentenced to a hospital order. The court also made a forfeiture and destruction order for bomb making equipment and a ...

  • Ireland: 34 people arrested after riotous mob causes huge destruction

    November 23, 2023

    A clean-up is under way in Dublin city centre this morning following violent clashes between large groups of people and gardaí in Dublin last night. Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said 34 people had been arrested and “many more arrests will follow”. Mr Harris said a riotous mob had caused huge destruction in Dublin, including 13 shops ...

  • US intercepts explosive-laden drones launched from Yemen

    November 23, 2023

    The Pentagon announced this morning that a US destroyer intercepted several explosive-laden drones launched from Yemen from areas controlled by the Houthis. The US Central Military Command, Centcom, said in a post on X: “On the morning (Yemen time) of November 23, the USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) shot down multiple one-way attack drones launched from ...

  • Jammu and Kashmir: Drone drops box containing 9 grenades, 1 pistol, IED in Akhnoor

    November 23, 2023

    The Jammu and Kashmir police in a joint operation with the Indian Army, on Thursday, recovered a box that was dropped by a drone in the area of Palanwallah village near the LoC (Line of Control), said the police. According to the information received from the officials, the police recovered 9 grenades, one pistol, 2 Magazines ...

  • MINUSMA’s Nepalese Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company: Heroes Behind Safe Convoys In Mali

    November 22, 2023

    As MINUSMA inches closer to its withdrawal from Mali by 31st December 2023 in line with UN Security resolution 2690, it is important to acknowledge the significant contributions of the Nepal Explosive Ordnance Disposal company to the implementation of the MINUSMA’s successive mandates in the past decade. Their core mission was to mitigate the IED threat, ...

  • Pakistan: Two soldiers killed in Razmak IED explosion

    November 22, 2023

    Two soldiers of the Pakistan Army embraced martyrdom when an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded near a convoy of security forces in North Waziristan district, the military said in a statement. The statement said that a sanitisation operation is being carried out to eliminate any terrorists present in the area as the security forces of Pakistan ...

  • Afghanistan tops global list for highest landmine-affected areas

    November 22, 2023

    The Danish Refugee Council recently announced that Afghanistan is recognized as one of the countries in the world with the highest landmine-affected areas. The pervasive presence of landmines in Afghanistan poses a significant humanitarian challenge, affecting the safety and livelihoods of the population. International collaboration and support are crucial in mitigating the impact of landmines and fostering ...