Here is a look at the most significant, newsworthy events that occurred in November that you may have missed

ISIS Leader Pronounced Dead

On the 30th of November, the Islamic State announced the death of its third ‘caliph’, Abu al-Hasan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi. Al-Qurashi was killed on the 15th of October in Daraa, Syria, after detonating a suicide bomb whilst fighting against former Free Syrian Army (FSA) rebels, rebels who in 2018 surrendered to the Assad regime and were ‘reconciled’. These former rebel groups have been given large degrees of autonomy in Southern Syria to operate on behalf and with the support of the Assad regime. The incident that led to the death of al-Qurashi, however, seems to have been conducted independently, a phenomenon that attests to the reported autonomy of these former rebel groups.

Iran Protests

In November, the Iranian protests continued across the country, but especially in Kurdish and Baloch regions, with armed confrontation between protesters and security forces being reported on throughout the month. Iran handed out its first death sentence relating to the protests in November for setting fire to a government building to an unidentified person in a bid to strike fear into the protesters. Over 18000 people have been arrested by the Iranian government and 500 killed according to domestic and international civil society organisations. Reports continued to emerge of lethal force being used against non-violent protesters in Kurdish and Baloch regions.

Turkey Launches Operation Claw-Sword

Turkey stepped up its war against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as well as the Syrian Arab Army (SAA), launching a series of airstrikes against both parties active in Northern Syria on the 20th of November. The Turkish Air Force targeted oil and gas infrastructure and a strike on a hospital was also reported by official SDF sources. Airstrikes also targeted the infamous Al-Hol camp, where ISIS militants and their families are being held by the SDF. The SDF reported that due to these airstrikes, ISIS-affiliated prisoners held at the camp were able to escape.

Moroccan Fans Riot after historic Belgium Win

Following Morocco’s historic win over Belgium at the FIFA 2022 World Cup, Moroccans and people of Moroccan descent in Belgium and the Netherlands took to the streets to celebrate their team’s shock win against one of the tournament’s favourites. The celebrations quickly got out of hand with reports of looting and vandalism accompanying violent clashes with police. In Belgium, videos of fans smashing and upturning cars and shattering store windows spread around the internet and riot police were deployed to the streets of Brussels in an attempt to restore order. 

China Protests

Despite minor protests relating to China’s strict ‘zero-Covid’ policy occurring around China throughout early- and mid-November, towards the end of the month, major protests broke out across the country on November 26th in solidarity with the 10 victims of a fire in a Uyghur residential building in Xinjiang province that had occurred two days earlier. The nature of the protests quickly evolved into being anti-lockdown and more broadly anti-authoritarian, with protesters in Chengdu chanting, “We don’t want lifelong rulers! We don’t want emperors!” 

Liberation of Kherson

On the 11th of November, Ukrainian forces on their continued counteroffensive recaptured the city of Kherson in Southern Ukraine following a Russian withdrawal. Kherson had been occupied by the Russian army since the start of March and was supposedly annexed by Russia following the referendum that had taken place in September. Following the arrival of Ukrainian forces and the securing of the city, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the town and participated in a ceremony to re-raise the Ukrainian flag. Elsewhere in Ukraine, Russian forces are slowly capturing territory in the Donbas.

Iran Bombs Iraqi Kurdistan…Twice

On two separate occasions in November, the IRGC launched missiles targeting Iranian-Kurdish parties based in Iraqi Kurdistan. The first attack occurred on November 14th, when at least four missiles targeted the headquarters of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI) near the town of Koya, killing two. In addition, the Komala party was targeted by four drones. A week later on November 21st, the KDPI was once again targeted by Iranian missiles at the same Koya base, as well as in the Erbil region, leading to the death of one KDPI Peshmerga. Iran blames Iranian-Kurdish militants based in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region for the ongoing protests and has threatened further attacks, with IRGC ground forces commander Mohammad Pakpour saying, “either clear your bases, or wait for our next attacks.”

IRA Revival Bomb Attack in Strabane

In the town of Strabane in Northern Ireland, two UK police officers and their patrol vehicle were targeted with a bomb planted on the side of the road at around 11pm on the 17th of November. Neither of the officers were injured in the attack, which was later claimed by the dissident ‘New IRA’. The New IRA was founded in 2012 and is the most active dissident republican group in Northern Ireland. At least 7 have been arrested in connection with the attack, which police are dubbing as attempted murder. 

Istanbul Bombing

On 13th November, 4:20pm local time, a bomb was detonated on Istanbul’s iconic Istiklal Avenue, killing eight people and wounding over 80. Soon afterwards, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that the attack ‘smelled like terrorism’. On Monday 14th November, Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu accused the PKK of conducting the attack. Turkish police announced that they had detained 46 people in connection with the attack, including Ahlam al-Bashir, a Syrian woman who was suspected of and has since confessed to planting the bomb. Al-Bashir reportedly informed authorities that she was trained by the PKK-affiliated People’s Defense Units (YPG) and carried out the attack on YPG orders. The YPG immediately denied responsibility for the attacks. 

Ukrainian AA Missile Kill 2 in Poland

On the 15th of November, two Polish citizens were killed by a missile that landed in the village of Przewodów on the Polish-Ukrainian border. Initially, it was reported that this was a Russian missile however later investigations by the United States determined that the fatal explosion was most likely due to a Ukrainian air defence missile targeting Russian missiles. Russian forces had been targeting infrastructure in Western Ukraine that day causing blackouts and energy shortages in much of the country. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy blamed Russian missiles for the attacks but was later disproved by US-led investigations.