At approximately 2:30 pm local time, at least four militants opened fire at close range on a group of local tourists in Baisaran meadow, about 5 km (3 miles) from the resort town of Pahalgam in Indian-controlled Kashmir. The gunmen reportedly separated the men from the women and children, asked for their names, and then executed 25 Indian men and one Nepali tourist. The lesser-known Resistance Front (TRF) claimed responsibility for the attack via social media. India asserts that the group is an offshoot of the larger Islamist terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), which orchestrated the deadly 2008 Mumbai attacks and has a far higher profile.

The massacre marks a major shift in the region’s conflict, where local tourists have generally been spared from violence. Following the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi cut short a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia and returned to New Delhi.

Kashmir has witnessed a wave of targeted killings of Hindus, including migrant workers from other Indian states, since New Delhi revoked the region’s semi-autonomous status in 2019 and severely curtailed dissent, civil liberties, and press freedom. Tensions have remained high as India intensifies its counterinsurgency efforts. Despite the fragile security environment, tourists continue to flock to Kashmir for its Himalayan foothills and ornate houseboats.

Militants in Indian-controlled Kashmir have waged an insurgency against New Delhi since 1989. Many Muslim Kashmiris support the rebels’ goal of unifying the region, either under Pakistani rule or as an independent nation. India maintains the insurgency is driven by Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, a claim Pakistan denies. Many Kashmiris view the uprising as a legitimate struggle for freedom. Tens of thousands of civilians, militants, and security personnel have died in the conflict. In March 2000, at least 35 civilians were gunned down in a southern Kashmiri village during a visit to India by then U.S. President Bill Clinton.

A kidnapped Israeli national was rescued within 24 hours through a coordinated operation involving Nigerian military forces and Israel’s Foreign Ministry. The incident occurred in the northeastern Taraba State, an area frequently affected by security issues and kidnappings for ransom. The kidnapped Israeli, identified as Gil Itamar, an employee of SCC—an engineering company operating in Nigeria—was freed without violence or ransom payment on April 4. Initial police reports claimed he was kidnapped despite having a military escort, a statement strongly refuted by the Nigerian Army, which clarified that he was traveling alone without security at the time. The rescue was led by the commander of the Nigerian Army's 93rd Battalion, who coordinated closely with local leaders from the communities of Kofai Ahmadu, Apko, and Chanchangi. The Nigerian military attributed the successful rescue to "strategic pressure" applied to village elders and local youth leaders, yielding crucial intelligence. Israeli officials highlighted that rapid coordination significantly improved the chances of the hostage's safe return. The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed the successful rescue, stating that the citizen was safe and unharmed. (ynetnews.com, 6 April 2025)

At least six police officers were killed and four injured in an attack on a police camp in eastern Garissa County, near the Somali border. The attack, which occurred in the early morning hours, was carried out by suspected al-Shabaab militants from Somalia. According to a police report, the attackers stormed the police reservists' camp around dawn, using various weapons, and managed to overrun the facility. Following the attack, the U.S. Embassy issued an advisory cautioning Americans against traveling to Garissa and other border counties due to ongoing terrorism threats. Al-Shabaab frequently conducts cross-border assaults targeting both military and civilian targets in the region due to Kenya’s past military support for the Somali government.

Islamist militants killed at least 44 civilians and wounded 13 others in an attack targeting a mosque in southwestern Niger. The assault occurred during Friday afternoon prayers in the village of Fombita, located within the rural commune of Kokorou, near the volatile tri-border region shared with Burkina Faso and Mali—an area regarded as the epicenter of jihadist violence in West Africa, linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. Niger's defense ministry attributed the massacre to the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) Heavily armed militants reportedly surrounded the mosque, where worshippers had gathered for prayers during the holy month of Ramadan. After the attack, the militants set ablaze a local market and several homes before fleeing the scene. In response, the government announced three days of national mourning.

Armed individuals intercepted a bus traveling from Addis Ababa to Debre Markos near Ali Doro town in the Degem district, located within the North Shewa zone of the Oromia region. According to witnesses, the gunmen shot the bus tires, forcing it to stop. Subsequently, they forcibly kidnapped at least 56 passengers, subjected them to beatings, and took them to an unknown location. The attackers exchanged gunfire with regional security forces during the incident. A representative from the Felege Ghion bus company confirmed the attack, stating that one driver was shot and numerous passengers, including the driver's assistant, were kidnapped. The current whereabouts of the passengers remain unknown. This incident is part of an alarming pattern of kidnappings in the region. In July 2024, more than 100 university students were kidnapped near Garba Guracha town in the North Shewa zone while traveling from the Amhara region to Addis Ababa. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission has highlighted a surge in kidnappings, with both insurgent groups and criminal elements targeting civilians for ransom, affecting both the Oromia and Amhara regions. The kidnappings are frequently linked to the ongoing conflict between government forces and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA). (allafrica.com, 19 March 2025 & bbc.com, 20 March 2025)

A-Shabab militants stormed the Qahira Hotel in Beledweyne, located about 335km/ miles 209 miles north of Mogadishu, triggering an ongoing siege. The attack began with a VBIED explosion, followed by gunmen entering the hotel and engaging in fierce clashes with security forces. Police reported at least four fatalities, but eyewitness accounts indicate the death toll has risen to 10. The assault occurred during a meeting of politicians, security officials, and elders discussing an offensive against al-Shabab. Security forces have cornered several attackers inside the hotel. Parts of the hotel have collapsed due to intense fighting. Witnesses described multiple explosions and gunfire as the battle continued. Authorities are organizing medical evacuations to Mogadishu for the wounded.