Unknown attackers explosion private school Kabul; 52 killed, ~40 injured, mostly children

Unknown attackers explosion private school Kabul; 52 killed, ~40 injured, mostly children

Briefing Notes - KW 35/2026

1 Briefing Notes Group 62 – Asylum and Migration Information Centre Disclaimer The Briefing Notes are published every Monday and cover events up to and including Friday of the previous week.

24 August 2026 Afghanistan Explosion at a school in Kabul According to reports, on 17 August 2026 an explosion occurred at a private school in the Dasht-e Barchi district of Kabul, which is predominantly inhabited by Hazaras. The reports state that at least 52 people were killed and around 40 others, mostly children aged between nine and 14, were injured. The circumstances remain unclear: whilst some media outlets report that a hand grenade exploded, others claim it was an accident. The Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISPK) has carried out similar attacks in the past. On 19 August 2026, the Taliban are reported to have arrested the headteacher of the aforementioned school, two teachers and the fathers of two pupils. 1 Clashes between the Taliban and armed resistance groups According to reports, clashes took place on 15 August 26 in the Zebak district of Badakhshan province between the Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF) and the Taliban. On 19 August 26, the AFF reported an attack on the office of the governor of Badakhshan. According to their account, four members of the Taliban were killed. On 20 August 26, a Taliban attack on vehicles belonging to the National Resistance Front (NRF), which were travelling from Panjshir Province to Baghlan Province, reportedly led to a firefight in which at least five NRF fighters, including the commander Hasib Panjshiri, were killed. Following heavy fighting with the Taliban in Badakhshan Province, Nusay District (see BN of 17 August 26), the Taliban dissident Jumah Fateh Khan reportedly surrendered on 17 August 26 and was flown out of the conflict region by the Taliban. Further details are unknown. According to a report dated 19 August 26, the Nusay district remained under the control of the Taliban military even after the fighting had ended, with the Taliban carrying out house-to-house searches in the area. 2 New law: ‘Curriculum for preachers’ On 16 August 26, the Taliban reportedly enacted a new law setting out the content of religious sermons. In addition to instructions on religious practices, the law stipulates that the population must be taught,

2 amongst other things, that absolute obedience is due to the supreme leader of the Taliban and that husbands have authority over their wives. 3 Belarus Situation at the Belarusian border Latvian border officials have discovered another tunnel on the border with Belarus and prevented 28 people from crossing the border illegally. This is according to media reports. It is reportedly the second tunnel to have been discovered beneath the Latvian-Belarusian border within two weeks. On 11 August 26, a tunnel beneath the Latvian border was found for the first time, following the discovery earlier this year of at least ten tunnels leading into neighbouring Lithuania (see BN, 10 August 26). The Latvian authorities have announced a large-scale operation involving border guards, the state police, the armed forces and the intelligence services. Since the start of the operation, 450 people have been prevented from crossing the border illegally. Despite progress in expanding border infrastructure, there is an acute shortage of personnel to secure the border. Discussions are therefore currently underway to increase staffing levels. According to reports, the main focus of illegal migration from Belarus into the EU is currently on the border with Latvia. According to these reports, the number of illegal crossing attempts there for the year 2026 stands at around 10,000. Latvia and the other EU states bordering Belarus consistently accuse the Belarusian authorities of being responsible for illegal migration and the construction of tunnels. According to information from WDR and NDR, Frontex also shares this view in an internal analysis. 4 Burkina Faso Media professionals must undergo military training On the orders of the Ministry of Security, more than 40 media professionals from public and private media outlets undertook a six-day military training course in August 2026 at the police academy in Pabré, near Ouagadougou. According to media reports, the military training is a means of strengthening national commitment to the fight against jihadist groups and is to become compulsory for media professionals on an annual basis in future. The NGO Reporters Without Borders (RSF) regards the military training as a worrying sign. Secondary school pupils have been required to undergo similar training since 2025. Since military chief Ibrahim Traoré took power in September 2022, several local and international media outlets are reported to have been suspended (see BN, 3 April, 9 October and 11 December 2023). Furthermore, since then, dozens of media workers have been abducted and recruited to fight against jihadist groups (see BN, 13 November 23 and 8 April 24). Burkina Faso ranks 110th out of 180 in the 2026 RSF Press Freedom Index. 5 Chad Withdrawal from the International Criminal Court On 27 July 26, the Chadian government announced its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC). According to media reports, this was because the government considers the ICC’s effectiveness to be limited and “geographically uneven”. The statement criticises the ICC’s disproportionate focus on the ‘Global South’ and the African continent, as well as what it describes as ‘double standards in the administration of justice’. Furthermore, Chad’s Foreign Minister, Abdoulaye Sabre Fadoul, confirmed that the withdrawal had taken place at the request of the US. Observers also place the withdrawal in the context of the conflict in

3 Sudan, where Chad’s role in supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) – who are accused of genocide and other human rights violations (see Sudan BN of 13 January 25) – has repeatedly been criticised by both national and international organisations. The withdrawal will take effect one year after it was announced. 6 Egypt Serious road accident sparks debate on child labour According to media reports, a serious road accident involving two lorries occurred in Ismailiyya on 11 August 26, whilst they were transporting 47 farm labourers to a nearby farm. At least 18 people are reported to have died in the collision, with a further 30 injured. Most of the fatalities were said to be children aged between 10 and 14. The accident sparked a discussion on social media about child labour in Egypt. President al-Sisi is reported to have ordered an investigation into the accident. Reports indicate that fatal road accidents occur time and again in Egypt, often involving minors who are being transported to work in overcrowded vehicles. According to a study by the Egyptian National Council for Childhood and Motherhood, at least 2.7 million minors in Egypt are affected by child labour. 7 Guinea Missing activist reappears and is sentenced The activist Bella Bah, who had previously gone missing, was sentenced on 19 August 26 by a court in Conakry to six months’ imprisonment, five months of which were suspended, and a fine of 40 million Guinean francs (approx. 4,000 EUR). According to media reports, his Facebook account was also deactivated. The sentence was reportedly handed down on charges of “insult and defamation” as well as “insult and defamation via a computer system”. Bah is said to have criticised the chief imam of the Grand Mosque in Conakry in a social media post on 7 August 26, before retracting it following critical feedback. Bah reportedly went missing the following day. According to various media reports, his disappearance was described as a kidnapping (see BN, 17 August 26). After several days with no information about Bah, and following reports that the Imam had forgiven him and called for his release, he reappeared in pre-trial detention on 13 August 26. 8 Iran Two further executions linked to the protests of January 2026 According to media reports, on 20 August 26, a man was executed in connection with the January 2026 protests in Isfahan on charges of ‘enmity against God’ (Moharebeh) and ‘corruption on earth’ (Efsad-e fi-l- Arz). He was accused, amongst other things, of participating in the unrest at Alikhani Square in Isfahan and of acts against national security. He is the fifth person to have been executed in connection with the incidents at Shahid Alikhani Square in Isfahan (see BN of 27 July and 3 August 26). A total of twelve people were reportedly sentenced to death for their alleged involvement in the killings of four security personnel on the night of 8 January 26 at Shahid Alikhani Square. On 27 July 26, UN human rights experts also called on the Iranian authorities to suspend the executions of the remaining defendants in the Shahid Alikhani Square case. According to the UN experts, the imposition of the death penalty on twelve people in a single hearing, in a closed courtroom and without clarity regarding the individual responsibility of each defendant, contravened applicable standards for a fair trial. According to press reports, another man was executed on 16 August 26 at Ghezel Hesar Prison after being arrested during the January protests. He is alleged to have injured several security personnel with his vehicle

4 in Karaj on 8 January 26. The Revolutionary Court in Karaj reportedly sentenced him to death and the confiscation of his assets for “carrying out operational activities on behalf of Israel, the United States and hostile countries against national security and national interests”. 9 Singer sentenced to four years’ imprisonment According to press reports dated 19 August and 20 August 26, a singer of traditional and classical Persian music living in Tehran was sentenced in the first instance to four years’ imprisonment for “incitement to corruption and prostitution”. The singer was reportedly convicted following a performance on 27 February 25 at a cultural centre in Tehran in February 2025, during which she sang several verses of a poem by the Persian poet Saadi without a male accompanying voice. The event was broken up by security forces and the singer was detained for one day before being released on bail. The singer has lodged an appeal and, in an Instagram post, has called on the Court of Appeal to review her case and clarify which of her actions constituted the criminal offence for which she was convicted. 10 Iraq Drone attack on the office of the Prime Minister of the KR-I On 17 August 26, according to media reports, both the private office of the Prime Minister of the KR-I, Masrour Barzani, and the residence of the head of the KR-I’s General Intelligence and Security Service (Kurdish: Parastin; the KR-I’s foreign intelligence service) were targeted by two drone attacks. According to local security authorities, there were no casualties. The Hadid-110 stealth drones, Iran’s most advanced combat drone, were reportedly launched from Iranian territory. Iraqi politicians strongly condemned the attack. They stated that it represented a new dimension in cross-border attacks on the KR-I. According to the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi, in a telephone call with his Iraqi counterpart, insisted that he had no knowledge that the attack had been launched from Iranian territory. In recent weeks, facilities belonging mainly to Iranian Kurdish opposition groups had been repeatedly attacked with drones and missiles (see BN, 20 July 26, among others). 11 Protests over ongoing power cuts in southern governorates According to media reports, clashes broke out between protesters and security forces during protests in Maysan Governorate on 16 August 26. Ac