Current Affairs 22 December 2025

U.S. Central Command Launches Operation Hawkeye Strike in Syria.

• CENTCOM launched Operation Hawkeye Strike on December 19, targeting Islamic State positions across central Syria.
• Over 70 ISIS targets were hit using fighter jets, attack helicopters & artillery, with support from Jordanian Armed Forces, employing 100+ precision munitions.
• CENTCOM chief Brad Cooper said the strikes aim to prevent terrorist threats to US, following multiple recent attacks.

Smriti Mandhana Becomes First Asian to 4,000 T20I Runs.

• Smriti Mandhana marked her return to international cricket by becoming the first Indian and Asian batter to cross 4,000 runs in Women’s T20Is.
• Mandhana scored 25 off 25 balls as India defeated Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the 1st T20I at Visakhapatnam.
• She is only the second player globally after Suzie Bates to achieve the landmark, now standing second on the all-time runs list.

RITES Ltd. Signs MoU with Botswana for Transport Modernisation.

• RITES Limited signed an MoU with the Government of the Republic of Botswana to modernise railway & transport infrastructure.
• The partnership will leverage RITES’ expertise in rolling stock supply, railway commissioning, O&M support, workshop modernisation & multimodal infrastructure.
• The MoU also covers capacity building, technical training, quality assurance & deployment of IT solutions.

Centre to Set Up Statutory Bureau of Port Security.

• The Centre will establish a statutory Bureau of Port Security under the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, to strengthen security of ports.
• It will function under Ministry of Ports & adopt a risk-based, future-ready maritime security framework.
• CISF is designated as the Recognised Security Organisation for ports, with roles in security audits, cyber protection & training private security agencies.

Ratle Hydropower Project Faces Security Concerns in J&K.

• The Jammu and Kashmir Police informed Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL) that 29 workers engaged at the under-construction Ratle Hydro Electric Project allegedly had militant links or criminal backgrounds, raising security concerns.
• The Ratle Hydroelectric Project is situated on the Chenab River near Drabshalla in the Kishtwar district of the UT of Jammu and Kashmir.