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SOFREP Evening Brief: Greek Woman Killed By Bomb She Was Carrying, Israel Launches Airstrikes Against Syria, Houthis Launch Missiles Into Israel, Islamists Rally Against Women’s Rights in Bangladesh

BY Guy D. McCardle

Here is your SOFREP Evening Brief: From Thessaloniki to Tel Aviv to Dhaka, May 3, 2025, exposed a grim trifecta of violence and extremism—homegrown terrorism in Greece, cross-border missile attacks from Yemen, and a mass Islamist rally in Bangladesh rallying against women’s rights.

At this protest in Dhaka, Bangladesh, multitudes of men from Hefazet-e-Islam gather to condemn proposed recommendations for equal rights for women. Image Credit: Mahmud Hossain Opu / AP photo

In the early hours of May 3, 2025, a 38-year-old woman died after a bomb she was carrying exploded before she could place it outside a bank in Thessaloniki, Greece. The blast happened around 5 a.m. local time and caused heavy damage to nearby shops and vehicles. Emergency services responded quickly, but the woman died from her injuries after being taken to the hospital. Authorities have not released her name.

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According to reports, she was trying to plant the explosive device at an ATM when it went off in her hands. The force of the explosion shattered windows, scattered debris across the area, and damaged multiple vehicles.

The woman had a criminal past, including arrests for theft, drug offenses, prostitution, and robbery. Greek investigators are now looking into whether she had ties to far-left extremist groups or a known anti-authoritarian figure who’s currently serving time for a series of bank robberies and bombings. The police division handling organized crime is leading the investigation, and anti-terror units have been brought in given the possible political angle.

Greece has dealt with politically motivated violence for decades, especially from radical groups that often target banks and government institutions. While many of the major players from earlier years have been taken down, smaller cells continue to operate. Just recently, a similar bombing occurred outside the Hellenic Train offices in Athens.

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This incident highlights the ongoing threat from homegrown extremists and organized crime, as authorities work to uncover what drove this woman to carry out the attempted bombing.

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Israel Launches a Series of Airstrikes into Syria

In one of the most intense bombing campaigns this year, Israel launched a series of airstrikes across Syria overnight into Saturday, May 3, 2025. Israeli warplanes hit multiple locations—Damascus, Hama, Daraa, and Latakia—with over 20 reported strikes. The targets included military installations, air defense systems, and other infrastructure tied to the Syrian government. In the Damascus suburb of Harasta, a civilian was killed. Four more people were wounded in Hama, and additional injuries were reported in Daraa and other areas, though exact numbers remain unclear.

Israel claims the strikes are aimed at protecting Syria’s Druze minority, who’ve been caught in the crossfire of rising sectarian violence. The Druze community has come under pressure recently amid fierce clashes with pro-government forces. Earlier in the week, over 100 people were killed in fighting that’s torn through parts of southern Syria. Israeli officials have warned Syria’s new Islamist-led leadership to stay clear of the Druze population and not push further south toward Israeli-held areas.

Twelve Israeli warplanes took part in the overnight raids, according to military sources. The scale and scope of the attack drew immediate condemnation from Syria and international voices. The United Nations criticized the heavy-handed response, and Germany raised concerns about the worsening sectarian strife and the danger of broader conflict.

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Despite the backlash, Israeli leaders made it clear they won’t back down. They’ve vowed to continue hitting targets inside Syria as needed to defend national interests and maintain stability along their northern border. Syrian Druze leaders, however, have rejected Israel’s stated intentions, saying their community doesn’t want to be used as a pawn in this escalating conflict.

Houthis Launch Missiles Into Israel

Over the past 48 hours, the Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen has launched several long-range missile attacks at Israel, including what they claim was a hypersonic ballistic missile aimed at central Israel on May 3, 2025. These missiles have been fired from deep in Yemen and traveled thousands of kilometers to target Israeli military sites like the Ramat David Airbase in the north, as well as areas near Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

So far, Israel’s air defense systems have been able to intercept all the missiles. Air raid sirens sounded in parts of Jerusalem, central Israel, and the Dead Sea region, but there have been no reports of significant damage or casualties. The Houthis also sent drones, at least one of which was shot down by the Israeli Air Force.

The Houthis say these attacks are their way of standing in solidarity with the Palestinians during the current fighting in Gaza. They’ve promised to keep striking Israeli targets and have even threatened U.S.-linked ships in the Red Sea if American airstrikes on Yemen continue.

What makes this escalation notable is how quickly the Houthis are moving. The May 3 missile launch was their third strike on Israel in just two days. Despite regular airstrikes from both the U.S. and Israel aimed at weakening their arsenal, the Houthis are still managing to fire off missiles with longer range and greater precision—including advanced models that may include hypersonic capabilities. For now, Israel’s defenses are holding, but the risk of a broader regional conflict continues to grow.

Thousands of Islamists Rally in Bangladesh

On May 3, 2025, more than 20,000 supporters of the hardline Islamist group Hefazat-e-Islam gathered in Dhaka, Bangladesh, staging one of the largest religious protests the country has seen in recent years. The rally was aimed squarely at blocking proposed legal reforms that would grant Muslim women equal rights in areas like property and inheritance. These reforms were recommended by the interim government’s Women’s Affairs Reform Commission.

Hefazat-e-Islam leaders came out strongly against the changes, arguing they violate Sharia law and threaten traditional Islamic values. Protesters held signs that read things like “Say no to Western laws on our women, rise up Bangladesh,” accusing the government of pushing foreign ideas on a deeply religious society. From the stage, speakers declared that men and women “can never be equal,” citing the Quran as their source.

The group didn’t stop there. They demanded the immediate dismantling of the reform commission and punishment for its members. They also called for a complete ban on the Awami League—the party led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted last year and now lives in exile in India. Hefazat wants a new women’s commission formed, staffed only with Islamic scholars and devout female representatives. If their demands aren’t met, they’ve promised to launch nationwide protests on May 23.

Since the fall of Hasina’s government in August 2024, Islamist factions like Hefazat have gained significant ground in both politics and public life. Their growing influence has sparked concern among religious minorities and women’s rights groups, who say they’re facing increased intimidation. These groups are also worried about a broader clampdown on cultural freedoms, with Hefazat pushing to ban things like women’s sports, concerts, and festivals they deem “anti-Islamic.”

Interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus—best known internationally for his work in microfinance—has promised democratic elections by June 2026. But with Islamist groups pressuring him from all sides, he’s got a long road ahead navigating a political landscape that’s shifting fast toward religious conservatism. This rally was about more than women’s rights—it was a clear warning shot from Hefazat-e-Islam about who they think should shape Bangladesh’s future.

 

 

 

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