ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief January 1, 2024

ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - January 1, 2024

ZeroFox Intelligence collects, curates, and analyzes information derived from open and proprietary sources. Here is today’s daily roundup to give you and your clients an advantage over the adversary.

Brief Highlights

• U.S. Helicopters Sink 3 Houthi Ships After Red Sea Attack
• ZeroFox Intelligence: January 2024 Geopolitical Brief
• Russia Launches Mass Airstrikes Against Ukraine, Missile Flies Over Polish Territory

U.S. Helicopters Sink 3 Houthi Ships After Red Sea Attack

American helicopters have reportedly thwarted an attack on a Maersk container vessel by Houthi militants—sinking three ships and killing 10 militants. The encounter took place after the attackers attempted to board the Singapore-flagged Maersk Hangzhou. Maersk decided to halt sailing through the Red Sea for 48 hours after the attack. This was the second attack on the Maersk Hangzhou in recent days; the ship carrying 14,000 containers from Singapore was hit by a missile near Al Hodeidah (Yemen) last week.

ZeroFox Intelligence January 2024 Geopolitical Brief

In this monthly geopolitical brief ZeroFox researchers cover how Russia has gained a few strategic advantages in its war with Ukraine but likely lacks the quality to make a major breakthrough. Israel has yet to achieve its stated goals in the Israel-Hamas War, and that conflict will likely continue for several more months. Israel's other adversaries in the Middle East, led by the Houthis in Yemen, are emboldened to continue attacks. European security politics is highly likely to be dominated by anti-immigrant rhetoric, with security forces concerned that it will lead to violence in 2024. Lastly, an escalation in Chinese military maneuvers and anti-Taiwan rhetoric is highly likely in the event the incumbent party wins Taiwan's general elections in mid-January 2024.

Russia Launches Mass Airstrikes Against Ukraine, Missile Flies Over Polish Territory

During the night of December 28 - 29, 2023, Russia launched a mass wave of airstrikes targeting seven regions of Ukraine - Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, Konotop, Dnipro, Odesa, and Zaporizhzhia. Ukraine shot down 87 out of 122 missiles and 27 out of 36 drones; however, the strikes caused major damage in some areas. The attack aligns with Russia's ongoing campaign to target civilian infrastructure during cold winter weather to degrade Ukrainian resolve. During the strikes, one Russian missile flew into Polish territory for a duration of about three minutes before returning to Ukrainian airspace. Poland, a member of NATO, put its air defenses on high alert in response to the incident. Russian missiles have previously flown over Polish territory near border regions with Ukraine; however, a Russian weapon traversing NATO territory risks significantly raising tensions in the region.