ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - January 21, 2024

ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - January 21, 2024

ZeroFox physical security experts collect, curate, and analyze information derived from open and proprietary sources for comprehensive context of the circumstances surrounding global events. Here is today’s daily roundup of major developments.

Brief Highlights

• Tensions in Middle East Flare up As Iran Strikes Pakistani Territory Killing Two Children
• Houthis Continue Red Sea Attacks After U.S. Designates Them as Global Terrorists
• Indian Military Personnel Asked to Withdraw from Maldives by Mid-March

Tensions in Middle East Flare up As Iran Strikes Pakistani Territory Killing Two Children

An Iranian strike targeting Pakistani territory killed two children and injured three girls, soon after another strike killed several people in Kurdistan. The Pakistani government has released a statement condemning “the unprovoked violation of its airspace by Iran and the strike inside Pakistani territory.” Iran says the motivation fuelling recent attacks in Pakistan, Iraq, and Syria has been to respond to terrorist attacks within its borders.

Houthis Continue Red Sea Attacks After U.S. Designates Them as Global Terrorists

Yemen’s Houthis have targeted yet another U.S.-owned cargo ship with a kamikaze drone soon after the United States included the rebel group in its list of “specially designated global terrorists.” Even though the attack did not have any casualties, it might be seen as a retaliation against the Biden administration for its announcement regarding the Houthis’ designation. Washington officials have further stated that they would financially penalize Houthis to minimize harm to Yemen’s 32 million people.

Indian Military Personnel Asked to Withdraw from Maldives by Mid-March

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has set a deadline of March 15 for Indian military troops to withdraw from the soil of the island nation. The ongoing diplomatic row between the two countries has led to the creation of a high-level negotiation group to work out the withdrawal of the Indian military. The group's first meeting was held at the Foreign Ministry Headquarters in Malé with Indian High Commissioner Munu Mahawar in attendance. The two sides discussed further steps to increase bilateral cooperation, including facilitating the continuous operations of Indian aviation platforms that provide humanitarian and medevac services to the people of Maldives.