ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - May 20, 2024

ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - May 20, 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

• Iranian State Media Confirms Deaths of President and Foreign Minister in Helicopter Crash
• New Croatia Government with a Far-Right Party Included Ahead of European Parliamentary Vote
• Israel Senior Minister Proposes Cancellation of Free Trade Deal with Turkey

Iranian State Media Confirms Deaths of President and Foreign Minister in Helicopter Crash

Iranian state media and Vice President Mohsen Mansouri have confirmed the deaths of President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian in a helicopter crash near the Azerbaijan border. Images from the crash site reportedly show the aircraft slammed into a mountain peak. Rescue teams continued to navigate through blizzards during the early hours of Monday to reach the wreckage site. The head of the Iran Red Crescent confirmed that upon reaching the site, the rescuers detected “no signs of life" among the helicopter's passengers.

New Croatia Government with a Far-Right Party Included Ahead of European Parliamentary Vote

Croatian lawmakers have elected a new government, marking a shift to the right in another European Union nation ahead of the 27-nation bloc’s parliamentary election next month. Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, starting his third consecutive term, saw his Cabinet approved by a 79-61 vote in the 151-member Croatian assembly. Although the conservative Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) remains dominant, the Cabinet now also includes the hard-right Homeland Movement. This relatively new party emerged as a kingmaker following an inconclusive parliamentary election in April. Despite HDZ securing the most votes on April 17, it was not enough to govern alone, leading to a coalition that might usher in a period of political instability after years of HDZ dominance.

Israel Senior Minister Proposes Cancellation of Free Trade Deal with Turkey

Far-right-wing Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has announced that he is proposing a plan that would abolish Israel's free trade agreement with Turkey and impose “a 100% tariff” on all Turkish imports. This move comes in response to Turkish officials announcing a halt to all trade with Israel earlier this month in retaliation for Israel’s conduct in the Gaza Strip. Smotrich’s plan must be submitted to the Israeli cabinet for approval.