ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - May 24, 2024

ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - May 24, 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

• State of Emergency in Ecuador Reinstated After Uptick in Violence until July 20, 2024
• Merchant Vessel Reports Nearby Missile Strike in Red Sea
• Campaigning for General Elections in The United Kingdom on July 4, 2024

State of Emergency in Ecuador Reinstated After Uptick in Violence until July 20, 2024

Ecuador has announced a state of emergency for seven of its 24 provinces in response to an uptick in narco-gang violence. The emergency orders apply to the provinces of El Oro, Guayas, Los Rios, Manabi, Orellana, Santa Elena, and Sucumbios provinces, as well as the Camilo Ponce Enriquez area of Azuay province. Expect a heightened security presence, movement restrictions, warrantless searches and arrests, and lockdowns in areas under the state of emergency. Gangs may target security forces in response to the crackdown and have been known to use improved explosives in major urban areas as well as firearms against security forces. This state of emergency comes one month after the previous nationwide 4-month order expired.

Merchant Vessel Reports Nearby Missile Strike in Red Sea

On May 23, a merchant ship roughly 100 miles south of the Houthi-controlled Yemeni port of Hodeidah reported being targeted by a missile that struck the waters nearby. The vessel was undamaged, and all crew reported safe. This comes one day after a U.S. warship in the area reported downing four airborne drones likely launched by the Houthis and two days after the Houthis claimed to have shot down a pair of American MQ-9 Reaper drones over Yemen. The U.S. military has not commented on the potential loss of the drones.

Campaigning for General Elections in The United Kingdom on July 4, 2024

On May 23, UK political parties began a six-week election campaign after UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called a general election for July 4, 2024. Sunak's Conservative Party is very likely to lose its majority, with the main opposition Labour Party set to win the most seats. Conservatives will be campaigning, hoping to limit the number of seats they lose, while Labour will primarily be campaigning to ensure they can win as many seats as possible so that they do not need to form a coalition with other parties. However, Labour has several potential allies, including the centrist Liberal-Democrats and Greens, with whom they should easily be able to form a coalition. While UK elections are usually peaceful, there have been recent high-profile attacks on UK politicians during recent elections, and there have been acts of violence associated with other European elections the last year. The competitive election could see campaign events turn violent, or more likely, disinformation and other deceptive campaign tactics could be utilized during the election campaign.