ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - August 5, 2024

ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - August 5, 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

• ZeroFox Intelligence August 2024 Geopolitical Brief
• Iran and Proxy Groups Vow Revenge for Hamas Leader’s Assassination
• At Least 13 Killed in Nigeria’s Cost of Living Protests

ZeroFox Intelligence August 2024 Geopolitical Brief

The Paris Olympics has likely repelled countless security threats, with the most effective acts of sabotage occurring well outside the main event space. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro will very likely crack down on growing opposition protests, while the bulk of the international community will work on supporting the opposition and fraying Maduro’s support among the armed forces. On Sunday, at least 91 people were killed in Bangladesh and hundreds more were injured during violent clashes as police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse tens of thousands of demonstrators demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Bangladesh has imposed a social media ban on various social media platforms. Over the weekend, protests across Britain erupted into violence, with riot police clashing with demonstrators at a hotel accommodating asylum seekers. This unrest was fueled by misinformation regarding a mass stabbing that killed three children at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class the previous week. Rescue operations are ongoing to locate the missing individuals following flash floods caused by cloudbursts in the Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla regions of Himachal Pradesh in India. More than 40 people still remain unaccounted for. Turkish authorities blocked Instagram nationwide without providing an explanation. This came a day after Turkey’s top communications official criticized the platform for allegedly removing posts expressing condolences for the death of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh.

Iran and Proxy Groups Vow Revenge for Hamas Leader’s Assassination

Iran and several of its proxy militias vowed revenge against Israel for its alleged assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31. Reports indicate Iranian authorities met on August 1 with representatives from allied armed groups to formulate a response to the killing, which is widely attributed to Israel despite no actor claiming responsibility. Some Iranian sources claim Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has authorized a direct attack on Israel, though this is not confirmed. The Yemen-based Houthi militia, which recently conducted its first successful drone strike on Israeli territory, has threatened more attacks in response to Haniyeh’s death. Additional attacks could take the form of a direct attack by Iran on Israel similar to that seen in April. Iran-aligned militias in Iraq and Syria may target facilities housing American troops or those allegedly facilitating Israeli intelligence operations. Houthis may initiate new attacks on Israeli territory or step up attacks against international trade in the waters around Yemen.

At Least 13 Killed in Nigeria’s Cost of Living Protests

Fulfilling fears of a harsh government crackdown on protests, Nigeria's first day of "Take it Back" protests on August 1, saw at least 13 people killed with hundreds arrested. Protests in the northern states in particular were flashpoints: a bomb in Borno State killed four people, while curfews were declared in both Kano and Katsina where mass arrests took place. Citizens were protesting dramatic increases in the cost of living in Nigeria, where economic reforms implemented by President Bola Tinubu have driven inflation to extreme levels, currently at 34 percent. Nigeria's government has a history of responding to major protests with forceful and violent repression. Protests are nonetheless intended to continue for 10 days, and many did go forward on August 2 despite the crackdown.