ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - August 6, 2024

ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - August 6, 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

• Bangladesh Prime Minister Hasina Resigns; Indefinite Curfew Imposed
• Travel Alerts Ahead of Likely Iranian Strikes on Israel
• Australia Government Increases Terror Alert Level Due to Gaza Conflict

Bangladesh Prime Minister Hasina Resigns; Indefinite Curfew Imposed

On August 5, Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country after tens of thousands of protesters calling for her ouster defied a curfew and stormed heavily barricaded parts of the capital, Dhaka. Army chief Waker Uz-Zaman announced he would oversee the formation of an interim government and pledged to work with the protest groups that led weeks of violent unrest, in addition to other stakeholder groups. Authorities have imposed an indefinite nationwide curfew that has shuttered most businesses and have deactivated mobile internet services. Operations at Dhaka Airport will be suspended for the remainder of August 5. Hasina’s 15-year rule was marked by increasing accusations of autocratic behavior. Thousands of opposition activists have been arrested in recent years and most leaders affiliated with the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have been exiled or imprisoned. Hasina and her Awami League party ran virtually unopposed in the last election after most opposition parties labeled the process one-sided and boycotted the proceedings. In July, university students facing high unemployment began protesting a restrictive quota system for government jobs. Those protests quickly morphed into a mass movement demanding Hasina’s resignation. At least 300 people died in the ensuing unrest, including over a dozen police officials. It is unclear who will lead the new interim government. Bangladesh’s military has a history of seizing power for itself and has the capacity to do so again, though this is not guaranteed. Future unrest is possible if the situation destabilizes further.

Travel Alerts Ahead of Likely Iranian Strikes on Israel

Travel alerts have been issued across the Middle East ahead of a likely Iranian attack on Israel. While Iran and Hezbollah are almost certain to retaliate for Israel’s killing of two key Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, they will likely calibrate their retribution to avoid an all-out war, as they have done during previous escalation incidents in the nearly year-long war between Israel and Hamas. Countries including the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Saudi Arabia are calling on their citizens in Lebanon and Iran to leave the countries as fears grow of increased military action between Israel and Iran’s proxy forces including Hezbollah. Iran and its affiliated militias are expected to soon launch retaliatory actions against Israel for its alleged assassination of a top Hamas leader in Tehran last week. Any such action will likely involve Hezbollah, the most powerful of Iran’s proxy forces, and could see fighting spread to parts of Lebanon. The United States claims it is working with its partners to attempt to de-escalate the situation. Multiple airlines have canceled services to Lebanon and Iran as a precaution.

Australia Government Increases Terror Alert Level Due to Gaza Conflict

The Australian Government has increased its terrorism alert level on August 5, 2024, due to tensions within the country over the conflict in Gaza. The Director-General of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), Mike Burgess, explained that increasing online radicalization and what PM Anthony Albanese called a "high temperature" in the political climate are making the security situation more volatile. The terror level passed from "possible" to "probable," though this does not mean that there is specific intelligence about an upcoming attack.