ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - August 31, 2024

ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - August 31, 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

• Key Meeting Between U.S. Officials and Chinese President Xi Jinping
• Libya Oil Stoppage Prompts Global Oil Prices to Rise
• Israel Says Senior Hamas Leader Killed on Third Day of West Bank Operation

Key Meeting Between U.S. Officials and Chinese President Xi Jinping

On August 29, 2024, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met Chinese President Xi Jinping at Beijing, concluding three days of talk aimed at easing tensions between the two countries. The talks covered a range of issues, including tensions over Taiwan, the South China Sea, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and fentanyl. Both sides agreed to maintain high-level exchanges and continue to cooperate in drug control, law enforcement (LE), climate change, the repatriation of illegal immigrants, artificial intelligence (AI), and military ties. However, some deep-seated differences remain on issues such as the South China Sea and trade frictions.

Libya Oil Stoppage Prompts Global Oil Prices to Rise

As of August 29, 2024, eastern Libyan officials have begun enforcing a force majeure on oil in eastern Libya, where a majority of the country's oil fields are located. Production has already slowed down to about half of its normal daily production at more than 560,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil, compared with the daily July 2024 average of 1.18 million bpd. The disruptions are expected to last for weeks and were enforced in response to a crisis over the leadership of Libya's central bank. The conflict has heightened tensions between the UN-backed Tripoli government and the eastern-government headed by Khalifa Haftar, the leader of the National Libyan Army. Western officials ousted the governor of the central bank Sadiq al-Kabir and attempted to replace him--a decision that Haftar vehemently opposed. Global oil prices increased by more than 1 percent in response to the news, as well as over the Iraqi government's plans to decrease oil output.

Israel Says Senior Hamas Leader Killed on Third Day of West Bank Operation

The Israeli military announced it has allegedly killed Wissam Hazem, the leader of Hamas in Jenin, along with two other fighters. This action is part of a major operation in the West Bank that has lasted three days and resulted in the death of at least 19 Palestinians. The military also conducted air strikes on other fighters attempting to escape and has withdrawn from several areas, including Tulkarm and the al-Faraa refugee camp, after what it described as achieving its objectives of disrupting terrorist activities and infrastructure.