ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - December 2, 2024

ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - December 2, 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

• Surprise Anti-Government Seizure of Aleppo Prompts Airstrikes in Northern Syria
• Severe Flooding in Malaysia and Thailand Claims at Least 12 Lives, Thousands Affected
• BRICS Faces High U.S. Trade Tariffs if Countries Support New Currency

Surprise Anti-Government Seizure of Aleppo Prompts Airstrikes in Northern Syria

Syrian and Russian airstrikes have struck northern Syria after Islamist militants, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), seized Aleppo in a rapid offensive. Strikes near Aleppo's stadium and a hospital killed 12, while bombings in Idlib claimed four lives and injured 54. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, absent during the initial attacks, re-emerged to rally allies and coordinate a counteroffensive. The sudden fall of Aleppo has alarmed Russia and Iran, with both urging immediate action. Damascus’s state news agency and pro-government channels have shared images portraying stability in Hama province, while militants are advancing further south from Aleppo toward Hama.

Severe Flooding in Malaysia and Thailand Claims at Least 12 Lives, Thousands Affected

Severe flooding caused by heavy rainfall in Malaysia and Thailand has claimed at least 12 lives, with the number of affected individuals likely to rise as the rains continue. In Malaysia, over 122,000 people have been forced to evacuate, particularly in the northeastern state of Kelantan, which has been hit the hardest. The current number of evacuees already exceeds the total from the 2014 flood crisis, one of the country’s most devastating. Several other states are also heavily impacted. Meanwhile, in Thailand, nearly 534,000 households have been affected, and around 13,000 people have been evacuated, primarily in the southern region. Two hospitals have closed due to flood risks, and six provinces have declared a state of disaster. Emergency services in both countries are working to rescue those stranded and provide shelter.

BRICS Faces High U.S. Trade Tariffs if Countries Support New Currency

President-elect Donald Trump announced that, under his administration, he would demand BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and others) to reconsider forming a new currency or backing alternatives to the U.S. Dollar. If these nations decide against Trump, he stated they would face 100 percent tariffs on goods sold to the United States. He expressed this stance on a social media platform to emphasize his position on maintaining the dominance of the U.S. Dollar in global trade.