ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - January 9, 2025

ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - January 9, 2025

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

• Rescue Efforts Continue as Six Wind-Driven Fires Cause Widespread Destruction in LA
• The United States Adds Tencent, CATL to List of Chinese Firms Allegedly Aiding China's Military
• The United States Pauses Sanctions to Allow Transactions with Syrian Government Institutions

Rescue Efforts Continue as Six Wind-Driven Fires Cause Widespread Destruction in LA

Rescue efforts are ongoing for six wind-driven fires that are currently burning in Los Angeles County, with over 150,000 people under evacuation orders. A new brush fire, called the Sunset Fire, broke out in the Hollywood hills near Runyon Canyon. A mandatory evacuation order has been issued for the area bounded by Laurel Canyon Boulevard (west), Mulholland Drive (north), the 101 Freeway (east), and Hollywood Boulevard (south). The largest of these fires has scorched over 15,800 acres in the Pacific Palisades area, destroying at least 1,000 structures. The Eaton Fire, which has burned approximately 10,600 acres (0 percent containment), has resulted in at least five fatalities and damaged or destroyed 200 to 500 structures. Other fires include the Woodley Fire (30 acres, 0 percent containment), the Hurst Fire (505 acres, 0 percent containment), and the Lidia Fire (80 acres, 30 percent containment) is burning near Acton, which is about 50 miles from Pacific Palisades. Winds have weakened since Tuesday night, allowing aircraft to resume water drops. Firefighting crews are working to establish containment lines behind the areas where water was dropped.

The United States Adds Tencent, CATL to List of Chinese Firms Allegedly Aiding China's Military

The U.S. Department of Defense added multiple Chinese companies to its "Section 1260H list," also known as the Chinese Military Companies (CMC) list, for allegedly helping China’s military modernization. The new additions include tech giants Tencent, electric vehicle battery maker CATL, chipmaker Changxin Memory Technologies, drone manufacturer Autel Robotics, and China’s largest shipping company, COSCO. Some companies, such as Tencent and CATL, have denied any military involvement and called the designation a mistake.

The United States Pauses Sanctions to Allow Transactions with Syrian Government Institutions

The United States has paused a limited number of sanctions on Syria to allow for transactions with the country’s new authorities, in a bid to ease the flow of humanitarian assistance. The exemptions will remain in place until July 7, at which point they could be extended again or made permanent. Syria’s new transitional government has called for permanent removal of sanctions from different countries, including the United States, to support the country’s fragile recovery following the ouster of former president Bashar al-Assad.