ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - January 23, 2025

ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - January 23, 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

• Taiwan Earthquake Causes Closure of TSMC Factories
• Houthis Pledge to Restrict Attacks to Only Israel-Linked Ships in the Red Sea
• Additional Kenyan Troops Arrive in Haiti

Taiwan Earthquake Causes Closure of TSMC Factories

A 6.4-magnitude earthquake hit a mountainous rural area of Taiwan’s southern region near the city of Chiayi, leaving at least 44 people with minor injuries. The quake had a depth of six miles with its epicenter in Dapu township, while several aftershocks were detected on January 21. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) evacuated staff at its central and southern Taiwan factories and said all its sites were operating following the quake. Taiwan lies near the junction of two tectonic plates and is prone to earthquakes. TSMC is arguably the world's biggest company and produces the most advanced forms of semiconductor chips.

Houthis Pledge to Restrict Attacks to Only Israel-Linked Ships in the Red Sea

The Houthi militia pledged to only target Israel-linked cargo ships in the waters around Yemen during the first phase of the ongoing Israel-Hamas ceasefire, ostensibly ending its campaign against U.S.- and UK-linked vessels. A Houthi spokesman claimed the group would end attacks altogether if all phases of the ceasefire are carried out, an indefinite timeline given that negotiations on hypothetical second and third phases are still ongoing. While the Houthis claimed to only target ships linked to Israel, the United States, and the United Kingdom, previous attacks have targeted vessels with no known links to any of the three. International shipping companies are unlikely to quickly return to using the Red Sea for commercial transit given the high degree of uncertainty surrounding the future of Houthi attacks. The group has not always followed through with commitments to restrict targeting, and a lapse or violation of the ceasefire can likely lead to a total resumption of attacks with little notice. On January 22, Yemen’s Houthi militia released the crew of the cargo ship Galaxy Leader over a year after detaining them in the opening months of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Freed crewmembers were reportedly transferred to Oman in coordination with the ongoing ceasefire that has paused fighting in the Gaza Strip.

Additional Kenyan Troops Arrive in Haiti

Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime welcomed an additional 217 police officers from Kenya to help curb gang violence throughout Haiti. The arrival of security personnel will add to the already deployed 400 Kenyan police officers aiding the Haitian government. Kenya initially deployed security personnel to Haiti in June 2024 in an effort to help stabilize the country, as violence has destabilized much of the country. The Kenyan government agreed to send about 1,000 officers to Haiti in international aid as a part of a global peacekeeping force. The force is anticipated to contribute to quell the violence, which has displaced an approximate 1 million Haitians.