ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - February 21, 2025

ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - February 21, 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

• U.S. Sanctions Rwandan Minister and Senior Militant
• U.S. Rescinds Previous Administration's Extension of Haiti’s Temporary Protected Status
• Bus Bombs Strike Tel Aviv Area in Israel

U.S. Sanctions Rwandan Minister and Senior Militant

On February 20, the United States imposed sanctions on Rwanda’s Minister of State for Regional Integration. The U.S. Treasury said that the Minister of State was central to Rwanda’s support for the March 23 Movement (M23), a U.S.- and United Nations (UN)-designated armed group that has rapidly expanded its territorial control in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and is responsible for human rights abuses. Sanctions were also issued against an M23 and Congo River Alliance senior member and spokesperson, alongside two of their companies registered in the United Kingdom and France. At the end of January, M23 and the Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) captured Goma, the provincial capital of the DRC’s North Kivu province in a battle that killed thousands of civilians. M23 and RDF have continued their advances, seizing the Kavumu Airport, a critical transportation hub in eastern DRC, and occupied the city of Bukavu, the provincial capital of South Kivu province.

U.S. Rescinds Previous Administration's Extension of Haiti’s Temporary Protected Status

On February 20, the United States vacated a decision by the previous administration to extend Haiti’s Temporary Protect Status (TPS) by 18 months. As part of this move, Haiti’s TPS will end on August 3, 2025, unless extended.

Bus Bombs Strike Tel Aviv Area in Israel

During late evening hours local time on February 20, 2025, three empty buses exploded nearly simultaneously in the Tel Aviv suburbs of Bat Yam and Holon. The buses were parked in lots and no casualties resulted from the incidents. Police reportedly also discovered two further undetonated explosive devices. Shortly following the blasts, a West Bank-based wing of Hamas, the Tulkarem Battalion, claimed credit for the attack.