Weekly IntSum 30MAR2017

Personnel flying commercial aviation from the following countries into the United States and the United Kingdom are now required to secure all personal electronic devices larger than a smartphone in their checked baggage. Approved medical devices are not effected by this. The countries in question are:
-Saudi Arabia
-Qatar
-Jordan
-Egypt
-United Arab Emirates
-Kuwait
-Turkey
-Lebanon
-Tunisia
-Morocco
This restriction is believed to be based off of intelligence gained during a raid by US Special Operations assets on a suspected Al-Qa'ida base in Yemen and the attempts to down (or actual downing of) commercial airlines over Somalia and Egypt on 2FEB16 and 31OCT15 where both plots involved the smuggling of energetic materials onto aircraft concealed within personal electronic devices.

An Islamic State affiliated group calling themselves the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham-Khorosan or ISIS-K. ISIS-K has been connected to a suicide bombing of a mosque on 12JAN17, a suicide bombing on the Afghan Supreme Court on 7FEB17, a split attack on two Afghan police stations on 1MAR17, and an attack on an ANA Hospital on 8MAR17. These attacks have resulted in more than 291 casualties, of which at least 107 were fatalities. These attacks indicate this is a very relevant organization and as such it will be given the same attention as other Islamic State affiliated organizations and, they are very much on the TEAM CENTURION radar just like other IS-affiliated organizations.

The government of Mauritania has declared the following regions to be security zones:
-The eastern half of the Tagant region (east of Tidjikja)
-The eastern half of the Adrar region (east of Ouadane)
-The Zemmour region (other than F’Derick and Zouerat)
These security zones require special and explicit permissions from Mauritanian government authorities and all non permitted travel is explicitly prohibited. These measures were taken due to increased activities by Al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghred and the Islamic State in Iraq and ash-Sham. There is also a heightened risk of kidnapping and the targeting of Christian faith-based organizations along the border with Mali. Note that the areas in questions are very rugged and  response by security forces is very lengthy. Further, embassy personnel are restricted from travel outside the capital city of Noukachott without explicit permission and approval from senior embassy leadership.

Due to increased Boko Haram activity, travel to the North and Far North Regions and parts of the East and Adamawa Regions of Cameroon is not advised. This report is based off of unconfirmed local intelligence and the advice to depart the area or avoid travel to is the opinion of this analyst. Boko Haram is a very well known terrorist organization and when this analyst receives reports of increased activity, the thought "Better safe than sorry" comes immediately to mind.

Foreign nationals should be on the alert in the coming days in Burma/Mayanmar due to the upcoming elections on 1APR17. This is particularly emphasized in the Rangoon area. Polling areas, political rallies, and large crowds should be avoided for the next 10 days. Political actions have a nasty tendency of provoking unrest and political unrest can be highly volatile and very dangerous, particularly for foreign nationals. Exercise extreme caution.

Due to large, violent, and widespread protests in French Guiana, US citizens are advise to exercise extreme caution. These protests are typically seen along roads leading to and from the neighboring countries of Brazil and Suriname.

-Prepared by: CASG Intelligence Analyst,  1447EST 30MAR2017