The UBJ
"Construction of Airstrip on Yemeni Island Signals Ongoing Military Focus"
Story by Ella Bennet
28 MARCH 2024
In the midst of Yemen’s conflict, satellite imagery analyzed by The Associated Press suggests that a brand new airstrip is under construction on the Yemeni island of Abd al-Kuri.
This island, situated by a key maritime passage, has not seen any nation claim the construction efforts publicly.
Yet, images reveal the words “I LOVE UAE” formed with piles of dirt beside the airstrip, hinting at the United Arab Emirates’ involvement.
The proximity of the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea has thrust the area into a battleground scene, as naval confrontations intensify amidst Israel’s confrontations with Hamas in Gaza Strip.
The significance of this new airstrip on Abd al-Kuri Island amid political tensions is not to be underestimated, considering the strategic implications of the region.
Despite controversies and past conflicts over the Emirates’ troop presence in the Socotra island chain, which Abd al-Kuri is a part of, the construction of the airstrip is progressing.
UAE officials affirm their activities on Socotra are humanitarian in conjunction with the Yemeni government, but have not provided details concerning the airstrip itself.
Abd al-Kuri Island’s strategic positioning places it near vital trade routes, magnifying the potential military significance of the new airstrip.
The current activity, which includes paving a 3-kilometer long runway, follows a period of halted construction since July 2022.
This runway could accommodate a wide range of military aircraft, emphasizing the potential for escalated military presence in the area.
Although the U.S. denies involvement in the construction activities on Abd al-Kuri Island as well as any military presence in Yemen, the ongoing situation has hinted at the potential for increased military posturing by the U.S. and its allies in the region.
Notably, the Socotra archipelago has long held a key strategic and historical role, with implications continuing to unfold amid the Yemeni war and broader regional conflicts.
Rumors of foreign military operations, including those allegedly involving Israel, have sparked additional controversy, though no solid evidence supports such claims and Israel has remained silent on the matter.
Meanwhile, the Houthi rebels’ attacks on shipping routes suggest an attempt to exert pressure on international actors to sway the conflict in Gaza, despite their targets often having no direct links to Israel.
The establishment of this airstrip is a reminder of the persistent complexities of Yemen’s war and the wider geopolitical shifts in a region fraught with conflict and strategic maneuvering.
FAQ
What is the significance of Abd al-Kuri Island?
Abd al-Kuri Island’s strategic position near the entrance to crucial maritime routes amplifies its military significance and its development is of interest to countries wanting to project power in the region.
Has any country claimed responsibility for the construction of the airstrip?
As of now, no country has publicly claimed the construction work on the airstrip.
However, evidence such as the “I LOVE UAE” message nearby suggests United Arab Emirates (UAE) involvement.
Is the United States involved in the construction on Abd al-Kuri?
According to official statements, the U.S. military is not involved in the construction on Abd al-Kuri, nor is there an American military presence in Yemen at this time.
What does the airstrip’s construction entail for the region?
The construction of the airstrip could signal heightened military presence and involvement of foreign powers in the region, reflecting ongoing conflicts and strategic interests in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.
What has been the response of other nations involved in the region?
Official responses have been limited, with no clear statements from the UAE confirming their involvement in the construction and other nations such as the U.S. denying military presence in the region.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the construction of an airstrip on Abd al-Kuri Island during the ongoing Yemeni conflict highlights the continued strategic interest and military dynamics in the region.
While few details are confirmed about the airstrip’s purpose and the parties involved, the implications of such a development could further affect the balance of power in the Middle East.
The visible message of “I LOVE UAE” adds to the intrigue and speculation surrounding this unfolding scenario.
As the conflict in Yemen continues, the importance of such key geographical locations cannot be understated, and the international community remains watchful of these developments and their potential impacts on regional stability.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/co ... bdc2&ei=34
THE MIDDLE EAST
Re: THE MIDDLE EAST
The Jerusalem Post
"Houthis renew attacks in Red Sea after three day hiatus"
Story by SETH J. FRANTZMAN
28 MARCH 2024
After a three-day hiatus in attacks, the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen began their attacks again, targeting ships.
US Central Command says that naval ships “successfully engaged and destroyed four long-range unmanned aerial systems (UAS) launched by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen."
"These UAS were aimed at a U.S. warship and engaged in self-defense over the Red Sea."
"There were no injuries or damage reported to U.S. or coalition ships."
The American naval forces “determined these weapons presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region."
"These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy and merchant vessels.”
The last attack was on March 23, when the Houthis launched four ballistic missiles toward a ship.
The ship was the M/V Huang Pu, a Panamanian-flagged, Chinese-owned, Chinese-operated oil tanker, Central Command said at the time.
The US noted that “a fifth ballistic missile was detected as fired toward M/V Huang Pu."
"The ship issued a distress call but did not request assistance."
"M/V Huang Pu suffered minimal damage, and a fire on board was extinguished within 30 minutes."
"No casualties were reported, and the vessel resumed its course."
"The Houthis attacked the MV Huang despite previously stating they would not attack Chinese vessels.”
The USS Carney engaged six Houthi drones on the same day.
Ongoing Houthi attacks highlight Iranian foothold in region
The continued Houthi attacks illustrate how Iran continues to drive the war in the region.
There has been some reduction in Iranian-backed attacks on the Red Sea front and also on the Iraq and Syria front.
For instance, Iranian-backed militias have reduced their attacks in Iraq because Iraq’s Prime Minister, Mohamed Shia al-Sudani, is in Washington this week.
It is his first trip to the US capital since he took office in October 2022.
Iraqi militias have carried out dozens of attacks on US forces.
In addition, Iraq is continuing to hold Princeton doctoral candidate and researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov illegally.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/ho ... bdc2&ei=77
"Houthis renew attacks in Red Sea after three day hiatus"
Story by SETH J. FRANTZMAN
28 MARCH 2024
After a three-day hiatus in attacks, the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen began their attacks again, targeting ships.
US Central Command says that naval ships “successfully engaged and destroyed four long-range unmanned aerial systems (UAS) launched by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen."
"These UAS were aimed at a U.S. warship and engaged in self-defense over the Red Sea."
"There were no injuries or damage reported to U.S. or coalition ships."
The American naval forces “determined these weapons presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region."
"These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy and merchant vessels.”
The last attack was on March 23, when the Houthis launched four ballistic missiles toward a ship.
The ship was the M/V Huang Pu, a Panamanian-flagged, Chinese-owned, Chinese-operated oil tanker, Central Command said at the time.
The US noted that “a fifth ballistic missile was detected as fired toward M/V Huang Pu."
"The ship issued a distress call but did not request assistance."
"M/V Huang Pu suffered minimal damage, and a fire on board was extinguished within 30 minutes."
"No casualties were reported, and the vessel resumed its course."
"The Houthis attacked the MV Huang despite previously stating they would not attack Chinese vessels.”
The USS Carney engaged six Houthi drones on the same day.
Ongoing Houthi attacks highlight Iranian foothold in region
The continued Houthi attacks illustrate how Iran continues to drive the war in the region.
There has been some reduction in Iranian-backed attacks on the Red Sea front and also on the Iraq and Syria front.
For instance, Iranian-backed militias have reduced their attacks in Iraq because Iraq’s Prime Minister, Mohamed Shia al-Sudani, is in Washington this week.
It is his first trip to the US capital since he took office in October 2022.
Iraqi militias have carried out dozens of attacks on US forces.
In addition, Iraq is continuing to hold Princeton doctoral candidate and researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov illegally.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/ho ... bdc2&ei=77
Re: THE MIDDLE EAST
The Washington Examiner
"Biden’s Gaza pier is a dangerous, illogical election-year gimmick"
Story by Sen. Roger Wicker
29 MARCH 2024
For the next month and a half, a small group of Army logistics vessels will inch across the Atlantic, traveling at a third of the speed of a Navy warship.
Then, according to the Biden administration, soldiers will take two months to build a floating pier to deliver food and aid to Gaza.
All told, relief may not meet needy hands for months — barring any delays.
One would be hard-pressed to find a more dangerous and illogical election-year gimmick from our commander in chief.
A casual glance at this “emergency mission” prompts several questions, each of which has an unsatisfying answer.
They all clearly indicate that the person best served by this mission is not the American citizen, the U.S. service member, the Palestinian civilian, or the Israeli soldier, but President Joe Biden, candidate for reelection.
I am demanding answers for this waste of tax dollars and military readiness capability.
Last week, I led my Republican Senate Armed Services Committee colleagues in an official request to the commander in chief, asking for a baseline explanation of this looming disaster.
We note that the project seems to have been announced without the Biden administration doing any planning.
In fact, the president shared the news in a made-for-TV moment during the State of the Union.
I am told that as senior Department of Defense officials watched, they wondered how their teams would implement this prime-time directive.
We also do not know how U.S. soldiers will be protected throughout this deployment.
In the region, our forces are already subjected to a steady barrage of missile and drone attacks from Iran’s proxies.
It is unreasonable to assume this mission would be exempt from similar attacks.
Crucially, no one has figured out how this effort will get the aid to civilians in need.
On the ground in Gaza, we do not have partners we can trust to deliver aid where it needs to go.
The absence of a delivery plan underscores the futility of this mission.
The CENTCOM commander recently attributed the challenges regarding humanitarian aid to the security situation within Gaza.
In other words, the blame rests with Hamas terrorists, who regularly steal and hoard the aid.
In fact, without solid local partners, the pier could create more challenges than it solves.
The president vowed that “no U.S. boots will be on the ground” in his State of the Union address.
That is a wise commitment.
But it still relegates our soldiers to the sea, on a static target, while chaos could fester on land at the end of the pier.
What will keep Hamas or other agitators from camping out on the shore?
A multitude of risks are foreseeable.
Troops have already shipped out, yet the haphazard rollout of this plan shows it is being written as it is being enacted.
The whole operation underscores two broader points.
First, the mission raises fundamental questions about the president’s flawed approach to the broader region.
The Houthis are waging an unrestricted campaign of terrorism against commercial shipping, forcing the United States to commit a naval task force to the region indefinitely.
Meanwhile, five American hostages — and dozens of Israelis — continue to languish in captivity in Gaza.
Israel is on the cusp of dismantling Hamas with one final push in Rafah.
To order an Army aid mission in this context is senseless at best and outright dangerous at worst.
Second, the U.S. military is being asked to do too much with too little.
There is a yawning gap between the number of Army logistics ships we need and the ones we have — a sobering fact underscored by the demands of this mission.
Ideally, these soldiers would be protected by Marines, but we simply do not have enough amphibious ships to put them in position.
A stronger defense industrial base would help remedy both these challenges.
In 1983, Hezbollah killed 241 American service members in Beirut, and the U.S. found itself in a Middle East crisis not unlike today’s.
Then-Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger posed several yes-or-no questions to help shape President Ronald Reagan’s use of military force.
The series became the “Weinberger Doctrine.”
He asked:
Are the vital national interests of the U.S. involved?
Do we have the clear intention of winning?
Are military and political objectives clearly defined?
Is there reasonable assurance the American public supports this?
Is the deployment of troops a last resort?
For this mission, Biden would have to answer all these questions in the negative.
It seems this pier functions primarily as the president’s lifeline to a small group of voters he needs to appease.
It is time for Biden to follow Weinberger’s framework.
If he does, he will terminate this ill-conceived mission.
Roger Wicker is a U.S. senator for Mississippi and serves as the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics ... 2c90&ei=46
"Biden’s Gaza pier is a dangerous, illogical election-year gimmick"
Story by Sen. Roger Wicker
29 MARCH 2024
For the next month and a half, a small group of Army logistics vessels will inch across the Atlantic, traveling at a third of the speed of a Navy warship.
Then, according to the Biden administration, soldiers will take two months to build a floating pier to deliver food and aid to Gaza.
All told, relief may not meet needy hands for months — barring any delays.
One would be hard-pressed to find a more dangerous and illogical election-year gimmick from our commander in chief.
A casual glance at this “emergency mission” prompts several questions, each of which has an unsatisfying answer.
They all clearly indicate that the person best served by this mission is not the American citizen, the U.S. service member, the Palestinian civilian, or the Israeli soldier, but President Joe Biden, candidate for reelection.
I am demanding answers for this waste of tax dollars and military readiness capability.
Last week, I led my Republican Senate Armed Services Committee colleagues in an official request to the commander in chief, asking for a baseline explanation of this looming disaster.
We note that the project seems to have been announced without the Biden administration doing any planning.
In fact, the president shared the news in a made-for-TV moment during the State of the Union.
I am told that as senior Department of Defense officials watched, they wondered how their teams would implement this prime-time directive.
We also do not know how U.S. soldiers will be protected throughout this deployment.
In the region, our forces are already subjected to a steady barrage of missile and drone attacks from Iran’s proxies.
It is unreasonable to assume this mission would be exempt from similar attacks.
Crucially, no one has figured out how this effort will get the aid to civilians in need.
On the ground in Gaza, we do not have partners we can trust to deliver aid where it needs to go.
The absence of a delivery plan underscores the futility of this mission.
The CENTCOM commander recently attributed the challenges regarding humanitarian aid to the security situation within Gaza.
In other words, the blame rests with Hamas terrorists, who regularly steal and hoard the aid.
In fact, without solid local partners, the pier could create more challenges than it solves.
The president vowed that “no U.S. boots will be on the ground” in his State of the Union address.
That is a wise commitment.
But it still relegates our soldiers to the sea, on a static target, while chaos could fester on land at the end of the pier.
What will keep Hamas or other agitators from camping out on the shore?
A multitude of risks are foreseeable.
Troops have already shipped out, yet the haphazard rollout of this plan shows it is being written as it is being enacted.
The whole operation underscores two broader points.
First, the mission raises fundamental questions about the president’s flawed approach to the broader region.
The Houthis are waging an unrestricted campaign of terrorism against commercial shipping, forcing the United States to commit a naval task force to the region indefinitely.
Meanwhile, five American hostages — and dozens of Israelis — continue to languish in captivity in Gaza.
Israel is on the cusp of dismantling Hamas with one final push in Rafah.
To order an Army aid mission in this context is senseless at best and outright dangerous at worst.
Second, the U.S. military is being asked to do too much with too little.
There is a yawning gap between the number of Army logistics ships we need and the ones we have — a sobering fact underscored by the demands of this mission.
Ideally, these soldiers would be protected by Marines, but we simply do not have enough amphibious ships to put them in position.
A stronger defense industrial base would help remedy both these challenges.
In 1983, Hezbollah killed 241 American service members in Beirut, and the U.S. found itself in a Middle East crisis not unlike today’s.
Then-Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger posed several yes-or-no questions to help shape President Ronald Reagan’s use of military force.
The series became the “Weinberger Doctrine.”
He asked:
Are the vital national interests of the U.S. involved?
Do we have the clear intention of winning?
Are military and political objectives clearly defined?
Is there reasonable assurance the American public supports this?
Is the deployment of troops a last resort?
For this mission, Biden would have to answer all these questions in the negative.
It seems this pier functions primarily as the president’s lifeline to a small group of voters he needs to appease.
It is time for Biden to follow Weinberger’s framework.
If he does, he will terminate this ill-conceived mission.
Roger Wicker is a U.S. senator for Mississippi and serves as the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics ... 2c90&ei=46
Re: THE MIDDLE EAST
essanews.com
"Houthi drone attacks on US and coalition ships elevate Red Sea tensions"
Story by PRC
30 MARCH 2024
Houthi fighters in Yemen have once again launched an attack in the Red Sea, targeting a coalition vessel and a US warship with drones.
The US Central Command reported that the intercepted drones were a direct threat to merchant and naval ships in the area.
The incident, which took place on Thursday, involved the US military neutralizing four unmanned drones.
These drones, launched by Iran-backed Houthi forces, were directed at a US warship and a coalition ship navigating the Red Sea.
Through a statement on the social media platform X, the US Central Command highlighted the potential danger the drones presented to vessels within the region.
No injuries or damage were reported on the warship or coalition ship despite the attack.
World trade under pressure
These recent attacks have severely disrupted maritime trade routes, once responsible for 12 percent of global commerce.
Vessels now need to detour around the southern tip of Africa, resulting in a doubling of sea freight costs from East Asia to Europe.
Furthermore, Egypt has experienced the repercussions of decreased traffic through the Suez Canal.
Prime Minister Mustafa Madbuli reported a drop of over 50 percent in revenues due to the Houthi assaults in the Red Sea.
He shared these insights during conversations with a US Congressional delegation.
In a significant development on Thursday, March 21, a meeting in Oman featuring discussions between Mohammed Abdel Salam, a senior political representative of the Yemeni Houthi movement, and diplomats from Russia and China was reported by Bloomberg, based on accounts from informed sources.
The dialogue, aimed at ensuring the safe passage of Russian and Chinese ships through the Red Sea, resulted in the Houthis promising no attacks on their vessels in exchange for political support at international forums like the UN, potentially to prevent resolutions against the movement.
However, contradicting these guarantees, the Houthis reportedly attacked a Chinese tanker on Saturday.
The assault involved the firing of missiles near the Huang Pu tanker, owned by China, with one missile striking the vessel, causing damage and starting a fire, which was later extinguished, as stated by the US Central Command.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/ho ... 4794&ei=44
"Houthi drone attacks on US and coalition ships elevate Red Sea tensions"
Story by PRC
30 MARCH 2024
Houthi fighters in Yemen have once again launched an attack in the Red Sea, targeting a coalition vessel and a US warship with drones.
The US Central Command reported that the intercepted drones were a direct threat to merchant and naval ships in the area.
The incident, which took place on Thursday, involved the US military neutralizing four unmanned drones.
These drones, launched by Iran-backed Houthi forces, were directed at a US warship and a coalition ship navigating the Red Sea.
Through a statement on the social media platform X, the US Central Command highlighted the potential danger the drones presented to vessels within the region.
No injuries or damage were reported on the warship or coalition ship despite the attack.
World trade under pressure
These recent attacks have severely disrupted maritime trade routes, once responsible for 12 percent of global commerce.
Vessels now need to detour around the southern tip of Africa, resulting in a doubling of sea freight costs from East Asia to Europe.
Furthermore, Egypt has experienced the repercussions of decreased traffic through the Suez Canal.
Prime Minister Mustafa Madbuli reported a drop of over 50 percent in revenues due to the Houthi assaults in the Red Sea.
He shared these insights during conversations with a US Congressional delegation.
In a significant development on Thursday, March 21, a meeting in Oman featuring discussions between Mohammed Abdel Salam, a senior political representative of the Yemeni Houthi movement, and diplomats from Russia and China was reported by Bloomberg, based on accounts from informed sources.
The dialogue, aimed at ensuring the safe passage of Russian and Chinese ships through the Red Sea, resulted in the Houthis promising no attacks on their vessels in exchange for political support at international forums like the UN, potentially to prevent resolutions against the movement.
However, contradicting these guarantees, the Houthis reportedly attacked a Chinese tanker on Saturday.
The assault involved the firing of missiles near the Huang Pu tanker, owned by China, with one missile striking the vessel, causing damage and starting a fire, which was later extinguished, as stated by the US Central Command.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/ho ... 4794&ei=44
Re: THE MIDDLE EAST
The Navy Times
"Navy destroyer Gravely takes out Houthi drones, missile in the Red Sea"
Story by Jonathan Lehrfeld
5 APRIL 2024
The Navy destroyer Gravely and U.S. forces destroyed an inbound anti-ship ballistic missile and two aerial drones in the Red Sea on Wednesday launched by Houthi militants in Yemen, according to U.S. Central Command.
U.S. forces also destroyed a mobile surface-to-air missile system in Houthi-controlled territory.
"There were no injuries or damage reported by U.S., coalition, or commercial ships," CENTCOM said.
The latest engagement with the Iran-backed organization during its monthslong campaign of assaults against commercial and military ships in Middle Eastern waters comes just days after the group's multiple attempts to attack a U.S. warship.
U.S. forces destroyed four aerial drones over the Red Sea on March 27 that the Houthis aimed at an unidentified U.S. warship, as well as another four the following day aimed at an unnamed U.S. warship and a coalition vessel.
Meanwhile, U.S. officials on Wednesday discussed the future of the ongoing conflict and the prospect of achieving maritime security in the region.
Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, the head of U.S. Air Forces Central, said the Houthi rebels in Yemen may be running through their supplies of drone swarms and anti-ship ballistic missiles, The Associated Press reported.
U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking told reporters that while he thinks the terrorist designation for the Houthis puts "additional pressure on their ability to fundraise," ultimately a diplomatic solution is needed to de-escalate the ongoing situation.
"We favor a diplomatic solution."
"We know that there is no military solution," he said.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/na ... 4a91&ei=31
"Navy destroyer Gravely takes out Houthi drones, missile in the Red Sea"
Story by Jonathan Lehrfeld
5 APRIL 2024
The Navy destroyer Gravely and U.S. forces destroyed an inbound anti-ship ballistic missile and two aerial drones in the Red Sea on Wednesday launched by Houthi militants in Yemen, according to U.S. Central Command.
U.S. forces also destroyed a mobile surface-to-air missile system in Houthi-controlled territory.
"There were no injuries or damage reported by U.S., coalition, or commercial ships," CENTCOM said.
The latest engagement with the Iran-backed organization during its monthslong campaign of assaults against commercial and military ships in Middle Eastern waters comes just days after the group's multiple attempts to attack a U.S. warship.
U.S. forces destroyed four aerial drones over the Red Sea on March 27 that the Houthis aimed at an unidentified U.S. warship, as well as another four the following day aimed at an unnamed U.S. warship and a coalition vessel.
Meanwhile, U.S. officials on Wednesday discussed the future of the ongoing conflict and the prospect of achieving maritime security in the region.
Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, the head of U.S. Air Forces Central, said the Houthi rebels in Yemen may be running through their supplies of drone swarms and anti-ship ballistic missiles, The Associated Press reported.
U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking told reporters that while he thinks the terrorist designation for the Houthis puts "additional pressure on their ability to fundraise," ultimately a diplomatic solution is needed to de-escalate the ongoing situation.
"We favor a diplomatic solution."
"We know that there is no military solution," he said.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/na ... 4a91&ei=31
Re: THE MIDDLE EAST
The New York Post
"Ship attacked outside of Yemen, vessels warned to ‘exercise caution’"
Story by Reuters
8 APRIL 2024
CAIRO, April 7 — British security firm Ambrey said it had received information indicating that a vessel was attacked on Sunday in the Gulf of Aden about 102 nautical miles southwest of Mukalla in Yemen.
“Vessels in the vicinity were advised to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity,” the firm said.
It did not say who was responsible for the attack or give further details.
Separately, a missile landed near a vessel in the Gulf of Aden on Sunday but there was no damage to the ship or injuries to crew in the incident, 59 nautical miles southwest of the Yemeni port of Aden, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said.
“The Master of the vessel reports a missile impacted the water in close proximity to the vessel’s port quarter,” UKMTO said in an advisory note.
“No damage to the vessel reported and crew reported safe,” it added.
It did not say who fired the missile or give further details.
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi militants have staged months of attacks on shipping in the Red Sea region in support of Palestinians in the Gaza war.
The attacks have disrupted global shipping through the Suez Canal, forcing firms to re-route to longer and more expensive journeys around southern Africa.
The United States and Britain have launched strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/sh ... e5e5&ei=56
"Ship attacked outside of Yemen, vessels warned to ‘exercise caution’"
Story by Reuters
8 APRIL 2024
CAIRO, April 7 — British security firm Ambrey said it had received information indicating that a vessel was attacked on Sunday in the Gulf of Aden about 102 nautical miles southwest of Mukalla in Yemen.
“Vessels in the vicinity were advised to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity,” the firm said.
It did not say who was responsible for the attack or give further details.
Separately, a missile landed near a vessel in the Gulf of Aden on Sunday but there was no damage to the ship or injuries to crew in the incident, 59 nautical miles southwest of the Yemeni port of Aden, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said.
“The Master of the vessel reports a missile impacted the water in close proximity to the vessel’s port quarter,” UKMTO said in an advisory note.
“No damage to the vessel reported and crew reported safe,” it added.
It did not say who fired the missile or give further details.
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi militants have staged months of attacks on shipping in the Red Sea region in support of Palestinians in the Gaza war.
The attacks have disrupted global shipping through the Suez Canal, forcing firms to re-route to longer and more expensive journeys around southern Africa.
The United States and Britain have launched strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/sh ... e5e5&ei=56
Re: THE MIDDLE EAST
The Daily Mail
"US sends in amphibious warship USS Bataan and support vessels with 2,500 Marines on board into the Eastern Mediterranean and places military bases in Iraq on full alert as Iran attacks Israel"
Story by Joe Hutchison For Dailymail.Com and Bill Lowther In Washington For The Mail On Sunday
14 APRIL 2024
The US have sent the war ship Bataan as well as two support ships with 2,500 Marines onboard into the Eastern Mediterranean after Iran launched a drone attack on Israel.
US Congressional sources say the amphibious war ship Bataan is leading a US naval task force in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Bataan has two support ships and together they have about 2,500 Marines onboard.
The US also has several guided missile destroyers including the Carney in the area.
US bases in Iraq have been placed on full alert and will also attempt to shoot down missiles and drones aimed at Israel.
In addition, the US has two destroyers and a Cruiser in the Red Sea that are fully armed with anti-missile weapons and they too are under orders to shoot down any Israeli bound missiles or drones.
Iran launched the drones Saturday afternoon Eastern Standard Time, and they are expected to take hours to reach their target.
President Joe Biden said on Friday he expects Iran to attack Israel 'sooner than later' and said his message to Tehran was 'don't.'
'We are devoted to the defense of Israel.'
'We will support Israel and help defend Israel and Iran will not succeed,' Biden said after addressing a gathering of black leaders.
On Saturday afternoon, President Biden rushed back from Delaware for an emergency national security meeting on the matter.
Israel has an 'iron dome' security system which can shoot down enemy missiles, although it is unclear if it will be able to fend off the full force of Iran's attack.
Dozens of drones were seen flying from Iran over neighboring Iraq's Sulaymaniya province, according to three security sources.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said via state media that it had 'launched extensive drone strikes against targets in occupied territories.'
Iranian media reported that a second wave of drones has been launched, though details on their current location are not yet known.
The IDF's spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, said it would take several hours for the drones to arrive in Israel, adding that sirens would be sounded in threatened areas.
The IDF said: 'The air defense array is on high alert at the same time as the Air Force planes and Navy ships that are on a mission to protect the country’s skies."
"The IDF is monitoring all targets.
'We ask the public to adhere to and follow the instructions of the Home Front Command and the official IDF announcements regarding the matter.'
Iran had threatened to hit back at Israel over an attack in Syria, which Tehran say was an Israeli airstrike on a Iranian diplomatic building in Damascus.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei vowed retribution in the wake of the Damascus attack, for which Tel-Aviv has yet to take responsibility.
The April 1 attack destroyed Iran's consulate building in the city and killed seven Revolutionary Guards, including the two generals.
Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned Wednesday that Israel 'must be punished and will be punished', days after one of his advisers said Israeli embassies are 'no longer safe'.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us ... 7f47&ei=69
"US sends in amphibious warship USS Bataan and support vessels with 2,500 Marines on board into the Eastern Mediterranean and places military bases in Iraq on full alert as Iran attacks Israel"
Story by Joe Hutchison For Dailymail.Com and Bill Lowther In Washington For The Mail On Sunday
14 APRIL 2024
The US have sent the war ship Bataan as well as two support ships with 2,500 Marines onboard into the Eastern Mediterranean after Iran launched a drone attack on Israel.
US Congressional sources say the amphibious war ship Bataan is leading a US naval task force in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Bataan has two support ships and together they have about 2,500 Marines onboard.
The US also has several guided missile destroyers including the Carney in the area.
US bases in Iraq have been placed on full alert and will also attempt to shoot down missiles and drones aimed at Israel.
In addition, the US has two destroyers and a Cruiser in the Red Sea that are fully armed with anti-missile weapons and they too are under orders to shoot down any Israeli bound missiles or drones.
Iran launched the drones Saturday afternoon Eastern Standard Time, and they are expected to take hours to reach their target.
President Joe Biden said on Friday he expects Iran to attack Israel 'sooner than later' and said his message to Tehran was 'don't.'
'We are devoted to the defense of Israel.'
'We will support Israel and help defend Israel and Iran will not succeed,' Biden said after addressing a gathering of black leaders.
On Saturday afternoon, President Biden rushed back from Delaware for an emergency national security meeting on the matter.
Israel has an 'iron dome' security system which can shoot down enemy missiles, although it is unclear if it will be able to fend off the full force of Iran's attack.
Dozens of drones were seen flying from Iran over neighboring Iraq's Sulaymaniya province, according to three security sources.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said via state media that it had 'launched extensive drone strikes against targets in occupied territories.'
Iranian media reported that a second wave of drones has been launched, though details on their current location are not yet known.
The IDF's spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, said it would take several hours for the drones to arrive in Israel, adding that sirens would be sounded in threatened areas.
The IDF said: 'The air defense array is on high alert at the same time as the Air Force planes and Navy ships that are on a mission to protect the country’s skies."
"The IDF is monitoring all targets.
'We ask the public to adhere to and follow the instructions of the Home Front Command and the official IDF announcements regarding the matter.'
Iran had threatened to hit back at Israel over an attack in Syria, which Tehran say was an Israeli airstrike on a Iranian diplomatic building in Damascus.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei vowed retribution in the wake of the Damascus attack, for which Tel-Aviv has yet to take responsibility.
The April 1 attack destroyed Iran's consulate building in the city and killed seven Revolutionary Guards, including the two generals.
Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned Wednesday that Israel 'must be punished and will be punished', days after one of his advisers said Israeli embassies are 'no longer safe'.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us ... 7f47&ei=69
Re: THE MIDDLE EAST
The Daily Mail
"Israel 'strikes Iran' as explosions rock hostile state"
Story by Will Potter For Dailymail.Com
19 APRIL 2024
Israel has conducted airstrikes on a target in Iran, US officials say.
An official told ABC News that strikes hit a site in Iran, however it is unclear what target was hit or the extent of the damage.
Footage shared on social media appeared to show anti-aircraft fire striking over the city of Isfahan in central Iran, which hosts one of Iran's nuclear facilities.
It comes in response to Iran launching a barrage of hundreds of drones and rockets at Israel on Saturday, which was largely thwarted by Israel and its international allies.
The Biden administration had stressed the need for de-escalation from Israel following Saturday's strikes.
Further explosions have reportedly hit Iraq and Syria.
Florida Senator Marco Rubio tweeted soon after reports of the strikes: 'Israel has the ability to conduct strikes against targets inside Iran without entering Iranian air space from aircraft over Syrian and Iraqi airspace.'
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/is ... 620a&ei=31
"Israel 'strikes Iran' as explosions rock hostile state"
Story by Will Potter For Dailymail.Com
19 APRIL 2024
Israel has conducted airstrikes on a target in Iran, US officials say.
An official told ABC News that strikes hit a site in Iran, however it is unclear what target was hit or the extent of the damage.
Footage shared on social media appeared to show anti-aircraft fire striking over the city of Isfahan in central Iran, which hosts one of Iran's nuclear facilities.
It comes in response to Iran launching a barrage of hundreds of drones and rockets at Israel on Saturday, which was largely thwarted by Israel and its international allies.
The Biden administration had stressed the need for de-escalation from Israel following Saturday's strikes.
Further explosions have reportedly hit Iraq and Syria.
Florida Senator Marco Rubio tweeted soon after reports of the strikes: 'Israel has the ability to conduct strikes against targets inside Iran without entering Iranian air space from aircraft over Syrian and Iraqi airspace.'
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/is ... 620a&ei=31
Re: THE MIDDLE EAST
REUTERS
"Dubai faces massive clean up after deluge swamps glitzy desert city"
By Reuters
April 19, 2024
Summary
* Vehicles submerged in water on roads abandoned
* Flooded roads bring Dubai to near standstill
* Airport operations remain disrupted
DUBAI, April 18 (Reuters) - Dubai, a city in the desert proud of its modern gloss, faced the towering task on Thursday of clearing its waterclogged roads and drying out flooded homes two days after a record storm saw a year's rain fall in a day.
Dubai International Airport, a major travel hub, struggled to clear a backlog of flights and many roads were still flooded in the aftermath of Tuesday's deluge.
The rains were the heaviest experienced by the United Arab Emirates in the 75 years that records have been kept.
They brought much of the country to a standstill and caused significant damage.
Flooding trapped residents in traffic, offices and homes.
Many reported leaks at their homes, while footage circulated on social media showed malls overrun with water pouring from roofs.
In Dubai, the UAE's most populous emirate, traffic remained disrupted even as public transportation services resumed.
Street closures, detours and partially submerged roads caused heavy congestion, with some cars driving towards oncoming traffic in effort to avoid flooded areas.
A highway through Dubai was reduced to a single lane in one direction, while the main road that connects Dubai with the capital Abu Dhabi was partially closed in both directions.
"This was like nothing else."
"It was like an alien invasion," Jonathan Richards, a Dubai resident from Britain told Reuters.
"I woke up the other morning to people in kayaks with pet dogs, pet cats, suitcases all outside my house."
Another resident, Rinku Makhecha, said the rain swamped her freshly renovated house she moved into two weeks ago.
"My entire living room is just like ... all my furniture is floating right now," she said.
Vehicles, including buses, were abandoned on streets and some could be seen submerged in water.
In Abu Dhabi, some supermarkets and restaurants faced product shortages, unable to receive deliveries from Dubai.
Dubai airport had yet to resume normal operation after the storm flooded taxiways, forcing flight diversions, delays and cancellations.
Dubai Airports Chief Operating Officer Majed Al Joker told Al Arabiya TV he expected Dubai International Airport to reach 60-70% capacity by the end of Thursday and full operational capacity within 24 hours.
The airport struggled to get food to stranded passengers with nearby roads flooded and overcrowding limited access to those who had confirmed bookings.
RETURNING SUPPLIES
The storm, which hit neighbouring Oman on Sunday, pounded the UAE on Tuesday, with 20 reported dead in Oman and one in the UAE.
While some roadways into hard-hit communities remain flooded, delivery services across Dubai, whose residents are used to ordering everything at the click of a mouse, slowly began returning to the streets.
Rains are rare in the UAE and elsewhere on the Arabian Peninsula, which is typically known for its dry desert climate.
Summer air temperatures can soar above 50 degrees Celsius.
Following Tuesday's events, questions were raised whether cloud seeding, a process that the UAE frequently conducts, could have caused the heavy rains.
But climate experts blame global warming for such extreme weather events.
Researchers anticipate that climate change will lead to heightened temperatures, increased humidity and a greater risk of flooding in parts of the Gulf region.
Countries like the UAE where there is a lack of drainage infrastructure to cope with heavy rains can suffer the most.
A UAE government agency that oversees cloud seeding - a process of manipulating clouds to increase rainfall - denied conducting any such operations before the storm.
President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said in a statement he had ordered authorities to assess the damage and provide support to families impacted by the storm.
Dubai's Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum said on X that the safety of citizens, residents and visitors was the utmost priority.
"At a meeting with government officials in Dubai, we set directives to prepare comprehensive plans in response to natural crises' such as the unexpected current weather conditions," he said.
Reporting by Alexander Cornwell, Federico Maccioni, Yousef Saba, Abir Ahmar and Amr Alfiky; Editing by Maha El Dahan, Tom Hogue, Angus MacSwan, Tomasz Janowski and David Evans
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-ea ... 1e2c1e3a35
"Dubai faces massive clean up after deluge swamps glitzy desert city"
By Reuters
April 19, 2024
Summary
* Vehicles submerged in water on roads abandoned
* Flooded roads bring Dubai to near standstill
* Airport operations remain disrupted
DUBAI, April 18 (Reuters) - Dubai, a city in the desert proud of its modern gloss, faced the towering task on Thursday of clearing its waterclogged roads and drying out flooded homes two days after a record storm saw a year's rain fall in a day.
Dubai International Airport, a major travel hub, struggled to clear a backlog of flights and many roads were still flooded in the aftermath of Tuesday's deluge.
The rains were the heaviest experienced by the United Arab Emirates in the 75 years that records have been kept.
They brought much of the country to a standstill and caused significant damage.
Flooding trapped residents in traffic, offices and homes.
Many reported leaks at their homes, while footage circulated on social media showed malls overrun with water pouring from roofs.
In Dubai, the UAE's most populous emirate, traffic remained disrupted even as public transportation services resumed.
Street closures, detours and partially submerged roads caused heavy congestion, with some cars driving towards oncoming traffic in effort to avoid flooded areas.
A highway through Dubai was reduced to a single lane in one direction, while the main road that connects Dubai with the capital Abu Dhabi was partially closed in both directions.
"This was like nothing else."
"It was like an alien invasion," Jonathan Richards, a Dubai resident from Britain told Reuters.
"I woke up the other morning to people in kayaks with pet dogs, pet cats, suitcases all outside my house."
Another resident, Rinku Makhecha, said the rain swamped her freshly renovated house she moved into two weeks ago.
"My entire living room is just like ... all my furniture is floating right now," she said.
Vehicles, including buses, were abandoned on streets and some could be seen submerged in water.
In Abu Dhabi, some supermarkets and restaurants faced product shortages, unable to receive deliveries from Dubai.
Dubai airport had yet to resume normal operation after the storm flooded taxiways, forcing flight diversions, delays and cancellations.
Dubai Airports Chief Operating Officer Majed Al Joker told Al Arabiya TV he expected Dubai International Airport to reach 60-70% capacity by the end of Thursday and full operational capacity within 24 hours.
The airport struggled to get food to stranded passengers with nearby roads flooded and overcrowding limited access to those who had confirmed bookings.
RETURNING SUPPLIES
The storm, which hit neighbouring Oman on Sunday, pounded the UAE on Tuesday, with 20 reported dead in Oman and one in the UAE.
While some roadways into hard-hit communities remain flooded, delivery services across Dubai, whose residents are used to ordering everything at the click of a mouse, slowly began returning to the streets.
Rains are rare in the UAE and elsewhere on the Arabian Peninsula, which is typically known for its dry desert climate.
Summer air temperatures can soar above 50 degrees Celsius.
Following Tuesday's events, questions were raised whether cloud seeding, a process that the UAE frequently conducts, could have caused the heavy rains.
But climate experts blame global warming for such extreme weather events.
Researchers anticipate that climate change will lead to heightened temperatures, increased humidity and a greater risk of flooding in parts of the Gulf region.
Countries like the UAE where there is a lack of drainage infrastructure to cope with heavy rains can suffer the most.
A UAE government agency that oversees cloud seeding - a process of manipulating clouds to increase rainfall - denied conducting any such operations before the storm.
President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said in a statement he had ordered authorities to assess the damage and provide support to families impacted by the storm.
Dubai's Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum said on X that the safety of citizens, residents and visitors was the utmost priority.
"At a meeting with government officials in Dubai, we set directives to prepare comprehensive plans in response to natural crises' such as the unexpected current weather conditions," he said.
Reporting by Alexander Cornwell, Federico Maccioni, Yousef Saba, Abir Ahmar and Amr Alfiky; Editing by Maha El Dahan, Tom Hogue, Angus MacSwan, Tomasz Janowski and David Evans
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-ea ... 1e2c1e3a35
Re: THE MIDDLE EAST
Bloomberg
"US-Led Military Base in Syria Hit by Rockets Fired From Iraq"
Story by Sherif Tarek
22 APRIL 2024
(Bloomberg) -- A military base in Syria belonging to a US-led coalition came under rocket-fire late on Sunday, the government-affiliated Iraqi Security Media Cell said in a statement.
At least one rocket landed at the base, said Rami Abdulrahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights in an interview with Al-Arabiya.
It wasn’t immediately clear if there were any casualties.
US Central Command, which oversees American forces in the Middle East, is yet to comment.
The attacks are the first against US bases in the region since early February, when Washington struck Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria.
That was in response for a drone assault that killed three American soldiers in Jordan and was blamed by the US on an umbrella group called the Islamic Resistance in Iraq.
Iran backs a number of anti-US and anti-Israel militias in Iraq and Syria and they ramped up attacks on American bases after the Israel-Hamas war began in October.
Iraqi forces are conducting a search operation west of Nineveh, near the Syrian border, to try to capture the perpetrators of the latest attack, according to Iraqi Security Media Cell.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq didn’t explicitly claim responsibility for the strike, but in a statement on Telegram the militant group said it decided to resume military operations against American troops after Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani visited the White House and met President Joe Biden this month.
The group gave Al-Sudani three months to negotiate the departure of the roughly 2,000 US forces in Iraq.
“What happened a short while ago is the beginning that must be escalated,” according to the group’s statement.
The attack followed an explosion on a base in Iraq this weekend controlled by the Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of Iran-allied militias, killing one person and injuring eight, the Associated Press reported.
The US said it wasn’t behind that incident.
--With assistance from Kateryna Kadabashy.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us ... acfc&ei=49
"US-Led Military Base in Syria Hit by Rockets Fired From Iraq"
Story by Sherif Tarek
22 APRIL 2024
(Bloomberg) -- A military base in Syria belonging to a US-led coalition came under rocket-fire late on Sunday, the government-affiliated Iraqi Security Media Cell said in a statement.
At least one rocket landed at the base, said Rami Abdulrahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights in an interview with Al-Arabiya.
It wasn’t immediately clear if there were any casualties.
US Central Command, which oversees American forces in the Middle East, is yet to comment.
The attacks are the first against US bases in the region since early February, when Washington struck Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria.
That was in response for a drone assault that killed three American soldiers in Jordan and was blamed by the US on an umbrella group called the Islamic Resistance in Iraq.
Iran backs a number of anti-US and anti-Israel militias in Iraq and Syria and they ramped up attacks on American bases after the Israel-Hamas war began in October.
Iraqi forces are conducting a search operation west of Nineveh, near the Syrian border, to try to capture the perpetrators of the latest attack, according to Iraqi Security Media Cell.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq didn’t explicitly claim responsibility for the strike, but in a statement on Telegram the militant group said it decided to resume military operations against American troops after Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani visited the White House and met President Joe Biden this month.
The group gave Al-Sudani three months to negotiate the departure of the roughly 2,000 US forces in Iraq.
“What happened a short while ago is the beginning that must be escalated,” according to the group’s statement.
The attack followed an explosion on a base in Iraq this weekend controlled by the Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of Iran-allied militias, killing one person and injuring eight, the Associated Press reported.
The US said it wasn’t behind that incident.
--With assistance from Kateryna Kadabashy.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us ... acfc&ei=49