US Central Command

2024-05-08

Iran has sought to increase the use of to attack Israel in the wake of the Rafah offensive. However, Iran’s proxies have so far not been very successful. Several drones were launched by pro-Iranian militias in Iraq, for instance. In addition Iran continues to use the Houthis in Yemen to attack ships. Overall, the Iraqi militias attacks generally involve the launch of singular drones and although the drones could do damage if they impacted something, they usually fail to get to Israel or are intercepted. At the same time the Houthis face off against in the Red Sea. According to US Central Command, on May 6 “Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists launched three uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) over the Gulf of Aden from Houthi controlled areas in Yemen. A coalition ship successfully engaged one UAS, US Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces successfully engaged the second UAS, and the final UAS crashed in the Gulf of Aden. There were no injuries or damages reported by US, coalition, or merchant vessels.” Then on May 7 the Houthis launched a ballistic missile into the Gulf of Aden. Pro-Iranian media had suggested that if , this would create a “perfect storm” and Israel would face threats from multiple fronts. So far the threats have not materialized the way Iran envisioned them. For instance, Hezbollah did increase attacks between May 5 and 8, launching dozens of rockets. At 11am on May 8 Hezbollah targeted areas in the Galilee.An Israeli air defense system intercept rockets fired from Lebanon as it seen from the Israeli side of the border, on November 7, 2023. (credit: AYAL MARGOLIN/FLASH90) Then, half an hour later, it targeted areas near Shlomi, not far from Nahariya. These are areas Hezbollah has often targeted. Hezbollah is thus using the same playbook. The major deviation were a series of drone attacks by Hezbollah on May 6 and May 7. Hezbollah’s attacks killed two IDF soldiers on Monday. This is a serious escalation. However, Hezbollah appeared to climb down from more escalation on May 8. Hezbollah appears to prefer the kind of proportional attacks that it has carried out for seven months, destroying Israeli communities in the north, but not yet leading to a wider war. Iran’s goal of escalation amid the Rafah offensive has therefore not come to the fruition that Iran wanted. It remains to be seen if Iran and its proxies will increase their attacks over the weekend. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-04-30

The have increased their attacks over the last several days. The terrorist group said on Tuesday that they “targeted two American destroyers and two ships in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean.” The spokesman for the group said they used drones to target the US ships. This comes after a month or more in which it appeared Houthi attacks had either been reduced or plateaued. US Central Command said on April 29, “Between 10:00 am and 5:20 pm (Sanaa time) on April 29, Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists fired three anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBM) and three UAVs from Yemen into the Red Sea towards MV Cyclades, a Malta-flagged, Greece-owned vessel. Initial reports indicate there were no injuries, and the vessel continued on its way.” The new attacks are raising eyebrows in the region. They were front-page news at the pro-Iran Al-Mayadeen news, and this shows that Iran and its proxies view the latest attacks as important moves for the Iran-backed “axis of resistance.” Iran has been continuing to push to carry out attacks on Israel. For instance, terrorists in both Lebanon and Gaza have targeted Israel with rockets in recent days. The Houthis are a third front where Iran seeks to escalate attacks. The Al-Ain media in the Gulf said that “new naval attacks were carried out by Houthi militias against American cargo ships and destroyers, extending from the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean.” The report said that the Houthi spokesperson, Yahya Saree, said that the militias carried out a series of attacks that targeted the "Israeli ship MSC Orion," the "Cyclades" ship, and two American destroyers, according to his statement. The Iranian-backed groups often claimed to attack Israeli ships or Israel-linked ships without providing evidence of the connection or claim. We reported overnight at The Jerusalem Post that the Portugal-flagged MSC Orion was sailing between the ports in Sines, Portugal and Salalah, Oman and its registered owner is Zodiac Maritime, according to LSEG data. A Tribesman loyal to the Houthis mans a machine gun mounted on a pick-up truck during a military parade for new tribal recruits amid escalating tensions with the U.S.-led coalition in the Red Sea, in Bani Hushaish, Yemen January 22, 2024. (credit: KHALED ABDULLAH/REUTERS) The report goes on to claim that the attack on the MSC Orion took place in the Indian Ocean. This is also an escalation because the Houthis have often concentrated attacks in the Red Sea and carried out attacks in the Indian Ocean, which expands their area of operation. The report at Al-Ain media said that the Houthis had “confirmed that the hit on the Cyclades ship came after an attack targeted it in the Red Sea.” The Cyclades sails under the flag of Malta, reports said. It was targeted with drones and missiles for "violating the ban and heading to the port of Eilat on April 21, using deception and camouflage, under the pretense that it was heading to another port,” the report claimed, based on the Houthi claimed. In addition, the Houthis are escalating attacks on US ships. The US ships have been trying to prevent Houthi attacks over the last five months. The ships come under US Central Command’s overall mission to secure shipping and avoid regional destabilization. “Last week, the Houthi militia claimed responsibility for targeting the Andromeda Star ship in the Red Sea and shooting down an American drone in its home stronghold of Saada, in the far north of Yemen,” Al-Ain noted. The same report said that the Houthis had targeted the MSC Darwin sailing in the Gulf of Aden, the American ship Maersk Yorktown and an American destroyer in the Gulf of Aden, and the “Israeli ship MSC VERACRUZ in the Indian Ocean.” The Houthis have now attacked 102 ships, the Houthis claim. They also claim to be expanding operations in the Indian Ocean. The Houthis put out a video message about this claim. There was no immediate elaboration on these incidents, however the Houthi claims clearly show how they want to appear to be increasing their attacks. On April 29, US Central Command said that their forces “successfully engaged and destroyed one Houthi launched airborne unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on a flight path towards USS Philippine Sea and USS Laboon in the Red Sea. No injuries or damages were reported by US, coalition, or merchant vessels.” On April 28, the US said, “between 1:48 and 2:27 a.m. (Sanaa time), On April 28, the US Central Command (USCENTCOM) successfully engaged five airborne unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) over the Red Sea. It was determined the UAVs presented an imminent threat to US, coalition, and merchant vessels in the region. These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for US, coalition, and merchant vessels.” ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-04-29

The U.S. military said on Sunday it had engaged five unmanned drones over the Red Sea that "presented an imminent threat to U.S., coalition, and merchant vessels in the region."  This post can't be displayed because social networks cookies have been deactivated. You can activate them by clicking manage preferences. " These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S., coalition, and merchant vessels." U.S. Central Command did not say in the statement if the drones were destroyed. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-04-25

Although construction of the for providing humanitarian aid to Gaza has not yet formally started, it is expected to be completed and operating by early May, according to IDF sources. The artificial island, or Joint Logistics Over the Shore (JLOTS) pier, has been in the works by US President Joe Biden in his State of the Union address on March 7. At the time, the announcement caught many Israeli officials by surprise and it was the start of a series of moves of Washington injecting itself more forcefully into the humanitarian situation in Gaza. But shortly after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu noted he had offered the possibility back in October 2023 (though at the time he was trying to use it to stave off having to open land aid crossings), and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on March 10 that the new US maritime Gaza humanitarian aid program would speed up toppling Hamas. The challenge of getting the JLOTS going connects to why it may also get up and running relatively quickly. U.S. Air Force members work on the preparation of a humanitarian aid drop for Gaza residents, in this picture released on March 5, 2024. (credit: US Central Command via X/Handout via REUTERS ) A series of large US naval vessels have been making their way slowly across the Atlantic, but when they arrive, in the upcoming days, they have essentially all of the equipment and materials needed to establish the temporary island off Gaza. Now that Gaza is bringing in over 500 trucks of aid per day from around four land crossings according to Israeli officials, the island will not replace, but complement the land aid efforts. It will also help connect Gaza to the world in ways that it has been cut off since Israel imposed a blockade on Hamas when the group routed Fatah from the Strip in 2007. The pier is expected to be around 550 meters long and wide enough to carry two lanes of trucks. Given the Gazan coast’s shallow waters, the US Navy will facilitate the operation by running short ferry rounds bringing the trucks from roll-on/roll-off ships to the pier, with around 1,000 US military personnel expected to be involved. IDF sources said there are special efforts to try to protect the pier and the US soldiers from Hamas. Cyprus will also play a critical role in ferrying aid between the pier and Israel. The artificial island will be going up just as a new flotilla may arrive from Turkey seeking to bring aid directly to Gazans without Israeli inspections. Prior have led to arrests and even altercations, with around 10 flotilla passengers dying in fights with IDF soldiers in 2010 (several soldiers were wounded, but none were killed.)  ...قراءة المزيد

الكلمات المفتاحية المذكورة في المقال:

2024-04-17

US Army ships that are heading for Gaza to build a temporary pier or floating dock have arrived in Crete, according to vessel-tracking websites. The ships left Fort Eustis on the James River on March 12 and had to make their way across the Atlantic Ocean. The US ordered the because of the humanitarian crisis in March after a stampede broke out near a convoy of trucks, leading to numerous deaths. Today Israel has opened a new northern crossing to Gaza and much of the humanitarian situation has improved and more trucks are crossing to Gaza. The armada of ships includes five US Army watercraft, including the USAV James A. Loux (LSV-6), USAV Montorrey (LCU-2030), USAV Matamoros (LCU-2026), USAV General Frank S. Besson Jr. (LSV-1)  and USAV Wilson Wharf (LCU-2011). They traveled down the Chesapeake Bay and then headed south along the coast of the Carolinas before heading to the open ocean passing Bermuda, and arriving off the coast of Spain and Africa. The ships are part of the US Army’s 7th Transportation Brigade of the 18th Airborne Corps. Back in March, US Central Command said the ships “from the 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary), 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, XVIII Airborne Corps, departed Joint Base Langley-Eustis en route to the Eastern Mediterranean to establish a roll-on, roll-off dock capability that allows the ship to shore humanitarian assistance to Gaza. SP4 James A. Loux, Monterrey, Matamoros, and Wilson Warf are carrying equipment and supplies needed to establish a temporary pier to deliver vital humanitarian supplies.” According to the Vessel Finder website, the ships are now moored at the Crete Naval Base in Souda Bay. These include the USAV Matamoros, USAV James A. Loux, USAV Monterrey, and USAV General Frank S. Besson Jr. The USAV Wilson’s Wharf, however, appears to still be in the at the Canary Islands in a port near Tenerife. It’s not clear why it is lagging behind or if it was dispatched for a different mission. A view shows the Chinese Navy frigate Linyi during the Maritime Security Belt 2024 international naval exercise of Russia, China and Iran in the Gulf of Oman, in this still image taken from video released March 12, 2024. (credit: Russian Defence Ministry/Handout via REUTERS) The Crete naval base includes the (NSA) at Souda Bay which is located near the Hellenic (Greek) Air Force Base near the village of Mouzouras. According to Military.com this site “occupies an area of approximately 110 acres on the north side of the air base, which is home of the Hellenic Air Force's 115th Combat Wing flying F-16 aircraft. They are physically located on the large, circular shaped Akrotiri Peninsula, which forms the northern face of the Souda Harbor.” This is “an operational ashore installation which enables and supports US, Allied, Coalition, and Partner nation forces to preserve security and stability in the European, African, and Central Command areas of responsibility,” according to the site. The Crete Naval Base has facilities for the Hellenic Navy and also NATO. It is also called the Souda Naval Base and is the second largest base of the Hellenic navy and one of the key NATO bases in the Eastern Mediterranean. The area is near the picturesque city of Chania in Crete, one of the island’s most beautiful sites. Chania has a 14th century Venetian harbor and has an old town that includes shopping and enjoyable restaurants. It’s not clear how long the US army ships will remain in port in Souda. It also remains to be seen whether the temporary floating dock or pier is still necessary in Gaza. Nevertheless the voyage of the American armada has been an important logistical trial to see how these ships can cross oceans and bring essential capabilities to a conflict zone. If they do arrive off Gaza this will provide much-needed training in a real time crisis to test out the US and partner country methods in creating a logistical life line. Some of the issues facing this mission have been made more complicated by the killing of seven humanitarian workers from World Central Kitchen on April 1. This caused WCK and the UAE to pause support for the maritime corridor from Cyprus to Gaza, which had been offloading goods to a pier the IDF constructed that abuts the Netzarim corridor. It is not clear the status of this corridor today but it is expected to return to service. The Spanish ship Open Arms which was working with the humanitarians is still in Cyprus, after it returned to Cyprus on April 2 carrying tons of goods that could not be offloaded due to the killing of the humanitarians.   ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-04-15

On April 15 US Central Command of its unprecedented role in confronting the drone and missile threats to Israel on April 13 and April 14. “On April 13 and the morning of April 14, US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces, supported by US European Command destroyers, successfully engaged and destroyed more than 80 one-way attack uncrewed aerial vehicles (OWA UAV) and at least six ballistic missiles intended to strike Israel from Iran and Yemen,” US Central Command said. This is important because it reveals that out of the 350 drones and missiles launched by Iran, almost a third were intercepted by US Central Comnmand and also involved close work with Israel and also US European Command. Israel used to be part of US European Command, but moved to CENTCOM’s area of operations in 2021. This was an important move because Israel is in the Middle East and should be part of US Central Command’s region. However, history had kept Israel out of CENTCOM because in the old days Israel didn’t have normalization with many countries in the region. In addition, Israel’s close ties to Europe helped it integrate in the past in European Command. Turkey is also part of European Command. These days Israel and CENTCOM work closely together and CENTCOM head general Michael ‘Erik’ Kurilla was in Israel days before the unprecedented Iranian attack. CENTCOM downed 80 of the 170 drones Iran launched on April 13. The drones flew slowly from Iran and it appears some were also launched from the . This is clear because US Central Command has revealed in it statement that it struck a ballistic missile and seven drones that were on the ground in Yemen preparing to launch. The Houthis have been attacking ships using drones and missiles as well. Iran said it struck Israel from four directions on April 13 and April 14. Once the US had helped down the 80 drones this left only around 90 for France, the UK, Jordan and to contend with and would have given Israel the time to intercept the rest. Israel’s air defenses also downed the ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. Iran may have fired 120 ballistic missiles but some failed to launch or fly successfully, meaning Israel didn’t have ot use its Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 systems to intercept them all. US Central Command continues to play a key role in confronting the Houthi threats to ships. On April 13 “Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists launched one anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) toward the Gulf of Aden from a Houthi controlled area in Yemen. There were no injuries or damage reported by US, coalition, or commercial ships,” CENTCOM said. “Then between 4:00 a.m. and 9:15 p.m. (Sanaa time) April 14, CENTCOM forces successfully destroyed four uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen in self-defense.” ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-04-15

Israel's repelling of a massive salvo was fully coordinated with the Pentagon, which had a US operational liaison officer in the control room of the Arrow ballistic air defense system, a senior Israeli official said. The United States, along with Britain, France and Jordan, helped Israel intercept the bulk of the weekend barrage and potentially stave off escalation between the . At least half of the hundreds of pilotless one-way planes, and surface-to-surface missiles, which Israel said carried a total of 60 tonnes of explosives, were shot down by Israeli warplanes and aerial shields, according to local media. Israeli officials said much of the work was done by their Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 high-altitude defense systems, which were developed jointly with the Pentagon and Boeing Co. Arrow's interceptor missiles cost between $2 million and $3.5 million a piece, according to Israeli industry sources. An Arrow II missile interceptor is displayed in front of journalists at an Israeli air defence command in the Palmahim military base south of Tel Aviv May 12, 2011. (credit: VIA REUTERS) Moshe Patel, director of missile defense at Israel's Defense Ministry, said Arrow and lower-altitude interceptors were synced with counterpart US systems in the region. "The systems share information, for a joint picture of the sky, and the sky was certainly busy," Patel told Channel 12 TV. "Afterward, there is also coordination in battle doctrine. An American officer sits in the control room of the Arrow weapons system and essentially conducts the coordination with the US systems, shoulder-to-shoulder." There was no immediate comment from US Central Command, which oversees Middle East operations. On Sunday, it said US forces destroyed more than 80 of the drones and at least six of the ballistic missiles aimed at Israel. Israel said 99% of all the projectiles were downed in time, limiting the toll to injuries to one person and damage to one military base. That surprised even Zvika Haimovitch, a retired brigadier-general who formerly commanded Israel's air defenses. "(This was) well-synchronized and coordinated between all the elements – the air, the ground forces - and, yes, to be honest it is a great percentage and much more than we expected if you would have asked me three days before," he told Reuters. "But we need to be sure that we will be ready for the next time because for sure there’ll be a next time," he said. "We need to take as an assumption that the Iranians will do their homework next time and will try to challenge our systems. That means we need to be one step before and not after our enemies." Daniel Gold, director of weapons development at Israel's Defence Ministry, told Channel 12 television that work was already under way on more advanced Arrow models 4 and 5. Arrow 3 shoots down incoming ballistic weapons above the atmosphere, using a detachable warhead that slams into the target in space. The Maariv newspaper reported that Arrow 3 downed 110 missiles outside Israeli air space, at a potential cost of up to $385 million. The Israeli military had no immediate comment on that. Asked on Army Radio how much the interceptions had cost Israel, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said he did not know. Mindful of the need for thrift in the face of foes on several fronts, Israel in 2022 said it was developing a laser-based missile shield to deliver shoot-downs as cheap as $2 each. "I believe that the laser will be in the next few years one of our main solutions in dealing with a variety of threats – rockets, missiles, drones, UAVs and more," Haimovitch said. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-04-10

The thousands of infantry weapons and more than 500,000 rounds of ammunition that were seized more than a year ago as they were being shipped by Iran to Houthi forces in Yemen, the US military said on Tuesday. The hardware sent last week is the latest military assistance that US President Joe Biden's administration has provided to Kyiv for its fight to Democrat Biden has been blocked from providing further US weaponry to Kyiv by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson's refusal to call a vote on $60 billion in new security assistance. With Ukrainian forces running low on weapons and munitions, especially heavy artillery rounds, the United States and its allies have been searching for new ways to arm Kyiv. to Kyiv on April 4 "constituted enough materiel to equip" a Ukrainian brigade, US Central Command said in a statement posted on social media platform X. Service members with the Freedom of Russia Legion under the Ukrainian Army prepare to fire a mortar at a Russian military position, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in Donetsk region, Ukraine, March 21, 2023. (credit: REUTERS/Alex Babenko) An infantry brigade typically comprises 3,500 to 4,000 troops, but the exact numbers were not known. Iran's permanent mission to the United Nations said, “We cannot comment on weapons and armaments that have never belonged to us.” CENTCOM said the hardware included more than 5,000 AK-47 assault rifles, machine guns, sniper rifles and rocket-propelled grenades and more than 500,000 rounds of ammunition. The munitions were taken from four "stateless" vessels intercepted by US naval ships and those of partner forces - which were not identified - between May 22, 2021 and Feb. 15, 2023, CENTCOM said. The weapons were being sent by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to the Houthis, CENTCOM said. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-03-16

US and Jordanian aircraft on Saturday dropped to Palestinian civilians trapped in the Gaza Strip in a joint humanitarian aid operation, US Central Command said in a statement. The airdrops by a US Air Force C-130 aircraft and a Royal Jordanian Air Force C-130 aircraft came as the main working in the enclave said that one in three children under age two is acutely malnourished. It warned of looming famine. US Central Command called "part of a sustained effort and we continue to plan follow-on aerial deliveries." Much of Gaza is under rubble and its 2.3 million Palestinian residents are facing food shortages more than five months after Israel launched an air and ground offensive following the Oct. 7 rampage into Israel by Hamas terrorists. The United States, Israel's main ally, and other countries have called on Israel to allow in more humanitarian aid. Israel blames UN agencies for slow deliveries, saying it puts no limits on assistance. Over 38,000 Meals Ready to Eat and water destined for an airdrop over Gaza are loaded aboard a U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, March 1, 2024. U.S. Air Force (credit: REUTERS) The United States began aid airdrops on March 2 and is planning to begin a sealift from the island of Cyprus. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-03-15

Israel's Prime Minister's office announced a meeting of the war cabinet as ceasefire-hostage deal between Israel and Hamas remains far from getting secured. "Hamas continues its baseless demands. An update on the subject will be brought tomorrow to the War Cabinet and the Defense Political Cabinet," read the statement. To catch up on the full events of the war from Thursday, Read more in-depth updates on the U.S. Central Command reported overnight strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen This post can't be displayed because social networks cookies have been deactivated. You can activate them by clicking manage preferences. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-03-10

Following the announcement by President Joe Biden of a temporary pier being built in Gaza to enable additional humanitarian supplies to enter the enclave, the U.S. Central Command said early Sunday its first ship was already on its way to establish the construction. “U.S. Army Vessel (USAV) General Frank S. Besson (LSV-1) from the 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary), 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, XVIII Airborne Corps, departed Joint Base Langley-Eustis en route to the Eastern Mediterranean,” CENTCOM posted on X. “Less than 36 hours after President Biden announced the U.S. would provide humanitarian ,” the statement pointed out, explaining “Besson, a logistics support vessel, is carrying the first equipment to establish a temporary pier to deliver vital humanitarian supplies.” During his address on Thursday, Biden said "I’m directing the U.S. military to lead an emergency mission to establish a temporary pier in the Mediterranean on the Gaza coast that can receive large ships carrying food, water, medicine and temporary shelters." "No U.S. boots will be on the ground," he explained. "This temporary pier would enable a massive increase in the amount of humanitarian assistance getting into Gaza every day. But Israel must also do its part." Over the weekend, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Spokesperson explained the Israeli military’s role in the humanitarian mission, saying it would be part of coordinating the construction and would then carry out a “full inspection” of what enters Gaza, after which the aid would be distributed to Gazans through international organizations. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-03-10

The US Army Vessel (USAV) General Frank S. Besson (LSV-1) has departed Joint Base Langley-Eustis en route to the Eastern Mediterranean to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza by sea, the US Central Command said in a statement early on Sunday. Besson, a logistics support vessel, departed "less than 36 hours after announced the US would provide humanitarian assistance to Gaza by sea," the statement added. It is "carrying the first equipment to establish a temporary pier to deliver vital humanitarian supplies." Biden's announcement in his on Thursday followed UN warnings of famine among Gaza's 2.3 million Palestinians five months after Israel launched its operation in the Gaza Strip in response to the October 7 massacre initiated by Hamas. US President Joe Biden departs after delivering his third State of the Union address in the House Chamber of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, USA, 07 March 2024. (credit: SHAWN THEW/POOL VIA REUTERS) Gaza has no port infrastructure. The US initially plans , which is offering a process for screening cargoes that will include Israel officials, removing the need for security checks in Gaza. Most of Gaza's people are now displaced, with severe bottlenecks in aid deliveries at land border checkpoints. Gaza has been under an Israeli navy blockade since 2007, when Hamas took control of the enclave. There have been few direct sea arrivals since then. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-03-09

The Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen launched a large attack on ships in the Red Sea in March. The attacks began around four in the morning and continued for two hours, US Central Command said. The attack included the use of drones, or as the US described them, “large-scale uncrewed aerial vehicles.” These are “one-way attack” drones, which the US now calls OWAs. Iranian state media claimed the Houthis used 37 drones in the attack. Iran has exported the Shahed 36 and other types of drone technologies to the Houthis in Yemen over the last several years. “CENTCOM and coalition forces identified the one-way attack (OWA) UAVs and determined that they presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels, US Navy, and coalition ships in the region. US Navy vessels and aircraft, along with multiple coalition navy ships and aircraft, shot down 15 OWA UAVs. These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure,” US Central Command said. The in the last weeks and become more deadly. For instance, in mid-March, the Houthis struck a ship called the Rubymar, and the ship sank after two weeks of taking on water. It had to be abandoned. Then, on Wednesday last week, the Houthis struck a ship called the True Confidence, killing three crew members. The attack on March 9 is now the latest escalation.  On March 8, the US carried out a “self-defense strike against two Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists’ truck-mounted anti-ship missiles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.” US Central Command said that “at approximately 3:55 p.m. (Sanaa time), Houthi terrorists fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles from Yemen into the Gulf of Aden at M/V Propel Fortune, a Singapore-flagged, owned, and operated vessel. The missiles did not impact the vessel. There were no injuries or damages reported. These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for US Navy and merchant vessels.” US Central Command is increasing its efforts against the Houthis, but the drone attack on March 9, the sinking of the Rubymar, and the attack on the True Confidence illustrate a pattern of behavior showing the Iranian-backed Houthis are not deterred and, in fact, feel emboldened. While the Houthis are increasing attacks, there has been a lull over the last two weeks in attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria. This follows the January 27 attack that . The US retaliated in February with strikes on Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq. Now, it is believed that the Iranian proxies in Syria and Iraq may have dialed back their attacks, at least for now. They may be waiting for orders from Tehran for the next move. The US is working to increase its capabilities against drones. On March 9, US Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder held a press briefing. He said that “Secretary Austin has prioritized the development and rapid fielding of capabilities to counter the urgent and growing threat posed by uncrewed weapon systems.” Protesters, mainly Houthi supporters, carry a Palestinian flag during a rally to show solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, in Sanaa, Yemen March 8, 2024. (credit: KHALED ABDULLAH/REUTERS) The drone threat has been one that has focused on for years. In 2020 and 2021, US Central Command head Kenneth McKenzie warned about the growing drone threat. “I argue all the time with my Air Force friends that the future of flight is vertical and it's unmanned,” McKenzie said during an event at the Middle East Institute. “And I believe we are seeing it now.” In July 2023, US Congress members Josh Gottheimer and Andrew Garbarino introduced the bipartisan US-Israel Anti-Killer Drone Act designed to boost cooperation between the United States and Israel. Gottheimer’s officer noted that "the bipartisan legislation, which comes amid increased unmanned drone attacks in the Middle East, helps fill gaps identified by the US Department of Defense by authorizing cooperative projects intended to thwart small unmanned aerial systems — often supplied by Iran — that threaten both American and Israeli national security.” A statement also noted that “Iran’s arsenal of killer drones has only grown in recent years, and attacks across the Middle East have killed and wounded Americans — showing once again why the threat of terrorism remains so pervasive. We continue to see Iran-backed terrorist groups target innocent civilians, which is why we must take concrete action to counter their deadly drone capabilities. This legislation is about protecting American and Israeli lives,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer. The US Army also has a joint counter-UAS program office. That office was created in order to address the growing drone threats that had been identified in 2020. Now Ryder noted that “this week, the secretary [Austin] directed the establishment of a Warfighter Senior Integration Group to focus department-wide efforts to address this urgent operational challenge. This Warfighter Senior Integration Group (SIG) will bring together the department's senior-most leaders to drive solutions that support US warfighters throughout our combatant commands.” He went on to note, “The group will help identify needed capabilities and associated solutions for rapidly delivering across all domains with the near-term focus on countering uncrewed aerial systems.  As evidenced by the successes of other warfighter SIGs such as those for Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan, as well as the SIG Ukraine stood up in 2022, the establishment of this new warfighter SIG will bring the cross-department attention and speed the threat now demands.  We look forward to the action in this formal drive and, where possible, will provide details on its work in the coming months.” ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-03-06

More food trucks entered Gaza per day in the last two weeks than before since the start of the war, KAN11 reported on Wednesday morning. In the past few weeks, an average of 102 aid trucks entered Gaza each day, with most bringing in food supplies. This contrasts the average of 70 trucks entering Gaza per day before the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7. This is an increase of approximately 50% in the number of trucks bringing in food to Gaza over the past few weeks. Despite the increase of humanitarian aid and food trucks through international efforts, Hamas has projected an alternative narrative to the world, claiming that Israel is conducting a "starvation campaign" as part of its "genocide" against Palestinians in Gaza, KAN noted. According to Hamas leader , the terror organization is "grateful for any initiative to help them [the hungry people in Gaza] and the duty and urgency of reaching sustainable, effective, and influential aid bridges that will end their suffering. "It is the duty of the Arab and Islamic nation, for the brothers of the besieged and occupied Palestine, to initiate the breaking of the starvation campaign in the northern Gaza Strip." U.S. Air Force drops humanitarian aid for Gaza residents, in this screengrab from a video released on March 5, 2024. (credit: US Central Command via X/Handout via REUTERS ) Much of Hamas's narrative stems from even before the in northern Gaza, whereby Palestinians ambushed an aid truck, leading to several Palestinians being trampled to death, KAN reported. This incident served as Hamas fodder to further implicate Israel in the humanitarian crisis and put pressure on the United States, which has, in recent days, airdropped aid and called on Israel to open additional border entry points for additional aid. Much of the humanitarian aid delivered to the Gaza Strip comes through aid trucks entering through Egypt or airdrops, much of which is supplied by international organizations and coalitions of states. Aid is becoming increasingly necessary, as the local capacity to produce food, water, and medical supplies has diminished as a result of the war, and is also a result of Hamas terrorists taking control of aid trucks, leading to little distribution to Palestinians in need of dire aid.  US Secretary of State , who met in recent days with Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz, urged Israel to exponentially increase the access and distribution of humanitarian aid in the backdrop of additional ceasefire talks. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-02-19

The Iran-backed Houthis continued to escalate their attacks on February 19 with a new attack on a ship off the coast of Yemen. The Houthis claimed they struck the ship Rubymar off the coast. According to reports, a ship was attacked . The incident occurred around 35 nautical miles from the coast. According to Arab News, “Yemen’s Houthis targeted the Rubymar cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden, and it is now at risk of sinking, the group’s military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said in a statement on Monday. The ship is British, and the crew are safe, he said, adding the Houthis had also shot down a US drone in Hodeidah.” The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency reported the crew had abandoned a ship off Yemen after an explosion. “The attack on the ship came as the US military acknowledged conducting new airstrikes targeting the militia, including one that targeted the first Houthi underwater drone seen since the militias began launching their attacks on shipping in November,” Arab News noted. This is the latest escalation by the Houthis, which have proven they are not going to stop attacking ships, despite the US and other countries acting to strike their capabilities. For instance, on February 17, US Central Command said that US forces had to conduct “five self-defense strikes against three mobile anti-ship cruise missiles, one unmanned underwater vessel (UUV), and one unmanned surface vessel (USV) in Iranian-backed Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. This is the first observed Houthi employment of a UUV since attacks began in Oct. 23.” Participants take the oath of allegiance to the Houthi movement during a parade in a show of force amid a standoff in the Red Sea and US-led airstrikes on Houthi targets, in Sanaa, Yemen, February 8, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/KHALED ABDULLAH) The decision by the Houthis to use unmanned “underwater vessels” presents a new danger. The group has already used ballistic missiles and small watercraft as well as helicopters in its attacks on ships. CENTCOM says that its “actions will protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy and merchant vessels.” However, there are questions about whether the Houthis can and will be deterred. The Iran-backed Houthis were pressed by Iran in October to join Hezbollah and Hamas in beginning attacks on Israel. In addition, Iran operationalized militias in Iraq and Syria to attack US forces. As such, the Houthis are a key frontline force for Iran now. Iran requires the Houthis to continue to act against shipping. Even a few attacks a month are apparently enough to deter some shipping companies from using the important shipping lane via the Red Sea.  ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-02-17

Iran continues to push its proxies to increase their threats from Hezbollah in Lebanon to the Houthis in Yemen. A new report on 60 Minutes, for instance, includes statements by the commander of the that Iran is actively advising the Houthis in their attacks. US Navy Vice Admiral Brad Cooper confirmed to 60 Minutes correspondent Norah O’Donnell “that members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps are on the ground in Yemen ‘serving side-by-side’ with the rebel group and providing advice and target information,” the report said. The in Yemen carried out an attack on the ship Pollux on Saturday. In addition on February 15 US Central Command said “at approximately 4:30 p.m., an anti-ship ballistic missile was launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen into the Gulf of Aden. The missile was headed toward MV Lycavitos, a Barbados-flagged, UK-owned and operated bulk carrier. The ship reported no injuries but very minor damage in the attack and continued its voyage.” Amphibious Assault Vehicles cruise towards the well deck of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), in Gulf of Aden (credit: KEYPHER STROMBECK/US NAVY/HANDOUT) Meanwhile, Hezbollah put out a new video threatening Israel and saying it can target the entire country, as far south as Eilat. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah claimed Israel would “pay” for recent clashes in the north in which Hezbollah members were killed. An IDF soldier was also killed last week in a missile attack on Safed. The IDF said on Saturday that on Friday “IDF fighter jets struck Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure in the area of Jabal Blat, and a terrorist was killed at the scene. In addition, a military compound was struck in the area of Bint Jbeil. Over the past day, in a number of areas in southern Lebanon. Overnight, in response to launches from Syria toward the southern Golan Heights which didn’t cross into Israeli territory, IDF artillery struck the area of the fire, and fighter jets struck a weapons storage facility of the Syrian army in the area of Mhajjah.” Advertisement Iranian media also highlighted how its proxies are increasing threats. This included threats and articles on Hezbollah, as well as new comments from the Houthis threatening Israel. According to an article on Hezbollah, the group claimed to have targeted Israeli military bases. The overall context then is that the Houthis and Hezbollah are both vowing to step up attacks, despite the fact they have faced opposition from the US and Israel respectively. Iran-backed Hamas also put out a statement broadcast on Iran’s Tasnim saying they would continue to fight until Israel leaves Gaza.  ...قراءة المزيد

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