Situation in the Red Sea (Houthi Thread)

The Houthi's stood toe to toe with Saudi Arabia, despite us supply Saudi Arabia with top notch weapons. Is it possible that if we use our top tier fighter jets to target their real valuable assets that they have ways to defend them? I don't know. What I do know is they have already seen much of our top technology in action, we have starved their children to death, and they are still standing their screaming for us to "bring it on".

I think there is more to this that we do not know. That both sides are holding back, that both sides can do more damage, but the Houthi's have time on their side as diversity and feminism eat the west from within and the US heading into an election year doesn't want a full scale war and to have more $35 million drones shot down and more soldiers killed to support the ever more unpopular Israel

Saudis had different goals than we do: they wanted to quench the Houthi uprising, overthrow the rebel government and bring the entire country under their heel - and it couldn't be done through an air campaign alone. They had to go in and try to recapture Houthi-held territories, and looking at a topographic map it's easier said than done - there's a nasty looking mountain range between KSA and the Yemeni coastal plain. Saudis failed because they couldn't establish safe supply routes through those mountains. We don't have to do it, the Houthi rule over parts of Yemen is not our problem, their anti-ship missiles are our only problem. And as long as our goals are to eliminate that specific threat, the US Navy has the tools to do it: 24/7 drone surveillance followed by a strike package at any anti-ship complex (launchers and radars) that comes into the open. Can Houthis counter that ? - Yes by dispersing and concealing their assets, and it's safe to say that they're good at playing hide and seak (their practiced it with the Saudis). But no matter how well they can hide their launchers, they'll have to bring them out in order to launch further attacks - and if the US Navy is fully commited, they will be there with an eye in the sky waiting for that moment.
 
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I think they've reach the limits of what could be done through maneuver warfare: there's nothing left above ground in northern Gaza (from where they withdrew their forces) only the tunnel network below remains. And since it doesn't look like they figured out how to deal with those tunnels, they're changing their approach: instead of futile attempts to tackle the tunnels head on, they're going into siege mode hoping that sooner or later Hamas will run out of supplies and abandons the underground. And for that, they don't really need to keep boots on the ground, not when Hamas is still able to bleed them in ambushes.



Considering the price (in personnel, materials and the overall economic costs) that Israel is already paying, they have no other choice but to escalate. Any ceasefire, any return to status quo will be their defeat. So they're raising the stakes.


We've got the election season upon us - not much time for the current regime to engage in diplomacy, and with every attack in the region Biden looks weaker and weaker - not an image his handlers would like to convey in the campaign, unless they want to end like the Carter administration.
After the ICJ verdict - a case that was doomed to fail from the get go hence why I didn't mention it once, there isn't that much to worry about for the Netanyahu government on a diplomatic level. The Biden Administration might not be interested in getting suckered into a war in the Middle East again but they are also not going to tell Israel to conclude the Gaza op, not at this stage at least.

Hamas is a spent force. The missile launches have drastically decreased to at best 1 or 2 volleys per week (as opposed to 3 to 4 volleys per day three months ago), and so have the al Qassam videos. There is no logistics or re-supply here, just stocked ammo and RPG rounds which will eventually run out.

Aside from that there must be tons of diseases and widespread malnutrition in Gaza at this stage, which is not in Hamas favor either. Several IDF soldiers have been hospitalized with aggressive fungi and bacteria caught in Gaza, some of them dying. Imagine what this has done the civilian population of Gaza, nearly all of them displaced, many of them young children largely without access to potable water, in long term caloric deficiency and without access to electricity. I've seen dozens of videos of bodies rotting on streets, in bombed out apartments etc. It's a huge health risk.

The only card Hamas still holds is the hostage-card. I believe 100 to 120 Israelis are still held by Hamas, some of them children. It's Hamas' ace card - the Israeli domestic public is concerned with the hostage situation and some segments of Israeli society are getting impatient with the lack of progress getting them back. Netanyahu knows he can't be perceived as reckless with Israeli lives. Hamas' will try to use it to force a permanent ceasefire.

Also just like the Biden Administration would like to get rid off Netanyahu and get a Barak/Bennett/Olmert type of guy in, so woudl Netanyahu love to get rid of Biden and get a Trump/Haley/DeSantis type of leader in.

EDIT: Hamas psychological warfare on the hostage situation, the hourglass video.

 
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Houthis also attacked a container ship: "Koi" in the Gulf of Aden

The Liberian-flagged container ship KOI is operated by UK-based Oceonix Services. The company’s fleet includes the oil tanker Marlin Luanda, which was damaged by a missile on Saturday, shipping data showed.
British maritime security firm Ambrey on Wednesday said that a merchant vessel reported an explosion on its starboard after it was targeted with a missile while underway 69 nautical miles southwest of Aden, Yemen.

Oceonix Services is owned, through an intermediary, by JP Morgan.



In other news, the EU is preparing to launch their own defensive operation in the region.
The United States and other countries in December launched a mission to allay fears that disruption in one of the world’s top trading arteries could hit the global economy.
But some U.S. allies, notably European countries, have raised reservations about the plan, which has seen the U.S. and Britain launch air strikes on Houthi positions, and balked at the idea of being under Washington’s command.
Borrell said the EU operation would be named Aspides – meaning protector – and its mandate would be to protect commercial and intercept attacks, but not take part in strikes against the Houthis.

I say good riddance - once the Euros get their own operation going, we should disband the OPG, leave playing defense to them, and have the US Navy (and our British sidekick) focus only on strikes against Houthi's anti-ship arsenal.
 
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US-UK strikes have become quite regular and oftentimes don't get mentioned in this thread anymore. Today was a heavy volley, 36 strikes reported in Taiz, Sanaa, Saada and Hodeidah.



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Ansarallah released a new promo video called 'Yemen for Palestine' which features Ansarallah fighters storming an Israeli position.



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Ambrey Maritime Risk Intelligence reports another incident in the Red Sea

 
2 attacks happened today - one in the Gulf of Aden, and one in the Red Sea.

According to a statement by their military spokesman Yahya Saree, the Houthis fired missiles on US-listed Star Bulk Carriers’ 82,200-dwt Star Nasia and the 12,000-dwt cargo ship Morning Tide (both built 2006). Incidents against the two vessels seem to be corroborated by UK authorities and maritime security analysts.
The Star Nasia's position and Marshall Islands-flag match the bulker that Ambrey Analytics said was targeted while transiting the waters south of Aden. The ship and its seafarers, however, did not come to harm. “The vessel reported an explosion 50 metres off its starboard side,” Ambrey said, adding that no injuries or damage have been reported so far.
(...)
a second attack carried out in the Red Sea against the Morning Tide, whose registered owner — according to the S&P Global data base — is UK-based Furadino Holdings. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) caused “minor damage” on the port side of a “Barbados-flagged, UK-owned general cargo ship” as it vessel was underway in a south-east direction 57 miles (106 kilometres) west of the Yemeni port of Hodeidah, Ambrey said in a note. No crew injuries were reported.
 
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2 attacks happened today - one in the Gulf of Aden, and one in the Red Sea.

According to a statement by their military spokesman Yahya Saree, the Houthis fired missiles on US-listed Star Bulk Carriers’ 82,200-dwt Star Nasia and the 12,000-dwt cargo ship Morning Tide (both built 2006). Incidents against the two vessels seem to be corroborated by UK authorities and maritime security analysts.
The Star Nasia's position and Marshall Islands-flag match the bulker that Ambrey Analytics said was targeted while transiting the waters south of Aden. The ship and its seafarers, however, did not come to harm. “The vessel reported an explosion 50 metres off its starboard side,” Ambrey said, adding that no injuries or damage have been reported so far.
(...)
a second attack carried out in the Red Sea against the Morning Tide, whose registered owner — according to the S&P Global data base — is UK-based Furadino Holdings. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) caused “minor damage” on the port side of a “Barbados-flagged, UK-owned general cargo ship” as it vessel was underway in a south-east direction 57 miles (106 kilometres) west of the Yemeni port of Hodeidah, Ambrey said in a note. No crew injuries were reported.


"Iranian-Backed Houthi Terrorists conduct Multiple Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile Attacks in the Southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden:
On Feb. 6, from approximately 1:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Arabian Standard Time) Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired six anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBM) from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Three of the ASBMs were attempting to hit MV Star Nasia, a Marshall Island-flagged, Greek owned-and-operated bulk carrier transiting the Gulf of Aden. At approximately 3:20 a.m., MV Star Nasia reported an explosion near the ship causing minor damage but no injuries. At 2 p.m. another missile impacted the water near the ship with no effect. At 4:30 p.m., USS Laboon (DDG 58), operating near MV Star Nasia, intercepted and shot down a third anti-ship ballistic missile fired by the Iranian-backed Houthis. MV Star Nasia remains seaworthy and is continuing toward its destination.
The remaining three ASBMs were likely targeting MV Morning Tide, a Barbados-flagged, UK-owned cargo ship operating in the Southern Red Sea. The three missiles impacted the water near the ship without effect. MV Morning Tide is continuing its journey and is reporting no injuries or damage."
 
US forces continue to target Houthi's weapon systems.

Full text
CENTCOM Self-Defense Strikes
On Feb. 5, at approximately 3:30 p.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Central Command forces conducted a strike in self-defense against two Houthi explosive uncrewed surface vehicles (USV).
U.S. forces identified the explosive USVs in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined they presented an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region. These actions will protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy vessels and merchant vessels.


Full text
Feb. 7 Summary of USCENTCOM Self-Defense Strikes in Yemen
On Feb. 7, at approximately 9:00 p.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted self-defense strikes against two Houthi mobile anti-ship cruise missiles prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea.Later that day, at 11:30 p.m. (Sanaa time),
CENTCOM forces conducted a second strike against a Houthi mobile land attack cruise missile prepared to launch.
CENTCOM identified these missiles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined they presented an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region. These actions will protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy and merchant vessels.
 
The whole Houthi scenario is theater in my opinion.

It's just leaders of the empire, the US, taking control over the most important asia-european trade route through the Suez.

First they killed the east-west energy supply route. (nordstream)

Then the "russia-ukranian war" stopped any chance of an east - west train connection.

This is in my opinion is just American geo-politics taking back full control over any corridor in the world.

It's the same the English used to do (e.g. in South Africa)

Control the flow of energy, control the seas and today control the internet.

I think the US does an amazing job, and none of the puppets dare to say a thing.
 
New week, new Houthi attack - this time they targeted a Greek owned, US managed bulk carrier "Star Iris" sailing to Iran.

The Houthis identified the vessel as the Star Iris. The group’s military spokesman, Yahya Saree, said in a televised statement the ship was American but maritime-shipping trackers said the Marshall Islands-flagged ship was Greek-owned. The Star Iris had been transporting a corn cargo from Brazil to Iran, according to ship tracking analysis from data and analytics group Kpler.
(...)
The Star Iris, a large panamax bulk carrier, is managed by Athens-headquartered and U.S. NASDAQ-listed Star Bulk Carriers.
A Star Bulk spokesperson referred questions to the U.S-led coalition tasked with containing such attacks. Iranian officials did not respond to a request for comment. Iran’s food commodities trade is exempt from U.S. sanctions.
(...)
Ambrey said the bulker had reportedly suffered damage to its starboard side after sighting a projectile near the vessel 23 nautical miles (43km) northeast of Djibouti’s Khor Angar and 40 nautical miles southwest of Yemen’s Red Sea port city of Mokha.

 
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1. Two ships were attacked by the Houthis:

On February 15 - a Barbados-flagged, UK-owned and operated bulk carrier "Lycavitos".
On Thursday, February 15, an anti-ship ballistic missile was launched from Houthi-controlled regions of Yemen into the Gulf of Aden. The intended target was the MV Lycavitos, a Barbados-flagged, UK-owned and operated bulk carrier. Despite minor damage, no injuries were reported, and the ship continued its voyage.
And on February 16 - a Panama-flagged, UK-owned, Greek operated tanker "Pollux" - carrying Russian oil to India.
The UKTMO reported Friday a vessel reported a nearby explosion in the Red Sea approximately 70 nautical miles northwest of Al Mukha, Yemen. The vessel and crew are reported safe. The U.S. State Department said the Panamanian-flagged M/T Pollux was struck by a missile, causing minor damage. The ship was carrying crude oil bound for India.


2. CENTCOM reports strikes against Houthi's arsenal.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces successfully conducted four self-defense strikes against seven mobile anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCM), three mobile unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), and one explosive unmanned surface vessel (USV) in Houthi controlled areas of Yemen, that were prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea.
CENTCOM identified these mobile missiles, UAVs, and USV in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined they presented an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region. These actions will protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy and merchant vessels.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces successfully conducted two self-defense strikes against three mobile anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCM) in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen that were prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea.
CENTCOM identified these mobile missiles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined they presented an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region. These actions will protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy and merchant vessels.


3. US Coast Guard intercepted a Houthi-bound weapons shipment in the Arabian Sea.
The U.S. Coast Guard Sentinel-class fast-response cutter USCGC Clarence Sutphin Jr (WPC 1147), assigned to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, located the vessel, and boarded it in the Arabian Sea. The boarding team discovered over 200 packages that contained medium-range ballistic missile components, explosives, unmanned underwater/surface vehicle (UUV/USV) components, military-grade communication and network equipment, anti-tank guided missile launcher assemblies, and other military components.
The direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer of such aid violates U.N. Security Council Resolution 2216 (as extended and renewed by resolutions 2675 and 2707).
 
UK Belize flagged tanker Rubymar was hit with a anti ship missile. The crew had evacuated the ship and the ship is reported to be on fire.



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Ansarallah has for the first time utilized an underwater drone. Underwater drones have proven their worth in Ukraine with 1/5th of the Russian Black Sea fleet lost to attacks with (mostly) underwater drones. The underwater drone was intercepted.



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US-UK striking targets in Yemen several times a week.



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Ansarallah claims to have shot down a MQ9 Reaper



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US strike on al Shabaab leadership in Somalia on February 16. Al Shabaab claims that two kidnapped Cuban doctors held by al Shabaab were killed in the strike. Last strike was on February 9.



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UK Belize flagged tanker Rubymar was hit with a anti ship missile. The crew had evacuated the ship and the ship is reported to be on fire.


Some details have emerged: the ship is a Belize flagged, British owned and Lebanese operated bulk carrier sailing from UAE to Bulgaria. The crew was evacuated to a Singapore flagged container ship sailing nearby and is safe. The "Rubymar" itself is, reportedly, afloat, at anchor in the Bab el-Mandeb strait.


There was also another attack - a Greece flagged, US owned bulk carrier "Sea Champion", sailing from Argentina to Aden (Saudi controlled part of Yemen) was the target.

In the latest incident, a Greece-flagged, US-owned bulk carrier was attacked by missiles twice within a few hours between 80 and 100 nautical miles (150-185 km) east of Aden. In the second strike, a projectile hit the water 10 or 15 metres off the starboard side. According to maritime security firm Ambrey Analytics, the ship continued on its journey. No injuries have been reported so far.
The ship’s description and location match the 48,900-dwt Sea Champion (built 2005). The vessel is managed by Mega Shipping Line Corp, a company controlled by Greek interests based in Piraeus and New York.
Vessel trackers show the Sea Champion carrying a load of corn from Argentina to Aden - a Yemeni port that is controlled by a Saudi-led coalition backing the internationally recognised government of Yemen, who are the Houthis’ rivals.
 
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