Yemeni Conflict: News #3

Confirmation, not that you hear it in th Western MSN, that significant marine traffic is still using the Red Sea. Its just that they are friendly and/or have nothing to do with Israel.

That is the problem though, the US and Israel would like to shape the narrative to suggest they are blocking international trade so they need an international coalition of military ships to deal with the problem for the entire world.

They tried to use the same logic with the Black Sea grain deal with Russia because obviously the Ukraine is keeping the world fed even if 99% of the grain they were shipping out went to European ports and European customers and the empty ships arriving to pick up that grain probably had weapons and ammo and fuel on board to support Kiev. The owners of farmland in Ukraine are almost all US companies so blocking their shipping was costing them money, just like blocking ships going to Israel is hurting their economy...

I'm sure that there are some in our RN who still think its a force to recon with as per

Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP Minister of Defence
@grantshapps
HMS Richmond is on its way to the Red Sea to ensure the UK maintains a formidable presence in the face of attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthis.

With the US, we’ll continue to lead the global response to the crisis & do what is necessary to protect lives and the global economy.

This is a 30 year old, reasonably armed, type 23 frigate that was deployed to the Baltic only 6 weeks ago. She will be used as a stand-in for the "formidable presence of" an RN destroyer and frigate already there. Difficult to believe that there is no suitable ship closer than that.

You really have to wonder what the contents of the briefs that these politicians are.

This is a 30 year old, reasonably armed, type 23 frigate that was deployed to the Baltic only 6 weeks ago. She will be used as a stand-in for the "formidable presence of" an RN destroyer and frigate already there. Difficult to believe that there is no suitable ship closer than that.

A 30 year old frigate might shoot down a fighter aircraft or a subsonic exocet type antiship missile if it spots them in time, but such ships would seriously have a difficult time with drones like Geran in numbers or more than one anti ship missile...

Considering the location the houties might simply roll Grad rocket launchers to fire a barrage of rockets at ships to deplete their air defence missiles and cannon shells and then attack with a mix of drones and anti ship missiles.

Huff, Puff, Huff, Puff. How dare you attack one of our ships and make us use up our expensive missiles, don't you know who we are?

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps today warned Iran-backed Houthi rebels to end their attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea after British and American warships were forced to repel a huge wave of missiles and drones.

HMS Diamond, a £1billion Type 45 destroyer known as the jewel of the Royal Navy, shot down the targets with a barrage of Sea Viper missiles - which travel three times the speed of sound.

US fighter jets were also involved in the operation. Dramatic pictures showed the moment the British Destroyer shot down the huge wave of missiles and drones fired by the Iranian-backed rebels.

sepheronx wrote:I question this "barrage".  NATO AD is rather questionable in capabilities. So how did they manage to defend against a barrage when they couldn't do it before?

My guess would be that it was a few missiles and a couple of drones.

Not far off  

Rybar Force
@rybar_force
U.S. Central Command of the Armed Forces (CENTCOM) reported repulsing the largest Houthi attack since the conflict began in October.

On the night of January 9-10, 21 aerial objects fired by the Houthis in the southern Red Sea were intercepted. The Ansarallah group fired 18 UAVs, two cruise missiles and a ballistic missile.

The incident occurred 50 nautical miles west of Hodeidah.


EDIT

Meanwhile

The Deputy Foreign Minister in Sanaa responds to Blinken: We reaffirm the safety and security of navigation for all destinations except the ports of occupied Palestine.(Israel)

Huff, Puff, Huff, Puff. How dare you attack one of our ships and make us use up our expensive missiles, don't you know who we are?

They will seriously rely on the deterrence factor because when push comes to shove I suspect the Houthies have rather more drones and missiles and rockets than the US Navy and British Navy has SAMs.

A $2,000 drone gets shot down by a 1 million pound SAM... who is going to run out first... remember this is a blockade against Israel... this is all about economics... doing economic harm to Israel and her allies so even if all the drones and missiles and rockets get shot down it is still a win for the Houthies.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps today warned Iran-backed Houthi rebels to end their attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea after British and American warships were forced to repel a huge wave of missiles and drones.

And that comment is intended to reinforce the false idea that the Houthies have completely closed that waterway to all shipping, when in actual fact it is targeting specific ships with links to Israel or shipping to or from Israel. And it is their waterway so they have every right to stop ships the way the west boards ships and steals cargo based on their rules and sanctions. The Houthies have every right to put Israel under sanctions if it so chooses and in Yemeni waters no other navy should interfere.

HMS Diamond, a £1billion Type 45 destroyer known as the jewel of the Royal Navy, shot down the targets with a barrage of Sea Viper missiles - which travel three times the speed of sound.

Funny they mention how expensive the ship it but don't mention how much each of those missiles cost.

I question this "barrage". NATO AD is rather questionable in capabilities. So how did they manage to defend against a barrage when they couldn't do it before?

To be fair, the wests Navys have much better AD than their land based equivalents... the simple fact of the matter is that in the west air power rules and air defence is neglected by their ground forces because they expect their air power to dominate and deal with the problem for them... which is why they were so exposed and vulnerable for the last three months they were in Afghanistan when their air power left 3 months early.

The Navy... US in particular but the Brits do have some nice systems was potent enough to demand the Soviets design and build their excellent anti ship missiles... which is why their land attack missiles also include ESM equipment to penetrate strong air defences... they learned that from their anti ship missiles to increase kill probability.

The houthies don't need to sink anything... every cheap drone and missile and rocket they launch is getting intercepted by a brand new super car priced missile.

If you lined up all the western SAMs and AAMs the US and UK are firing, it would be like a super mega garage showing the James Bond Cars from every movie they did.. and if you got all the missiles and rockets and drones they are intercepting and put them together in one garage sale you might be able to buy something Mr Bean would drive.

This is an economic war and the rich guys are throwing money at it like it is not theirs, I am sure Iran could replace all the drones and missiles and rockets the Houthies have fired and probably have a few they would like to actually test against the Americans because that is what they would have designed them for.

Same old Same old though... it is another American war and instead of Ukrainians lining up to fight it is the British... with friends like America... but the British and Ukrainains are fucking stupid... just like the Germans and French and other Europeans suffering for the US MIC to make money on war and Monsanto and Blackwater, making money on remaining Ukrainian mines and fields of crops...

The Deputy Foreign Minister in Sanaa responds to Blinken: We reaffirm the safety and security of navigation for all destinations except the ports of occupied Palestine.(Israel)

In other words you are not saving the world, you are just saving Israel... again... but then that was a problem the UK created in the first place.

Looks like it could kick off tonight

Al-Mayadeen: It is reported that warplanes of the international coalition took off from their bases in the Persian Gulf and headed towards Yemen. Saudi Arabia opens its airspace to American fighters

A B2 Spirit bomber was also spotted in the skies over Dubai. Media

Israeli media say that planes belonging to the so-called international coalition took off from their bases in the Gulf towards Yemen and the Gulf of Aden. Including an RC-135 Rivet Joint.

Just a few hours ago, the Iranian surveillance vessel Beshad suddenly left the southern sector of the Red Sea

Iraqi resistance: In the event of an attack on Yemen, we will attack American military bases with all our might

World News Index
@hafiz_shabraiz
#BREAKING_NEWS

Qatar and Saudi Arabia are providing support, along with logistical assistance from the USA and UK, in a joint military operation against Yemen.

A U.S. Air Force RC-135W aircraft, based in Qatar's Al Udeid Air Base, is en route to southwest Saudi Arabia to participate in the operation.

Financial Times : Fighter jets and Tomahawk missiles from submarines will be used to attack Yemen
10:36 PM · Jan 11, 2024 2,733 Views

Scottish Prime Minister: UK involvement in the Middle East is not the right decision. The UK does not have a good track record of military intervention in the Middle East, so Parliament must be briefed on the details.

Random posts

Pentagon official: US missile defense systems in the region have been placed on alert. Missile defense at American facilities throughout the Middle East is on full alert - Sky News with reference to the Pentagon.

Financial Times : UK Fighter jets and Tomahawk missiles from submarines will be used to attack Yemen

Axios reporter Barak Ravid : A senior Israeli official says that we are close to the time of the American attack on the Houthis in Yemen.

Yemen's armed forces are clearing the country's airspace in preparation to counter any aggression‌‌.

It begins!

The military operation against Yemen's Houthis will be called "Guardian of Prosperity," Rishi Sunak said.

Abdul-Malik Badr ad-Din al-Houthi: "We will not hesitate, with God's help, to do everything in our power, and we will resist American aggression. Any American aggression will never go unanswered

Politico ||
Air defense batteries, including MIM-104 "Patriot" surface-to-air missile systems in Saudi Arabia and across the Middle East, have been placed on high alert in preparation for retaliation by the Houthis or Iran, according to US defense officials.

S p r i n t e r
@Sprinter99800
The arrival of pilots and operational commanders from the British Air Force stationed at the Akrotiri base in Cyprus to the Fahd Air Base in Taif, for the possible participation of the 3, 10 and 80 squadrons of British Typhoon aircraft in the aggression against Yemen.

Dail Mail: There are no defensive options left': Britain and US forces set to launch air strikes in Yemen TONIGHT as Rishi Sunak signs off on drastic response after Iran-backed Houthi rebels ignored 'final warning' to stop attacking ships in Red Sea

Update(1730ET): It begins... and a White House statement is also expected imminently:

UK’S SUNAK AUTHORIZES JOINT MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST HOUTHIS

And the Times (UK) reported an hour ago:

Britain expected to join U.S in carrying airstrikes on Houthi military positions in Yemen on Thursday night — Times

The Houthis have said they are not scared of US and UK threats. While the US does not confirm future military operations before they happen, Reuters has the following details from the British side:

Britain is expected to join the United States in conducting air strikes on military positions belonging to the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen "within hours", the political editor for the Times newspaper reported on Thursday.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Downing Street office did not respond to a request from Reuters for comment, while the Pentagon and the White House each declined to comment on the report.

An official in the military wing of Ansar Allah Houthis: American spy aircraft are currently flying south of the Red Sea
— War Monitor (@WarMonitors) January 11, 2024

Western coalition fighter jets reportedly airborne...

US, UK strikes against Houthis seem imminent. Arabiya reporting on American, British fighter jets in Yemen airspace vicinity...
— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) January 11, 2024

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/houthis-vow-expanded-attacks-us-navy-bigger-tuesdays-barrage

United States of America: Bloomberg White House Correspondent: According to today's White House program, there will be no further statements from President Biden this evening.

Iran and Syria have declared their unconditional support for Yemen.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE put all military and vital installations on high alert for fear of a Yemeni response for opening their airspace to the attack on Yemen

US State Department: Blinken discussed, in contact with his Indian counterpart, the reckless Houthi attacks in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Blinken welcomed increased cooperation with India to defend freedom of navigation in the region

The Sultanate of Oman will not allow any military aircraft planning to fly to Yemen to use Omani airspace.

Yemeni source : A large flood of volunteer requests from the Yemeni people to participate in the honor of defending the country.

Yemeni military source :
We assure the people of Yemen that the armed forces have prepared and will strike with an iron hand against any aggression against Yemen .

US military official: American forces in the Middle East are on alert. We reserve the right to respond to any attack on our forces in the appropriate place and time

Most comments from Sprinter

Iran is ready to provide any assistance to Yemen if the Houthis ask

The Caspian flotilla of the Iranian Navy is on full alert - Tehran

Following Iran, Syria declared full support for the actions of the Houthis.

Iraqi resistance vows to attack all available US bases if military operation begins

Here we go

US official: The Joe Biden administration informed Congressional leaders that there will be US-British air strikes against Yemen tonight.l - Huffington Post

US official confirms US to strike Yemeni Houthis

The aim is to limit their attacks without provoking more conflicts.
@MarioNawfal

A violent explosion shook the outskirts of the city of Hodeidah, specifically towards the city of Zabid. Not known if incoming or AD

The Houtis were bombed for over a decade by Saudi Arabia and the UAE. What makes the US think their bombings will be more effective at coercing them? Idiots.

The Houtis can easily bomb the US bases in Djibouti and all over the Middle Eastern peninsula with cruise missiles and ballistic missiles if they wanted to.

One of the leaders of the Ansar Allah (Houthi) media service confirmed strikes on Sana'a, Hodeidah province, Saad and Dhamar.

lancelot wrote:The Houtis were bombed for over a decade by Saudi Arabia and the UAE. What makes the US think their bombings will be more effective at coercing them? Idiots.

The Houtis can easily bomb the US bases in Djibouti and all over the Middle Eastern peninsula with cruise missiles and ballistic missiles if they wanted to.

These bombings are likely to be far more effective than anything the SAF achieved due to the vast increase in gear deployed by far superior forces.

It looks like the RAF/USAF/USN plus anything launching Tomahawks are aiming at destroying anything in Yemen that could attack them in the future.

Pentagon : UAV production facilities and IMD warehouses were attacked.

A large batch of surface-to-surface ballistic missiles was launched from Yemen towards American battleships.

According to Al Arabia, 10 facilities were attacked in Yemen, which were used to store weapons and train the Houthis.

I'm off to bed now. If you want to follow it this is a good place to start.

https://twitter.com/Sprinter99800

I think most of us know that most of Yemenis' missile capability are underground and deep in the mountains, the Saudi bombardment on Yemen was supported by the west for almost a decade, few cruise missiles aren't gonna do a thing, we know how tough these barefoot warriors are, they don't fear death , they have adapted to the cruel war on them and have prepared for a confrontation with the US for a long time, especially in the last 3 months .