News and Reports - The Middle East

Depopulation & WW3
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Unconfirmed reports are saying it was an Iranian drone that hit the ship that is Israeli-linked and managed by "ACE QUANTUM CHEMICAL TANKERS" owned by Israeli Idan Ofer.

Indian Dornier aircraft establishes connection with distressed merchant vessel MV Chem Pluto.

ChemPluto

The Indian Coast Guard Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft established communication with the distressed vessel MV Chem Pluto after it was hit by a drone on Saturday.

After the attack, the ship switched off its automatic identification system used for tracking the vessel. The power generation system of the ship is now functional and more checks are being carried out before it sets out for its destination, Indian Coast Guard officials said.

Meanwhile, the Indian Navy warship is moving towards the vessel and is expected to reach the merchant ship in the next few hours.

The Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard vessels are moving towards a merchant vessel, MV Chem Pluto, in the Arabian Sea, which caught fire after a suspected drone attack.

The merchant vessel was reported to be present at 217 nautical miles off Porbandar coast on Saturday, defence officials said.

Taking swift action, the Indian Coast Guard Ship ICGS Vikram, deployed on patrol of the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone started moving towards the merchant vessel MV Chem Pluto in distress.

The Indian Navy warships in the vicinity are also moving towards the distressed vessel with around 20 Indian crew members, who are all reported to be safe.

According to defence officials, the vessel had crude oil and was going towards Mangalore from a port in Saudi Arabia. The fire has been reportedly extinguished but has affected the functioning of the vessel.

All crew members are safe, which includes around 20 Indians. The ICGS Vikram has alerted all ships in the area to assist it, according to defence officials.

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IMAM KHAMENEI: NO DOUBT ZIONIST REGIME WILL BE ELIMINATED FROM THE EARTH

Khamenei

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Houthis Strike Red Sea Tanker, Global Shipping on Edge | Vantage with Palki Sharma

Houthis Strike Red Sea Tanker, Global Shipping on Edge | Vantage with Palki...

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ISRAELI AIR STRIKE KILLS SENIOR IRANIAN OFFICIAL IN SYRIA

Mousavi
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Sayyed Razi Mousavi, a senior adviser in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC), was killed on Monday 25Dec 2023 on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, by an Israeli air strike. Sayyed Razi Mousavi was one of the top IRGC commanders in Syria.

Mousavi “was killed during an attack by the Zionist regime a few hours ago in Zeinabiyah district in the suburbs of Damascus,” Iran’s official IRNA news agency reported, using a different name for Sayyida Zeinab south of the Syrian capital.

In a statement read on state TV, the IRGC said that the “usurper and savage Zionist regime will pay for this crime”.

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Massive Cyber Attack Hits Israel’s Critical Infrastructure, Causing Widespread Power Outages

A massive cyber attack has been launched on Israel’s critical infrastructure, causing widespread power outages and chaos throughout the country. The attack, believed to be orchestrated by unknown hackers, has left Israeli authorities scrambling to regain control and restore essential services.

Power Outages Plague the Nation

Reports of power outages have poured in from all corners of Israel, with major cities and rural areas alike experiencing disruptions in electricity supply. The attack targeted key components of the country’s power grid, crippling its ability to generate and distribute electricity.

This cyber attack has exposed the vulnerability of Israel’s critical infrastructure to malicious actors. The country, known for its advanced technological capabilities, is now grappling with the fallout of a well-coordinated and devastating assault on its essential services.

Impact on Daily Life

The power outages have had far-reaching consequences on the daily lives of Israelis. Public transportation systems have ground to a halt, leaving commuters stranded and paralyzed. Hospitals and medical facilities are operating on emergency backup generators, struggling to provide adequate care to patients. Businesses, schools, and government offices have been forced to shut down, contributing to a sense of chaos and uncertainty.

International Response

The international community has expressed concern and condemnation in the wake of this cyber attack. Many countries have offered their support and assistance to Israel in dealing with the aftermath of the assault. The United Nations and various cybersecurity organizations are working closely with Israeli authorities to investigate the attack and identify the perpetrators.

Escalating Tensions

The cyber attack comes amidst escalating tensions between Israel and Palestine. The use of hashtags such as #PalestineLivesInOurHeart, #Gaza, and #IsraelGazaWar in the Twitter post announcing the attack suggests a potential link to the ongoing conflict in the region. However, at this stage, no official confirmation has been made regarding the identity or motives of the attackers.

Ceasefire Calls

As the situation in Israel remains uncertain, calls for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Palestine have grown louder. Hashtags such as #CEASEFIRE_NOW and #IsraelAttack highlight the urgency and desperation for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

Israel’s Road to Recovery

The road to recovery for Israel will be long and challenging. Restoring power to all affected areas and strengthening cybersecurity measures will be top priorities for the government. Additionally, efforts to identify and bring the perpetrators of this cyber attack to justice will be crucial in preventing future incidents.

A Wake-Up Call for Global Cybersecurity

This massive cyber attack serves as a wake-up call for governments and organizations worldwide to bolster their cybersecurity defenses. The incident highlights the potential devastating consequences of cyber warfare and the need for constant vigilance in protecting critical infrastructure.

As Israel grapples with the aftermath of this unprecedented attack, the country and the international community must work together to ensure the restoration of normalcy and the prevention of future cyber threats.

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YEMEN'S HOUTHIS RENEWS WARNING TO US FORCES IN RED SEA

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SUSPECTED ASSASSINATION IN ISRAEL: MAN KILLED IN CAR EXPLOSION IN NETANYA

Netanya
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A short time ago (Tuesday), a report was received at MDA's 101 hotline in the Sharon area about a vehicle on fire on Rabbi Yitzhak Ben Hanan Street in Netanya. MDA medics and paramedics report that after the firefighting operations, the body of a man with no signs of life was found in the vehicle and pronounced him dead.

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MSC container ship attacked in Red Sea, owner confirms

https://www.tradewindsnews.com/containers/msc-container-ship-attacked-in-red-sea-owner-confirms/2-1-1576414

MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company has confirmed that one of its container ships was attacked on Tuesday while transiting the southern Red Sea.

A statement from the group confirmed earlier claims made by Yemen’s Houthi rebels that they had attacked 8,204-teu MSC United VIII (built 2006) at approximately 12:25 UTC.

MSC said the ship notified a nearby coalition task force warship of the attack and engaged in ‘evasive manoeuvres’.

The Liberia-flagged ship was en route from King Abdullah Port, Saudi Arabia to Karachi, Pakistan.

“Currently, all crew are safe with no reported injuries and a thorough assessment of the vessel is being conducted”, the statement said, adding that the company’s priority “remains protecting the lives and safety of our seafarers, and until their safety can be ensured, MSC will continue to reroute vessels booked for Suez transit via the Cape of Good Hope”.

In a statement, Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree said: “The naval forces of the Yemeni Armed Forces carried out a targeting operation against the commercial ship, ‘MSC United’ with appropriate naval missiles.”

“The targeting operation of the ship came after the crew refused, for the third time, calls from the naval forces, as well as repeated fiery warning messages”, the Houthi statement added.

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LARRY JOHNSON & SCOTT RITTER: YEMEN EXPOSES US, NATO MILITARY WEAKNESS IN RED SEA

Former UN Weapons Inspector and US Marine Corps Intelligence officer Scott Ritter and CIA analyst Larry Johnson discuss Operation Prosperity Guardian and its massive failings amid Yemen's ongoing blockade of the Red Sea.

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20,000 new Yemeni troops ready to fight for Gaza and the Red Sea

20,000 new Yemeni troops ready to fight for Gaza and the Red Sea

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Yemen's Houthi rebels threaten to target American warships operating in Red Sea | SBS News

Yemen's Houthi rebels threaten to target American warships operating in Red...

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Are the global underwater communication cables the next target of Houthi terrorism?

Although it is not easy to reach cables that are hundreds and thousands of meters below sea level and sabotage them, the Houthi militia, supported by the knowledge, technology, weapons, and military training of Iran, has already proven its prowess many times. From hijacking commercial ships, attacking military vessels with suicide drones, to launching long-range missiles hundreds of kilometers away, threatening cities in the south of the State of Israel.

It is estimated that every year about two hundred submarine communication cables are damaged throughout the oceans, with 77% of the damages caused unintentionally as a result of damage from fishing equipment and ship anchors. However, about a third of the damage is apparently caused by intentional activity.

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MSC United was attacked despite the presence of the US Navy in the Red Sea

MSC United was attacked despite the presence of the US Navy in the Red Sea

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https://southfront.press/israel-awaits-irans-revenge/

Israel Awaits Iran’s Revenge

The Israeli assassination of senior Iranian Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) commander Brigade General Seyed Razi Mousavi has raised tensions in the Middle East and brought the region closer to a dangerous confrontation.

Mousavi was killed on December 25 when a strike attributed to Israel hit his home in the town of Set Zaynab to the south of the Syrian capital, Damascus.

The IRGC revealed that Mousavi was in charge of providing “logistical support to the Axis of Resistance in Syria.” It also said that the commander was a close “companion” of late Quds Force commander Major General Qasem Soleimani, who was assassinated by the United States in Iraq around four years ago.

Iran’s official Islamic Republic News Agency described Mousavi as one of the “most experienced advisors” of the IRGC’s elite Quds Force.

Senior Iranian officials, including President Ebrahim Rasi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, have vowed revenge for Mousavi’s death.

The assassination of Mousavi was also condemned by Lebanon’s Hezbollah, pro-Iran armed factions in Iraq, the Houthis (Ansar Allah) in Yemen, the Palestinian Hamas Movement, the Syrian government and many other sides.

Asked on December 26 about the assassination of Mousavi, Israeli military chief Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi declined to comment but said Israeli forces work throughout the region.

An IRGC spokesman said on December 27 that Israel targeted Mousavi due to the “irreparable defeats” it suffered following the October 7 Hamas-led surprise attack from the Gaza Strip.

The spokesman, Brigadier General Ramezan Sharif, also vowed that Israel will face a “harsh revenge” from Iran and its allies in the so-called “Axis of Resistance.”

Hezbollah has already intensified operation against Israel from Lebanon, carrying out 23 attacks with rockets, guided missiles and suicide drones between December 25 and 27. The Houthis also launched a large-scale drone attack against the southernmost Israeli city of Eilat on December 26.

In addition, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iranian-backed factions, attacked the Israeli-occupied Syrian Golan Heights with a suicide drone for the first time ever on December 27.

How the IRGC will respond to the assassination of Mousavi is still unclear. However, a direct attack with missiles and drone against Israel remains highly unlikely as it could trigger a dangerous confrontation in the Middle East. Israel may be trying to drag Iran into a direct conflict in order to make up for its inability to win the war against Hamas in Gaza.

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10 Yemeni Houthis killed in US shelling in Red Sea

10 Yemeni Houthis killed in US shelling in Red Sea. U.S. military has said the Houthis attacked a Maersk cargo ship in theRed Sea. The Houthis have been attacking ships in the Red Sea for weeks, saying the attacks are in response to Israel's war on the Gaza Strip. The U.s. helicopters returned fire in self-defense, sinking three of the four boats and killing their crews, while the fourth fled the area, the military said.

en Yemenis were killed and two wounded in US shelling on boats that attacked a container ship in the southern Red Sea on Sunday, two shipping sources in Yemen's Hodeidah port said.

A shipping source at the Houthi-controlled port, who declined to be named, told AFP that "10 Houthis were killed and two were rescued who were injured in the US bombing of Houthi boats that wanted to arrest a ship off Hodeidah."

Another maritime source, who did not reveal his identity, confirmed the death toll, noting that "4 survivors arrived in Hodeidah with two wounded who were transferred to al-Samad Hospital."

The U.S. military has said the Houthis attacked a Maersk cargo ship in the Red Sea.

"Houthi boats fired light weapons at the Maersk merchant ship and approached up to 20 meters and personnel tried to board it," the US Central Command said in a statement.

"U.S. helicopters returned fire in self-defense, sinking three of the four boats and killing their crews, while the fourth fled the area."

Maersk confirmed an accident involving the Maersk Hangzhou after it passed through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, en route from Singapore to the port of Suez in Egypt.

The Houthis have been attacking ships in the Red Sea for weeks, saying the attacks are in response to Israel's war on the Gaza Strip.

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DOUGLAS MACGREGOR - 2 MILLION TURKISH SOLDIERS, IRANIAN NAVY READY TO FLATTEN ISRAEL TO PROTECT GAZA

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Iran’s Alborz warship has entered the Red Sea after passing through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a state-affiliated news agency reported on Monday.

https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2024/01/01/Iranian-warship-Alborz-enters-Red-Sea-amid-tensions-State-media

Since 2009, Iranian warships have been operating in open waters to “secure shipping lines, fight against pirates and conduct other missions,” the Tasnim news agency said.

This comes as Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis have been targeting vessels in the Red Sea for weeks, justifying their actions as support for Palestinians amid the ongoing war between the Gaza-based Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel, which began on October 7.

In its report, Tasnim, which is said to be close to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), did not specify the details of the Alborz’s mission but it highlighted the implications of the Gaza war on the wider region. “Following rising tensions in the Gaza war, there has been an acceleration in developments in the Gulf of Aden and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait,” it said.

The Houthi attacks pose a threat to a crucial transit route responsible for up to 12 percent of global trade. In response, the US established a multinational naval task force last month to safeguard shipping in the Red Sea.

On Sunday, US Navy helicopters sank three Houthi-operated vessels that had attacked a container ship in the Red Sea, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement.

Confirming the clash, the Houthis, who seized Yemen’s capital Sanaa in 2014 and control much of the country including its Red Sea coastline, acknowledged 10 fighters dead or missing.

Britain’s defense minister warned on Monday that London was “willing to take direct action” against the Houthis.

“We are willing to take direct action, and we won’t hesitate to take further action to deter threats to freedom of navigation in the Red Sea,” Defense Secretary Grant Shapps wrote in the Daily Telegraph newspaper.

According to the newspaper, Britain is collaborating with the US for potential military strikes against the Houthis, and that a joint statement giving the militants a final warning to cease their attacks is imminent.

British foreign minister David Cameron said on Sunday that he told his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian during a phone call that Tehran shared responsibility for preventing Houthi attacks in the Red Sea given its long-standing ties to the Yemeni group.

Amir-Abdollahian said that he told Cameron that Western backing for Israel’s “crimes” in Gaza was the main contributor to the growing instability in the region.

“I also explicitly warned about the serious consequences of continuing to support the evil actions of this apartheid and occupying regime in the region,” he wrote in a post on the social media platform X.

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Hamas Confirms Top Leader Salah al-Arouri Killed in Beirut Explosion; Blames Israel for Assassination

Al-Arouri was the deputy head of the political bureau of Hamas, second to Ismail Haniyeh. Lebanese reports say that the blast was caused by an Israeli drone strike.

Senior Hamas figure Salah al-Arouri was killed on Tuesday in an explosion in Beirut. Hamas has confirmed the killing and blamed Israel for the alleged assassination. According to the Lebanese state media, the attack was carried out using a drone and targeted Hamas offices during a meeting of senior members.

Hamas reported that besides al-Arouri, two other high-ranking members in the organization were killed. In August, Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah stated that "any Israeli attack on Lebanese soil will lead to a powerful response."

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AFTERMATH OF EXPLOSION NEAR TOMB OF IRANIAN COMMANDER QASSEM SOLEIMANI DURING CEREMONY

Warning: sensitive content.
Explosion occurred at a cemetery in Iran where a ceremony was being held to mark the 2020 killing of Iran's top commander Qassem Soleimani. Over 100 dead and over 180 injured after two bombs detonated near Qasem Soleimani memorial in Kerman, Iran. Iranian state media, quoting a local official in the Kerman province, said the blasts "were caused by terrorist attacks."

Explosions near Iranian commander Soleimani's tomb during ceremony, state media reports