Author: yreape

According to a report, Yemen’s houthis have continued to launch drones and missiles at ships in a Red Sea shipping lane. Reportedly, the u.s. navy who have shot down many drones including a serious attack on Tuesday have a number of ships in the area as part of operation prosperity guardian in order to guard ships in one of the world’s most important shipping lanes.

According to the report, a houthi air assault was followed by a british royal navy ship using its sea viper missiles and machine guns. Reportedly, on Wednesday there were 11 votes in favour of a u.n. security council resolution calling on houthis to stop their attacks in the Red Sea. Algeria, Mozambique, China and Russia abstained.

According to a report, Iran has seized an oil tanker in the gulf of Oman. Reportedly, iranian media said the seizure was in retaliation for the ship and oil aboard, then called the Suez Rajan being consficated by the u.s. in April 2023. According to the report, Suez Rajan Ltd was later charged with selling oil abroad on behalf of Iran.

Reportedly, on Thursday at 3.30 gmt four to five persons wearing military uniforms and black masks boarded the ship and ordered it to sail to an iranian port. According to the report, the u.k. maritime trade operations said it had lost communications with the vessel that was carrying 19 crew and 145,000 tonnes of crude oil.

According to a report, the Mount Meron area and two communities on Israel’s northern border were targeted by hezbollah in attacks said to be a response to the killing of hamas chief Saleh al Arouri in Beirut on January 2, there were no reports of any injuries. Reportedly, the israeli defence force said they struck two sites responsible for some of the attacks, followed by strikes on hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon including hezbollah cells, rocket launch positions, a command centre and other infrastructure used by hamas. According to the report, since October 7 Israel has been saying hezbollah will have to withdraw to north of the Litani River as required by the 2006 u.n. resolution 1701.

Reportedly, Saleh al Arouri who was born near Ramallah, Samaria studied sharia law at Hebron University. According to the report, he joined hamas in 1987 and was imprisoned by Israel several times, starting with administrative detention. Reportedly, he was released in 2007 after 15 years and was exiled by Israel, after which he spent time in Syria and Turkey before settling in Lebanon. According to the report, he served as a recruiter and was instrumental in expanding hamas activities in Samaria, he was described as having connections.

According to a report, Russia has fired 170 drones and dozens of missiles since Sunday. Reportedly, on Monday night Ukraine said it destroyed 35 drones fired by Russia whose attacks have included the use of cruise and supersonic missiles, 72 of which were destroyed by ukrainian defence systems. According to the report, power and water supplies were cut to several areas of Kyiv. Reportedly, according to the russian president the attacks were punishment for the ukrainian attack on Belgorod on Saturday.

According to the report, the president of Ukraine said Russia have been unable to take a single large city in 2023. Reportedly, ukrainian shelling has hit the occupied city of Donetsk, killing four people and wounding thirteen.

According to a report, India’s space agency has launched a rocket that is carrying an observatory to study space phenomena such as black holes. Reportedly, it is only the second mission of this nature, nasa launched one in 2021. According to the report, built at a cost of 25 million rupees ($30 million) it has been estimated to have a lifespan of five years.

Reportedly, black holes are regions in space where matter has collapsed in on itself, they emerge from the explosion or burn out of stars and some can be a billion or more times the mass of the sun. The sun is as big as an average sized star (which can be a billion times bigger than the sun).

According to a report, black holes are regions where nothing, including light and electromagnetic waves has the energy to escape it. Reportedly, the theory of general relativity predicts that a sufficiently compact mass can deform to form a black hole, the boundary is invisible.

According to a report, the u.s. have destroyed three houthi boats after four boats fired upon the Maersk Hangzhou in a Red Sea shipping lane, got within 20 metres of the container ship and attempted to board it. Reportedly, helicopters from nearby u.s. warships, USS Eisenhower aircraft carrier and USS Gravely destroyer responded to a call for help and were shot at while in the process of issuing verbal calls. According to the report, they destroyed three boats, one boat fled.

Reportedly, Houthi forces have been attacking ships in the area since November. According to the report, it was the second attack on the Maersk Hangzhou in 24 hours which was the first succesful attack since a maritime taskforce was launched on 18 December.

Reportedly, in order to reach the Suez canal, ships must pass through the tiny Bab al Manbad just off the coast of Houthi controlled areas of Yemen. According to the report, Houthis have said the attacks are directed at vessels linked to Israel. Reportedly, Maersk, one of the largest shipping companies in the world have paused sailings through the Red Sea for 48 hours.

According to reports, Houthis have been fighting a civil war against the government in Yemen since 2014. Reportedly, the government is backed by a coalition of arab countries including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab emirates. Former reports were that the u.s. paid Saudi Arabia for Yemen’s oil.

According to a report, atleast six russian missiles hit the city of Kharkiv in the east, destroying civilian infrastructure and resulting in 28 people being injured. Reportedly, Ukraine said it has destroyed 21 of 49 russian drones launched overnight in the Kharkiv, Kherson, Mykolaiv and Zaporizhzhia regions; and Kyiv repelled a russian drone attack.

According to the report, Russia said the strikes were in retaliation for a ukrainian attack on the russian border town of Belgorod on Saturday which killed atleast 24 and resulted in more than a hundred people being injured.

According to a report, residents in Khan Younis have reported intense gun battles between Israel and hamas, Israel said that the southern town is a stronghold of hamas. Reportedly, the israeli airforce and navy have struck targets across Gaza. According to the report, the hamas run health ministry said over 21,500 people have been killed since the war began.

Reportedly, there is very little commercial supplies going into Gaza and more people are depending on aid. According to the report, Israel said it is not limiting aid and the problem lies in distribution. Reportedly, shelters in Gaza are over crowded, personal hygiene is difficult, medicines are in short supply and the health care system is overwhelmed. According to the report, in the 3 months to mid December the world health organisation said it registered 55,400 cases of lice and scabies.

Reportedly, hamas officials were in Cairo, but no ceasefire plan. According to the report, Israel said it has carried out strikes on Lebanon and Syria in response to rocket fire.

According to a report, a 17 year old from Bethlehem is one of 180 palestinians released from administrative detention as part of the recent hostage deal. Reportedly, he was imprisoned five months ago under legislation inherited from the uk that allows Israel to detain terror suspects without charge.

According to the report, palestinians have been subject to administrative detention since 1945, first under the british mandate. Reportedly, detainees are granted a hearing in a military court though Israel is not required to disclose any of its evidence to detainees or their lawyers. According to the report, detainees can be sentenced for up to six months which can be extended.

According to a report, atleast 30 people have died and dozens injured as cities across Ukraine were targeted by 158 drones and missiles in the biggest russian attack in nearly two years of war. Reportedly, the capital Kyiv; Lviv in the west, Odesa and Zaporizhzhia in the south and Dnipro and Kharkiv in the east were bombarded with nearly every type of weapon in Russia’s arsenal.

According to reports, earlier Russia took Maryinka in the east and Ukraine strook a warship in the Crimean port of Feodosia. Reportedly, the president of Ukraine has thanked soldiers fighting in the front line and Kyiv’s mayor said it was critically important to have the support of the u.s. and Europe.

According to reports, the u.s. have announced further military aid to Ukraine valued at $250 million but any further funding will have to meet approval from congress. Reportedly, the aid package includes air defence artillery, small arms ammunition, anti tank weapons and medical equipment. The eu have stated that they will continue to provide Ukraine with strong political, financial and humanitarian assistance.