The ‘Ammar Affash cell’ or ‘Force 400,’ a spy group led by Ammar Affash, recruited spies to gather intelligence and carry out sabotage operations against Yemen’s Armed Forces in service of the US and ‘Israel’.
Image shared by the Yemeni media showing five members of ‘Force 400’ linked to Ammar Affash ahead of releasing the video of their confessions on May 6, 2024. (Saba News Agency)
Members of the “Ammar Affash cell” (sometimes referred to as Ammar Saleh), were arrested by the Yemeni security services, with the support of those concerned from the Ministry of Defense, for spying in service of the West.
The cell, more commonly known as the spy group “Force 400”, led by Ammar Affash, a spy who has long been on the Yemeni forces’ wanted list, had recruited these members to commit crimes in favor of the US and “Israel”, according to Yemen’s Saba News Agency.
According to Saba News Agency, a security official explained that the members caught over the past few days were recruited to work on collecting information and monitoring sites belonging to the Yemeni Armed Forces on the western coast of the Republic of Yemen.
Furthermore, the official highlighted that following Yemen’s declaration of the launch of its operations in support of the people of Palestine and the start of operations against Israeli targets, including in the Red and Arabian seas amid a joint US-UK aggression on Yemen, security services detected increased intelligence efforts by Yemen’s enemies.
What were their missions?
US and Israeli occupation forces, along with local collaborators that Affash recruited, notably through the so-called “Force 400”, intensified activities, recruiting individuals to monitor missile and drone launch sites aimed at “Israel”. Not only that, the collaborators’ mission included gathering information on the locations of Yemeni Armed Forces boats and submitting their coordinates to their operators.
Those apprehended admitted to performing intelligence tasks, including gathering coordinates of military targets, thus enabling attacks by US and UK warplanes. As such, the collaborators, and their operators, are directly responsible for the blood spilled and the material losses caused by the joint aggression conducted in favor of Tel Aviv.
“Among what the spies were entrusted with, according to their confessions, was to carry out criminal and sabotage operations, which included carrying out operations to damage and burn vehicles belonging to the armed, security forces, and then preparing to carry out assassination operations using silencers and explosive materials for the purpose of distracting the armed forces from confronting the American, British, Israeli evil trio, and supporting… the besieged Palestinian people, and striking the homefront… in the service of the American and Israeli enemy through these sabotage and criminal operations,” a Yemeni official revealed to Saba News Agency.
The Yemeni security services emphasized the severe consequences awaiting these spies, including capital punishment, for collaborating with enemy intelligence services.
Ammar Affash: what we know
In 2022, a Central Military Court in Yemen convicted Ammar Mohammed Abdullah Saleh al-Ahmar, a former National Security Agency agent, along with 12 officers from the United States, for their crimes of attempting to destroy Yemen’s missile capabilities and air defense batteries.
During a court session in Sanaa, Ammar Saleh was sentenced to death in absentia, while the other officers were given 10-year prison terms.
Saleh, according to some leading Yemeni journalists, is known to also have ties to the United Arab Emirates, especially during the war on Yemen, and to maintain a connection with sleeper cells across Yemen. This is what “Force 400” is made of.
Western intelligence operations in a Yemeni context
This comes after Yemen has successfully implemented a maritime siege against “Israel”, despite the multiple attempts by the US, UK, and a joint naval operation to end Yemen’s siege.
Yemen launched its operation against the Israeli occupation in defense of the people of Yemen and expanded the width of operations to include the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and most recently the Mediterranean Sea. Yemen also expanded the scope of the operations to target not only ships headed to Israeli occupation ports, and Israeli ships but also US and British ships aimed at hindering Yemen’s operation in service of “Israel”.
Senior military officials in Sana’a have informed MintPress News of ongoing military preparations by the US, UK, and Saudi-led Coalition over the past two weeks. According to these sources, there are plans to initiate a significant aerial assault on the Yemeni mainland, focusing particularly on coastal regions in the west, as well as areas in the south near the Saudi border. This assault is expected to be accompanied by ground offensives carried out by factions aligned with the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
MintPress News sources indicate a probable escalation, coinciding with significant military reinforcements. Notably, squadrons of US F-16 aircraft have been arriving at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, located less than 200 kilometers from the Yemeni border. Additionally, extensive air transport activities involving weapons and equipment have been observed over the past two weeks, with US cargo planes shuttling to and from military bases in Saudi Arabia and Djibouti.
On April 29, the Aviano Air Base in Italy declared the deployment of F-16 Fighting Falcon jets from its 510th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron to the Middle East. As stated on the Aviano Air Base website, these F-16s are set to undertake a range of missions, including safeguarding civilian vessels in the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf as part of Operation Prosperity Guardian, alongside other crucial force protection and deterrence duties
Sources near the Saudi-led coalition-backed government in Aden revealed to MintPress News that the United States and Britain have ramped up their dialogue with the Ministry of Defense in the Aden administration. This surge comes in response to recent Yemeni activities in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Indian Ocean.
Military and political insiders in Sanaa informed MintPress News about the military exercise held on April 24. The event, dubbed “Desert Flag 9,” saw the participation of Saudi Arabia, Israel, and other Arab nations at the Al Dhafra base in the Emirates. This maneuver is believed to be part of preparations for the announcement of a new military coalition, ostensibly aimed at safeguarding international freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Indian Ocean. At the outset of the exercise, General Charles Keough, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, lauded the collaboration among allies in countering perceived Iranian threats.
Numerous officials in Sanaa and among Ansar Allah have issued public warnings about alleged plans orchestrated by the United States and Britain, with support from certain Arab nations. The Supreme Political Council, the highest governing body in the northern region, has cautioned against any hostile escalation by the United States in Yemen. It asserts that ongoing suspicious preparations aimed at dissuading Yemen from supporting Gaza will prove futile. Emphasizing that any consequences of such escalation will extend beyond Yemen’s borders, the Council has urged Saudi Arabia to prioritize its national interests over those of the United States.
It seems evident that Saudi and Emirati endeavors extend beyond merely challenging the naval blockade imposed by Ansar Allah on Israel, currently engaged in what many legal experts have termed a genocide in Gaza. Rather, indications suggest that these oil-rich nations may be poised to actively participate in an anticipated U.S. and U.K. military intervention. Their aim? To dismantle the blockade on Israel imposed by Yemeni forces and quell Ansar Allah’s assaults on Israeli vessels—actions purportedly intended to halt the ongoing genocide and alleviate the siege on civilians within the embattled enclave.
In addressing the Yemen-Saudi border situation, Muhammad Ali Al-Houthi, a member of the Supreme Political Council, raised poignant questions: “Why does Saudi Arabia deliberately target civilians on the Yemeni border with French Caesar’s cannons? Wouldn’t it be wiser for the Saudi army to position these cannons near the borders of the northern kingdom to aid the people of Gaza?” He cautioned against reckless actions, stating, “Do not play with fire. We possess a strategic arsenal far beyond what you anticipate.”
Hussein Al-Ezzi, serving as the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Sana’a government, issued a stark warning:
“We are well aware of Washington’s hostile intentions. Henceforth, we hold Washington accountable for any dire consequences resulting from its reckless actions against Yemen. It may soon find itself devoid of safe havens in the region, as its interests become a common target for all those who value freedom.“
Seeking to entangle itself anew in the Yemen conflict and forge closer ties with Israel, the United States has pledged support to Saudi Arabia. This includes assistance for a Saudi nuclear program and designating Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally. Talks are ongoing to solidify a joint defense pact and enhance security cooperation, as reported by Saudi media.
IMPENDING ASSAULTS ON CRITICAL ASSETS
The peril isn’t just about the conflict’s escalation, but also the neighboring nations getting entangled in operations beyond their control. This risks sparking another tragic conflict, impacting not only war-torn Yemen but also neighboring countries like Saudi Arabia.
MintPress sources have confirmed that, in the case of a U.S.-led ground invasion of Yemen, planned assaults by Ansar Allah will target not only U.S. interests and bases within the involved nations but also critical facilities and assets belonging to those participating countries, such as oil installations.
Ansar Allah has issued a grave threat of launching a large-scale and aggressive assault aimed at crucial installations, including oil facilities, in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. This ominous warning mirrors previous attacks, such as the devastating strikes on the Abqaiq oil facilities in September 2019, which resulted in a significant disruption to half of Saudi Arabia’s oil production.
Ali al-Quhom, a Member of the Political Council of Ansar Allah, wrote on X, “The stage has changed, and with it, the rules of engagement have changed. Saudi Arabia and the UAE must realize this, and seven years are enough to learn the lesson. Yemen has become stronger with the increase in military capabilities at all levels. Escalation will be met with escalation, and this is a fixed and inseparable rule that will never change, ever. As you lost before, you will lose now, but this time your loss will be greater than before.” He added:
“There should be no submission or surrender on the part of neighboring countries to American, British and Israeli pressure and will, indicating that any American move from the territories of neighboring countries will lead to strong Yemeni responses, these countries will be the target of Yemeni operations, We have a target bank that includes strategic and vital targets in depth and in areas of economic importance.”
IMMINENT RETALIATION
Mounting tensions in Yemen and the broader region coincide with the withdrawal of an American aircraft carrier from the Red Sea. Yemeni analysts suggest that this move signifies not only the persistence of Yemeni operations targeting maritime navigation linked to the Israeli regime but also hints at a shift towards ground-based operations for a more extensive assault on Yemeni territory. Yemeni sources indicate that the departure of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and USS Gravely from the Red Sea is part of the preparations for the coming assault.
General Shamsan, the head of the Military Spokesmen Committee in the Yemeni Army, informed MintPress that concurrent with the withdrawal of the American aircraft carrier, a squadron of aircraft has arrived at Saudi bases. This development aligns with diplomatic and political maneuvers. The Americans seem compelled to pivot towards attacks from land bases to mitigate potential heavy losses from retaliatory strikes against U.S. aircraft carriers and destroyers at sea.
While certain Yemenis perceive the withdrawal of the American aircraft carrier from the Red Sea as a triumph, numerous political, military officials, and analysts interviewed by MintPress regard Washington’s move with deep suspicion, framing it within the context of ongoing operational preparations, as emphasized by Brigadier General Shamsan.
Last Friday, the U.S. Navy declared that USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and USS Gravely departed from the Red Sea after an almost four-month presence. Despite their deployment, the U.S. battle group was unable to impede Yemeni operations targeting maritime navigation associated with the Israeli regime, as these operations persisted.
Additionally, there’s a possibility, as indicated by a Yemeni source linked to the coordination between Yemeni and Iraqi resistance forces, that certain groups within the Resistance Axis, notably the Iraqi resistance, may engage in retaliatory strikes against key American and Saudi targets in the region. This prospect hints at potential conflict not only in the Red Sea but also in the Strait of Hormuz and the Arabian Gulf, posing a genuine threat to American interests. However, such escalation could potentially be averted or delayed, especially considering the Russian front and the upcoming U.S. presidential elections.
On the ground, clear signs of an impending conflict are emerging, particularly in the conflict zones of Taiz and Lahj, alongside other fronts. This coincides with significant military reinforcements being deployed by factions aligned with the Saudi-Emirati coalition from Aden to the strategic Tur al-Baha and Haifan fronts. These areas serve as vital contact points between Sanaa-aligned forces and coalition-backed militias. Tragically, in the Maqbanah area southwest of Taiz, an attack allegedly conducted by a drone affiliated with these factions resulted in the loss of two children and three women.
According to Yemeni military media, an American MQ9 drone was brought down above Saada Governorate while conducting a military operation. Footage released last Friday depicted Yemeni Armed Forces successfully shooting down the US MQ-9 aircraft using a missile.
In the days, military tensions between Yemeni forces and the American and British navies have surged to unprecedented levels. Reports indicate violent explosions along the coasts of Al-Khawkhah and Al-Mokha, spanning from Khor Amira, facing Bab Al-Mandab, to the southern shores of the country
Yemenis harbor a pervasive belief in the imminent likelihood of a ground invasion, a notion taken with utmost seriousness across the nation. Numerous officials, in interviews with MintPress, have openly discussed the potentiality of such an occurrence, grounded not in analysis but in raw data. Consequently, all regions, cities, and institutions have experienced a surge in recruitment efforts, operating under the banner of “Al-Aqsa Flood.”
YEMEN’S RESOLVE AMID ESCALATING TENSIONS
While Yemenis are earnestly grappling with the looming prospect of escalation, their resolve extends beyond merely halting attacks aimed at ending the conflict in Gaza and lifting the blockade. They’ve heralded an unprecedented development targeting Israeli vessels across the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Aden, and Bab al-Mandab. On Tuesday, the Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) launched strikes against two United States warships in the Red Sea and targeted the Cyclades bulk carrier, achieving precise hits. Subsequently, military media footage surfaced, showcasing the moment of the Cyclades ship’s bombing in the Indian Ocean, underscoring the Yemeni army’s capacity to execute operations hundreds of kilometers from the Yemeni coastline.
مشاهد لحظة استهداف سفينة (CYCLADES) بطائرة مسيرة والتي كانت متجهة إلى موانئ فلسطينَ المحتلة في البحر الأحمر pic.twitter.com/BNC4jPj1SM
In a televised address to the nation last Thursday discussing the latest regional developments, Ansar Allah leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi stated that the Yemeni army is enhancing its presence in the Indian Ocean, aiming to block Israeli-affiliated vessels from navigating the Cape of Good Hope route or towards the Red Sea. He further remarked, “The Yemeni front will remain open, and the Yemeni Armed Forces’ (YAF) operations in support of Palestine will continue.”
Since Abdul-Malik al-Houthi’s speech, four Israeli, American, and British vessels have been hit. The Yemeni Navy struck the British ship ANDROMEDA STAR and the Israeli MSC Darwin ship on Saturday, along with an American warship and another commercial vessel named MAERSK YORKTOWN, and the Israeli MSC VERACRUZ on April 24. Preceding these events, the Yemeni army conducted four operations targeting two Israeli ships and two American ships on April 10.
Following Abdulmalik al-Houthi’s speech, four vessels affiliated with Israel, the United States and Britain were targeted by Ansar Allah. The Yemeni navy attacked the British vessel Andromeda Star and the Israeli MSC Darwinship on Saturday, as well as an American warship and a commercial vessel named Maersk Yorktown, and the Israeli MSC Veracruz on April 24. Prior to these incidents, the Yemeni army executed four operations against two Israeli ships and two American ships on April 10.
It’s worth noting that Ansar Allah has turned down several American offers aimed at halting their maritime attacks in support of Gaza. These offers included recognition of their group, revocation of their terrorist designation, payment of government employee salaries, and the signing of a comprehensive agreement with Saudi Arabia to end the war and initiate Yemen’s reconstruction.
Barbara Leaf, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, said in a press briefing that there are ongoing communications with Ansar Allah, urging the movement to engage in the Yemeni political process. However, she clarified that she wouldn’t characterize the discussions with strong language at this point. Leaf emphasized that “Washington is employing all available means, both diplomatically and militarily, to deter the Houthis from their actions,” which she described as “reckless” in the Red Sea.
Feature photo | Yemenis attend a massive rally against US-led airstrikes on Yemen and the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip in Sanaa, Yemen, March 1, 2024. Osamah Abdulrahman | AP
Ahmed AbdulKareem is a Yemeni journalist based in Sana’a. He covers the war in Yemen for MintPress News as well as local Yemeni media.
Ahmed AbdulKareem
In the courtyard of Yemen’s famous Al Shaeb Mosque, guards of honor stood at attention accompanied by the melody of military music as the funeral ceremony of Yemeni marines killed in the latest round of U.S. and UK strikes commenced. The mourners, many of whom traveled from the countryside to attend, walked alongside a long convoy carrying the bodies of 17 victims as it made its way through the streets of Sana’a. Mourners held aloft photos of the deceased or thrust their rifles into the air while chanting slogans condemning the United States. Several banners peppered the crowd, emblazoned with the label given to those who gave their lives in what many view as a struggle in defense of Palestine: “Martyrs on the road to al-Quds (Jerusalem).”
Seventeen pickup trucks ensconced in green drapes bore the bodies. They were escorted by family members alongside thousands of mourners leaving Sana’a for the hometowns of the victims who hailed from various regions of Yemen. The scene unfolded last Sunday when thousands of angry Yemenis took to the streets of Sana’a and other cities to hold a funeral for those killed by the attacks. “Retribution against American soldiers… We will not abandon our revenge,” some mourners proclaimed.
In Bani Matar, 70 kilometers west of Sanaa towards the Hodeida Road, the mothers of Ziad Ajlan and Hashem Al-Sawari watched the convoy from a rooftop as it carried along the bodies of their sons. Ziad and Hashem were not involved in the fighting; they were among a number of civilians killed in attacks launched by the U.S. Navy on the Yemeni mainland one week ago. My son was martyred on the road to al-Quds,” Ziad’s mother said proudly. “We will not be broken, and we will not abandon Gaza.”
U.S. and British officials maintain that their attacks target “Houthi” military positions – ammunition stores and missile launch sites, but the reality of the ground tells a different story. Yemeni civilians say they are blind and indiscriminate and often leave civilians maimed or killed. Assuming the U.S. and UK are acting in good faith, it is clear that their intelligence information is lacking. A truck belonging to a farmer carrying plastic pipes was targeted in an airstrike outside the city of Saada last week. It is believed that the pipes were mistaken for missiles.
This story has repeated itself ad nauseam throughout Yemen since the end of December when the multinational “Operation Prosperity Guardian” (OIR) was launched in a thus-far failed attempt to protect ships linked with Israel from Ansar Allah. This week alone, as many as 40 strikes were launched by the U.S. and the UK, most targeting the coastal city of Hodeida.
Coffins of Asnar Allah fighters killed in the U.S.-led strikes on Yemen are transported during a mass funeral in Sanaa, Yemen, Feb. 10, 2024. Osamah Abdulrahman | AP
THE FOG OF WAR
The danger of Washington’s attacks on Yemen’s mainland lies not only in exposing civilians to danger but has the potential to spark retaliatory measures taken by Ansar Allah should pressure from the public and family members of victims continue to mount.
On December 29, when U.S. forces killed 10 Yemeni sailors aboard three ships in the Red Sea, Ansar Allah refrained from retaliating. But when American and British bombs peppered mainland Yemen the next month, striking major cities with over 100 precision-guided missiles, leaving civilians dead and maimed, Ansar Allah reacted, carrying out a barrage of retaliatory attacks.
Some Yemeni officials have even hinted that two U.S. Navy Seals that the U.S. government claims drowned while boarding a boat smuggling weapons into Yemen were actually killed in combat. It is not known whether the soldiers were killed in attacks by Ansar Allah ballistic missiles or drones or during a failed commando operation as the U.S. claims, but what is clear is that the U.S. is covering its losses and information about the deaths of the Seals has been highly politicized.
In fact, many of the details surrounding hostilities between the U.S. and Ansar Allah have been cast in a heavy fog of war, and it will likely be years before the truth is revealed. What is certain is that Ansar Allah has caused direct material damage to U.S. military vessels, targeting numerous times with advanced missiles and drones launched. In the wake of every such attack, a statement was issued, reaffirming Ansar Allah’s right to take revenge for those killed in American and British bombing raids.
On January 31, the Ansar Allah announced that the American destroyer, the USS Gravely, was hit by several anti-ship missiles. In the wake of the attack, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that the Gravely had shot down an advanced anti-ship cruise missile. Later, reports emerged that the destroyer in question and other Western military assets in the area had failed to intercept the missile until it got within “4 seconds from hitting the U.S. warship.”
On January 25, Ansar Allah said that it had clashed with American destroyers in the Gulf of Aden and Bab al-Mandab for two hours. One U.S. Navy vessel was directly hit after a failed interception attempt, according to Ansar Allah, who have been improving their capabilities since 2014, after a failed Saudi-led and U.S.-backed bombing campaign left the country in tatters.
This undated photograph released by CENTCOM shows the vessel that was being boarded by US Navy Seals near Yemen in a raid that saw two commandos go missing
MANUFACTURING CONSENT
Although President Joe Biden has repeatedly claimed that the United States does not seek to expand the war in the Middle East, the actions of the US military are undoubtedly making the situation in the Red Sea more tense. In the wake of American airstrikes targeting Hodeida on Thursday – for the ninth time that day alone, Ansar Allah Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier Yahya Saree revealed that the group would take “further measures” within its legitimate right to self-defense in response to the repeated U.S.-UK aggression. In the same statement, Saree announced that the Barbados-flagged British Bulk Carrier ship, the LYCAVITOS, was targeted by naval missiles while sailing in the Gulf of Aden, raising questions about the actual deterrence factor of America’s escalatory approach.
Prior to that, the leader of Ansar Allah, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the leader of the revolution that the U.S.-backed Yemeni government in 2014, confirmed that any escalation on Ansar Allah’s part would be against Israel and to confront American and British aggression and would not target the interests of ordinary Westerners. The comment came in response to claims circulated in the media that Ansar Allah could sabotage a network of underwater internet cables that run through the Red Sea. “We do not plan to target submarine cables, and we have no intention of doing so, and what is reported in the media is a lie aimed at distorting our humanitarian position on the war on Gaza,” he said. Many Western media outlets promoted the claim, raising fears over the safety of infrastructure critical to the functioning of the Western Internet and the transmission of financial data. Yemen is strategically located, as internet lines connecting entire continents pass near it.
Airstrikes and claims that internet access may be cut off may be the tip of the escalatory iceberg, according to the government of Sana’a. The Minister of Information, Daifallah al-Shami, held a press conference on Thursday announcing that they have information that the UAE is seeking to recruit agents from multiple foreign nationalities in cooperation with Al-Qaeda and ISIS to target ships in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea in order to confuse and distort operations carried out by Ansar Allah in support of Gaza. According to al-Shami, the move is supported by the U.S.
“WE WILL NOT ABANDON GAZA”
Contrary to what is being promoted in much of the Western media, which has taken the line that Ansar Allah’s Red Sea blockade has nothing to do with the ongoing genocide in Gaza, a review of the targets of Ansar Allah’s attacks makes their motivations clear. On October 19, Ansar Allah fired drones and missiles at Israel’s southern Eliat Port. In mid-November, the naval forces seized an Israeli ship headed towards occupied Palestine. Shortly after, Ansar Allah publically announced that the Israeli-linked ship would not be allowed to pass through the Baba al-Mandab Strait. Later, they announced that the ban on shipping would extend to all vessels attempting to reach Eliat Port. All of these measures were in support of a single, repeatedly declared goal, which was to pressure Israel to stop its war on Gaza and allow food and water to enter the besieged strip.
With visible sadness and anger, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi enumerated in a televised speech on Tuesday the reasons that motivate Yemen to continue operations to prevent international navigation supporting Israel in the Red Sea – the continued mass killing of the Gazans, renewed American support for Israel, including with lethal weapons and the use of internationally banned weapons against civilians in Gaza, including white phosphorus.
Al-Houthi said that “the Yemeni military’s retaliatory strikes in the Red Sea had proven to be effective as it led to the almost complete closure of the port of Umm al-Rashrash (the name of Eliat before Israel annexed it), and all food supply chains to Israel that were passing through the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab stopped by 70%, and prices in the Israeli market rose by 30-50% after ships were forced to divert course through the Cape of Good Hope.” Israel, he noted, was one of the largest beneficiaries of maritime trade, with imports in 2022 reaching to $133 billion “thanks to the Red Sea.”
Responding to those who question the feasibility of Ansar Allah’s position, Al-Houthi said that “Yemeni operations have caused repercussions for ship insurance,” noting that insurers are now refusing to insure ships heading towards the ports of occupied Palestine. “Not only that,” he added, “but insurance companies require Israeli and American ships to pay additional amounts of up to 50%.”
“Our operations at sea led to a decline in Israel’s total imports of products by 25% during the past months,” Al-Houthi said, “The Israeli Ministry of Economy and Industry admitted that the Red Sea operations harmed its trade relations with 14 countries.”
Amid threats of escalation and even whispers of a Western-led ground invasion of Yemen, Ansar Allah has reiterated its commitment to its mission. Mobilization, military training, demonstrations, and other activities will be continued as long as the aggression against Gaza continues, it has reaffirmed, saying that operations at sea will continue until Israel “allows food and medical supplies and the delivery of basic needs into Gaza.” “The U.S. and UK will not achieve their goals through aggression against our country, and the only solution is to stop the aggression and deliver food and medicine to the people of Gaza,” Al-Houthi vowed.
Al Mayadeen‘s correspondent reported on a recent American-British aggression targeting the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, and multiple governorates. This occurred concurrently with heightened aircraft activity in the airspace.
As per our correspondent, the American and British airstrikes focused on the regions of Attan, al-Nahdin, and al-Hafa within the capital, Sanaa.
Additionally, he reported that aircraft involved in the US-British aggression conducted over 11 airstrikes on the districts of Maqbanah and Haifan situated in the western and southern outskirts of Taiz Governorate, in the southwest of Yemen.
Furthermore, he mentioned that the American-British aggression conducted three airstrikes targeting the districts of al-Lahiya and al-Salif, situated to the north of the coastal city of Hodeidah on the Red Sea. Additionally, seven raids were reported on the al-Jar area in the Abs District within Hajjah Governorate, located northwest of Yemen.
On its part, our correspondent stated, “In addition to Sanaa, the American-British aggression has carried out more than 22 airstrikes targeting the governorates of Hajjah, Dhamar, and al-Bayda.”
According to CNN, American officials have confirmed that the United States, in collaboration with British forces, targeted 30 locations in Yemen, carrying out strikes in a total of 10 different locations.
The Russian Sputnik news agency cited a source in the local authority of Saada Governorate stating that American and British fighter jets carried out three airstrikes on the Kahlan camp, located east of the city of Saada. The source added that drones hovered in the city’s sky before the aggression raids were launched.
The American-British aggression against Yemen follows the launch of seven airstrikes on the al-Jar area in the Abs district of the Hajjah Governorate on Friday, as reported by Al Mayadeen’s correspondent.
The coastal city of Hodeidah on the Red Sea in western Yemen was subjected to multiple airstrikes at dawn on Thursday. American and British warplanes carried out the raids targeting various areas within the city.
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On Friday, Houthi militants fired an anti-ship ballistic missile from mainland Yemen striking a British oil tanker and setting it ablaze. “US Central Command said the Marlin Luanda had issued a distress call and reported damage” but no casualties were reported. The attack represents a significant escalation in the deepening conflict between the US-led coalition and the Yemen-based Houthis.
Here’s the question that every American should be asking himself: Is Israel’s war in Gaza strengthening or weakening America’s position in the world?
If there is some material benefit for the United States, then there might be a reasonable argument for continuing to support the policy. But if there is no benefit whatsoever, then the policy should changed.
So, the real question is whether the US gains something from flouting international law and being an active participant in acts of barbarity against a civilian population?
How does America benefit from that?
It doesn’t, in fact, the present arrangement only benefits America’s rivals, like China and Russia, who have steadily grown stronger due to Washington’s erratic and violent behavior. The administration’s blanket support for Israel, has merely accelerated the pace at which nations in the global south and around the world are realigning with Moscow and Beijing. This isn’t a choice that foreign leaders want to make, it’s a choice they are compelled to make in order to guarantee their own security. That’s the bottom line. The idea that a population of 2 million people can be impulsively erased because of the offenses of a small group of militants, terrifies people. And what terrifies them even more is the fact that international law provides no enforceable protection for the people that are getting clobbered.
This is particularly extraordinary in the current case because—as we all know—the population that is being bombed to smithereens is all of a particular ethnicity and religion, (Arab, Muslim) which means they are being targeted for things over which they have no control. Of the two million people that are presently being herded to the Egyptian border, none of them are Jews. That is not a coincidence. That’s discrimination on a scale that should horrify everyone. Imagine if Biden got tired of the daily shootings in Chicago’s South Side and decided to gather all the black people in the country and drive them to the Mexican border where they would rot in tent cities without food, water or medicine. Would that be an acceptable solution?
And, yet, that’s what’s taking place right now in Gaza. Netanyahu says he won’t let up until “Hamas is defeated”. but what does that mean?
It means he is going to continue doing what he’s been doing for the last 110 days.
But, on what basis does he justify these actions. Let me explain what I mean by using a hypothetical:
Let’s say a terrorist organization bombs the Capital building in Washington DC. And, immediately following the bombing, the FBI discovers ironclad proof that the group has been operating out of terrorist cells located in downtown New York City. Now, normally, the FBI would follow certain protocols and methods for apprehending as many of the terrorists as possible while trying to minimize the “collateral damage.” But, this time, the FBI decides to invoke the Israeli method of fighting terrorism by carpet-bombing lower Manhattan with Tomahawk missiles and Daisy Cutters forcing millions of terrified New Yorkers to flee across the border into New Jersey.
Is that a reasonable way of dealing with terrorism? More importantly, can the existence of terrorist cells ever be used as a justification for reducing an entire city to smoldering rubble?
Of course, not. It’s ridiculous, and yet, that’s what Israel is doing. They are flattening all of Gaza in the name of “defeating Hamas.” Who could have imagined that the extermination of an entire civilization could rest on such a flimsy pretext?
One last thing:
It’s not enough that the Biden administration is providing lethal weapons and logistical support to Israel. Now, Biden has decided to wage war against on Houthis, as well. The President objects to the fact that the Houthis have imposed a blockade on Israeli-linked commercial ships in the Red Sea (in order to pressure Israel to end its blockade of food and medicine to the Palestinians.) So, the US and UK have been launching multiple missile strikes on cities and infrastructure in Yemen. The US attacks are intended to persuade the Houthis to abandon their blockade but, so far, there are no signs that they are degrading the Houthis offensive capability at all. In contrast, The Houthi blockade is having significant impact on Israel’s economy while their attacks on commercial ships have steadily intensified. In short, the Houthis appear to be winning.
On Wednesday, the Houthis fired three anti-ship ballistic missiles from the mainland at two container ships transiting the Gulf of Aden. According to a report from CENTCOM two of the missiles were intercepted by a US warship while one landed in the water. According to antiwar.com:
“Later in the day, the Houthis said their forces engaged in a two-hour battle with several US warships. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea claimed the confrontation resulted in a Houthi missile “directly hitting an American warship, but so far, the US has not confirmed the account.”
Bottom line: The Houthi attacks forced the two commercial ships (the Maersk Detroit and the Maersk Chesapeake) to turn-around and beat a hasty retreat. In other words, the Houthi blockade held-up despite the presence of a state-of-the-art AEGIS destroyer (the USS Gravely) that was escorting the ships through the waterway. This is a clear victory for the Houthis and further proof that US naval convoys will not be able to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
But will that nudge Biden towards the bargaining table?
Of course, not. Biden’s not going to throw in the towel. He’s going to up-the-ante like US presidents always do. So, things are going to get progressively worse. Bet on it.
Here’s more from Sal Mercogliano, host of You Tube’s “What’s going On With Shipping”. Mercogliano is a former merchant mariner and teaches courses in maritime history. This is a blurb from Thursday’s show:
The Houthis have done something unheard of…. They have interdicted 11% of world trade and they are forcing it to go around Africa. You’ve got to go back to the world wars to find a naval power to emerge that makes trade lanes bend and interdict supplies. That’s what the Houthis have done. And they are doing it with Iranian hand-me-down missiles duct-taped together and being launched and hitting (their targets) The only savings grace, is that the missiles are so crappy, that they don’t blow up like they’re supposed to.
Understand, this won’t last long, because once there is the realization that the Houthis are not damaging the ships enough, then you’ll see a resumption of trade and the Houthi will ramp it up again. and they will try to sink and kill crew members. Understand, I don’t think they are doing this consciously right now, it’s just that the missiles just aren’t that great. If, they see the potential here, then they will do it. Understand, this is a targeted attack against the United States of America. This is what led to our entry into World War 1.
Of course, it’s going to escalate. Because now it’s a matter of national pride. The US cannot allow itself to seen as caving in to a ragtag militia that has essentially seized control of one of the world’s most critical transit corridors. That cannot stand! Which is why the US launched its ninth massive missile attack on Yemen on Friday afternoon. Unfortunately, the Houthis responded tit-for-tat by firing on British oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden. Here’s a recap from CNN:
An oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden is on fire after a missile attack by Yemen’s Houthi militants, in the latest incident linked to the Iran-backed group in the key shipping route.
The operator of the British oil tanker Marlin Luanda said Friday the vessel had been “struck by a missile in the Gulf of Aden after transiting the Red Sea,” and that “firefighting equipment on board is being deployed to suppress and control the fire caused in one cargo tank on the starboard side.”
The Iran-backed militants claimed responsibility for the attack, saying in a statement that they had fired on the tanker in response to the “American–British aggression against our country [Yemen]” and in support of the Palestinian people. Oil tanker on fire in Gulf of Aden after Houthi missile attack, CNN
So, now an oil tanker has been hit which means the stakes keep getting higher all the time. Is this what Biden had in mind when he deployed his flotilla to the Red Sea? Did he really want another war 8 thousand miles away from America’s shores?
And who is winning this war: The United States or the Houthis?
If you are in doubt about that question, just take a look at this clip from the Wall Street Journal:
“Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser of the USA, is on his way to Thailand – where he will meet with Wang Yi, the foreign minister of China, in an attempt to pressure him to influence the Houthis to stop the attacks in the Red Sea”
WTF? So, Biden wants China to pressure the Houthis to ease the blockade? Is that what’s going on?
No, not exactly. It’s actually much worse than that. Here’s the story from Reuters:
The United States has asked China to urge Tehran to rein in the Iranian-aligned Houthi rebels attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea but has seen little sign of help from Beijing, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing U.S. officials.
The U.S. has repeatedly raised the matter with top Chinese officials in the past three months, the report said. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and his deputy, Jon Finer, discussed the issue in meetings this month in Washington with Liu Jianchao, head of the International Liaison Department of China’s Communist Party, the newspaper said.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also raised the issue with his Chinese counterpart, the report said, adding U.S. officials believe there was little evidence that China had put any pressure on Iran to restrain the Houthis beyond a mild statement Beijing issued last week… US asks China to urge Iran to curb Red Sea attacks by Houthis -FT, Reuters
Let me get this straight: The United States wants China to urge Tehran to rein in the Iranian-aligned Houthis?
Really? But didn’t Biden designate China as America’s Enemy Number 1 in his 2022 National Security Strategy? And hasn’t Biden been trying to enlist more and more nations into his anti-China coalition? And hasn’t Biden deployed the Navy multiple times to hector and harass China in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait? But now he’s sent his envoys to beg for a favor?
What gall!
But—despite what you read in the western media—China isn’t ‘falling for it’, mainly because China has had the right policy from the very beginning. So, there’s no reason to change a thing. China opposed Houthi attacks on commercial vessels from the onset. That hasn’t changed. By the same token, they oppose US military intervention and think that the US deliberately misled the Security Council to get a resolution that they used as a pretext for attacking Yemen. China opposes that, too, and they always have.
But, most important is that China’s leaders do not accept that the troubles in the Red Sea are divorced from Israel’s rampage in Gaza. They see them as the unavoidable spillover from the Israel-Palestine crisis which must be addressed directly. Check out this excerpt from an editorial at the Global Times:
Western media recently reported that the US has asked China to urge Tehran to rein in the pro-Iran Houthi militants, which are attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea… Since the outbreak of the Red Sea crisis, China has maintained close communication with all parties involved to ease tensions and has made proactive efforts. China has consistently called for an end to the attacks on civilian vessels and urged relevant parties to avoid exacerbating the tense situation in the Red Sea, in order to jointly safeguard the security of the Red Sea waterway….
Since the recent escalation of the Israel-Palestine conflict, US officials have repeatedly asked China to leverage this relationship and exert “influence” on Iran…
The recent US airstrikes against Houthi forces have not yielded the expected results, and attacks on commercial ships have not diminished. Several Western media outlets have commented that military strikes will only backfire. Pentagon officials also admitted that the military campaign against the Houthi forces is not working….
It is not surprising that the US finds itself in such a situation because it either fails or refuses to recognize the root cause of the Red Sea crisis. While Houthi forces are responsible for harassing civilian ships, the crisis stems from the overflow of the Gaza conflict. All parties need to return to the core issue of achieving an immediate ceasefire and implementing the “two-state solution” for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. If the US does not grasp this point and continues to intensify military strikes against the Red Sea stakeholders, the result will only be to perpetuate a cycle of escalating violence. Moreover, concerning the core issue of the Gaza conflict, theUS has yet to demonstrate a sincere stance toward peace and dialogue, contributing to the escalating tensions in the Red Sea region…. If US Needs China in the Red Sea, It Should Talk to China Nicely, The Global Times
China is not “playing sides” or “picking winners”. It is simply stating the obvious; that the fracas in the Red Sea can’t be separated from the Israel-Palestine crisis; they are one-and-the-same. The United States needs to recommit to the remedy that has already been approved many times over, and which the vast majority of countries still support; the “two-state solution”. That has been standard US policy for 75 years, and Biden’s crazed effort to abandon that policy has created the catastrophe we see today.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah makes a monumental address to the 12th Gaza Conference in Iran, discussing a myriad of points.
The Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, addressed the attendees of the “12th Conference of Gaza: A Symbol of Resistance,” which was held in Tehran on Saturday.
Sayyed Nasrallah’s address came in the form of a letter read out by Hezbollah’s representative Abdullah Safieddine who attended the conference in Iran.
The leader of the Lebanese party emphasized that Operation Al-Aqsa Flood struck down all attempts to eliminate the Palestinian cause. Stressing the cruciality of the conference, which comes at a historic moment for the Palestinian cause, Sayyed Nasrallah said the event demonstrates the organizers’ sense of responsibility toward the Palestinian people, their cause, and their Resistance.
“We all have grave responsibilities, which [require us to be constantly] alert to mobilize the Ummah’s capabilities in support of the Palestinian people and in support of their valiant Resistance,” Sayyed Nasrallah wrote.
He explained that the Palestinian Resistance “is rightly writing, with its sacrifices, heroism, the blood of its men, and [steadfastness of its people], the future of the Ummah, preserving its dignity and consolidating its strength.”
Marking the successes of the Palestinian Resistance, the leader of the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon pointed to the large human losses suffered by the Israeli occupation’s military in the Gaza Strip. He said that the amount of losses suffered far exceeds what the Israeli occupation suffered in the 1967 Six Day War, which involved the armies of multiple Arab nations.
Moreover, the leader shed light on the fact that the Israeli military, which occupied more than 69,000 km2 in the 1967 war, is currently experiencing defeat in a much smaller territory — the Gaza Strip.
Bidirectional plot to legitimize ‘Israel’: Failing
On another note, the Resistance leader discussed the political plots to “legitimize” the Israeli occupation on an international and regional level, in what he explained is a bidirectional plot to do so.
He explained that this plot has seen the cooperation of Israelis and “their masters” and concentrated on legitimizing the occupation on an international level and weakening and stifling the Resistance of the Palestinian people.
Firstly, “Israel” and its allies worked on whitewashing the occupation’s image, seeking to portray it as a “civilized entity” worthy of emulation by other governments in the region as a flawless model, Sayyed Nasrallah asserted.
He said that the plan reaped great results for the alliance, due to its hegemonic control over major international institutions and Western governments.
Secondly, “Israel” and its allies worked to weaken and stifle the Resistance and liquidate the Palestinian cause, attempting to eliminate the topic from popular discourse. In detail, the alliance depended on brute force, as well as promoting normalization with the region’s regimes.
He said that the alliance’s push to normalize relations with regimes in the region is a multi-faceted project aimed at subjugating the will of the Ummah, squandering its central cause — Palestine — and shattering the unity of political choices. Sayyed Nasrallah said that the world was on the verge of witnessing the limiting of the scope of the Palestinian cause to Palestinians themselves, which would have isolated it from the people of the Ummah, severely weakening it and placing it on the path of decline.
The leader of Lebanon’s Islamic Resistance continued, “At this critical moment, the Resistance’s Al-Aqsa Flood came to shuffle the cards, alter (political) calculations, and turn the threat into an advanced existential opportunity — a turning point in the [plots] that the enemies have worked [to advance] for a long time.”
Sayyed Nasrallah said the events of October 7 and what proceeded have been “deeply engraved in the hearts of the Zionists” to constantly remind them of the “irreversible defeat” that they suffered.
He said that the Operation shattered the Israeli “myth”, bringing to light the entity’s “eroding prestige” and “shaky project”. The leader said that Al-Aqsa Flood pushed back the Palestinian cause, which the Israelis sought to stifle, to dominating global discourse and politics, “reawakening it once again” to spread throughout the “world’s corridors”.
A beacon of unity
Sayyed Nasrallah said that the Operation dealt a severe blow to all conspirators, “near and far,” who attempted to “erase the Palestinian cause.” He reiterated a strong belief that the Palestinian cause “would not have survived without its Resistance, its rifle, and its sacrifices.”
He stressed that the brutal massacres and crimes executed by the Israeli regime all aim to cover up the image of resounding defeat that the occupation had suffered on October 7.
The leader stressed that despite US-UK-led West’s exhaustive attempts to impose “projects of fragmentation, deception, and manipulation,” Palestine stood solely as “the only beacon of unity.” The leader described Palestine as a “converging path, a foundation for [the Ummah’s] awakening, and a bridge to a [good] future awaited by” the people of this region.
Supporting fronts marks unprecedented achievements
In his letter, Sayyed Nasrallah paid special attention to the role of factions supporting the Palestinian Resistance, in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. He said that the actions of these factions surpassed the Israeli regime’s expectations, adding that they successfully besieged the entity with consistent fire for more than 100 days.
This, to Sayyed Nasrallah, is “an unprecedented achievement.”
The blood of the martyrs who supported Gaza on all the aforementioned fronts, in addition to Iran’s martyrs, including Seyyed Razi Mousavi, has been “united, merged and integrated with the blood of martyrs in Gaza and the West Bank.”
Marking their unity by taking aim at the common enemy has disturbed the enemies of the Ummah, Sayyed Nasrallah wrote. In this context, he emphasized the need to work on strengthening, deepening, and extending this unity, which has been marked by “blood, rifles, battlefields, and goals”.
Resistance is the only option
Importantly, the Resistance leader said, “Whoever thinks this nation has an option other than resistance is mistaken and extremely deluded.”
He explained that “Israel” occupied Palestine through brute force — not diplomacy. Expanding on this point, Sayyed Nasrallah said the use of brute force has been a common historical practice of “Israel”, which deployed the same strategy to occupy Beirut in 1982 and today threatens the nation with its military arsenal and brute force.
Drawing a comparison to the achievements of the Resistance, Sayyed Nasrallah underlined the fact that “Israel” did not withdraw from Lebanon due to diplomacy but was forcibly pushed out by the Resistance.
“[The occupation] will not withdraw from Gaza and Palestine except through resistance.”
Addressing the ongoing battle, Sayyed Nasrallah clarified that confronting the enemy cannot be sized down to a “one or two-day affair.” On the contrary, he said the struggle takes a continuous, ongoing, and cumulative form.
“We must remain vigilant. The arrogant countries gathering their fleets to support Israel confirms its weakness and instability. We must consolidate our determination by adhering to the choice of resistance. If the conditions for the liberation of Palestine are not available today, we must prepare for tomorrow and the day after tomorrow.”
International institutions: Futile
Sayyed Nasrallah emphasized that betting on international institutions and the so-called international community is futile and is destined to fail.
“Such a bet that only produces [feelings of] regret, loss, disappointment, and bitterness.”
The Resistance leader said that international institutions cannot advance the plight of the nation, since they are “subject to the will of the US administration.”
“Their latest farce was the decision condemning Yemen for targeting Israeli ships in defense of Gaza in order to legitimize the US-British aggression on Ansar Allah, ignoring the millions of Palestinian citizens, including martyrs, wounded, detainees, hungry, thirsty, and displaced.”
Leader of the Yemeni Revolution, Sayyed Abdulmalik al-Houthi, chief of the Ansar Allah resistance movement, gave a speech earlier this afternoon going over the most recent developments after more than 104 days of aggression against Gaza.
“More than 104 days [have passed] of savage Zionist aggression against the Palestinian people; in which the enemy has committed more than 2000 massacres which are tantamount to a genocide,” Sayyed al-Houthi opened up in a speech.
“The whole world is witnessing the savage injustice towards the Palestinian people from the United Nations, the Security Council, and the Arab League,” he added.
The enemy persists in committing these crimes before the eyes of the entire world, Sayyed Al-Houthi said: emphasizing that behind the savage aggression of the IOF is the shameless audacity of the American who is complicit in the crimes.
“The Americans provide all forms of support to the enemy to persist with its crimes and prevent other countries from providing support and assistance to the Palestinian people.”
The Americans try to manufacture consent for the ongoing genocide against Palestinians by garnering support from the European states for the Israeli war machine, he added.
“The Americans sought to incite against the Palestinian people and classify their resistance leaders as terrorists.”
Most European countries stand in support of the occupation and pledge military support to it despite the occupation’s massive military potential, he noted.
“The US, the UK, and European countries support the occupation in its destructive war against the Palestinians and assist it in its savage killing operations.”
This stance is not strange for Americans and the British, for they are vehement subscribers to the Zionist ideology, he added.
Biden and Blinken went on visits to the occupation, affirming their allegiance to Zionism and pledging to fulfill their commitments to it, he explained.
Slamming the hypocrisy of the Western standards of human rights and morality, Sayyed al-Houthi noted that when Zionism is at stake, Westerners suddenly give up on their alleged commitments to human rights, children’s rights, and women’s rights.
“In the eyes of Europeans and Americans, the Palestinian people do not have a right to confront injustice and defend themselves and their sanctities.”
“For more than a hundred days, the fighters in Gaza have been facing the Israeli death machine. The Americans see that, based on their Zionist commitments, they have a right to support the Israelis while they consider it unacceptable for Palestinians to defend their rights,” he compared.
“The mobilization of the resistance axis from Hezbollah in Lebanon to the resistance in Iraq is a result of their commitments to the oppressed Palestinian people.”
“American leaders, out of a commitment to the Zionist lobby leaders, stand with the occupation, so how can we not stand with the Palestinians? How can we not support the Palestinian people on the front lines in defending their rights and how can we not confront the oppressors and tyrants?”
“Against whom will our nation fight if it does not stand now against this Israeli, American, and British tyranny?”
“If the Yemeni people did not move to support the Palestinian people, it would be a denial of their religious duties.”
Sayyed al-Houthi said that Yemeni support has manifested in the ballistic missile attacks against the occupation and at sea by enforcing a blockade on Israeli navigation.
“What we do at sea has had a very significant economic impact on the entity. The American-British aggression against our country confirms the effectiveness of what we do at sea in support of the Palestinians.”
Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah addresses a memorial service of a senior Hezbollah commander in the southern town of Khirbet Selm (Sunday, January 14, 2024).
Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah said it clear on Sunday: “We don’t fear war and there are no talks before the war on Gaza ends.”
Addressing a memorial service of the senior commander Wissam Tawil, known as “Hajj Jawad”, the Lebanese resistance leader hit back at the US and Israeli threats to expand the war in the region, especially in Lebanon and Yemen.
Sayyed Nasrallah stressed that Hezbollah has been ready for the war for 99 days, and fear nothing.
His eminence said that the Israeli brigades which the Zionist enemy threatened to send to the border with Lebanon are already defeated and exhausted, using a sarcastic term to respond to such threat: “Hello and welcome!”
As he saluted the resistance in Gaza over its epic steadfastness for 100 days, the Hezbollah leader underlined the huge Israeli human losses in the battles in both Gaza and Lebanon, pointing to the Israeli restrictions on announcing the real number of casualties.
Commenting on the US-UK aggression on Yemen, Sayyed Nasrallah affirmed that US President Joe Biden and his administration will find out that they have committed a folly.
Sayyed Nasrallah, meanwhile, revealed that the information obtained by Hezbollah confirms that the Islamic Resistance in Iraq fired a cruise missile at a sensitive target in the Israeli occupied city of Haifa, and that the Zionist enemy kept silent over the incident.
About the Occasion: “Valiant Hajj Jawad”
Sayyed Nasrallah saluted martyr Tawil as a valiant and calm Hezbollah commander who joined the resistance ranks in 1990 at early age (16 years).
The Hezbollah S.G. then talked about the great contributions of martyr Tawil, whom Sayyed Nasrallah said he would prefer to refer to with his nom du guerre, “Hajj Jawad.”
Senior Hezbollah commander Wissam Tawil, known as Hajj Jawad, who was martyred last week by an Israeli drone strike in his town of Khirbet Selm.
Senior Hezbollah commander Wissam Tawil, known as Hajj Jawad, who was martyred last week by an Israeli drone strike in his town of Khirbet Selm.
“Hajj Jawad took the command of several frontlines of the resistance in south Lebanon until the liberation in 2000. He was one of the commanders in the war against ISIL terrorist group in Syria, a war we have been proud to take part in,” Sayyed Nasrallah said in his televised address via Al-Manar.
“Hajj Jawad left everything behind him as the war started in Lebanon 99 days ago. He went to the frontlines in the south, only going home on the last night before his martyrdom.”
“Epic Steadfastness”
Sayyed Nasrallah praised the Palestinian people and resistance in Gaza as saying: “100 days have passed and Gaza is still holding out. Gaza has been showing an epic steadfastness that is unparalleled in the history.”
He pointed to the Zionist entity’s policy of media blackout, especially regarding the Israeli casualties and losses.
“Israel in this war on Gaza is more restrictive and secretive than any other war. Political commentators, analysts and experts agree that Israel is mired in failure.”
In this context, Sayyed Nasrallah stressed that the Zionist entity have failed to achieve both the implicit and explicit goals of the war on Gaza.
“The implicit goals of the Israeli war are to occupy Gaza, displace the Gazans and to turn the enclave into a beach for the Israeli settlers in Gaza envelope.”
“The Israeli enemy was neither able to eliminate the resistance in Gaza, nor able to eliminate the Hamas government. It is still fighting in Gaza city and Khan Yunis.”
“100 days on the war, rockets are still being fired from northern Gaza towards Tel Aviv and settlements in Gaza envelope,” his eminence said, referring to Gaza resistance’s ability to run the battle.
“Unprecedented Israeli Losses”
Sayyed Nasrallah noted that the Israeli occupation has been covering up its casualties and losses in Gaza since this will lead to a great frustration and cause low morale within the Israeli army and settlers.
“The enemy is still fighting to secure some achievements before moving to the third phase of the war in which it will redeploy its forces.”
His eminence cited Israeli media reports that talked about 4,000 soldiers who have become disabled.
“The Israeli media reports that 4,000 soldiers are now disabled, and that the number could reach 30,000. Brothers and sisters, if this is the case, how many Israeli soldiers have been killed or injured?!”
“According to numbers and figures, the Israeli human cost on all fronts is unprecedented.”
On the other hand, Sayyed Nasrallah noted that the legal case against the Zionist entity at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) “defames the image of the occupation regime and exposes the moral decline of the West over its support to Israel.”
Aggression on Yemen a “Folly”
Meanwhile, the Hezbollah S.G. said that the US and its Western allies worked to thwart the fronts which have been opened in Lebanon, Yemen, Syria and Iraq in support of Gaza.
“The recent aggression on Yemen represents foolishness of both the US and the UK, as it also shows US’ contradiction. While Washington calls for not expanding the war, it is doing so. If Biden and his administration think that Yemen will retreat after the aggression, then they are wrong, suspicious, and ignorant.”
Attendees of the memorial service in Khirbet Selm watch Sayyed Nasrallah via a screen (January 14, 2024).
He affirmed, in this context, that the US aggression won’t stop the Yemeni attacks on Israeli ships and ships bound for the Zionist entity.
“The American aggression will harm the security of maritime navigation in the Red Sea, which will turn into a battlefield, and this is stupidity in itself.”
“Biden and his administration will find out that they have committed a folly by staging an aggression on Yemen.”
Sensitive Haifa Target Being Hit
Sayyed Nasrallah, furthermore, revealed that according to information obtained by Hezbollah, a sensitive target in Haifa was targeted by a cruise missile fired by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq.
“The Islamic Resistance in Iraq struck Haifa with a cruise missile, but the Israeli occupation kept the issue a secret.”
Meron Strike
Talking more about the Israeli media blackout on war losses, Sayyed Nasrallah gave another example, by revealing that the Israeli media claimed that Hezbollah struck Meron base, in retaliation for Israeli assassination of Hamas senior official Sheikh Saleh Al-Arouri, with only 40 rockets.
“As the Israeli media reported that only 40 rockets were fired from Lebanon towards Meron base, we confirm that Hezbollah fired 62 rockets and missiles towards the base. 40 of these were Katyusha rockets, while the other 22 were Kornet missiles,” Sayyed Nasrallah said, affirming that 18 out of 22 missiles hit the base inflicting casualties and huge losses upon the Israeli enemy.
“Defeated Brigades”
Hitting back at US and Israeli threats for Lebanon, Sayyed Nasrallah said that similar threats have been made since the start of the war and that they were futile, wondering: “Will they be fruitful now following 100 days of failure and exhaustion?!”
He recalled the epic victory secured by the resistance in Lebanon during the 2006 July war, saying: “Though the Israeli army was fully prepared during July War, it was defeated.”
“The one who should fear the war in Lebanon is ‘Israel’ and the Israeli settlers. As for the resistance in Lebanon, we have been ready for the war for 99 days, we are not afraid of it. We fear nothing, and we will fight without limits and without borders.”
“They threaten us with defeated brigades in Gaza, we say: Hello and welcome.”
Sayyed Nasrallah then warned the US by saying: “The US which presents itself as a neutral player that is keen on Lebanon’s interests has to be concerned about the fate of its puppet in the region, Israel.”
He concluded his statement by stressing that there will be no talks to calm the front in Lebanon before the war on Gaza ends, noting that this also applies on other fronts that erupted in Yemen, Iraq and Syria in support of Gaza.
“Our stance is clear that the front in Lebanon is to support Gaza, and its goal is to stop the aggression on Gaza. The US and the UK, which approached the region, will hear one stance in Yemen, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq: Stop the war on Gaza.”
Evening | 100 days of resistance, confrontation and steadfastness 01-14-2024
Abu Ubaida, audio and video
Special coverage | Abu Ubaida: The flood of Al-Aqsa will expand day after day, and there is no value other than a ceasefire 01-15-2024
Scene | 100 days of resistance… solid equations
About a hundred days ago, the face of the region changed – the American involvement in the war and the threat to Lebanon confirm the absence of rationality
Faisal Abdel Sater is the guest of journalist Louay Falha on the Lebanon Today program
Abbas’s regiments and Radwan’s forces are more equipped than Hamas: Landing operations in the occupied territories, scenario of the first hours
Al-Aqsa Flood / International Court of Justice / Red Sea confrontations || Ali bin Masoud Al-Maashani
“This strike was conducted by the USS Carney (DDG 64) using Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles and was a follow-on action on a specific military target associated with strikes taken on Jan. 12 designed to degrade the Houthi’s ability to attack maritime vessels, including commercial vessels,” Centcom said in a statement on X.
The US Central Command (Centcom) confirmed on Saturday that US forces carried out a strike that targeted an alleged radar site used by the Ansar Allah movement in Yemen.
Al Mayadeen‘s correspondent in Yemen confirmed early Saturday that airstrikes targeted the vicinity of Sanaa airport and its vicinity north of the Yemeni capital.
Al Mayadeen‘s bureau chief in Yemen also confirmed that airstrikes or missile strikes targeted the al-Dailami base near Sanaa airport, following Friday’s US-UK-led strikes against various areas in Yemen.
CNN cited a US official as saying that “the latest strike was carried out unilaterally by the United States,” adding that “the additional strikes carried out Friday night (Eastern Time) were much smaller in scope than the previous night.”
Commenting on the renewed aggression on Yemen, military expert Brigadier General Abed al-Thawr told Al Mayadeen that Washington is facing difficulties in its movements in the Red Sea, adding that any expansion poses a danger to US forces after Yemen has proven its ability to target them.
Al-Thawr pointed out that on the international level, the US position has weakened, as Washington has not been able to rally European countries to its maritime coalition against Yemen.
The Yemeni Brigadier General added that the US administration is well aware of the strategic military capabilities of Yemen, and it is genuinely concerned about a response in the Gulf and the Red Sea.
Earlier, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) held Saturday an emergency session in New York, called for urgently by Russia, to discuss the widening crisis in the Middle East and the recent US-British aggression on Yemen.
Russia’s representative to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, called the joint US-UK strikes on Yemen “blatant armed aggression against another country.”
According to Nebenzia, the massive strikes by the US and UK have “nothing in common” with the right to “self-defense”.
“The actions of the coalition violate Article II of the UN Charter,” Nebenzia stressed. “The freedom of navigation is governed by the Law of the Sea.”
On his part, China’s representative to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, said that the last thing the region needs is reckless military adventures, adding that what is required is dialogue, consultation, and restraint.
The Chinese representative added that the attacks on Yemen did not stop at the destruction of facilities but further escalated tensions in the region, wondering how these attacks contribute to a political solution to the Yemeni crisis.
It is noteworthy that in the early hours of Friday, the US and the UK carried out airstrikes against more than 60 targets in 16 different locations in Yemen, the US Air Forces Central confirmed. In response, the Yemeni Ansar Allah movement threatened that the United States and the United Kingdom would pay a “high price” for the aggression.
The spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, underlined that the aggression won’t go unpunished. According to Saree, the US-British airstrikes resulted in the martyrdom of five individuals and the injury of six others from the ranks of the Yemeni Armed Forces.
UK and US presence in the Red Sea violates International Law, and the Republic of Yemen is responsible for dealing with it appropriately.
The Yemeni Supreme Political Council of the Sanaa government issued a statement on the joint US-UK overnight aggression against Yemen warning of imminent retaliation.
“What the country has been subjected to is an unjustified and illegitimate American-British aggression, which violates all international laws,” the statement’s opening statement read.
“All American and British interests have become legitimate targets for the Yemeni Armed Forces in response to their direct and announced aggression against the Yemeni Republic,” the Supreme Political Council warned.
“The aggression on Yemen is an extension of the treacherous American targeting of the Yemeni Naval Forces and the American-British-Zionist aggression on the people of Gaza. The American-British aggression is a real threat to international peace and security, putting the region at grave stakes.”
“The presence of American and British forces, and those allied to them, under false pretexts in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab [strait] is rejected and violates all laws. This presence [of the US and UK in the Red Sea] is a threat to international navigation, and it’s the duty of the Yemeni Republic to deal with it the way it sees fit.”
“We affirm the commitment of the Yemeni Republic to what was declared at the beginning of its naval operation to end the blockade, stop the aggression, end the genocidal war on Gaza, and allow the entry of food, medicine, fuel, and all means of life.”
Yemeni military expert: Aggressors think the Armed Forces would employ overt military sites
In an interview for Al Mayadeen Net, Yemeni military expert Aabed al-Thawr said the aggression has not achieved any accomplishments, and targeting these areas has no real impact, explaining that these locations were originally destroyed during the war waged by the Saudi coalition for nearly 9 years.
Al-Thawr noted that the aggression targeted overt military sites, expressing surprise that the aggressors would actually think that the Yemeni Armed Forces had resumed using them so shortly after the war with Saudi Arabia. Al-Thawr added that the Armed Forces have fortified and secret military sites for conducting their military operations.
One of the military bases targeted by the aggression, according to al-Thawr, is the Delmi base. He said that it is currently used for civilian aviation, not military purposes, noting that the Saudi coalition had formerly launched several attacks against it and failed to completely destroy it.
As for Hodeidah Airport, which was also targeted in the overnight aggression, the military expert confirmed to Al Mayadeen Net that it was already destroyed, and the Saudi coalition had booby-trapped the area around it.
Supreme Political Council: Aggression will not undermine the Armed Forces: neither militarily nor morally
In the same context, Secretary of the Supreme Political Council Yasser al-Houri told Al Mayadeen Net, “This aggression is not new. Yemen has been facing an alliance led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE on behalf of the United States and the United Kingdom for about 9 years.”
Al-Houri considered this aggression an extension of the attacks on the naval forces and an extension of the aggression on Gaza. He emphasized that the Yemeni armed forces have their own methods of confrontation, and these strikes will not affect them militarily or morally. Yemen has faced greater challenges and triumphed over them, according to al-Houri.
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