Operation Prosperity Guardian: The Red Sea Cruise 2023-? But wait there's more! Iran + proxies, FAFO

[Brian Fantana 6680]

What

[Bevo 13566]

8 minutes ago, Brian Fantana said:

What

You would have to read Aesop's Fables to understand.

[Incredulity 11652]

It might be true if there were voluminous Houthi war documents/transcripts/manifestos that could be fed into an LLM. 

[thunderlounge 7813]

3 hours ago, FartingMonk said:

They didn't attack Florida,  but they were on the receiving end of some Tomahawks from the USS Florida.

In Red Sea, Florida attack you!

[RPM 26317]

4 hours ago, 956 Worldwide said:

But the typical U.S. answer is the AH-1Z that the Marines fly that was procured for maritime operations and transportation.  They take up much less space. 

This is the key. They are designed to be around salt water. That shit gets into everything. You could get lucky for a sortie or two, but long term service would be a disaster waiting to happen.

[FartingMonk 3606]

18 minutes ago, RPM said:

This is the key. They are designed to be around salt water. That shit gets into everything. You could get lucky for a sortie or two, but long term service would be a disaster waiting to happen.

If Alaska can safely land a plane with a hole in it.  The Army can fly Apaches with salt deposits.  This fucking generation has gotten so soft.

[BehoId, The Underminer! 11669]

 

 

[Macanudo 12975]

37 minutes ago, BehoId, The Underminer! said:

 

 

What's the Houthi equivalent of Tora! Tora! Tora!?

[Gil Bang 25918]

[Gil Bang 25918]

If Alaska can safely land a plane with a hole in it.  The Army can fly Apaches with salt deposits.  This fucking generation has gotten so soft.

“…I had an onion on my belt, which was the fashion at the time…”

[FartingMonk 3606]

25 minutes ago, Gil Bang said:

“…I had an onion on my belt, which was the fashion at the time…”

Now where was I.  They didn't have white onions at the time... because of the war

[FartingMonk 3606]

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/japan-ana-boeing-737-800-flight-turns-back-due-cockpit-window-crack-2024-01-13/

 

This is not a 900.  It's a 40 year old plane.  This should be blamed on the Nipponese.  But Boeing will still take flak for it.

[Johnny Chimpo 478]

41 minutes ago, FartingMonk said:

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/japan-ana-boeing-737-800-flight-turns-back-due-cockpit-window-crack-2024-01-13/

 

This is not a 900.  It's a 40 year old plane.  This should be blamed on the Nipponese.  But Boeing will still take flak for it.

Wrong thread but good analysis 🫡

[SmokeyTheBear 5562]

Oops

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/houthis-mistakenly-target-tanker-carrying-russian-oil-ambrey-report-2024-01-12/

Houthi militants mistakenly targeted a tanker carrying Russian oil in a missile attack on Friday off Yemen, British maritime security firm Ambrey said.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) organisation said it had received a report of a missile being fired 90 nautical miles southeast of Yemen's port city of Aden.

"The master reported a missile landing in the water 400-500 metres away, and being followed by three small craft," the UKMTO advisory note said, adding that there were no injuries or damage.

[Bevo 13566]

35 minutes ago, SmokeyTheBear said:

Oops

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/houthis-mistakenly-target-tanker-carrying-russian-oil-ambrey-report-2024-01-12/

Houthi militants mistakenly targeted a tanker carrying Russian oil in a missile attack on Friday off Yemen, British maritime security firm Ambrey said.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) organisation said it had received a report of a missile being fired 90 nautical miles southeast of Yemen's port city of Aden.

"The master reported a missile landing in the water 400-500 metres away, and being followed by three small craft," the UKMTO advisory note said, adding that there were no injuries or damage.

Sounds like Houthis are still attacking the shipping lanes.

[FartingMonk 3606]

20 hours ago, Macanudo said:

What's the Houthi equivalent of Tora! Tora! Tora!?

Houthi?  Doesn't he go by Darius?

[Viper 12103]

 

[YGIFS 19449]

1 hour ago, FartingMonk said:

Houthi?  Doesn't he go by Darius?

And they about to get Ruck'd.  

Seriously, how the fuck do mistake a Russian oil tanker?  The fucking flags on those things are the size of strip malls.  I can't read or write Russian but I sure as shit, as a pirate, would make it my business, to at least recognize their alphabet and just assume it says, "Sorry, same team...my bad."  

All that to say, my awe of the U.S. Navy is rebooted on a regular basis.  Took me well into adulthood to appreciate and recognize the 3-generation lineage my father's family had as sailors (we still have two younger relatives on active duty).  They are capable of just so much cool shit.  I know people think we aren't projecting enough strength and power around the world, but I think the U.S. Navy would tell those people that they, for the most part, fucking morons.

[FartingMonk 3606]

29 minutes ago, YGIFS said:

And they about to get Ruck'd.  

Seriously, how the fuck do mistake a Russian oil tanker?  The fucking flags on those things are the size of strip malls.  I can't read or write Russian but I sure as shit, as a pirate, would make it my business, to at least recognize their alphabet and just assume it says, "Sorry, same team...my bad."  

All that to say, my awe of the U.S. Navy is rebooted on a regular basis.  Took me well into adulthood to appreciate and recognize the 3-generation lineage my father's family had as sailors (we still have two younger relatives on active duty).  They are capable of just so much cool shit.  I know people think we aren't projecting enough strength and power around the world, but I think the U.S. Navy would tell those people that they, for the most part, fucking morons.

So you're saying the Houthis wagon wheel is about to fall off?

[bolverk 29655]

The U.S. says a fighter jet took down a Houthi missile

The United States said that it had shot down a missile fired by Houthi fighters at one of its Navy ships in the Red Sea on Sunday, in one of the first skirmishes between the two sides since the United States attacked the Iran-backed militia inside Yemen.

The Houthis launched an anti-ship cruise missile at the U.S.S. Laboon, a destroyer, on Sunday at about 4:45 p.m. Yemen time, the U.S. military said on social media. The missile was shot down by an American fighter jet near the coast of the city of Hudaydah, and no injuries or damage were reported, the U.S. military said.

American officials have been expecting the Houthis to retaliate for airstrikes that the United States led against the group last week. Those strikes were in response to more than two dozen Houthi attacks on freight ships in the Red Sea in recent weeks that have roiled the commercial shipping industry.

The military actions of the Houthis, a Yemeni militia that has said it is acting in solidarity with the Palestinian people, have stirred fears of the Israel-Hamas conflict spreading further into the Middle East. But even as the United States and its allies attacked Houthi sites in Yemen, for now it appears both Washington and Tehran are taking care not to put their forces in direct combat.

Last week, after clearly telegraphing its intentions, the United States destroyed about 30 Houthi sites. But U.S. officials acknowledged that the Houthis still have about three-quarters of their ability to fire missiles and drones at ships making voyages through the Red Sea.

[BehoId, The Underminer! 11669]

Seriously.  I like to flex on here on stuff like this but I really don’t want these turds shooting at our ships.  Good help us all if they hit one. 

[Biff Tannen 45665]

1 hour ago, bolverk said:

The U.S. says a fighter jet took down a Houthi missile

The United States said that it had shot down a missile fired by Houthi fighters at one of its Navy ships in the Red Sea on Sunday, in one of the first skirmishes between the two sides since the United States attacked the Iran-backed militia inside Yemen.

The Houthis launched an anti-ship cruise missile at the U.S.S. Laboon, a destroyer, on Sunday at about 4:45 p.m. Yemen time, the U.S. military said on social media. The missile was shot down by an American fighter jet near the coast of the city of Hudaydah, and no injuries or damage were reported, the U.S. military said.

American officials have been expecting the Houthis to retaliate for airstrikes that the United States led against the group last week. Those strikes were in response to more than two dozen Houthi attacks on freight ships in the Red Sea in recent weeks that have roiled the commercial shipping industry.

The military actions of the Houthis, a Yemeni militia that has said it is acting in solidarity with the Palestinian people, have stirred fears of the Israel-Hamas conflict spreading further into the Middle East. But even as the United States and its allies attacked Houthi sites in Yemen, for now it appears both Washington and Tehran are taking care not to put their forces in direct combat.

Last week, after clearly telegraphing its intentions, the United States destroyed about 30 Houthi sites. But U.S. officials acknowledged that the Houthis still have about three-quarters of their ability to fire missiles and drones at ships making voyages through the Red Sea.

It's pretty wild we have the technology to hit a missile with another missile.

[thunderlounge 7813]

We’ve been doing that for over 30 years. 

[atomheartbevo 89628]

4 minutes ago, Biff Tannen said:

It's pretty wild we have the technology to hit a missile with another missile.

Thankfully cruise missiles don’t yet have the technology to realize they’ve been locked on. Wouldn’t surprise me if they used Sidewinders to take them out.  

[Parliament 14242]

So again.  Are we tracking the path of these shitbox missiles back to the launch site?  Because if we don't blow up the launchers, this'll go forever.

[Biff Tannen 45665]

3 minutes ago, thunderlounge said:

We’ve been doing that for over 30 years. 

And my point still stands.

[thunderlounge 7813]

It’s pretty fucking cool to watch. 

[atomheartbevo 89628]

A cargo ship may have been hit in the Red Sea, and may have been American-owned or associated in some way.  

But dumbfuck Qanons with blue checks are muddying social media by posting videos from a couple of years ago of a ship fire. 

[Pescado_Rojo 19413]

1 hour ago, Parliament said:

So again.  Are we tracking the path of these shitbox missiles back to the launch site?  Because if we don't blow up the launchers, this'll go forever.

I suspect the Houthis take a page from the Hamas handbook and put the launchers in heavily populated civilian areas hoping we retaliate so they can cry about the big, bad west murdering innocent civilians. 

[RPM 26317]

3 minutes ago, atomheartbevo said:

A cargo ship may have been hit in the Red Sea, and may have been American-owned or associated in some way.  

But dumbfuck Qanons with blue checks are muddying social media by posting videos from a couple of years ago of a ship fire. 

AP report

JERUSALEM (AP) — Houthi rebels fired a missile, striking a U.S.-owned ship Monday just off the coast of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden, less than a day after they launched an anti-ship cruise missile toward an American destroyer in the Red Sea, officials said.

The attack on the Gibraltar Eagle, though not immediately claimed by the Houthis, further escalates tensions gripping the Red Sea after American-led strikes on the rebels. The Houthis’ attacks have roiled global shipping, amid Israel’s war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, targeting a crucial corridor linking Asian and Mideast energy and cargo shipments to the Suez Canal onward to Europe.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which oversees Mideast waters, said Monday’s attack happened some 110 miles (177 kilometers) miles southeast of Aden. It said the ship’s captain reported that the “port side of vessel hit from above by a missile.”

Private security firms Ambrey and Dryad Global told The Associated Press that the vessel was the Eagle Gibraltar, a Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier. The U.S. military’s Central Command later acknowledged the strike, blaming the Houthis for the assault.

“The ship has reported no injuries or significant damage and is continuing its journey,” Central Command said.

The vessel is owned by Eagle Bulk Shipping, a Stamford, Connecticut-based firm traded on the New York Stock Exchange. In a statement to the AP, the company acknowledged the strike and said it caused “limited damage to a cargo hold but (the ship) is stable and is heading out of the area.”

“All seafarers onboard the vessel are confirmed to be uninjured,” the firm said. “The vessel is carrying a cargo of steel products. Eagle Bulk management is in close contact with all relevant authorities concerning this matter.”

Satellite-tracking data analyzed by the AP showed the Eagle Gibraltar had been bound for the Suez Canal, but rapidly turned around at the time of the attack.

[BehoId, The Underminer! 11669]

3 minutes ago, RPM said:

“The ship has reported no injuries or significant damage and is continuing its journey,” Central Command said.

hits a non military ship with missile and still doesn't do anything.  what the hell counts as a "missile" these days?  are we sure these aren't rocks?

[RPM 26317]

Lucky the cargo was steel.

[FartingMonk 3606]

7 hours ago, BehoId, The Underminer! said:

hits a non military ship with missile and still doesn't do anything.  what the hell counts as a "missile" these days?  are we sure these aren't rocks?

Must have gotten one of them water filled warheads from China

[InkaUtexas 25862]

Those ships can take some damage and keep going.

Think about WW2. Lots of USN vessels took major damage and limped back for repairs. Sure, some did not, but a lot did.

 

[Viper 12103]

Caught Iran supplying the Houthis a few days ago

USCENTCOM Seizes Iranian Advanced Conventional Weapons Bound for Houthis

On 11 January 2024, while conducting a flag verification, U.S. CENTCOM Navy forces conducted a night-time seizure of a dhow conducting illegal transport of advanced lethal aid from Iran to resupply Houthi forces in Yemen as part of the Houthis’ ongoing campaign of attacks against international merchant shipping.

U.S. Navy SEALs operating from USS LEWIS B PULLER (ESB 3), supported by helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), executed a complex boarding of the dhow near the coast of Somalia in international waters of the Arabian Sea, seizing Iranian-made ballistic missile and cruise missiles components. Seized items include propulsion, guidance, and warheads for Houthi medium range ballistic missiles (MRBMs) and anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs), as well as air defense associated components.  Initial analysis indicates these same weapons have been employed by the Houthis to threaten and attack innocent mariners on international merchant ships transiting in the Red Sea.

This is the first seizure of lethal, Iranian-supplied advanced conventional weapons (ACW) to the Houthis since the beginning of Houthi attacks against merchant ships in November 2023. The interdiction also constitutes the first seizure of advanced Iranian-manufactured ballistic missile and cruise missile components by the U.S. Navy since November 2019. The direct or indirect supply, sale, or transfer of weapons to the Houthis in Yemen violates U.N. Security Resolution 2216 and international law.

Two U.S. Navy SEALs previously reported as lost at sea were directly involved in this operation. “We are conducting an exhaustive search for our missing teammates,” said General Michael Erik Kurilla, USCENTCOM Commander.

The dhow was deemed unsafe and sunk by U.S. Navy forces. Disposition of the 14 dhow crewmembers is being determined in accordance with international law.

“It is clear that Iran continues shipment of advanced lethal aid to the Houthis. This is yet another example of how Iran actively sows instability throughout the region in direct violation of U.N Security Resolution 2216 and International law,” said General Michael Erik Kurilla, "We will continue to work with regional and international partners to expose and interdict these efforts, and ultimately to reestablish freedom of navigation.”

centcom.mil/MEDIA/PRESS-RE…

 

[atomheartbevo 89628]

1 hour ago, Viper said:

Two U.S. Navy SEALs previously reported as lost at sea were directly involved in this operation. “We are conducting an exhaustive search for our missing teammates,” said General Michael Erik Kurilla, USCENTCOM Commander.

The dhow was deemed unsafe and sunk by U.S. Navy forces.

[Eastwood 4394]

I now hereby deem all Iranian vessels in the area unsafe and I look forward to the Navy sinking them in response. 

[Brisketexan 105066]

17 minutes ago, Eastwood said:

I now hereby deem all Iranian vessels in the area unsafe and I look forward to the Navy sinking them in response. 

Michael McKean is going to pull over all vessels transiting the Red Sea?

[bolverk 29655]

We hit them again today. Interesting point made in the last two paragraphs.

U.S. strikes Houthi targets in Yemen for a third time.

The United States carried out a new military strike against Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles in Yemen on Tuesday, U.S. officials said, the second follow-up attack against the Iran-backed rebel group since a U.S.-led air and naval barrage hit dozens of the Houthi targets last week.

The strikes on Tuesday were aimed at four missiles designed to sink ships that were being prepared to fired from their launchers and posed an imminent threat to merchant vessels and Navy ships, two U.S. officials said.

The strikes came after the Houthis launched a new round of attacks in shipping lanes critical for global trade over the weekend, damaging a U.S.-owned commercial ship on Monday after attempting to hit an American warship the day before.

Residents in the area said on Monday that they saw Houthi missiles being fired from remote and mountainous parts of Mukayras, a Houthi-controlled town in central Yemen, on Friday and Monday.

The missiles launched from Mukayras are believed to been aimed at ships south of Aden or in the Bab Al-Mandab Strait, while missiles fired from Yemen’s western cities of Hodeidah and Taiz targeted ships south of the Red Sea or off Yemen’s coast.

The United States-led strikes on Thursday and Friday were aimed at more than 60 targets in Yemen controlled by the Houthi militia, and damaged or destroyed about 90 percent of the targets that were struck. Still, the group has retained about three-quarters of its ability to fire missiles and drones at ships transiting the Red Sea, two U.S. officials said on Saturday.

The Houthis so far have been undeterred by the U.S.-led strikes, vowing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, and have said they will continue their attacks until Israel withdraws.

On Tuesday, the Houthis fired an anti-ship ballistic missile into the Red Sea, hitting the Zografia, a Maltese-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carrier, a Defense Department official said. The ship’s crew reported no injuries. The vessel remained seaworthy, and continued its journey, the official said.

Identifying Houthi targets is proving to be challenging for U.S. forces. American and other Western intelligence agencies have not spent significant time or resources in recent years collecting data on the location of Houthi air defenses, command hubs, munitions depots, and storage and production facilities for drones and missiles, the officials said.

U.S. analysts have been rushing to catch up and catalog potential Houthi targets every day, the officials said. American forces are bracing for much larger retaliatory attacks from the Houthis, who began targeting ships after the war in the Gaza Strip began and are preparing escalating responses, senior U.S. military officials said.

[Deej 76755]

2 minutes ago, bolverk said:

Identifying Houthi targets is proving to be challenging for U.S. forces. American and other Western intelligence agencies have not spent significant time or resources in recent years collecting data on the location of Houthi air defenses, command hubs, munitions depots, and storage and production facilities for drones and missiles, the officials said.

U.S. analysts have been rushing to catch up and catalog potential Houthi targets every day, the officials said. American forces are bracing for much larger retaliatory attacks from the Houthis, who began targeting ships after the war in the Gaza Strip began and are preparing escalating responses, senior U.S. military officials said.

[bolverk 29655]

Someone put together a detailed interactive Google map showing who controls what in Yemen as of October. The highlighted symbol in the screenshot supposedly represents a military facility in the Houthi-controlled area.

Someone pass it on to the intelligence guys who are having trouble finding targets. /s

[TexasEd 8066]

On 1/15/2024 at 9:45 AM, Parliament said:

So again.  Are we tracking the path of these shitbox missiles back to the launch site?  Because if we don't blow up the launchers, this'll go forever.

Yes.

[TexasEd 8066]

45 minutes ago, bolverk said:

Someone put together a detailed interactive Google map showing who controls what in Yemen as of October. The highlighted symbol in the screenshot supposedly represents a military facility in the Houthi-controlled area.

Someone pass it on to the intelligence guys who are having trouble finding targets. /s

Was going to post something snarky then I saw the /s 

 

[CycleTex87 2966]

6 hours ago, Viper said:

Caught Iran supplying the Houthis a few days ago

 

 

Pretty sure that's the HR Pufnstuf ship.

Edited January 16 by CycleTex87

[InkaUtexas 25862]

Thoughts on the Greek ship getting hit today off Yemen? Notice they are not shooting at Israel anymore? So their justification seems a bit weak. Houti=aggy of the middle east.

[InkaUtexas 25862]

Also this. Seems like Iran is going after anyone they want to.

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Iran launched attacks Tuesday in Pakistan targeting what it described as bases for the militant group Jaish al-Adl, potentially further raising tensions in a Middle East already roiled by Israel’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Pakistan said the strikes killed two children and wounded three others in an assault it described as an “unprovoked violation” of its airspace.

Confusion followed the announcement from Iran as state media reports on it soon disappeared. However, the attack inside of nuclear-armed Pakistan by Iran threatens the relations between the two countries, which long have eyed each other with suspicion while maintaining diplomatic relations.

https://apnews.com/article/iran-iraq-militant-bases-attack-05c7530d66fb05dd6f2868527003ba2d

 

[Schulz2.0 28951]

https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/u-s-to-put-houthis-back-on-terrorist-list-596a974a

Edited January 16 by Schulz2.0

[FartingMonk 3606]

2 hours ago, InkaUtexas said:

Also this. Seems like Iran is going after anyone they want to.

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Iran launched attacks Tuesday in Pakistan targeting what it described as bases for the militant group Jaish al-Adl, potentially further raising tensions in a Middle East already roiled by Israel’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Pakistan said the strikes killed two children and wounded three others in an assault it described as an “unprovoked violation” of its airspace.

Confusion followed the announcement from Iran as state media reports on it soon disappeared. However, the attack inside of nuclear-armed Pakistan by Iran threatens the relations between the two countries, which long have eyed each other with suspicion while maintaining diplomatic relations.

https://apnews.com/article/iran-iraq-militant-bases-attack-05c7530d66fb05dd6f2868527003ba2d

 

That's a good powder keg.  I also wonder when the Taliban is going to piss them off again.  I remember in the late 90s before we were even involved in Afghanistan, the Taliban did something ( I think it was behead 4 missionaries) but it pissed off the Iranian government enough to put 100,000 troops on the border and threatened to go in and invade Afghanistan.  The Middle East is the most unpredictable shit show in the world.  Sometimes I bet the US is wishing for Saddam to be back.

Edited January 17 by FartingMonk

[InkaUtexas 25862]

Just now, FartingMonk said:

That's a good powder keg.  I also wonder when the Taliban is going to piss them off again.  I remember in the late 90s before we were even involved in Afghanistan, the Taliban did something ( I think it was behead 4 missionaries) but it pissed off the Iranian government enough to put 100,000 troops on the border and go in and invade Afghanistan.  The Middle East is the most unpredictable shit show in the world.  Sometimes I bet the US is wishing for Saddam to be back.

The Talib's won't do shit. There are too many Afghan's in Iran and it is one of the last trade routes for them. If anything they scare Iran already. LOL, imagine if the US used the Talibs as a fifth column in Iran. Hey Taliban, we got $6B sitting in Qatar. You all want it? Well here is what we need.

They did take over the Iranian consulate in Herat (maybe Mazar) and kill some people. Iran cannot also invade the Shia areas of Afghanistan and risk a larger Sunni insurgency in the SE of Iran.

Yep, its a shit show.

[FartingMonk 3606]

11 minutes ago, InkaUtexas said:

The Talib's won't do shit. There are too many Afghan's in Iran and it is one of the last trade routes for them. If anything they scare Iran already. LOL, imagine if the US used the Talibs as a fifth column in Iran. Hey Taliban, we got $6B sitting in Qatar. You all want it? Well here is what we need.

They did take over the Iranian consulate in Herat (maybe Mazar) and kill some people. Iran cannot also invade the Shia areas of Afghanistan and risk a larger Sunni insurgency in the SE of Iran.

Yep, its a shit show.

They really take the enemy of my enemy is my friend to a different level.  It's like 8 different spider mans pointing to each other meme.  To top that off. I wonder how stable the alliance between the House of Saud and the Wahabs are.  Bin Salman has to be walking real tight rope right now with those Wahabbis.