Not only Israel: a new country is in the sights of the Houthis
The #Houthis in #Yemen are escalating and now they are threatening to attack not only ships "serving" #Israel but also ships serving the #Emirates.

And why is that?
Since according to the Houthis, the Emirates and other countries are helping Israel to "break the blockade" through a "land bridge".

This is what Muhammad Al Bakhiti (picture), a member of the political council of the Houthis, said today: "Since we prevent the passage of ships from the Red Sea belonging to companies that finance the Zionist entity... a new phase is coming in which we will prevent the United Arab Emirates and anyone who opens a bridge to it. I advised Israel to go through (Egyptian) Bab al-Mandab, because there is no difference between them and these naval companies that finance the entity and lift the blockade on it."

One of 50 highway-sized #tunnels #Israel has discovered connecting Rafah to Egypt.
This is the #Hamas "highway" that #Biden, #Egypt, #Turkey, #Qatar and Iran were desperate to hide.

France: Muslim migrant arrested on suspicion of plotting jihad attack against Notre Dame Cathedral

French police have arrested an #Egyptian migrant and #ISIS operative suspected of planning a jihadist attack against the Notre Dame cathedral in #Paris.

A Muslim #migrant and ISIS operative? But…but…aren’t the French authorities carefully vetting the migrants they’re admitting into the country? In reality, French authorities aren’t vetting the migrants, and since they deny the reality of jihad, they wouldn’t even know what to look for if they were.

Suez Canal revenues down nearly 50% due to crisis in Red Sea, says Egyptian president

The Suez Canal’s revenues dropped by at least 40-50% amid the recent developments in the Red Sea, President of Egypt Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said. "The situation in the Gaza Strip and events related to it affect Egypt as well. In particular, previously the Suez Canal brought in some $10 bln per day, and now we register a decrease in revenues by 40-50%," he said at the opening of EGYPES-2024 (Egypt Energy Show), adding that despite this, Egypt "still tries to meet its obligations to partners" in various sectors.

On January 16, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority Osama Rabie also noted that the Suez Canal’s revenues were falling. In the first half of January the canal’s revenues fell by 41% year-on-year, while the number of vessels passing through the Suez Canal went down by 30% compared with the same period last year, with their tonnage having decreased by 41%. Egypt’s revenues from the Suez Canal exceeded $10 bln last year. The canal is one of the Egyptian government’s biggest cash cows and helps the country boost its dollar reserves.

Dam of discord: an escalating conflict between Ethiopia and Egypt

The crisis surrounding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam escalated at the end of 2023. Throughout the year, the governments of Egypt and Sudan have urged Ethiopia to reach a compromise during the dam negotiations to protect the rights and interests of all three countries. The parties remain concerned that Ethiopia is controlling the flow of the Nile, which could harm agricultural interests and water security in already arid regions.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, on the other hand, stated that neither side would be at a disadvantage and that the hydroelectric power station itself would only bring benefits. It was planned for the agreements to be concluded before the end of the year.

However, on December 20, the office of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi released a statement announcing the failure of the fourth round of negotiations.

Two blocs-the Saudi-led, and the UAE-led-will utilize MoU between Ethiopia and Somaliland.

Saudi-led bloc, including Egypt, Eritrea, and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), and now increasingly coordinating with Somalia, Turkey, and Qatar, will react to the UAE-led bloc, with robust participation from Ethiopia, Somaliland, and Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The implications are far-reaching: Besides domestic politics in Ethiopia, Somaliland, and Somalia, and potentially in Kenya, geopolitical implications could reach beyond the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, linking the Middle East with North Africa, Horn of Africa, and the Sahel.

Seen in light of the escalating maritime threats, partly due to the Gaza war, the effectiveness of US's "Operation Prosperity Guardian" could be curtailed.

Egyptian Frigate FFG91 "Alexandria" will participate in securing commercial convoys (Egyptian vessels) in the south of the Red Sea.

However - contrary to any rumors or popular reports that may surface, the Egyptian Navy clarifies that it is an individual effort and it will not involve itself with Operation Prosperity Guardian or any other shenanigans.

Currently - there are only two countries in the world that are independently securing their own merchant vessels and shipping without coordination of the United States - China & now the Arab Republic of Egypt.

Creation of Russian #industrial zone in #Egypt at final stage, says Russia FM Lavrov

Russia is developing regional economic projects with countries of the League of Arab States and the project of the Russian industrial zone in Egypt in particularis at the closing stage, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a press conference in conclusion of the Russian-Arab Cooperation Forum.

"Morocco is one of our leading trade and economic partners. We are developing projects having the regional coverage potential with Morocco and with many other members of the Arab League. The topic of creating the Russian industrial zone in Egypt, in the Suez Canal area, is at the final stage," Lavrov said.

"This project also focuses on having the regional dimension. We support as a matter of principle having as much as possible projects that do not pertain to bilateral ties only but also create the regional foundation for strengthening, in particular, positions of our friends in this region," the top Russian diplomat added.

"Hamas tried to evacuate its people using ambulances through the Rafah crossing, " syas Senior American official

In a press briefing, the official said that the Hamas ploy led to a delay in evacuating the wounded and foreign citizens from the Gaza Strip to Egypt.

A senior official in the White House held a press briefing on the night between Friday and Saturday (Israel time) and said that Hamas tried to smuggle its people into Egypt, which delayed the removal of the foreign citizens and the wounded Palestinians out of Gaza.

According to the source, a third of the group that had to go to Egypt were Hamas terrorists, contrary to the agreement, and "this was not acceptable to the Egyptians, nor to us Americans, nor to Israel," according to him.

According to the source, there is an "intensive process" for the release of the hostages in Gaza and according to him it is a "difficult, complex and time-consuming" process.

The official added that "an active process is taking place in various directions, including indirect involvement to find a framework that will lead to the removal of the abductees from Gaza."

By referring to the "framework", the official referred to the release of Nathalie and Yehudit Ra'anan on October 20 and the intention to check whether it would be possible to see similar actions, but emphasized that the release of all the abductees would be "very difficult".

The senior official also said that a significant lull in the fighting would be required to help free the abductees and added that a "very serious and active" dialogue is taking place on the issue, but they have not yet reached an agreement on the issue.

In response to the speech by the Secretary General of Hezbollah, the official said that he does not intend to comment on the content of the speech, but that the US continues to be in regular contact with the Lebanese government so that the war does not spread to Lebanon, which would be a complete disaster for the country.

#BREAKING: #IDF air defense intercepts #ballistic missile from #Yemen

Report on the activation of the air defense in the skies of Eilat.
A report of hearing a loud explosion.

Egypt announces the strengthening of the air defense systems around the Red Sea.
There is a lot of anger in the Arab network at the Egyptians who they say are doing this to "protect Israel."

Reports on the Arab Network indicate that a long-range ballistic missile was launched by the Houthis in Yemen. They added that the US forces in the Red Sea area failed to intercept him and he was intercepted by the Israeli systems.