IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari in an English-language video statement says Lebanon's Hezbollah terror group is "bringing us to the brink of what could be a wider escalation, one that could have devastating consequences for Lebanon and the entire region." "The Hezbollah terror organization in Lebanon has been escalating its attacks against Israel. Since deciding to join the war that Hamas started on October 7th, Hezbollah has fired over 5,000 rockets; anti-tank missiles, and explosive UAVs from Lebanon at Israeli families, homes, and communities," he says. "Hezbollah's increasing aggression is bringing us to the brink of what could be a wider escalation, one that could have devastating consequences for Lebanon and the entire region," Hagari continues.

Ships told to reroute in Indian Ocean as Houthi attack range extends 🔶️ EU Naval Force Operation ATALANTA is advising shipping to sail at least 150 nm further east of existing traffic route to avoid the threat of attack from attack from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). 🔶️ The MSC Orion was targeted by a UAV southeast of Socotra Island while transiting the Indian Ocean Northbound to Salalah in Oman. 🔶️ “This attack confirms that potential attacks can take place in the Indian Ocean up to 800 nautical miles from the areas under Houthi control in Yemen,” EU ATALANTA said. 🔶️ As the Houthi lengthen the range of attacks against commercial shipping allied naval forces in the region are increasingly stretched in response. 🔶️ The Houthi have also threatened to attack vessels in Eastern Mediterranean Sea which are calling at Israeli ports, which is seen as credible in terms of weapons range.

US shot down five drones over Red Sea, says USCENTCOM The US military shot down five unmanned aerial vehicles in skies over the Red Sea, the US Central Command (USCENTCOM) said on the X social network. "Between 1:48 and 2:27 a.m. (Sanaa time) [10:48 p.m. - 11:27 p.m. UTC], April 28, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) successfully engaged five airborne unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) over the Red Sea," USCENTCOM said. "It was determined the UAVs presented an imminent threat to U.S. coalition, and merchant vessels in the region," it added.

[JUST IN] U.S. base in eastern Syria attacked by drones A US-controlled military base located near the Al-Omar oil field in the eastern Syrian region of Deir ez-Zor, was attacked by drones on Thursday, the Al Mayadeen television reported. According to the report, the facility was attacked by three UAVs. Sounds of "powerful explosions" were heard. No information about potential damage is available at this point. After the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the Gaza Strip, rocket and drone attacks on U.S. military bases in Syria and Iraq have become more frequent. Shiite militias have warned that they will increase the number of armed operations in Syria and Iraq if the U.S. continues to provide military aid to Israel. A large share of the Syrian provinces of Hasakah, Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa, located in the east and northeast of the country, is currently controlled by the US-backed Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces. Since 2015, the US command has established nine military bases in this area. At the end of 2019, then U.S. President Donald Trump approved a plan that would leave several hundred US troops in Syria. One of their main tasks was to ensure control of oil fields in the northeast and east of the country.

U.S. Navy warship shoots down Iranian drones, Houthi missiles, over Gulf of Ade The USS Carney shot down three Iranian drones and one anti-ship ballistic missile Wednesday launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, the U.S. Central Command said in a statement. The Houthi missile was headed toward the Gulf of Aden at about 8:30 p.m. local time. Forty minutes later, the USS Carney shot down three Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) nearby. The U.S. Central Command said there were no injuries or damage reported. The attack comes amid an uptick in tensions in the region. Houthis have been targeting commercial ships and vessels in the Red Sea, prompting U.S. forces to respond with a series of precision strikes. The Houthis say the attacks, which began in November, are intended to protest the Israel-Hamas war in the region, but many of the recent attacks have no clear ties to Israel. As a result, shipping companies have been forced to find alternative shipping routes, driving up oil prices and delaying the delivery of goods, raising concerns about the effect on the global economy. U.S. officials said earlier this week that U.S. troops have come under fire from Iranian-backed groups more than 160 times since late October. The attack also comes just a few days after three U.S. service members were killed and about 40 others injured in a deadly drone strike in Jordan Sunday. Biden has pledged to respond to the attack in a “time and manner of our choosing,” but he has also made clear he does not seek a larger war.

Massive strike on Yemen - how did the coalition operation go? During the night, the United States-led coalition forces launched an attack on Ansarallah targets in Yemen. The preparations for the operation began a day earlier, coinciding with the release of the first media reports about a similar scenario. 🔻The naval group positioned itself in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Interestingly, the Iranian warship detachment, seemingly aware of the impending attack, withdrew from the Red Sea. ▪️ An hour before the raid, an RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft took off from Al-Udeid airbase. Additionally, an R-8A anti-submarine aircraft took off from Sheikh Isa. Prior to these actions, satellites had been actively capturing footage of Houthi positions for a week. ▪️ At half past three in the morning, US Air Force F-16s, along with F/A-18s from an aircraft carrier and British Typhoon fighters, launched an attack on the port and airfield of Al-Hodeidah. ▪️ Following that, U.S. destroyers fired Tomahawk cruise missiles at military and civilian airports, as well as two military bases. ▪️ The targets of the attack were UAV assembly points and positional areas. In total, over 100 missiles were launched. However, there is no reliable information available yet regarding the extent of the destruction caused. 🔻This attack brings to mind the events of 2015, when Yemen was also subjected to bombings. However, the coalition failed to achieve their desired outcome back then. It is important to note that we should not expect anything extraordinary this time either. ▪️ Except for Oman, the Arab monarchies provided their airspace for the attack on Yemen. The Houthis might use this as a justification to retaliate against Saudi Arabia or the UAE. ▪️ The French have not yet participated in the operation (despite having an aviation group in Djibouti and Eritrea). However, with the escalation of the situation, they have transferred an additional 16 Mirages there. It is expected that the French will eventually join the attacks on Yemen (the frigate Languedoc has been involved in the protection of shipping for quite some time now).

Houthi Attack on International Shipping - CENTCOM Statement: 🔶️ On Jan. 9, at approximately 9:15 p.m. (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthis launched a complex attack of Iranian designed one-way attack UAVs (OWA UAVs), anti-ship cruise missiles, and an anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen into the Southern Red Sea, towards international shipping lanes where dozens of merchant vessels were transiting. 🔶️ Eighteen OWA UAVs, two anti-ship cruise missiles, and one anti-ship ballistic missile were shot down by a combined effort of F/A-18s from USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), USS Gravely (DDG 107), USS Laboon (DDG 58), USS Mason (DDG 87), and the United Kingdom’s HMS Diamond (D34). This is the 26th Houthi attack on commercial shipping lanes in the Red Sea since Nov. 19. There were no injuries or damage reported. 🔶️ On Jan. 3, 14 countries, including the U.S, issued a joint statement stating, "The Houthis will bear the responsibility for the consequences should they continue to threaten lives, the global economy, or the free flow of commerce in the region's critical waterways."