Iran
They may also issue retaliatory statements via various platforms, which they have now done. And doing so provides information. Nuff said.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Thread Starter
Looks like the naval coalition is falling apart due to control being in the hands of the White House and not DoD…
https://x.com/johnkonrad/status/1737...HhlFHGKbTPQr_A
Last edited by ORAC; 22nd Dec 2023 at 06:42.
that's hardly a well informed source ORAC - some nutty ex -driller...............
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Thread Starter
3 separate sources noting that the French have pulled out - and I’ll add several other European countries have declined to take part.
Further confirmation…
It appears that France is withdrawing from Op Prosperity Guardian and will be conducting their own escort operation.
They are making overtures to other European Union nations to escort EU-owned vessels through the Bab el-Mandeb against the Houthi.
The delays in the implementation of the operation seem to be the issue. With US-flagged vessels stuck in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, it does appear that there are issues in its implementation across department lines - Dept of Defense, State Dept, CENTCOM, US Navy and US 5th Fleet.
This does not bode well that the Houthi can disrupt 15% of the world's trade and there is no means to escort ships by the US Navy.
Further confirmation…
It appears that France is withdrawing from Op Prosperity Guardian and will be conducting their own escort operation.
They are making overtures to other European Union nations to escort EU-owned vessels through the Bab el-Mandeb against the Houthi.
The delays in the implementation of the operation seem to be the issue. With US-flagged vessels stuck in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, it does appear that there are issues in its implementation across department lines - Dept of Defense, State Dept, CENTCOM, US Navy and US 5th Fleet.
This does not bode well that the Houthi can disrupt 15% of the world's trade and there is no means to escort ships by the US Navy.
Last edited by ORAC; 22nd Dec 2023 at 08:49.
ORAC, there were two separate maritime Task Groups in the Adriatic back in the early 90's: a WEU one (Sharp Fence) and a NATO one (Maritime Guard) which eventually merged into Operation Sharp Guard. (A joint Op, as it were).
It is not a surprise to see the French and EU members have an op that is scoped to their needs only. In time they may choose to merge with the USN+Japan+et al operation, but politically there may be constraints or objectives that don't match at the moment.
It is not a surprise to see the French and EU members have an op that is scoped to their needs only. In time they may choose to merge with the USN+Japan+et al operation, but politically there may be constraints or objectives that don't match at the moment.
Personally I think it is time for some tough love. The Houthi blockade is ruinous for all of the Gulf Countries economies. They want it both ways, The US keeps trade essential to their economies going while they denounce US actions over the Gaza war. The US should tell all shipping companies go around the Cape and all the Gulf states, this is your lake you can fix it. Yes there will be a short term hit to Western economies due to increased shipping costs but consumes will still get their toasters and running shoes, but the hit will be far more consequential and immediate to the Gulf Countries. Time they become part of the solution instead of part of the problem.
well yes - the problem is who can control/influence the Houthis? Remember the UAE and Saudi fought them for seven years and really didn't get anywhere. From a military point of view Yemen is very like Afghanistan - you can kill people but it doesn't stop them.
The only people with any influence (and it's a far way from control) is Iran - and that opens a much larger can of worms
The only people with any influence (and it's a far way from control) is Iran - and that opens a much larger can of worms
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China, like Iran and Russia are not seen as the enemy.
India drone strike: Cargo ship attacked off Gujarat coast
On BBC News.
A cargo ship was struck by a drone off the coast of the western Indian state of Gujarat on Saturday.
The Liberia-flagged chemical products tanker was linked to Israel, according to maritime security firm Ambrey, and was heading from Saudi Arabia to India.
The attack sparked a fire onboard the ship which was put out, but none of the roughly 20 crew members were harmed.
It comes after a series of drone and rocket attacks on ships in the Red Sea by Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
The group, which controls much of Yemen, has carried out more than 100 drone and missile attacks on 10 vessels, according to US officials. It claims to be targeting Israel over the war in Gaza.
Many large global shipping groups have suspended operations in the Red Sea due to the increased risk of attacks.
But it is not yet clear who was behind the strike near India on Saturday.
The incident took place 200 nautical miles (370km) south-west of the city of Veraval, according the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
It caused structural damage to the tanker - identified in Indian media as the crude oil-carrying MV Chem Pluto - and water was taken onboard.
Ambrey said the event, which is the first of its kind so far away from the Red Sea, fell within an area the firm considered a "heightened threat area" for Iranian drones.
The Indian navy sent an aircraft and warships to offer assistance.
Earlier on Saturday, the US accused Iran of being "deeply involved" in planning operations against commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
National security spokesperson Adrienne Watson said it was "consistent with Iran's long-term material support and encouragement of the Houthis' destabilising actions in the region".Later, an Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander warned it would force the closure of waterways other than the Red Sea if "America and its allies continue committing crimes" in Gaza.
Brig Gen Mohammad Reza Naqdi said these could include the Mediterranean Sea and Strait of Gibraltar - but offered no details of how this would happen.
The Liberia-flagged chemical products tanker was linked to Israel, according to maritime security firm Ambrey, and was heading from Saudi Arabia to India.
The attack sparked a fire onboard the ship which was put out, but none of the roughly 20 crew members were harmed.
It comes after a series of drone and rocket attacks on ships in the Red Sea by Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
The group, which controls much of Yemen, has carried out more than 100 drone and missile attacks on 10 vessels, according to US officials. It claims to be targeting Israel over the war in Gaza.
Many large global shipping groups have suspended operations in the Red Sea due to the increased risk of attacks.
But it is not yet clear who was behind the strike near India on Saturday.
The incident took place 200 nautical miles (370km) south-west of the city of Veraval, according the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
It caused structural damage to the tanker - identified in Indian media as the crude oil-carrying MV Chem Pluto - and water was taken onboard.Ambrey said the event, which is the first of its kind so far away from the Red Sea, fell within an area the firm considered a "heightened threat area" for Iranian drones.
The Indian navy sent an aircraft and warships to offer assistance.
Earlier on Saturday, the US accused Iran of being "deeply involved" in planning operations against commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
National security spokesperson Adrienne Watson said it was "consistent with Iran's long-term material support and encouragement of the Houthis' destabilising actions in the region".Later, an Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander warned it would force the closure of waterways other than the Red Sea if "America and its allies continue committing crimes" in Gaza.
Brig Gen Mohammad Reza Naqdi said these could include the Mediterranean Sea and Strait of Gibraltar - but offered no details of how this would happen.
Ok then, call their bluff. Put the commercial shipping into a convoy and escort them through the blockade. I think the West needs to grow a pair and say enough is enough. That also goes for providing arms to Ukraine. Iran and Russia are not going to stop by the imposition of sanctions and diplomatic nicety.
Convoys are hugely asset intensive, especially given the amount of traffic that passes through the Red Sea. This is simply not doable with the current assets assigned to Op Prosperity Garden. The force would have to be 5 times bigger to escort every merchant ship in a convoy system. I still think that the Middle Eastern countries need to take ownership of this. Convoys just allow Iran and the Houthi’s to keep blaming the US.
I think it is time to pull back, recommend shipping companies avoid the area and let the locals sort this. Ironically the country hardest hit is Yemen as virtually all aid being shipped to the country has stopped.
I think it is time to pull back, recommend shipping companies avoid the area and let the locals sort this. Ironically the country hardest hit is Yemen as virtually all aid being shipped to the country has stopped.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Thread Starter
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics...david-cameron/
Malign Iran is threat to the world, warns Cameron
Foreign Secretary vows to take tough line on Tehran’s meddling in the Middle East
Britain will not tolerate the escalation of Iran’s “malign” activities in the Middle East or on UK soil, Lord Cameron has warned.
In his first newspaper interview since returning to government, the Foreign Secretary described Hamas, the Houthis and Hezbollah as “proxies” for Iran who were contributing to an “extremely high” level of “danger and insecurity” around the world.
In a significant toughening of the UK’s approach, the former prime minister told The Telegraph that Iran must be sent “an incredibly clear message that this escalation will not be tolerated”.
He pledged that Britain would work with allies to “develop a really strong set of deterrent measures” against Tehran.
On Friday night, the US pointed to intelligence showing that Iran was “deeply involved” in planning Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The attacks are already causing major disruption to supply chains across Europe.
Lord Cameron also cited “more evidence” of the “unacceptable threat the Iranian regime poses to the lives of UK-based journalists” after it emerged that Iranian spies had offered a people smuggler £150,000 to assassinate two news presenters at a London-based Persian language news channel.
The Telegraph can reveal that the Foreign Secretary summoned Iran’s most senior diplomat in the UK to the Foreign Office on Friday over the revelation “to make clear that these threats will not be tolerated”.
Since the start of last year, there have been more than 15 credible threats or plots by the Iranian regime to kill British or UK-based individuals, according to government officials…..
Malign Iran is threat to the world, warns Cameron
Foreign Secretary vows to take tough line on Tehran’s meddling in the Middle East
Britain will not tolerate the escalation of Iran’s “malign” activities in the Middle East or on UK soil, Lord Cameron has warned.
In his first newspaper interview since returning to government, the Foreign Secretary described Hamas, the Houthis and Hezbollah as “proxies” for Iran who were contributing to an “extremely high” level of “danger and insecurity” around the world.
In a significant toughening of the UK’s approach, the former prime minister told The Telegraph that Iran must be sent “an incredibly clear message that this escalation will not be tolerated”.
He pledged that Britain would work with allies to “develop a really strong set of deterrent measures” against Tehran.
On Friday night, the US pointed to intelligence showing that Iran was “deeply involved” in planning Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The attacks are already causing major disruption to supply chains across Europe.
Lord Cameron also cited “more evidence” of the “unacceptable threat the Iranian regime poses to the lives of UK-based journalists” after it emerged that Iranian spies had offered a people smuggler £150,000 to assassinate two news presenters at a London-based Persian language news channel.
The Telegraph can reveal that the Foreign Secretary summoned Iran’s most senior diplomat in the UK to the Foreign Office on Friday over the revelation “to make clear that these threats will not be tolerated”.
Since the start of last year, there have been more than 15 credible threats or plots by the Iranian regime to kill British or UK-based individuals, according to government officials…..
You have to admire their ambition. From the DT
Iran has threatened to close the Strait of Gibraltar and the Mediterranean Sea unless Israel stops bombing Gaza, as the US warned Tehran was “deeply involved” in attacks on shipping.
“They shall soon await the closure of the Mediterranean Sea, [the Strait of] Gibraltar and other waterways,” Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi, a senior member of the country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said today.
The general did not explain how Iran, which does not border the Mediterranean, intended to make good on its threat.
“They shall soon await the closure of the Mediterranean Sea, [the Strait of] Gibraltar and other waterways,” Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi, a senior member of the country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said today.
The general did not explain how Iran, which does not border the Mediterranean, intended to make good on its threat.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Thread Starter
Pentagon says drone which attacked chemical tanker off India earlier today was launched from Iran — WSJ
Most likely source is Chabahar airbase which is 500nm from where the tanker MV Chem Pluto was attacked.
Most likely source is Chabahar airbase which is 500nm from where the tanker MV Chem Pluto was attacked.