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Yemeni Officials Confirm US and British Strikes Against Houthis

Published

11 months ago

2024-01-12

Salman Ahmad

Yemeni Officials Confirm US and British Strikes Against Houthis

(VORNews) – In response to the movement’s attacks on ships in the Red Sea, Britain and the United States launched strikes on Houthi military targets in Yemen.

A dramatic regional expansion of the Israel-Hamas conflict resulted from the strikes.

Witnesses in Yemen confirmed explosions throughout the country to Reuters late on Thursday, prompting President Joe Biden to caution that he would not hesitate to take further action if necessary.

“This targeted strike sends a clear message that the United States and our partners will not tolerate attacks on our personnel or allow hostile actors to impede freedom of navigation,” Biden said.

The British Ministry of Defence stated in a statement that “early indications are that the Houthis’ ability to threaten merchant shipping has been dealt a blow.”

Iran, which backs the Houthis, has vehemently condemned the assault. A Houthi representative stated that there was no justification for the strikes and that the organization would continue to target ships moving towards Israel.

Russia said that it has sought an immediate meeting of the United Nations Security Council to address the military attacks. The Houthis claim their strikes on Red Sea commercial lines are in favor of the Palestinians and Hamas, the Islamist party that administers Gaza.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who is in the hospital due to surgical problems, said in a statement that the attacks targeted Houthi assets like drones, ballistic and cruise missiles, coastal radar, and air surveillance.

A Houthi spokesperson acknowledged “raids” in the capital Sanaa, the cities of Saada and Dhamar, and the Hodeidah governorate, labeling them “American-Zionist-British aggression.”

Witnesses told Reuters that the strikes targeted a military camp near Sanaa airport, a military site near Taiz airport, a Houthi naval station in Hodeidah, and military locations in Hajjah province.

Yemen Houthis Fears of Escalation

The United States stated that Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands backed the operation and that the strikes were part of an international effort to restore free trade on a critical route between Europe and Asia that contributes to roughly 15% of global maritime traffic.

However, the attacks, the first on Yemeni soil since 2016, were irrefutable evidence of Washington’s attempt to limit the impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Middle East since it erupted in October. Although Washington said there was no purpose to increase tensions, the Houthis have pledged to strike against any attack.

“The concern is that this could escalate,” said Andreas Krieg of King’s College in London, warning of the possibility that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates will be sucked into the conflict. Saudi Arabia issued a statement calling for moderation and “avoiding escalation” following the attacks.

The US also accused Iran of playing an operational role in the Houthi strikes in the Red Sea, supplying military assets and information to carry them out. “We believe that they have certainly been involved in every phase of this,” a senior US official told reporters. Aircraft, ships, and submarines carried out the strikes.

A separate US official stated that more than a dozen targets were attacked and that the attacks were designed to undermine the Houthis’ military capabilities rather than be just symbolic. “We were going after very specific capability in very specific locations with precision munitions,” a US military officer explained.

The Houthis, who control the majority of Yemen, disregarded UN and other international appeals to cease their missile and drone strikes on Red Sea commercial lanes, as well as warnings from the US about the repercussions if they did not do so.

The Houthi strikes have affected international business, forcing ships to take the lengthy way around South Africa to avoid being hit. The rise in delivery costs is fueling worries that it may spark a new round of global inflation.

Following Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, in which 1,200 people were murdered and 240 were kidnapped, Israel launched a military offensive in Gaza, killing over 23,000 Palestinians.

MISSILES THAT ARE ANTI-SHIP BALLISTIC

The United States military said that the Houthis launched an anti-ship ballistic missile into international maritime channels in the Gulf of Aden only hours before the United States and Britain launched their operations in Yemen. This came two days after the Houthis launched their biggest offensive yet.

U.S. and British naval forces intercepted and destroyed 21 Houthi missiles and drones on January 9. The United States military used terminology similar to that used when describing attacks in Afghanistan and Iraq by the Taliban or Islamic State; it was a complicated strike.

Biden claimed in his address that American ships were the intended targets of the Jan. 9 attack by the Houthis. Some Democrats under Biden voiced worry that the United States may become involved in another conflict lasting decades, while prominent Republicans in Congress praised the decision.

Restoring deterrence in the Red Sea was the goal of this strike, which was delayed by two months,” stated U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, the leading Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

U.S. officials believed that by taking these and other diplomatic and military measures, they might stop the Houthi attacks without igniting a new conflict. More than twenty nations joined a defense coalition led by the United States in December to protect commercial traffic in the Red Sea, an operation dubbed Operation Prosperity Guardian.

U.S. and British strikes, however, are happening independently of that alliance. “The response of the international community to these reckless attacks has been united and resolute,” stated Biden.

(Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali of the Washington Bureau contributed to the story; Andrew Mills of Doha and Maher Hatem of Dubai also contributed; Jeff Mason, Kanishka Singh, and Eric Beech of the Washington Bureau; Don Durfee, Cynthia Osterman, and Raju Gopalakrishnan of the editing bureau)

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News

Trudeau Rocks to Taylor Swift While Montreal Burns

Published

1 day ago

2024-11-24

Geoff Brown

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has come under fire yet again after a video surfaced on X, showing him dancing at a Taylor Swift performance while anti-Nato protestors ransacked downtown Montreal.

Trudeau attended Taylor Swift’s concert in Toronto on Friday night. Before Taylor Swift approached the stage, X shared a viral video of him dancing and singing along to the song “You Don’t Own Me.”

The image of Trudeau dancing amid violent protests in Montreal generated widespread indignation online. Some social media users even compared Trudeau to the ancient Roman dictator Nero, known for “fiddling while Rome burned.”

Don Stewart, a Member of Parliament (MP) representing part of Toronto, called out the prime minister in a post on X.

Lawless protestors run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest.

The Prime Minister dances.

This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.

Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved. pic.twitter.com/PVJvR6gtmf

— Don Stewart (@donstewartmp) November 23, 2024

“Lawless protesters run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest. The Prime Minister dances,” Stewart wrote. “This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.”

“Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved,” the MP added.

On Saturday, the day after Taylor Swift’s concert, Trudeau condemned the anti-NATO protests, calling them “appalling.”

Anti-NATO activists set off smoke bombs and marched through Montreal’s streets waving Palestinian flags. According to the Montreal Gazette, rioters set fire to automobiles and battled with police.

Pro-Palestinian protests

Protesters also tossed tiny explosives and metal objects at officers. At one point, the mob torched an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Police used tear gas and batons to disperse the gathering, and three persons were arrested for attacking officers and impeding police operations.

Masked protesters were seen burning flares and bashing storefront windows in videos and photographs shared on social media. Pro-Palestinian protests have been taking place across Canada since the Israel-Gaza conflict began late last year.

Critics have lambasted Trudeau for doing nothing to stop the violent pro-Palestinian marches, with some claiming he has fueled anti-Israel sentiment in Canada.

On Friday, Trudeau stated that Canada would respect the orders of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which issued an arrest warrant for Mr Netanyahu, even if it meant arresting the Israeli prime leader on Canadian soil.

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News

Calgary Zoo Admits Human Error in Death of Baby Gorilla

Published

1 day ago

2024-11-24

Geoff Brown

The zookeeper's negligence caused the death of a 2-year-old baby gorilla

The Calgary Zoo has admitted in a public statement that a zookeeper’s negligence caused the death of a 2-year-old baby gorilla. Eyare, a newborn gorilla, died last week after being slammed in the head by a hydraulic door.

The accident occurred when a zoo worker attempted to separate Eyare from the rest of the gorilla tribe for a solitary training session.

The gorilla died from significant head injuries, according to the zoo’s statement.

“This tragedy has struck us all in the deepest way imaginable,” Colleen Baird, director of animal care at the Calgary Zoo, said during a news conference. “Eyare’s brief but meaningful existence gave so much joy to our community, and all will sorely miss her. We will do everything possible to prevent repeat accidents.”

According to Baird, the staff member involved was immediately removed from the workplace and will be reassigned to another area of the zoo. The Calgary Zoo stated that it would take preventive steps, such as specialist personnel training and animal behavioral training, to avoid a similar incident.

Calgary Zoo Questioned

It is not the first time an animal at the zoo has died from negligence at the Calgary Zoo. A capybara was accidentally crushed by a hydraulic door similar to the one that killed Eyare in 2019.

An otter died in 2016 after being entangled in an “unauthorized” pair of jeans that a zookeeper had dropped in its enclosure. In 2013, a penguin died in “a freak accident” after swallowing a stick.

Animal Justice, a Canadian group that promotes animal welfare, has called for an independent investigation of animal safety and oversight at the Alberta facility.

“The Calgary Zoo appears to have a higher rate of animal deaths compared to other zoos, and in light of Eyare’s death there should be a systematic review of the zoo’s operations and practices, conducted transparently by the government or another outside party,” according to Camille Labchuk, the executive director of Animal Justice.

The Calgary Zoo refuted that it has more animal deaths than other zoos, emphasizing that it adheres to operating requirements and has maintained accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ independent Accreditation Commission since 1978.

“We love and care for more than 4,000 animals representing over 100 species that call our zoo home,” stated a Calgary Zoo representative.

“Human error-related deaths in animals are quite infrequent. We have lost two animals in the last ten years: a North American river otter in 2016 and ‘Eyare’ this week.

While rare, even one human-caused death is too many. These unfortunate instances have served as vital learning experiences, prompting us to examine and tighten protocols to provide the greatest level of care.”

Baird said at the news conference that using hydraulic doors is “common practice with accredited zoos,” adding that the facility will consider switching to alternate doors to improve safety.

The Calgary Zoo, which established the Wilder Institute in 2021, caters to nearly 4,000 creatures, including six more western lowland gorillas.

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Canada’s Lotto Max Jackpot Climbs to $80M

Published

1 day ago

2024-11-24

Geoff Brown

Lotto Max in Canada has reached $80 million for only the second time in Canadian lottery history. Friday’s draw sought a winner for a $75 million pool, but the top reward remained unclaimed as of Saturday, increasing the jackpot.

Only once did the jackpot reach $80 million in September, when it broke the previous record. Before that, the prize was $75 million, a record.

The Lotto Max prize maximum was boosted earlier this year, enabling for jackpots of more than $70 million. The cap is now at $80 million.
While a greater fee may encourage more people to play, the odds of winning the lottery remain extremely low.

According to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, the odds for a $5 ticket are around one in 33,294,800.

While there was no jackpot winner in Friday’s draw, someone did match six of the seven winning numbers, plus a bonus, earning them a payout of more than $320,000.

Lotto Max History

Lotto Max is one of three national lottery games in Canada, overseen by the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation. The game was introduced on September 19, 2009, and its inaugural draw occurred on September 25, 2009. It replaced Lotto Super 7.

The odds of winning the Lotto Max are 1 in 33,294,800. This is correct to a point but misleading.

Let’s have a look at the rules:

Players choose 7 numbers out of 50
Numbers cannot be repeated
Numbers are automatically sorted into ascending order
Each play buys 3 lines
Each play costs $5

Seeing that players choose 7 out of 50 non-repeating numbers, the equation for the total number of possible combinations (this is different from permutations where the order in which the numbers appear is significant) when playing the Lotto Max is 50! / (7! x 43!)