Global Conflict Reporting

Category: Yemen

  • U.S. strikes at important Houthi Oil Port

    By.Scott Jackson

    April 21st, 2025

    On Friday, the US stuck at an the oil port at Ras Isa in one of the largest attacks in the group since the current U.S. administration launched its strikes.

    Satellite images released afterwords show the extent of the damage.
    I screenshot from a news report on the strike.

    From CENTCOM:

    “U.S. forces took action to eliminate this source of fuel for the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists and deprive them of illegal revenue that has funded Houthi efforts to terrorize the entire region for over 10 years.”

    The strike destroyed several oil storage tanks as well as a number of oil transport trucks. Also destroyed was the equipment to load and unload oil into ships.

    Images showing the aftermath of the attack.

    The Houthis claim the strike killed 74 people and injured another 171 others. They aired footage afterwords on their al-Masirah satellite news channel of the site showing blown up trucks and corpses strewn about the area. The Houthi denounced the strike as a “completely unjustified aggression.”

    CENTCOM declined to answer specific questions on civilian casualties however said that  “this strike was not intended to harm the people of Yemen.”

    This strike will likely have far reaching consequences for the Houthi as well as the people of Yemen. The U.S. is looking at this strike as a message to those who continue to supply the Houthis even through the sanctions. Iran is the biggest supporter of the group, however they also have done business with China and Russia.

    The Ras Isa port was an important economic point for the country (as well as the Houthi group). The port is located in the Hodeida governorate along the Red Sea and is just off Kamaran Island which has seen heavy U.S. strikes in recent days.

    Image from @Tankertrackers showing the site.

    Twitter group @TankerTrackers has recently reported that vessels that were in the port at the time have been held under threat of violence from the Houthis who demand they not leave without unloading their cargo. They also note that the GALAXY LEADER (9237307) vessel is still being held in the port. The cargo vessel was hijacked on November 19, 2023. 

    Thank you for reading. I hope you get as much out of what I’m doing here as I get out of making these reports. If so I would invite you to join my Patreon. Doing that would help me more than I can describe. I’ve kept it as cheap as possible to become a member. It’s only a $1.00. However a dollar from even half of my Facebook followers would be a life changing amount of money for me and for this page.

    Thank you for all the support over the years and as we continue to grow and evolve.  

    -Scott

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  • US accuses Chinese satellite company of aiding Houthi rebel attacks in U.S. warships.

    By Scott Jackson

    April 21st, 2025

    The U.S. has accused a Chinese Satellite company of aiding the Iranian backed Houthi rebels with its targeting of ships in the Red Sea. The U.S. State department has said that data and imagery from the satellite firm is directly being used to target and attack US and international shipping.

    Chang Guang Satellite Technology Company Limited.

    Tammy Bruce said that Chang Guang Satellite Technology Company Limited, is the company helping the Houthis.

    “We can confirm the reporting that Chang Guang Satellite Technology Company Limited is directly supporting Iran-backed Houthi terrorist attacks on U.S. interests,”

    Tammy Bruce State Department Spokeperson told Fox News. She later continued,

    “China consistently attempts … to frame itself as a global peacemaker … however, it is clear that Beijing and China-based companies provide key economic and technical support to regimes like Russia, North Korea and Iran and its proxies,”

    GCR reached out for a statement from the company named here however after a day I’ve heard nothing back yet. Will update if they respond to me directly.

    Middle East image from satellite.

    In a statement to other media outlets this was the statement from the company.

    “In our global operations, we strictly comply with relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards both in China and internationally. With a mature business model and high-quality services, we are committed to contributing Chinese expertise and solutions to the advancement of the global remote sensing industry,”

    Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian claims that China has played a positive role in easing tensions in the region.

    The Houthis have carried out a number of attacks on international shipping through the area, using missiles, drones and attempted hijacking. These attacks have been ongoing since the October 7th 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas, the war in Gaza afterwords has been a brutal one, claiming the lives of many and destroying whole swaths of Gaza. The Houthis along with other Iranian backed proxy groups have shown support for Palestinian Hamas (the Iranian backed Palestinian liberation group fighting Israel) in various ways. The Houthis in Yemen have disrupted international shipping and regularly launched ballistic missiles at Israel. Hezbollah has also joined with regular rocket attacks. These attacks drove Israel to invade L Lebanon in October 1st 2024 . Iran itself has also launched several large scale attacks on Israel.

    Thank you for reading. I hope you get as much out of what I’m doing here as I get out of making these reports. If so I would invite you to join my Patreon. Doing that would help me more than I can describe. I’ve kept it as cheap as possible to become a member. It’s only a $1.00. However a dollar from even half of my Facebook followers would be a life changing amount of money for me and for this page.

    Thank you for all the support over the years and as we continue to grow and evolve.  

    -Scott

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  • Yes, the B-2s have been striking Houthi Targets. No they haven’t dropped the U.S.’s massive penetrator munition.

    By. Scott Jackson

    April 18th, 2025

    Since yesterday the online chatter has been that the U.S. Airforce has deployed the stealth B-2`Spirit’ bomber to drop GBU-57/B MOP (Massive Ordnance Penetrator) Bunker-busting bombs on Houthi targets in Yemen.According to two U.S. officials who spoke to defense outlet, TWZ, earlier today, this is not true.

    GBU-57B MOP

    This rumor started from a Fox News segment that claimed that the B-2s had been “dropping the 30,000 pound bunker busting bombs since April”.

    The destruction caused by a GBU-57 is not what we are currently seeing from available images of US strikes in Yemen.

    The B-2 is the only bomber certified to carry these massive bombs at the moment however the B-21 Raider is also planned to be used for this task. Right now a single B-2 can only carry 2 of the large bombs.

    The B-2 has a large arsenal of conventional (and nuclear) munitions that it can carry. MK82 and 84 general purpose dumb bombs (up to 80 of the 500pound MK82) as well as the JDAM GPS guided variants of these weapons(80 of those as well) Also available are the bunker busting weapons like the GBU-28. the CBU-87 Combined effects cluster Munition. The B-2 can also carry a number of longer range standoff weapons like the JASSM and the AGM-171 LRSO (Long Range Stand off Weapon). Any of these above weapons is more likely to have been deployed in plave of the MOP which has a very specific purpose and a very low stockpile.

    Mk84 with the JDAM guidance kit.

    While the B-2 is operating in Yemen it would make sense for the US to be using a less scarce munition. The open munitions portal, an invaluable website that tracks weapons debris across different conflicts, shows several different weapons that seem to be used with some regularity. The AGM-154 JSOW as well as the RGM/UGM Tomahawk cruise missile. We also see a number of Paveway weapons which is likely what the B-2’s are bringing to the fight however that’s just an educated guess.

    Image shows a piece of debris found in Yemen after a U.S. strike. The serial number can be linked to a Paveway bomb produced by the U.S.
    Paveway II

    I believe the bombers were brought to the area as more of show of strength to Iran during the ongoing nuclear negotiations between Iran and the U.S. The bombers (at least 6 of them) location at the base in Diego Garcia also gives them the ability to strike at targets across the Middle East, Russia and China.

    Iran and United States send threats over Iranian nuclear capabilities.

    Currently, apart from the B-2s the U.S. has deployed a large number of assets into the region that have carried out strikes on the Houthis in Yemen. Two aircraft carriers and their strike groups as well as a number of land based fighters and multi mission aircraft. 

    Thank you for reading. I hope you get as much out of what I’m doing here as I get out of making these reports. If so I would invite you to join my Patreon. Doing that would help me more than I can describe. I’ve kept it as cheap as possible to become a member. It’s only a $1.00. However a dollar from even half of my Facebook followers would be a life changing amount of money for me and for this page.

    Thank you for all the support over the years and as we continue to grow and evolve.  

    -Scott

    Patreon
    Buy Me A Coffee
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