Global Conflict Reporting

Tag: Redsea

  • Operation Black Flag, an IDF strike on Houthi ports

    By. Scott Jackson

    07/08/2025

    Around midnight on Sunday night going into Monday Israeli forces carried out airstrike across three Houthi controlled ports in Yemen. The ports of Hodeida, Ras Isa and Salif were all struck. They alleged that the ports were being used by the Houthis to “transfer weapons from the Iranian regime,” according to a statement from the IDF. Ras Kanatib power planet was also struck. 

    We don’t know specifically what aircraft carried out the attack only that F-16’s were used.

    During those strike the IDF also struck the M/S Galaxy Leader, a cargo ship hijacked by Houthi forces in November 2023 following the start of the war between Hamas and Israel. The Houthis, like the other major Iranian backed groups all launched separate campaigns after the attack on Israel on October 27th 2023 . The Houthis are strong supporters of Palestinian Hamas, regularly attacking Israel with ballistic missiles and striking at ships in the Red Sea connected to Israel and America. These attacks in the Red Sea put shipping in the region to a standstill Most trade has recovered although the supply route has been extended as ships make their way around Africa instead of through the Red Sea. Along with impacting trade these Houthi attacks have also forced the U.S. to up its presence in the region, tying down one or more carrier strike groups at a time as they attempted to protect shipping from Houthi anti-ship ballistic missile and drone attacks. 

    Still frim the video showing the Houthi capture of the M/S Galaxy Leader.

    After the capture of the M/S Galaxy Leader,a bulk roll on-roll off style car carrier, in November of 2023 the crew remained hostages in Yemen until January of this year (2025) when a ceasefire deal was signed between Israel and Hamas. 

    “Houthi forces installed a radar system on the ship and have been using it to track vessels in the international maritime arena to facilitate further terrorist activities,” the IDF said in the statement speaking about the ship since it has been held be the Houthis and used to help them in their attacks. 

    Last nights IDF operation followed a recent wave of ballistic missile attacked launched from the Houthis on Israel, the most recent was intercepted on Saturday. The Houthis also claimed responsibility for an attempted hijacking and attack that took place on the Bulk carrier, ‘Magic Seas’ on Sunday. The group claimed the ship had used Israeli ports recently, trying to justify their actions. However the ships operator-Stem shipping- said that the vessel had made a port call to Israel in the past but viewed this trip as safe because it had nothing to do with Israel. 

    The crew of ‘Magic Seas’, -19 in total- had to abandon ship after the attack on Sunday due to fire and flooding. The ship is now sunk but the crew was rescued by an operation led by the United Arab Emeries in coordination with the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operation (UKMTO). 

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  • US targets Houthi territory in Yemen with wave of airstrikes.

    US targets Houthi territory in Yemen with wave of airstrikes.

    By. Scott Jackson

    March 15, 2025

    The U.S. has launch a wave of airstrikes on the Houthi sites in Yemen with confirmation that at least some of the strikes struck in Sanaa.

    “Our brave Warfighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists’ bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom,”

    US President Donald Trump during the strike. He also said,

    “Funded by Iran, the Houthi thugs have fired missiles at US aircraft, and targeted our troops and Allies. ”

    And..

    “No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World.”

    While Houthi attacks in international shipping had stopped since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas todays attack is in response to a statement put out by the Houthis two days ago saying that any Israeli or U.S. linked ship that came close to Yemen would be attacked in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Houthi spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Sare’e said on Twitter that the Houthi threat to attack these ships would be in place until Israel resumed Gaza crossings, as well as aid delivery’s into the region.

    Houthi militants had spent over a year, since the Hamas attack on Israel in October 7th, 2023 attacking any ship with (and some without) any link to Israel and the U.S. with several ships being damaged by anti-ship ballistic missile or drone attacks. The U.S., in response, deployed several CSG’s (Carrier Strike Groups) into the region to counter this Houthi threat. US carrier aircraft conducted a number of strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. Currently the Harry S. Truman is deployed to the area, having resumed her deployment after some repairs from an accident that occurred in the Suez.

    A Houthi anti-ship ballistic missile. The Houthis were the first to fire an ASBM in anger.

    This video shows the strikers launching from the USS Harry S. Truman. A mix of F/A-18 Super Hornets for air cover as well as for the actual strike task. These are accompanied by growlers who will cover all electronic warfare and jamming.

    Cue up “Danger Zone”

    This short video shows the strike on Sanaa. Houthi sources claim 13 killed and another 9 wounded. They also report an additional strike north of Sanaa near the border near Saudi Arabia.

    U.S. President Trump issued a direct warning to Iran for their support to the Houthis, promising to hold them “fully accountable” for the actions of the Houthis, Irans proxy. This comes two weeks after a letter was sent from the U.S. to Iran offering a path to restarting bilateral talks.