With most US forces in Iraq well away from the Gulf, if things go "pear shaped there" getting out of there is going to be a lot more problematic.
WAR IRAN MOVES TO CONTROL SUEZ CANAL AND YEMEN 1-21-2015
- Thread starter Doomer Doug
- Start date
With most US forces in Iraq well away from the Gulf, if things go "pear shaped there" getting out of there is going to be a lot more problematic.
Doomer Doug
TB Fanatic
We are not going to "get out of there." We are tied ass to ass with the Sunni Saudis and Gulf States. We are mercenaries there, amigo and nothing more. The House of Saud is calling in the chips and we have played the whore.
Sleeping Cobra
TB Fanatic
I also believe we will never (literally) leave the Middle East. We will probably be there during Armageddon. Sadly, i am not joking.
Doomer Doug
TB Fanatic
I am keeping my eye on both the Russian and Chinese response. If nothing else, they may use the chaos distracting the US under Obama to make some shrewd moves of their own.
the first missile into any ship in the Red Sea or the Strait of Hormuz and life as we know it will end. I am also keeping my eye on the masses of armed Shia militas in Iraq. I think I heard somewhere there are well over 250,000 armed shia militias in Iraq alone. The House of Saud may find 100,000 Holy Warriors pouring into Eastern Saudi Arabia from Iraq real soon now.
the first missile into any ship in the Red Sea or the Strait of Hormuz and life as we know it will end. I am also keeping my eye on the masses of armed Shia militas in Iraq. I think I heard somewhere there are well over 250,000 armed shia militias in Iraq alone. The House of Saud may find 100,000 Holy Warriors pouring into Eastern Saudi Arabia from Iraq real soon now.
Doomer Doug
TB Fanatic
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/03/28/403659/Saudiled-warships-off-to-Yemen-coast
Saudi, Egypt warships sent to Yemen coast: Report
Sat Mar 28, 2015 5:24AM
Saudi Arabia and Egypt have reportedly deployed warships to the strategic strait of Bab el-Mandab off Yemen’s coast in an apparent preparation for a ground intervention in the Arabian Peninsula.
A number of Egyptian and Saudi vessels have been sent to the strait, which is the only access to Egypt’s Suez Canal from the Arabian Sea, according to several unnamed Egyptian military officials cited in a report by The Associated Press on Friday.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added that the warships from the two countries were already at or near Bab el-Mandab. One official also said two destroyers and two other vessels had arrived at the strait.
This is while Riyad Yassin, who served as Yemen’s foreign minister in the cabinet of fugitive president, Abd Ruabbuh Mansur Hadi, told the Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya news channel that Egyptian naval forces are on their way to Bab el-Mandab.
According to Yassin, there was an “arrangement” for ground troops to be deployed to Yemen, which has witnessed deadly Saudi-led air raids against the Houthi Ansarullah movement since March 26.
Meanwhile, retired Yemeni army officer Nasser al-Marqashi stated that the airstrikes would continue for a week before a ground attack, which would likely be launched from Yemen’s seaport city of Aden or the country’s Hadramout Province, another pro-Hadi stronghold.
The Al Saud regime’s aerial campaign is aimed at restoring Hadi, a close ally of Riyadh and the West, to power. This is while the Houthis say he lost his legitimacy as president of Yemen after escaping the capital, Sana’a, to Aden on February 21.
A member of the Yemeni security forces sits above debris at the site of a Saudi air strike against Houthi fighters near the Sana’a Airport on March 26, 2015. © AFP
In January, the Yemeni president and the cabinet of Prime Minister Khaled Bahah stepped down and refused to reconsider the decision despite calls by the Ansarullah movement. However, the parliament rejected the resignation.
Earlier this month, the fugitive president fled Aden to the Saudi capital after Ansarullah revolutionaries advanced on the southern Yemeni city, where he had sought to set up a rival power base.
The Ansarullah fighters took control of the capital in September 2014 and are currently moving southward. The revolutionaries said the Hadi government had been too weak to rein in the growing wave corruption and terrorism plaguing Yemen.
The Riyadh regime’s blatant invasion of Yemen’s sovereignty comes against a backdrop of total silence on the part of international bodies, especially the United Nations. The world body has so far failed to show any reaction to the Saudi violation of Yemen’s sovereignty.
Reports say at least 40 civilians have so far lost their lives in the Saudi-led aerial assaults against Yemen.
Saudi, Egypt warships sent to Yemen coast: Report
Sat Mar 28, 2015 5:24AM
Saudi Arabia and Egypt have reportedly deployed warships to the strategic strait of Bab el-Mandab off Yemen’s coast in an apparent preparation for a ground intervention in the Arabian Peninsula.
A number of Egyptian and Saudi vessels have been sent to the strait, which is the only access to Egypt’s Suez Canal from the Arabian Sea, according to several unnamed Egyptian military officials cited in a report by The Associated Press on Friday.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added that the warships from the two countries were already at or near Bab el-Mandab. One official also said two destroyers and two other vessels had arrived at the strait.
This is while Riyad Yassin, who served as Yemen’s foreign minister in the cabinet of fugitive president, Abd Ruabbuh Mansur Hadi, told the Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya news channel that Egyptian naval forces are on their way to Bab el-Mandab.
According to Yassin, there was an “arrangement” for ground troops to be deployed to Yemen, which has witnessed deadly Saudi-led air raids against the Houthi Ansarullah movement since March 26.
Meanwhile, retired Yemeni army officer Nasser al-Marqashi stated that the airstrikes would continue for a week before a ground attack, which would likely be launched from Yemen’s seaport city of Aden or the country’s Hadramout Province, another pro-Hadi stronghold.
The Al Saud regime’s aerial campaign is aimed at restoring Hadi, a close ally of Riyadh and the West, to power. This is while the Houthis say he lost his legitimacy as president of Yemen after escaping the capital, Sana’a, to Aden on February 21.
A member of the Yemeni security forces sits above debris at the site of a Saudi air strike against Houthi fighters near the Sana’a Airport on March 26, 2015. © AFP
In January, the Yemeni president and the cabinet of Prime Minister Khaled Bahah stepped down and refused to reconsider the decision despite calls by the Ansarullah movement. However, the parliament rejected the resignation.
Earlier this month, the fugitive president fled Aden to the Saudi capital after Ansarullah revolutionaries advanced on the southern Yemeni city, where he had sought to set up a rival power base.
The Ansarullah fighters took control of the capital in September 2014 and are currently moving southward. The revolutionaries said the Hadi government had been too weak to rein in the growing wave corruption and terrorism plaguing Yemen.
The Riyadh regime’s blatant invasion of Yemen’s sovereignty comes against a backdrop of total silence on the part of international bodies, especially the United Nations. The world body has so far failed to show any reaction to the Saudi violation of Yemen’s sovereignty.
Reports say at least 40 civilians have so far lost their lives in the Saudi-led aerial assaults against Yemen.
Doomer Doug
TB Fanatic
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world...4e7b5c-d417-11e4-8b1e-274d670aa9c9_story.html
An Iranian parliamentarian told the semi*official Fars News Agency that the Houthis possess missiles capable of hitting up to 500 kilometers, or about 300 miles, inside Saudi Arabia. An unidentified official quoted by the agency said the Houthis were preparing to block access to the Bab al-Mandeb strait, which commands access to the Red Sea, through which the Egyptian warships are sailing.
An Iranian parliamentarian told the semi*official Fars News Agency that the Houthis possess missiles capable of hitting up to 500 kilometers, or about 300 miles, inside Saudi Arabia. An unidentified official quoted by the agency said the Houthis were preparing to block access to the Bab al-Mandeb strait, which commands access to the Red Sea, through which the Egyptian warships are sailing.
Be Well
may all be well
Looks as though it's going pear shaped pretty soon.
almost ready
Inactive
Have read multiple reports that the Egyptians with Saudi Naval help have captured control of the Bab straits to pre-empt Tehran's move.
Here's one:
donald phillips @10661776b Mar 26 North Carolina, USA
Egyptian forces seized control of the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Straits to pre-empt Tehran’s grab for this important oil shipping gateway.
11:26 AM - 26 Mar 2015 · Details
Here's one:
donald phillips @10661776b Mar 26 North Carolina, USA
Egyptian forces seized control of the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Straits to pre-empt Tehran’s grab for this important oil shipping gateway.
11:26 AM - 26 Mar 2015 · Details
Doomer Doug
TB Fanatic
It looks to me the Houthi are in the final phases of a decisive military victory in Yemen. The so called Sunni Ten military campaign is starting to look like the Three Stooges plan an air bombing campaign. The Houthis still move openly, in broad daylight with no real damage to them. The Saudi Air Force continues to slaughter innocents, with the latest example being bombing a convoy carrying wheat. Yep, Saudi Arabia shows exactly why buying advanced Western military technology doesn't mean you have any idea of how to use it. The level of tactical incompetence shown by the Royal Saudi Arabian Air Force is stunning given the vast amount of money they have spent. It shows that while spending 40 million dollars per F-15 is easily within reach of the House of Saud, actually having the ability to maintain it, train the pilots well is simply beyond them.
I am still thinking the USA, in our role as the whore mercenary troops for the House of Saud, is going to have to eventually take over, storm those islands and start flying combat missions. The Saudi Arabia military is simply too pathetic, too poorly trained to do the job. And that FOOL OF A SAUDI KING has put his foot in the manure pile real good. Yep, any damn fool can start a war, but it takes a real statesman to stop one. The House of Saud have been whoring after the Wahabi sect for several hundred years now. The USA is going to pay the price for that soon enough.
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20150405/1020497191.html
Houthis Seize Aden Administration as Saudi Bombings Rack Up Casualties
© AP Photo/ Hani Mohammed
Middle East
14:52 05.04.2015(updated 15:36 05.04.2015) Get short URL
Topic:
Houthi Rebels Shake Yemen (110)
1750100
Houthi militias seized Aden's provincial administration building on Sunday, continuing their advance into Aden. Saudi Arabia plans on seeking a warrant for ground intervention from the UN Security Council.
Yemen's Houthi militias continued making ground gains in Aden on Sunday, capturing the city's administration building despite the Saudi-led bombing campaign which has been attempting to contain the group.
Saudi Arabia together with other Gulf monarchies plan on proposing a resolution on Yemen at the UN Security Council on Monday which could allow for ground military intervention in the conflict.
Yemeni television reported that Houthis managed to capture the government administration building in Aden on Sunday.
The Saudi-led coalition continued its bombing campaign against the Houthis and civilian casualties have grown significantly as a result.
Saudi Arabia Ambassador to the United Nations Abdallah Y. Al-Mouallimi, center, speaks to reporters outside a Security Council consultation Saturday, April 4, 2015, at the United Nations headquarters
© AP Photo/ Mary Altaffer
Saudi Arabia Rejects Yemen-Wide Arms Embargo
Medical authorities in Aden have struggled to keep up with treating casualties and Russia has proposed 24-hour ceasefires to ease the humanitarian situation.
Witnesses have told AFP that Aden has been subject to increased bombardments overnight which increased. It is unknown if the bombardments are due to the Saudi-led campaign or the Houthi advance.
A senior Houthi leader said on Sunday that they are willing to begin peace talks if the Saudi-led coalition stops its bombing runs.
Roots of the Conflict
The Saudi-led bombing campaign began after Yemen's President Hadi fled the country and requested assistance from Saudi Arabia. Hadi was ousted following failed negotiations on a political transfer of power after Houthi militias seized Yemen's capital, Sanaa.
Houthis are fighting separatist "popular committees" in the south of the country, which seek to create a "State of South Arabia." The "popular committees" are also apparently loyal to the ousted President Hadi.
President Hadi was put in power in 2011 after President Saleh was ousted by a series of protests which were supported by the United States and Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia Prepares UN Resolution
Saudi Arabia seeks a UN Security Council resolution that would involve Chapter Seven of the UN Charter which allow for direct military action.
The resolution could mean the beginning of a Saudi-led ground war in Yemen. American military analyst David Des Roches said on Thursday that a ground offensive may come as the current airstrike campaign is becoming increasingly ineffective.
The conflict has also escalated Saudi Arabia's relations with Iran, which has been accused of supporting the Houthi militias.
UN Security Council
© Flickr/ Chris Bodenner
UNSC, Gulf States Hope for Results on Draft Resolution on Yemen by Monday
"We cannot allow the situation to turn into an attempt to start an open conflict between the Arabs and Iran," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday.
"We will do everything possible so that doesn’t happen," Lavrov added. He did not explain what he meant by "everything possible."
Al-Qaeda
The conflict has also drawn in Al-Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula (AQAP), which operates in the country's southeast and has taken advantage of the power vacuum.
On Thursday, AQAP overran the from the southeastern port city of Mukalla. The group also freed one of its leaders, Khalid Saeed Batarfi, from Mukalla's prison along with 300 other inmates.
Yemeni tribal fighters entered Mukalla on Saturday to drive back al-Qaeda fighters.
Read more: http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20150405/1020497191.html#ixzz3WTaQkFKv
I am still thinking the USA, in our role as the whore mercenary troops for the House of Saud, is going to have to eventually take over, storm those islands and start flying combat missions. The Saudi Arabia military is simply too pathetic, too poorly trained to do the job. And that FOOL OF A SAUDI KING has put his foot in the manure pile real good. Yep, any damn fool can start a war, but it takes a real statesman to stop one. The House of Saud have been whoring after the Wahabi sect for several hundred years now. The USA is going to pay the price for that soon enough.
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20150405/1020497191.html
Houthis Seize Aden Administration as Saudi Bombings Rack Up Casualties
© AP Photo/ Hani Mohammed
Middle East
14:52 05.04.2015(updated 15:36 05.04.2015) Get short URL
Topic:
Houthi Rebels Shake Yemen (110)
1750100
Houthi militias seized Aden's provincial administration building on Sunday, continuing their advance into Aden. Saudi Arabia plans on seeking a warrant for ground intervention from the UN Security Council.
Yemen's Houthi militias continued making ground gains in Aden on Sunday, capturing the city's administration building despite the Saudi-led bombing campaign which has been attempting to contain the group.
Saudi Arabia together with other Gulf monarchies plan on proposing a resolution on Yemen at the UN Security Council on Monday which could allow for ground military intervention in the conflict.
Yemeni television reported that Houthis managed to capture the government administration building in Aden on Sunday.
The Saudi-led coalition continued its bombing campaign against the Houthis and civilian casualties have grown significantly as a result.
Saudi Arabia Ambassador to the United Nations Abdallah Y. Al-Mouallimi, center, speaks to reporters outside a Security Council consultation Saturday, April 4, 2015, at the United Nations headquarters
© AP Photo/ Mary Altaffer
Saudi Arabia Rejects Yemen-Wide Arms Embargo
Medical authorities in Aden have struggled to keep up with treating casualties and Russia has proposed 24-hour ceasefires to ease the humanitarian situation.
Witnesses have told AFP that Aden has been subject to increased bombardments overnight which increased. It is unknown if the bombardments are due to the Saudi-led campaign or the Houthi advance.
A senior Houthi leader said on Sunday that they are willing to begin peace talks if the Saudi-led coalition stops its bombing runs.
Roots of the Conflict
The Saudi-led bombing campaign began after Yemen's President Hadi fled the country and requested assistance from Saudi Arabia. Hadi was ousted following failed negotiations on a political transfer of power after Houthi militias seized Yemen's capital, Sanaa.
Houthis are fighting separatist "popular committees" in the south of the country, which seek to create a "State of South Arabia." The "popular committees" are also apparently loyal to the ousted President Hadi.
President Hadi was put in power in 2011 after President Saleh was ousted by a series of protests which were supported by the United States and Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia Prepares UN Resolution
Saudi Arabia seeks a UN Security Council resolution that would involve Chapter Seven of the UN Charter which allow for direct military action.
The resolution could mean the beginning of a Saudi-led ground war in Yemen. American military analyst David Des Roches said on Thursday that a ground offensive may come as the current airstrike campaign is becoming increasingly ineffective.
The conflict has also escalated Saudi Arabia's relations with Iran, which has been accused of supporting the Houthi militias.
UN Security Council
© Flickr/ Chris Bodenner
UNSC, Gulf States Hope for Results on Draft Resolution on Yemen by Monday
"We cannot allow the situation to turn into an attempt to start an open conflict between the Arabs and Iran," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday.
"We will do everything possible so that doesn’t happen," Lavrov added. He did not explain what he meant by "everything possible."
Al-Qaeda
The conflict has also drawn in Al-Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula (AQAP), which operates in the country's southeast and has taken advantage of the power vacuum.
On Thursday, AQAP overran the from the southeastern port city of Mukalla. The group also freed one of its leaders, Khalid Saeed Batarfi, from Mukalla's prison along with 300 other inmates.
Yemeni tribal fighters entered Mukalla on Saturday to drive back al-Qaeda fighters.
Read more: http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20150405/1020497191.html#ixzz3WTaQkFKv
Doomer Doug
TB Fanatic
http://www.globalresearch.ca/yemen-and-the-militarization-of-strategic-waterways/17460
This article was first published by GR more than five years ago sheds light on America’s unspoken military agenda: the control over strategic waterways (GR Ed. M. Ch)
“Whoever attains maritime supremacy in the Indian Ocean would be a prominent player on the international scene.” (US Navy Geostrategist Rear Admiral Alfred Thayus Mahan (1840-1914))
The Yemeni archipelago of Socotra in the Indian Ocean is located some 80 kilometres off the Horn of Africa and 380 kilometres South of the Yemeni coastline. The islands of Socotra are a wildlife reserve recognized by (UNESCO), as a World Natural Heritage Site.
Socotra is at the crossroads of the strategic naval waterways of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden (See map below). It is of crucial importance to the US military.
MAP 1
Among Washington’s strategic objectives is the militarization of major sea ways. This strategic waterway links the Mediterranean to South Asia and the Far East, through the Suez Canal, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
It is a major transit route for oil tankers. A large share of China’s industrial exports to Western Europe transits through this strategic waterway. Maritime trade from East and Southern Africa to Western Europe also transits within proximity of Socotra (Suqutra), through the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. (see map below). A military base in Socotra could be used to oversee the movement of vessels including war ships in an out of the Gulf of Aden.
“The [Indian] Ocean is a major sea lane connecting the Middle East, East Asia and Africa with Europe and the Americas. It has four crucial access waterways facilitating international maritime trade, that is the Suez Canal in Egypt, Bab-el-Mandeb (bordering Djibouti and Yemen), Straits of Hormuz (bordering Iran and Oman), and Straits of Malacca (bordering Indonesia and Malaysia). These ‘chokepoints’ are critical to world oil trade as huge amounts of oil pass through them.” (Amjed Jaaved, A new hot-spot of rivalry, Pakistan Observer, July 1, 2009)
MAP 2
Sea Power
From a military standpoint, the Socotra archipelago is at a strategic maritime crossroads. Morever, the archipelago extends over a relatively large maritime area at the Eastern exit of the Gulf of Aden, from the island of Abd al Kuri, to the main island of Socotra. (See map 1 above and 2b below) This maritime area of international transit lies in Yemeni territorial waters. The objective of the US is to police the entire Gulf of Aden seaway from the Yemeni to Somalian coastline. (See map 1).
MAP 2b
Socotra is some 3000 km from the US naval base of Diego Garcia, which is among America’s largest overseas military facilities.
The Socotra Military Base
On January 2nd, 2010, President Saleh and General David Petraeus, Commander of the US Central Command met for high level discussions behind closed doors.
The Saleh-Petraeus meeting was casually presented by the media as a timely response to the foiled Detroit Christmas bomb attack on Northwest flight 253. It had apparently been scheduled on an ad hoc basis as a means to coordinating counter-terrorism initiatives directed against “Al Qaeda in Yemen”, including “the use [of] American drones and missiles on Yemen lands.”
Several reports, however, confirmed that the Saleh-Petraeus meetings were intent upon redefining US military involvement in Yemen including the establishment of a full-fledged military base on the island of Socotra. Yemen’s president Ali Abdullah Saleh was reported to have “surrendered Socotra for Americans who would set up a military base, pointing out that U.S. officials and the Yemeni government agreed to set up a military base in Socotra to counter pirates and al-Qaeda.” (Fars News. January 19, 2010)
On January 1st, one day before the Saleh-Petraeus meetings in Sanaa, General Petraeus confirmed in a Baghdad press conference that “security assistance” to Yemen would more than double from 70 million to more than 150 million dollars, which represents a 14 fold increase since 2006. (Scramble for the Island of Bliss: Socotra!, War in Iraq, January 12, 2010. See also CNN January 9, 2010, The Guardian, December 28, 2009).
This doubling of military aid to Yemen was presented to World public opinion as a response to the Detroit bomb incident, which allegedly had been ordered by Al Qaeda operatives in Yemen.
The establishment of an air force base on the island of Socotra was described by the US media as part of the “Global war on Terrorism”:
“Among the new programs, Saleh and Petraeus agreed to allow the use of American aircraft, perhaps drones, as well as “seaborne missiles”–as long as the operations have prior approval from the Yemenis, according to a senior Yemeni official who requested anonymity when speaking about sensitive subjects. U.S. officials say the island of Socotra, 200 miles off the Yemeni coast, will be beefed up from a small airstrip [under the jurisdiction of the Yemeni military] to a full base in order to support the larger aid program as well as battle Somali pirates. Petraeus is also trying to provide the Yemeni forces with basic equipment such as up-armored Humvees and possibly more helicopters.” (Newsweek, Newsweek, January 18, 2010, emphasis added)
Existing runway and airport
US Naval Facility?
The proposed US Socotra military facility, however, is not limited to an air force base. A US naval base has also been contemplated.
The development of Socotra’s naval infrastructure was already in the pipeline. Barely a few days prior (December 29, 2009) to the Petraeus-Saleh discussions (January 2, 2010), the Yemeni cabinet approved a US$14 million loan by Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) in support of the development of Socotra’s seaport project.
MAP 3
This article was first published by GR more than five years ago sheds light on America’s unspoken military agenda: the control over strategic waterways (GR Ed. M. Ch)
“Whoever attains maritime supremacy in the Indian Ocean would be a prominent player on the international scene.” (US Navy Geostrategist Rear Admiral Alfred Thayus Mahan (1840-1914))
The Yemeni archipelago of Socotra in the Indian Ocean is located some 80 kilometres off the Horn of Africa and 380 kilometres South of the Yemeni coastline. The islands of Socotra are a wildlife reserve recognized by (UNESCO), as a World Natural Heritage Site.
Socotra is at the crossroads of the strategic naval waterways of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden (See map below). It is of crucial importance to the US military.
MAP 1
Among Washington’s strategic objectives is the militarization of major sea ways. This strategic waterway links the Mediterranean to South Asia and the Far East, through the Suez Canal, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
It is a major transit route for oil tankers. A large share of China’s industrial exports to Western Europe transits through this strategic waterway. Maritime trade from East and Southern Africa to Western Europe also transits within proximity of Socotra (Suqutra), through the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. (see map below). A military base in Socotra could be used to oversee the movement of vessels including war ships in an out of the Gulf of Aden.
“The [Indian] Ocean is a major sea lane connecting the Middle East, East Asia and Africa with Europe and the Americas. It has four crucial access waterways facilitating international maritime trade, that is the Suez Canal in Egypt, Bab-el-Mandeb (bordering Djibouti and Yemen), Straits of Hormuz (bordering Iran and Oman), and Straits of Malacca (bordering Indonesia and Malaysia). These ‘chokepoints’ are critical to world oil trade as huge amounts of oil pass through them.” (Amjed Jaaved, A new hot-spot of rivalry, Pakistan Observer, July 1, 2009)
MAP 2
Sea Power
From a military standpoint, the Socotra archipelago is at a strategic maritime crossroads. Morever, the archipelago extends over a relatively large maritime area at the Eastern exit of the Gulf of Aden, from the island of Abd al Kuri, to the main island of Socotra. (See map 1 above and 2b below) This maritime area of international transit lies in Yemeni territorial waters. The objective of the US is to police the entire Gulf of Aden seaway from the Yemeni to Somalian coastline. (See map 1).
MAP 2b
Socotra is some 3000 km from the US naval base of Diego Garcia, which is among America’s largest overseas military facilities.
The Socotra Military Base
On January 2nd, 2010, President Saleh and General David Petraeus, Commander of the US Central Command met for high level discussions behind closed doors.
The Saleh-Petraeus meeting was casually presented by the media as a timely response to the foiled Detroit Christmas bomb attack on Northwest flight 253. It had apparently been scheduled on an ad hoc basis as a means to coordinating counter-terrorism initiatives directed against “Al Qaeda in Yemen”, including “the use [of] American drones and missiles on Yemen lands.”
Several reports, however, confirmed that the Saleh-Petraeus meetings were intent upon redefining US military involvement in Yemen including the establishment of a full-fledged military base on the island of Socotra. Yemen’s president Ali Abdullah Saleh was reported to have “surrendered Socotra for Americans who would set up a military base, pointing out that U.S. officials and the Yemeni government agreed to set up a military base in Socotra to counter pirates and al-Qaeda.” (Fars News. January 19, 2010)
On January 1st, one day before the Saleh-Petraeus meetings in Sanaa, General Petraeus confirmed in a Baghdad press conference that “security assistance” to Yemen would more than double from 70 million to more than 150 million dollars, which represents a 14 fold increase since 2006. (Scramble for the Island of Bliss: Socotra!, War in Iraq, January 12, 2010. See also CNN January 9, 2010, The Guardian, December 28, 2009).
This doubling of military aid to Yemen was presented to World public opinion as a response to the Detroit bomb incident, which allegedly had been ordered by Al Qaeda operatives in Yemen.
The establishment of an air force base on the island of Socotra was described by the US media as part of the “Global war on Terrorism”:
“Among the new programs, Saleh and Petraeus agreed to allow the use of American aircraft, perhaps drones, as well as “seaborne missiles”–as long as the operations have prior approval from the Yemenis, according to a senior Yemeni official who requested anonymity when speaking about sensitive subjects. U.S. officials say the island of Socotra, 200 miles off the Yemeni coast, will be beefed up from a small airstrip [under the jurisdiction of the Yemeni military] to a full base in order to support the larger aid program as well as battle Somali pirates. Petraeus is also trying to provide the Yemeni forces with basic equipment such as up-armored Humvees and possibly more helicopters.” (Newsweek, Newsweek, January 18, 2010, emphasis added)
Existing runway and airport
US Naval Facility?
The proposed US Socotra military facility, however, is not limited to an air force base. A US naval base has also been contemplated.
The development of Socotra’s naval infrastructure was already in the pipeline. Barely a few days prior (December 29, 2009) to the Petraeus-Saleh discussions (January 2, 2010), the Yemeni cabinet approved a US$14 million loan by Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) in support of the development of Socotra’s seaport project.
MAP 3
Doomer Doug
TB Fanatic
I am not sure why this thread is dying from lack of interest. The situation in Yemen is going to result in a direct combat deployment of US military forces soon enough. Iran will not think twice to attack US Naval forces. They invented the suicide attack after all.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-...hips-yemen-coast-close-proximity-two-us-aircr
Iran Enters Hornets Nest: Parks Two Warships Off Yemen Coast Immediately Next To Two US Aircraft Carriers
Tyler Durden's picture
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 04/08/2015 15:20 -0400
The probability of a major escalation over the latest proxy Middle Eastern civil war just escalated substantially.
While it has been widely reported that the United States has been accelerating its weapons supply to the Saudi-led coalition striking rebels in Yemen as a sign of how foreign powers are deepening their involvement in the conflict, the biggest regional backer of the Houthi rebels, the state of Iran, had been mostly inert. Until this morning, when as AP reports, Iran dispatched a naval destroyer and another vessel Wednesday to waters near Yemen.
According to Iran's English-language state broadcaster Press TV, the official reason for the mini flotilla is a peacekeeping mission meant to deter piracy. It quoted Rear Adm. Habibollah Sayyari as saying the ships would be part of an anti-piracy campaign "safeguarding naval routes for vessels in the region." The real reason has nothing to do with pirates and everything to do with showing that there is another interest party in a conflict that until now has seen unilateral involvement mainly by the Saudi-led and US supported Gulf Arab air campaign targeting the Yemeni rebels, known as Houthis.
As for the topic of US support, speaking a day earlier in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken blamed the violence in Yemen on the Houthis, and forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, saying that the U.S. is committed to defending Saudi Arabia.
"We have expedited weapons deliveries, we have increased our intelligence sharing, and we have established a joint coordination and planning cell in the Saudi operations center," he said in a statement to reporters after meeting with Saudi royals and Yemen's President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who fled his country amid rebel advances.
Ironically, the U.S. said that the chaos has allowed the local al-Qaida branch, which it considers the world's most dangerous wing of the group, to make "great gains" on the ground, causing Washington to rethink how it prevents it from launching attacks in the West.
"Ironic", because as reported previously, it was the US' own hasty departure from the Houthi overrun country that provided $500 millions of dollars in "misplaced" modern weaponry and supplies to these same rebels.
That was the US side of things. Here is Iran's via Press TV:
The 34th fleet of the Iranian Navy has left for the Gulf of Aden and Bab al-Mandab Strait in line with the country’s policy of safeguarding naval routes for vessels in the region.
The flotilla, which comprises the Bushehr logistic vessel and Alborz destroyer, left Iran’s southern port city of Bandar Abbas on Wednesday, Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said on the sidelines of a ceremony to deploy the fleet.
The Alborz destroyer shown here in a Feb. 21, 2010 file photo.
More from Press TV:
The commander said that the 34th Fleet is sent on a mission “to provide [safety for] Iran’s shipping lines and protect the Islamic Republic of Iran’s interests in the high seas.” Sayyari said that the flotilla also seeks to ensure safety for the vessels against pirates.
The Navy observes international law while conducting its mission in the north of the Indian Sea with full power, the commander stressed.
In recent years, Iran’s Navy has increased its presence in international waters to protect naval routes and provide security for merchant vessels and tankers.
In line with international efforts against piracy, the Iranian Navy has also been conducting patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008 in order to safeguard merchant containers and oil tankers owned or leased by Iran or other countries.
Iran’s Navy has managed to foil several attacks on both Iranian and foreign tankers during its missions in international waters.
As Al-Arabia adds, "Iran has condemned the campaign and called for dialogue. Saudi Arabia accuses Iran of providing military support to the Houthis, a charge the Islamic Republic denies. The Iranian ships will patrol the Gulf of Aden, south of Yemen, and the Red Sea, Sayyari said. The area is one of the world's most important shipping routes and a gateway between Europe and the Middle East."
* * * * *
And now the punchline: as the following Naval update map shows, the two Iran warships will now be located in the immediate vicinity of not only two US aircraft carriers, CVN-71 Teddy Roosevelt and CVN-70 Vinson, but well as the big-deck amphibious warship Iwo Jima which as reported before is providing marine support should the situation demand it.
All of this means the odds of a naval "accident" involving one or more warships in the Red Sea just went up substantially.
Average:
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-...hips-yemen-coast-close-proximity-two-us-aircr
Iran Enters Hornets Nest: Parks Two Warships Off Yemen Coast Immediately Next To Two US Aircraft Carriers
Tyler Durden's picture
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 04/08/2015 15:20 -0400
The probability of a major escalation over the latest proxy Middle Eastern civil war just escalated substantially.
While it has been widely reported that the United States has been accelerating its weapons supply to the Saudi-led coalition striking rebels in Yemen as a sign of how foreign powers are deepening their involvement in the conflict, the biggest regional backer of the Houthi rebels, the state of Iran, had been mostly inert. Until this morning, when as AP reports, Iran dispatched a naval destroyer and another vessel Wednesday to waters near Yemen.
According to Iran's English-language state broadcaster Press TV, the official reason for the mini flotilla is a peacekeeping mission meant to deter piracy. It quoted Rear Adm. Habibollah Sayyari as saying the ships would be part of an anti-piracy campaign "safeguarding naval routes for vessels in the region." The real reason has nothing to do with pirates and everything to do with showing that there is another interest party in a conflict that until now has seen unilateral involvement mainly by the Saudi-led and US supported Gulf Arab air campaign targeting the Yemeni rebels, known as Houthis.
As for the topic of US support, speaking a day earlier in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken blamed the violence in Yemen on the Houthis, and forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, saying that the U.S. is committed to defending Saudi Arabia.
"We have expedited weapons deliveries, we have increased our intelligence sharing, and we have established a joint coordination and planning cell in the Saudi operations center," he said in a statement to reporters after meeting with Saudi royals and Yemen's President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who fled his country amid rebel advances.
Ironically, the U.S. said that the chaos has allowed the local al-Qaida branch, which it considers the world's most dangerous wing of the group, to make "great gains" on the ground, causing Washington to rethink how it prevents it from launching attacks in the West.
"Ironic", because as reported previously, it was the US' own hasty departure from the Houthi overrun country that provided $500 millions of dollars in "misplaced" modern weaponry and supplies to these same rebels.
That was the US side of things. Here is Iran's via Press TV:
The 34th fleet of the Iranian Navy has left for the Gulf of Aden and Bab al-Mandab Strait in line with the country’s policy of safeguarding naval routes for vessels in the region.
The flotilla, which comprises the Bushehr logistic vessel and Alborz destroyer, left Iran’s southern port city of Bandar Abbas on Wednesday, Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said on the sidelines of a ceremony to deploy the fleet.
The Alborz destroyer shown here in a Feb. 21, 2010 file photo.
More from Press TV:
The commander said that the 34th Fleet is sent on a mission “to provide [safety for] Iran’s shipping lines and protect the Islamic Republic of Iran’s interests in the high seas.” Sayyari said that the flotilla also seeks to ensure safety for the vessels against pirates.
The Navy observes international law while conducting its mission in the north of the Indian Sea with full power, the commander stressed.
In recent years, Iran’s Navy has increased its presence in international waters to protect naval routes and provide security for merchant vessels and tankers.
In line with international efforts against piracy, the Iranian Navy has also been conducting patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008 in order to safeguard merchant containers and oil tankers owned or leased by Iran or other countries.
Iran’s Navy has managed to foil several attacks on both Iranian and foreign tankers during its missions in international waters.
As Al-Arabia adds, "Iran has condemned the campaign and called for dialogue. Saudi Arabia accuses Iran of providing military support to the Houthis, a charge the Islamic Republic denies. The Iranian ships will patrol the Gulf of Aden, south of Yemen, and the Red Sea, Sayyari said. The area is one of the world's most important shipping routes and a gateway between Europe and the Middle East."
* * * * *
And now the punchline: as the following Naval update map shows, the two Iran warships will now be located in the immediate vicinity of not only two US aircraft carriers, CVN-71 Teddy Roosevelt and CVN-70 Vinson, but well as the big-deck amphibious warship Iwo Jima which as reported before is providing marine support should the situation demand it.
All of this means the odds of a naval "accident" involving one or more warships in the Red Sea just went up substantially.
Average:
Possible Impact
TB Fanatic
[FONT=Verdana,Arial]Bafana Advisory LLP @Bafana_Advisory · 9h
#Yemen : Shipping insurance firms
are rejecting coverage for #Yemen-bound vessels.
May do so for Red Sea transits too.
[/FONT]
#Yemen : Shipping insurance firms
are rejecting coverage for #Yemen-bound vessels.
May do so for Red Sea transits too.
[/FONT]
homecanner1
Veteran Member
I saw that on the Iranian ships pulling up anchor besides ours. That's kind of bold, eh. Sinbad & co. best behave themselves
Tensions are skyhigh...prayers for wknd ahead
Tensions are skyhigh...prayers for wknd ahead
Doomer Doug
TB Fanatic
PI, I have a case of whiskey bet that whatever "they" are saying, shipping companies are already starting to reroute ships away from the Suez canal.
At any rate, with the collapse of the so called "Iran nuke deal" in full swing now we can expect the entire Middle East to explode as the Sunni/Shia-Saudi Arabia/Iran JIHAD GOES INTO KILL EVERYBODY IN SIGHT MODE.
Yep, we now have a REGIONAL MIDDLE EAST WAR PICKING UP STEAM. We have Yemen in total chaos. We have both the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, as well as the Suez Canal Red Sea entrances UNDER DIRECT IRANIAN MILITARY THREAT FROM MISSILES. We have Iraq in chaos, with massive ongoing battles between ISIS and the Shia militias, along with the pathetic Iraq, mostly Shia, military. We have Syria exploding even as I write this. It won't be long now before both HAMAS and Hezzbollah get into the act and start lighting up Israel.
What we have here is a 10 nation Sunni Coalition now fully at war with Iran and its Proxies from one end of the Middle East to the other.
At any rate, with the collapse of the so called "Iran nuke deal" in full swing now we can expect the entire Middle East to explode as the Sunni/Shia-Saudi Arabia/Iran JIHAD GOES INTO KILL EVERYBODY IN SIGHT MODE.
Yep, we now have a REGIONAL MIDDLE EAST WAR PICKING UP STEAM. We have Yemen in total chaos. We have both the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, as well as the Suez Canal Red Sea entrances UNDER DIRECT IRANIAN MILITARY THREAT FROM MISSILES. We have Iraq in chaos, with massive ongoing battles between ISIS and the Shia militias, along with the pathetic Iraq, mostly Shia, military. We have Syria exploding even as I write this. It won't be long now before both HAMAS and Hezzbollah get into the act and start lighting up Israel.
What we have here is a 10 nation Sunni Coalition now fully at war with Iran and its Proxies from one end of the Middle East to the other.
Doug, with this so-called "agreement" going down in flames, there's no need for the mullahs to "sweet talk" Obama. Likewise, their fear of the US is gone. Now, their only concern, Israel. As the US has betrayed all of its allies, and is the whore of war, we, Americans, better get right with God, for Obama would rather plunge a dagger into Israel's breast, than keep time honored commitments to "The Apple of God's Eye..."
Maranatha
OldArcher
Doomer Doug
TB Fanatic
Old Archer, from my keyboard to yours: ISRAEL IS GOING TO LAUNCH A FIRST STRIKE ON IRAN IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
Doug, unless God intervenes, things are going to get "real," real soon... 10 Million SPF Sunblock, anyone? Oh, and don't look for the flash...
Maranatha
OldArcher
Michael111
Membership Revoked
Yep! DD. Spot on. As usual!
Doomer Doug
TB Fanatic
AND SO IT BEGINS!!!!! DIRECT COMBAT BETWEEN SAUDI ARABIAN FORCES AND HOUTHI TRIBAL MILITIAS INSIDE OF SAUDI ARABIA!
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-...his-reportedly-clash-saudi-troops-near-najran
Proxy War Crosses Border? Houthis Reportedly Clash With Saudi Troops Near Najran
Tyler Durden's picture
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 04/11/2015 15:33 -0400
Earlier today we reported that local militiamen in the key Yemeni port city of Aden had captured two Iranian officers suspected of aiding Houthi rebels in the battle to control the city where fighters still loyal to President Hadi are determined to beat back an advance by the Houthis in the wake of a humanitarian crisis and reports that the Shiite militia has its sights set on the local branch of Yemen’s central bank located in the city’s Crater district.
Now, reports suggest the Houthis are battling Saudi forces near Najran, with some contending the rebels have overtaken a Saudi post which, if true, would appear to mark an escalation in the conflict as it would indicate the Houthis are willing to take the fight to the Saudis on their own turf.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-...his-reportedly-clash-saudi-troops-near-najran
Proxy War Crosses Border? Houthis Reportedly Clash With Saudi Troops Near Najran
Tyler Durden's picture
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 04/11/2015 15:33 -0400
Earlier today we reported that local militiamen in the key Yemeni port city of Aden had captured two Iranian officers suspected of aiding Houthi rebels in the battle to control the city where fighters still loyal to President Hadi are determined to beat back an advance by the Houthis in the wake of a humanitarian crisis and reports that the Shiite militia has its sights set on the local branch of Yemen’s central bank located in the city’s Crater district.
Now, reports suggest the Houthis are battling Saudi forces near Najran, with some contending the rebels have overtaken a Saudi post which, if true, would appear to mark an escalation in the conflict as it would indicate the Houthis are willing to take the fight to the Saudis on their own turf.
Zoner
Veteran Member
In Major Escalation, Yemen Rebels Fire Scud Missile Into Saudi Arabia
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-...n-yemen-rebels-fire-scud-missile-saudi-arabia
Just two days after reports indicated that Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels were prepared to participate in UN-brokered peace talks with Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi’s government in exile, clashes on the Saudi border have intensified.
On Friday, the Saudi press agency said it had used Apache helicopters and artillery to repel a Houthi-led advance, killing “dozens” of militants. Four Saudis were also killed.
Meanwhile, Riyadh stepped up airstrikes around the Yemeni capital targeting what the Saudis say were arms depots. The Houthis, however, say the aerial bombardment is inflicting untold civilian casualties, mostly women and children. Here's Reuters:
Coalition Arab bombings killed around 58 people across Yemen on Wednesday and Thursday, the state news agency Saba, controlled by the Houthis, said.
48 people, most of them women and children, were killed in air strikes on their houses in the Houthi heartland in the rural far north adjoining Saudi Arabia.
The reports could not be independently verified.
On Saturday, Riyadh claimed the Houthis, in concert with forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, fired a scud missile at Saudi Arabia for the first time.
The scud, which apparently targeted the city of Khamis Mushait in southwest Saudi Arabia, was intercepted by two Patriot missiles. “At 2:45am on Saturday morning, the Houthi militias and ousted [president] Ali Abdullah Saleh launched a Scud missile in the direction of Khamees al-Mushait, and praise be to God, the Royal Saudi air defences blocked it with a Patriot missile," a statement said.
Khamis Mushait is home to the US-desiged and constructed King Khalid Air Force base, from which airstrikes on Houthi positions have been launched throughout the conflict.
(King Khalid Air Force Base)
Friday’s attack by Abdullah Saleh’s Republican Guard and the Houthis in the Jizan province was billed as the largest “offensive” mounted by the rebels since the onset of hostilities months ago. The fighting reportedly began when rebels fired rockets at Saudi positions and promptly ended when the Saudi army called in air support from Apache gunships.
Note that this latest escalation comes a month and a half after Saudi Arabia declared a George Bush-style "mission accomplished"-type end to operation Decisive Storm, claiming the 'coalition' airstrikes had "successfully eliminated the threat to the security of Saudi Arabia."
The declaration looks to have been a bit premature.
The Houthis are scheduled to attend peace talks in Geneva on June 14. That is unless the Saudis launch a ground invasion in the interim.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-...n-yemen-rebels-fire-scud-missile-saudi-arabia
Just two days after reports indicated that Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels were prepared to participate in UN-brokered peace talks with Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi’s government in exile, clashes on the Saudi border have intensified.
On Friday, the Saudi press agency said it had used Apache helicopters and artillery to repel a Houthi-led advance, killing “dozens” of militants. Four Saudis were also killed.
Meanwhile, Riyadh stepped up airstrikes around the Yemeni capital targeting what the Saudis say were arms depots. The Houthis, however, say the aerial bombardment is inflicting untold civilian casualties, mostly women and children. Here's Reuters:
Coalition Arab bombings killed around 58 people across Yemen on Wednesday and Thursday, the state news agency Saba, controlled by the Houthis, said.
48 people, most of them women and children, were killed in air strikes on their houses in the Houthi heartland in the rural far north adjoining Saudi Arabia.
The reports could not be independently verified.
On Saturday, Riyadh claimed the Houthis, in concert with forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, fired a scud missile at Saudi Arabia for the first time.
The scud, which apparently targeted the city of Khamis Mushait in southwest Saudi Arabia, was intercepted by two Patriot missiles. “At 2:45am on Saturday morning, the Houthi militias and ousted [president] Ali Abdullah Saleh launched a Scud missile in the direction of Khamees al-Mushait, and praise be to God, the Royal Saudi air defences blocked it with a Patriot missile," a statement said.
Khamis Mushait is home to the US-desiged and constructed King Khalid Air Force base, from which airstrikes on Houthi positions have been launched throughout the conflict.
(King Khalid Air Force Base)
Friday’s attack by Abdullah Saleh’s Republican Guard and the Houthis in the Jizan province was billed as the largest “offensive” mounted by the rebels since the onset of hostilities months ago. The fighting reportedly began when rebels fired rockets at Saudi positions and promptly ended when the Saudi army called in air support from Apache gunships.
Note that this latest escalation comes a month and a half after Saudi Arabia declared a George Bush-style "mission accomplished"-type end to operation Decisive Storm, claiming the 'coalition' airstrikes had "successfully eliminated the threat to the security of Saudi Arabia."
The declaration looks to have been a bit premature.
The Houthis are scheduled to attend peace talks in Geneva on June 14. That is unless the Saudis launch a ground invasion in the interim.
Doomer Doug
TB Fanatic
I think we are seeing a direct link between certain actions leading to other actions that take us to the next level. Everything now going on in Yemen can be traced back to the ISIS Mosque attack that killed a bunch of Houthi Shia in Saana. This led to the Houthi launching a general offensive south towards Yemen, followed by the former leader fleeing for his life on a speedboat. Within hours of that rout, Saudi Arabia began a bombing campaign that is noted for its utter failure to prevent the Houthi Tribal Militias from openly moving in broad daylight.
Saudi Arabia just sent in a bunch of ARMED TROOPS and stormed the Shia Mosques in Eastern Saudi Arabia. Within hours of that incredibly stupid and brazen open attack on the Shia Mosques we saw a sea of rage rise up in the Shia living in Saudi Arabia. Next, we saw several equally brazen attacks on Saudi forces and sites inside of Saudi Arabia. And now we have seen a FREAKING SCUD LAUNCH AT A TARGET SAUDI ARABIAN CITY MILES AWAY FROM THE YEMEN BORDER. It is called escalation and there will be no backing off by either Iran or the Houthi Tribal Militias now. I posted a while back that Iran had given the tribal militias missiles capable of striking 300 miles inside of Saudi Arabia. We now have a situation similar to the HAMAS in Gaza launching into Israel between the Iranian proxy and the Saudi Arabian military. Nor should one be impressed with the fact the Patriot missiles "shot down," the two inbound Scud missiles. The Scud launched were relatively primitive missiles these days. I am waiting for Iran to authorize the launch of the "good stuff."
I am telling you all quite plainly that if Iran's proxy starts multiple launches at targets up to 300 miles inside of Saudi Arabia the level of conflict is going to skyrocket.
I will also repeat the USA, even under our Moron in Chief Obama will NEVER ALLOW A DIRECT THREAT TO THE HOUSE OF SAUD TO STAND. We will never allow the House of Saud to collapse. WHATEVER THE USA HAS TO DO TO KEEP THE HOUSE OF SAUD INTACT AND IN CONTROL OF THE OIL WE WILL DO. And if that means sending in another 500,000 troops to kick ass we are going to do that.
Saudi Arabia just sent in a bunch of ARMED TROOPS and stormed the Shia Mosques in Eastern Saudi Arabia. Within hours of that incredibly stupid and brazen open attack on the Shia Mosques we saw a sea of rage rise up in the Shia living in Saudi Arabia. Next, we saw several equally brazen attacks on Saudi forces and sites inside of Saudi Arabia. And now we have seen a FREAKING SCUD LAUNCH AT A TARGET SAUDI ARABIAN CITY MILES AWAY FROM THE YEMEN BORDER. It is called escalation and there will be no backing off by either Iran or the Houthi Tribal Militias now. I posted a while back that Iran had given the tribal militias missiles capable of striking 300 miles inside of Saudi Arabia. We now have a situation similar to the HAMAS in Gaza launching into Israel between the Iranian proxy and the Saudi Arabian military. Nor should one be impressed with the fact the Patriot missiles "shot down," the two inbound Scud missiles. The Scud launched were relatively primitive missiles these days. I am waiting for Iran to authorize the launch of the "good stuff."
I am telling you all quite plainly that if Iran's proxy starts multiple launches at targets up to 300 miles inside of Saudi Arabia the level of conflict is going to skyrocket.
I will also repeat the USA, even under our Moron in Chief Obama will NEVER ALLOW A DIRECT THREAT TO THE HOUSE OF SAUD TO STAND. We will never allow the House of Saud to collapse. WHATEVER THE USA HAS TO DO TO KEEP THE HOUSE OF SAUD INTACT AND IN CONTROL OF THE OIL WE WILL DO. And if that means sending in another 500,000 troops to kick ass we are going to do that.
Here's the map from Zero Hedge.....
http://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/images/user92183/imageroot/2015/06/KhamizMushait.jpg
ETA: Might as well add the thread on the "Scud" and link to Norbert Brugge's site while I'm at it......
The Soviet "Scud" missile family
Started by Housecarlý, Yesterday 01:04 PM
http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/showthread.php?469437-The-Soviet-quot-Scud-quot-missile-family
For links see article source.....
Posted for fair use.....
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/06/06/yemen-security-saudi-idUSL5N0YS02Z20150606
Industries | Sat Jun 6, 2015 3:15pm EDT
Related: Yemen, Industrials
UPDATE 6-Scud missile fired at Saudi Arabia as 38 Yemenis reported killed
* Saudi says its Patriot missiles shoot down Yemeni Scud
* First ballistic missile launch in over two months of war
* Saudi-owned TV reports escalation of border clashes
* U.N. says peace talks will be launched on June 14 (adds reported death toll in bombings)
By Noah Browning and Mohammed Ghobari
DUBAI/SANAA, June 6 (Reuters) - Yemen's dominant Houthi group and its army allies fired a Scud missile at Saudi Arabia which the kingdom said it shot down on Saturday, in a major escalation of two months of war.
Arab air strikes and shelling after the attack killed 38 Yemenis in provinces near Saudi Arabia, according to reports in the Houthi-controlled state news agency Saba which could not be immediately confirmed.
In the first reported use of a ballistic missile in the conflict, the Scud was fired on Saturday morning at the city of Khamees Mushait in the kingdom's southwest and was intercepted by two Patriot missiles, a statement by the Saudi military said.
The area is home to the largest air force base in southern Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, but there are no oil facilities in the vicinity.
Al Masira, the Houthi group's official channel, confirmed the launch and said it targeted the King Khaled air base.
An alliance of Gulf Arab nations has been bombing Yemen's Houthi militia and allied army units loyal to powerful ex-President Ali Abdullah Saleh since March 26 in an attempt to restore exiled President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to power.
Yemen's official Saba news outlet said Saudi shelling and air strikes hit a camp for displaced people, a medical centre and a school in the border province of Hajja, killing 28 people, and bombings elsewhere in the north killed 10 others.
It was not immediately possible to confirm the reports among residents of the remote border areas, which are cut off from telephone lines and are often the scene of clashes between Houthi and Saudi forces.
Saturday's violence came despite progress toward United Nations-backed peace talks planned for Geneva this month, to which both the exiled government and the Houthis have agreed.
The United Nations said on Saturday it would convene the talks on June 14, and renewed a call for a pause in hostilities. "This could also help create an atmosphere that is more conducive for peaceful dialogue," a spokesman said.
The coalition has said a main goal of its war effort is to neutralise the threat that rockets in Yemen pose to Saudi Arabia and its neighbours.
The alliance's spokesman, Saudi Brigadier General Ahmed Asseri, said in April that it had removed the threat from heavy weapons. He later appeared to step back from that assertion, saying that 80 percent of the 300 or so missiles had been destroyed - a figure he repeated on Saturday.
"Praise God, we have air defence forces capable of blocking these kinds of rockets, destroying them and thwarting attempts like this," he added.
The Sunni Muslim coalition states fear the Houthi movement, from a Shi'ite sect in north Yemen, will act as a proxy for their arch-rival in the region, Shi'ite Iran.
Iran and the Houthis deny any military or economic links, and the Houthis say their seizure of the capital Sanaa in September and their advance southward is part of a revolution against a corrupt government.
BORDER BATTLE
Arab air strikes have pounded arms and missile stores in the capital Sanaa and other military bases in Yemen almost daily.
The 11-metre-long (35-foot) Scuds have ranges of 300 km (200 miles) and more. The Cold War era ordnance has been used in internal conflicts in Syria and Libya and was fired by Saddam Hussein's Iraq at Saudi Arabia in the 1991 Gulf War.
Saleh, Yemen's autocrat president from 1978 to 2012, was forced to step down amid Arab Spring street protests but retains most of the army's loyalty and has joined forces with the Houthis in combat with Hadi's armed backers in Yemen's south.
His forces traded Scud missile fire with southern separatists in a 1994 civil war.
Al Arabiya TV described overnight ground fighting along the border as the largest attack yet by Houthi forces and Yemen's republican guard, a unit close to Saleh.
"It was the first confrontation undertaken by Saleh's (Republican) guard, and coalition planes and Saudi Apache (helicopters) undertook ground fire for 10 hours," said Al Arabiya's correspondent in the southern Jizan region.
Hamed al-Bukhaiti, a Houthi spokesman, indicated that the group was escalating attacks along the border. "We've only just begun, and next time will be stronger," he said on his Twitter page.
Saudi-led forces said on Friday that four Saudi soldiers, including two officers, were killed after an attack was launched from the Yemeni side on border areas in Jizan and Najran.
Residents in the southern city of Aden said heavy artillery battles resumed after a pause of several days on Saturday, in clashes which killed around 10 Houthi fighters and three pro-Hadi militiamen.
Ahead of the U.N. peace talks, a Houthi delegation left on Saturday for talks in Russia on the situation in Yemen, Houthi official Daifallah al-Shami said, without providing details.
Russia was the only country in the 15-member United Nations Security Council that abstained from a resolution in April calling on the group to recognise Hadi's authority and quit Yemen's main cities. (Additional reporting by Michelle Nichols at the United Nations and Mostafa Hashem; Editing by William Hardy and Dominic Evans)
Posted for fair use.....
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/06/06/yemen-security-saudi-idUSL5N0YS02Z20150606
Industries | Sat Jun 6, 2015 3:15pm EDT
Related: Yemen, Industrials
UPDATE 6-Scud missile fired at Saudi Arabia as 38 Yemenis reported killed
* Saudi says its Patriot missiles shoot down Yemeni Scud
* First ballistic missile launch in over two months of war
* Saudi-owned TV reports escalation of border clashes
* U.N. says peace talks will be launched on June 14 (adds reported death toll in bombings)
By Noah Browning and Mohammed Ghobari
DUBAI/SANAA, June 6 (Reuters) - Yemen's dominant Houthi group and its army allies fired a Scud missile at Saudi Arabia which the kingdom said it shot down on Saturday, in a major escalation of two months of war.
Arab air strikes and shelling after the attack killed 38 Yemenis in provinces near Saudi Arabia, according to reports in the Houthi-controlled state news agency Saba which could not be immediately confirmed.
In the first reported use of a ballistic missile in the conflict, the Scud was fired on Saturday morning at the city of Khamees Mushait in the kingdom's southwest and was intercepted by two Patriot missiles, a statement by the Saudi military said.
The area is home to the largest air force base in southern Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, but there are no oil facilities in the vicinity.
Al Masira, the Houthi group's official channel, confirmed the launch and said it targeted the King Khaled air base.
An alliance of Gulf Arab nations has been bombing Yemen's Houthi militia and allied army units loyal to powerful ex-President Ali Abdullah Saleh since March 26 in an attempt to restore exiled President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to power.
Yemen's official Saba news outlet said Saudi shelling and air strikes hit a camp for displaced people, a medical centre and a school in the border province of Hajja, killing 28 people, and bombings elsewhere in the north killed 10 others.
It was not immediately possible to confirm the reports among residents of the remote border areas, which are cut off from telephone lines and are often the scene of clashes between Houthi and Saudi forces.
Saturday's violence came despite progress toward United Nations-backed peace talks planned for Geneva this month, to which both the exiled government and the Houthis have agreed.
The United Nations said on Saturday it would convene the talks on June 14, and renewed a call for a pause in hostilities. "This could also help create an atmosphere that is more conducive for peaceful dialogue," a spokesman said.
The coalition has said a main goal of its war effort is to neutralise the threat that rockets in Yemen pose to Saudi Arabia and its neighbours.
The alliance's spokesman, Saudi Brigadier General Ahmed Asseri, said in April that it had removed the threat from heavy weapons. He later appeared to step back from that assertion, saying that 80 percent of the 300 or so missiles had been destroyed - a figure he repeated on Saturday.
"Praise God, we have air defence forces capable of blocking these kinds of rockets, destroying them and thwarting attempts like this," he added.
The Sunni Muslim coalition states fear the Houthi movement, from a Shi'ite sect in north Yemen, will act as a proxy for their arch-rival in the region, Shi'ite Iran.
Iran and the Houthis deny any military or economic links, and the Houthis say their seizure of the capital Sanaa in September and their advance southward is part of a revolution against a corrupt government.
BORDER BATTLE
Arab air strikes have pounded arms and missile stores in the capital Sanaa and other military bases in Yemen almost daily.
The 11-metre-long (35-foot) Scuds have ranges of 300 km (200 miles) and more. The Cold War era ordnance has been used in internal conflicts in Syria and Libya and was fired by Saddam Hussein's Iraq at Saudi Arabia in the 1991 Gulf War.
Saleh, Yemen's autocrat president from 1978 to 2012, was forced to step down amid Arab Spring street protests but retains most of the army's loyalty and has joined forces with the Houthis in combat with Hadi's armed backers in Yemen's south.
His forces traded Scud missile fire with southern separatists in a 1994 civil war.
Al Arabiya TV described overnight ground fighting along the border as the largest attack yet by Houthi forces and Yemen's republican guard, a unit close to Saleh.
"It was the first confrontation undertaken by Saleh's (Republican) guard, and coalition planes and Saudi Apache (helicopters) undertook ground fire for 10 hours," said Al Arabiya's correspondent in the southern Jizan region.
Hamed al-Bukhaiti, a Houthi spokesman, indicated that the group was escalating attacks along the border. "We've only just begun, and next time will be stronger," he said on his Twitter page.
Saudi-led forces said on Friday that four Saudi soldiers, including two officers, were killed after an attack was launched from the Yemeni side on border areas in Jizan and Najran.
Residents in the southern city of Aden said heavy artillery battles resumed after a pause of several days on Saturday, in clashes which killed around 10 Houthi fighters and three pro-Hadi militiamen.
Ahead of the U.N. peace talks, a Houthi delegation left on Saturday for talks in Russia on the situation in Yemen, Houthi official Daifallah al-Shami said, without providing details.
Russia was the only country in the 15-member United Nations Security Council that abstained from a resolution in April calling on the group to recognise Hadi's authority and quit Yemen's main cities. (Additional reporting by Michelle Nichols at the United Nations and Mostafa Hashem; Editing by William Hardy and Dominic Evans)
Doomer Doug
TB Fanatic
Housecarl, the fecal material is starting to fly. "Official Reports," indicate the Houthi have 300 Scud Missiles under their full operational control. Granted, many/most of them date back decades. I am unsure if they are the latest version of Scud C type. Russia has been upgrading them decade by decade, although I am not sure they are still making them. My understanding is they use liquid propellant which is very obsolete fueling method these days. You also have to fuel them up which takes several hours and leaves you vulnerable to air strikes.
At any rate, this is a MAJOR ESCALATION and I have no doubt House of Saud is seriously freaking out at direct missile launches on their main southern air base. It looks like the Houthi are now starting a general offensive north towards Saudi Arabia, east towards Al Qaida of the Arabian Peninsula, and south towards the coastline. The Houthi have effectively sealed the entrance to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal with the missile batteries on the two islands.
Saudi Arabia is proving its military is not very good. The House of Saud is going to lose a lot of credibility if the Houthi are able to fire missiles up to 300 miles inside of Saudi Arabia at will. The fact they lost control of the Yemen border post is also a huge dot in my view. Yep, the USA is going to have to step up to the plate or we will be dealing with a situation like the fall of the Shah in Iran in 1979.
Yemeni fighters capture Saudi Najran post, attack King Khalid air base
2015-05-26 05:34:15
Najran
Fighters of Houthi led Yemeni coalition of Shia-Sunni tribesmen and the army, together with popular resistance committees, have taken control of a Saudi military base in retaliation to Riyadh's ongoing air campaign against their country.
Ansarullah fighters and forces of the popular committees recaptured the base in the al-Makhrouq region of the southwestern Saudi province of Najran during an operation late Monday.
Several military equipment and vehicles were destroyed in the operation.
Meanwhile, as per sources, the Yemeni tribesmen supported by the army have attacked the strategic King Khalid Air Base in southwestern Saudi Arabia near the city of Khamis Mushait.
The Yemeni army and the popular units have also scored major gains against al-Qaeda terrorists in the central Ma’rib Province. The Yemeni forces are also taking positions in region which will enable them to defeat the remnant of the Takfiri group in future.
The development comes as the Yemeni fighters and army allies on Monday attacked a Saudi military base near the border area of Tuwayliq in Sa’ada Province.
This is the latest in a series of attacks by Ansarullah as well as tribal forces against Saudi border positions over the past few weeks.
The Yemeni army, backed by popular committee forces, also on Monday destroyed four Saudi tanks after storming a base in Saudi Arabia’s southwestern city of Jezan.
A Yemeni boy stands amidst the rubble of houses destroyed by a Saudi airstrike on a residential area last month, in the capital Sana'a on May 18, 2015
Yemenis say the attacks are in retaliation for Saudi airstrikes that have continued unabated for two months now.
Saudi warplanes continue pounding Yemen, targeting several areas across the impoverished Arab nation.
Saudi airstrikes
Meanwhile, at least nine people were killed in the early hours of Tuesday in a Saudi airstrike on the Jabal Sabir district of the southwestern province of Ta’izz.
On Monday, airstrikes hit the southern city of Aden as well as the provinces of Sa’ada and Hajjah.
According to the UN, since March, nearly 2,000 people have been killed and 7,330 injured due to the conflict in Yemen.
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) says the Saudi aggression against Yemen has claimed the lives of more than 130 children over the past two months.
“Since the conflict escalated in March, as many as 135 children have been killed and 260 injured,” the UNICEF said in a statement on Sunday.
The UN body said that one-third of the deaths occurred in Yemen’s southern coastal city of Aden that has been hit by violent clashes over the past few days.
News 786 Team
At any rate, this is a MAJOR ESCALATION and I have no doubt House of Saud is seriously freaking out at direct missile launches on their main southern air base. It looks like the Houthi are now starting a general offensive north towards Saudi Arabia, east towards Al Qaida of the Arabian Peninsula, and south towards the coastline. The Houthi have effectively sealed the entrance to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal with the missile batteries on the two islands.
Saudi Arabia is proving its military is not very good. The House of Saud is going to lose a lot of credibility if the Houthi are able to fire missiles up to 300 miles inside of Saudi Arabia at will. The fact they lost control of the Yemen border post is also a huge dot in my view. Yep, the USA is going to have to step up to the plate or we will be dealing with a situation like the fall of the Shah in Iran in 1979.
Yemeni fighters capture Saudi Najran post, attack King Khalid air base
2015-05-26 05:34:15
Najran
Fighters of Houthi led Yemeni coalition of Shia-Sunni tribesmen and the army, together with popular resistance committees, have taken control of a Saudi military base in retaliation to Riyadh's ongoing air campaign against their country.
Ansarullah fighters and forces of the popular committees recaptured the base in the al-Makhrouq region of the southwestern Saudi province of Najran during an operation late Monday.
Several military equipment and vehicles were destroyed in the operation.
Meanwhile, as per sources, the Yemeni tribesmen supported by the army have attacked the strategic King Khalid Air Base in southwestern Saudi Arabia near the city of Khamis Mushait.
The Yemeni army and the popular units have also scored major gains against al-Qaeda terrorists in the central Ma’rib Province. The Yemeni forces are also taking positions in region which will enable them to defeat the remnant of the Takfiri group in future.
The development comes as the Yemeni fighters and army allies on Monday attacked a Saudi military base near the border area of Tuwayliq in Sa’ada Province.
This is the latest in a series of attacks by Ansarullah as well as tribal forces against Saudi border positions over the past few weeks.
The Yemeni army, backed by popular committee forces, also on Monday destroyed four Saudi tanks after storming a base in Saudi Arabia’s southwestern city of Jezan.
A Yemeni boy stands amidst the rubble of houses destroyed by a Saudi airstrike on a residential area last month, in the capital Sana'a on May 18, 2015
Yemenis say the attacks are in retaliation for Saudi airstrikes that have continued unabated for two months now.
Saudi warplanes continue pounding Yemen, targeting several areas across the impoverished Arab nation.
Saudi airstrikes
Meanwhile, at least nine people were killed in the early hours of Tuesday in a Saudi airstrike on the Jabal Sabir district of the southwestern province of Ta’izz.
On Monday, airstrikes hit the southern city of Aden as well as the provinces of Sa’ada and Hajjah.
According to the UN, since March, nearly 2,000 people have been killed and 7,330 injured due to the conflict in Yemen.
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) says the Saudi aggression against Yemen has claimed the lives of more than 130 children over the past two months.
“Since the conflict escalated in March, as many as 135 children have been killed and 260 injured,” the UNICEF said in a statement on Sunday.
The UN body said that one-third of the deaths occurred in Yemen’s southern coastal city of Aden that has been hit by violent clashes over the past few days.
News 786 Team