On November 29, 2024, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) successfully intercepted a ballistic missile fired from Yemen before it could reach Israel. The missile, which triggered air raid sirens across central Israel at approximately 6:30 a.m., was brought down outside Israel’s borders by the IDF’s Arrow defense system. While the interception occurred at a high altitude, shrapnel from the missile fell within Israeli territory.

The Magen David Adom (MDA) emergency service reported that four people were lightly injured while rushing to safe rooms in response to the sirens. Additionally, a fifth individual was treated for acute anxiety.

The missile was a surface-to-surface type, and its interception was part of ongoing efforts by the IDF to protect the country from incoming attacks. The Houthi rebels, based in Yemen and aligned with Iran’s “axis of resistance,” have fired over 220 missiles and drones at Israel since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict, which began on October 7, 2023, with a deadly attack by Hamas. The Houthis claim their missile and drone strikes are in support of Palestinians, mirroring the actions of Hamas, which is backed by Iran.

Houthi leader Abdul Malik Al-Houthi has vowed to continue the attacks on Israel, even after a truce temporarily halted hostilities between the rebels and Saudi Arabia. In a recent broadcast, Al-Houthi emphasized the Houthis’ role in supporting the Palestinian cause. “The operations from the Yemeni front to support the Palestinian people with missiles and drones towards the Israeli enemy are continuing,” he said.

In retaliation for these missile and drone attacks, Israel has targeted Houthi positions in Yemen, including an airstrike that killed a man in Tel Aviv. The Houthis have also launched a campaign of harassment against shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, disrupting vital trade routes. Since the beginning of the Gaza conflict, they have targeted over 80 merchant vessels, including some with no apparent connection to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The rebels claim that these attacks are aimed at vessels associated with Israel, the United States, or the United Kingdom, in an effort to pressure these nations to end support for Israel’s military actions against Hamas in Gaza. However, many of the targeted ships have no direct links to the conflict.

Source

The post IDF Intercepts Ballistic Missile Fired from Yemen, Four Injured in Israel appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

A New Zealand navy ship sank after hitting a reef near Samoa due to a mistake by the crew, who accidentally left the vessel on “autopilot,” an inquiry revealed on Friday.

In October, the HMNZS Manawanui struck a reef south of Samoa’s Upolu Island, causing a fire that ultimately led to the ship sinking. Dozens of sailors were rescued from the wreck. This incident marked the first time New Zealand had lost a naval ship since World War II, according to the BBC. The HMNZS Manawanui was one of just nine ships in the country’s small navy.

The ship had been sent on a mission to map the ocean floor. A military court inquiry found that the ship was left in autopilot mode, which caused it to continue heading toward land and ultimately run aground. The crew noticed the ship was off course and tried to correct its direction, thinking they had lost control due to a “thruster control failure.” However, they failed to check if the autopilot was still engaged, which led to the ship accelerating towards the reef instead of steering away from it.

The inquiry confirmed that the grounding was caused by a series of human errors. The ship’s autopilot should have been disengaged, and the person in control should have checked whether the autopilot function was still active. The mistake occurred due to “muscle memory,” where the crew member didn’t realize they hadn’t turned off the autopilot.

New Zealand’s Defense Minister, Judith Collins, described the incident as a blow to the Navy. “It was a terrible day,” she said. “It was extremely disappointing. But that’s what has happened.”

The ship came to rest about 100 feet underwater, sitting on a stable part of the reef. It was carrying 950 tons of diesel, raising concerns about a potential oil spill that could harm wildlife and damage local food sources. However, the navy has reported that the ship’s main fuel tanks appeared to remain intact, and salvage teams were working to prevent significant leaks.

Fortunately, no one died in the accident, though a few sailors sustained minor injuries.

The sinking of the HMNZS Manawanui attracted criticism online, with some social media users wrongfully blaming the ship’s female captain. These remarks were quickly condemned by New Zealand’s defense minister, who dismissed the critics as “armchair admirals.”

The incident came just weeks after another naval accident, when the U.S. Navy’s oil replenishment ship, the USNS Big Horn, ran aground off the coast of Oman. Although the damage caused flooding aboard the U.S. vessel, there were no reported injuries in that case either.

Source

The post Mistake on Autopilot Leads to Sinking of New Zealand Navy Ship appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

Israeli airstrikes have prompted Iran to reevaluate its regional relations and military strategies. With a focus on diplomacy and potential military action, Iranian leaders are weighing their options. The response could influence Iran’s international standing and its relationships with neighboring countries.

Iran’s leadership is currently considering its response to the recent Israeli airstrikes. The country has requested a meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the situation.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that while Tehran does not seek war, it will respond “appropriately” to Israel’s actions. “We do not seek war, but we will defend the rights of our nation and country,” he said during a cabinet meeting on Sunday. He emphasized that an appropriate response would be given to the “aggression of the Zionist regime.”

It remains unclear whether Pezeshkian was suggesting a direct military response or if Iran might intensify its support for regional allies like Hezbollah, or pursue diplomatic measures following the airstrikes.

His comments come amid discussions in Iran about whether the limited nature of the Israeli attack warrants a military response, and whether inaction would portray Iran as weak.

The United States has expressed concern that ongoing retaliatory strikes between the major military powers in the Middle East could escalate into a full-scale regional war.

In his first response to the attack, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the “evil committed by the Zionist regime” should not be underestimated or exaggerated. Khamenei asserted that Iran’s power needs to be demonstrated to Israel, stating that it is up to the authorities to determine how to showcase the strength and will of the Iranian people to the Israeli regime.

His remarks suggest that an immediate military response is not planned, as Iran weighs its options.

After the attack, Tehran downplayed the damage caused and President Joe Biden urged for de-escalation.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the Israeli strikes, which were launched in retaliation for a series of ballistic missiles fired by Iran earlier this month. He called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday, stating, “The Israeli regime’s actions constitute a grave threat to international peace and security and further destabilize an already fragile region.”

In a letter to the 15-member council, Araghchi asserted that Iran reserves the right to respond to these “criminal attacks” in accordance with international law.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed in a speech that the air force targeted sites across Iran. “We hit hard Iran’s defense capabilities and its ability to produce missiles aimed at us. The attack was precise and powerful, achieving all its objectives,” he stated.

According to unnamed officials cited by the New York Times, the Israeli strikes destroyed air defense systems that were meant to protect critical oil, petrochemical refineries, and a large gas field. The air defenses targeted included those near the Bandar Imam Khomeini petrochemical complex and its adjoining port.

Earlier, President Pezeshkian had expressed condolences for the loss of four Iranian soldiers in the Israeli attack. He stated, “Enemies of Iran should know that these brave individuals stand fearlessly in defense of their homeland and will respond intelligently to any foolishness.”

Javad Zarif, a former foreign minister and current strategic advisor to the government, did not threaten retaliation directly. Instead, he urged the West to abandon its outdated approach and condemn Israel’s acts of aggression. He called for joint efforts to address issues in Palestine, Gaza, and Lebanon, highlighting the need for recognizing Iran’s commitment to peace.

Iran’s mission to the UN, often used to relay messages to the West, accused the US of complicity in the attack, as Israeli warplanes allegedly operated from Iraqi airspace. They stated, “Iraqi airspace is under the occupation, command, and control of the US military. Therefore, US complicity in this crime is certain.”

The mission has also written to the UN Security Council to accuse Israel of violating Iranian sovereignty.

Araghchi noted, “The truth is evident: without America, Israel lacks significant power in the region.” He referred to the reactions from various countries in the region condemning the Israeli attack, stating, “Since yesterday, we have received numerous messages and statements condemning the attack from different countries, which is truly remarkable.”

Iran must carefully consider the potential diplomatic repercussions of further military action, especially in light of its improving relations with Arab nations, the strain on its struggling economy, and the possibility that another Israeli strike could cause even more damage than the recent attacks.

Public support for Iran’s costly foreign policy is fragile, according to recent polling conducted by the Middle East Institute.

 Source

The post Escalating Tensions: Iran Weighs Military Options After Israeli Attacks appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.