UK Defense Secretary insists latest strikes are "not an escalation" and were designed to "protect innocent lives and preserve freedom of navigation." The US-led coalition conducted strikes on 36 Houthi targets across 13 locations in Yemen on Saturday in response to the movement’s continued attacks against international and commercial shipping in the Red Sea‚ the coalition said in a joint statement‚ issued by the Pentagon. “Today‚ at the direction of their respective governments‚ the militaries of the United States and United Kingdom‚ with support from Australia‚ Bahrain‚ Canada‚ Denmark‚ the Netherlands‚ and New Zealand conducted an additional round of proportionate and necessary strikes against 36 Houthi targets across 13 locations in Yemen in response to the Houthis’ continued attacks against international and commercial shipping as well as naval vessels transiting the Red Sea‚” the statement read. The coalition added that Saturday’s strikes “specifically targeted sites associated with the Houthis’ deeply buried weapons storage facilities‚ missile systems and launchers‚ air defense systems‚ and radars” and are intended to “disrupt and degrade the capabilities that the Houthis use to threaten global trade‚ and the lives of innocent mariners.” “The Houthis’ now more than 30 attacks on commercial vessels and naval vessels since mid-November constitute an international challenge‚” the statement said‚ adding that the coalition remains “committed to protecting freedom of navigation and international commerce and holding the Houthis accountable for their illegal and unjustifiable attacks on commercial shipping and naval vessels.” US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said in a statement released by the Pentagon on Saturday that the strikes “are intended to further disrupt and degrade the capabilities of the Iranian-backed Houthi militia to conduct their reckless and destabilizing attacks against U.S. and international vessels lawfully transiting the Red Sea.”Our fan-favorite Turbo Force Plus is now 40% off! See for yourself the delicious one-of-a-kind energy boost infowarriors CRAVE! Austin also said that “this collective action sends a clear message to the Houthis that they will continue to bear further consequences if they do not end their illegal attacks on international shipping and naval vessels‚” adding that the coalition of forces “will not hesitate to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the world’s most critical waterways.” UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed Saturday that the UK military engaged “a third wave of proportionate and targeted strikes” against the Houthis‚ adding that these were “not an escalation” and were designed to “protect innocent lives and preserve freedom of navigation.” “The Royal Air Force engaged in a third wave of proportionate and targeted strikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen. We acted alongside our US allies‚ with the support of many international partners‚ in self-defence and in accordance with international law. This is not an escalation. We have already successfully targeted launchers and storage sites involved in Houthi attacks‚ and I am confident that our latest strikes have further degraded the Houthis’ capabilities‚” The Guardian quoted Shapps as saying. Yemen’s Houthi rebels said in November that they would attack any Israeli-linked or Israeli-bound ships passing through the Red Sea in retaliation for the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip‚ leading the US to announce the creation of a multinational operation to secure navigation in the area. The US and the UK have launched multiple strikes against Houthi positions in a bid to degrade their ability to target commercial vessels.

Major shippers have stopped using the vital maritime route due to the ongoing Houthi attacks The Houthi rebel attacks on vessels in the Red Sea have spurred burgeoning interest in alternative routes such as the China-Europe rail route that runs through Russia’s Far East‚ CNBC reported on this week.  Companies that organize the shipment of goods have registered a sharp increase in enquiries and bookings for the route‚ according to the article. Transit via rail is attractive to shippers because it is cheaper than air freight and quicker than using ocean transportation. RailGate Europe‚ which transports goods including furniture‚ toys‚ clothes‚ and automotive parts from China through Russia to European countries‚ told CNBC that the transit time is “significantly better” than via ocean. The journey takes between 14 and 25 days depending on its origin and destination‚ according to the company’s chief business development officer‚ Julija Sciglaite. However‚ some firms have been raising concerns about sending goods via rail through Russia. “Since [the] war in Ukraine started‚ many companies were afraid to deliver their cargos via Russia as train passes [through] part of Russian territory‚” Sciglaite told CNBC. “Since [the] war started‚ [the] number of bookings decreased significantly via Russia‚ but within [the] last year‚ this route is recovering due to good transit time and prices‚” she said‚ adding that demand for rail transit had spiked since the Houthis started attacking vessels in the Red Sea.Winter Sun Plus is NOW 40% off! Boost your natural defenses with this powerful vitamin D3 and K formula! Bookings for the China-Europe rail route were up 37% over the past four weeks‚ according to Igor Tambaca‚ the managing director of the Dutch logistics company Rail Bridge Cargo. “The demand for rail exploded‚” he told the outlet‚ adding this is due to the Red Sea disruption and the Lunar New Year. According to the report‚ the EU permits sanctioned goods to be moved via rail through Russia‚ whereas road transport of sanctioned products is banned. Military goods cannot be transported through Russia at all‚ CNBC wrote.

Sicilian city rocked by nightmarish attack on young couple Italian authorities have arrested at least seven males from Egypt who are suspected of gang-raping a 13-year-old girl last week as her boyfriend was beaten and forced to watch‚ according to reports. The horrifying incident unfolded on the evening of January 30 in Catania‚ a city on the island of Sicily. The young girl and her boyfriend were approached by a pack of North Africans in the municipal gardens of Villa Bellini‚ the oldest urban park in Catania. The suspects forced the couple into public restrooms and launched a vicious attack‚ according to authorities. The victims say they cried out for help but nobody heard them or came to their aid.Save 40% on DNA Force Plus NOW! Try it today and see why so many listeners have made it an essential part of their daily routine! “The foreigners threatened the couple: while the boy was beaten‚ immobilized and kept away‚ the 13-year-old was raped by two of the suspects while the other five looked on‚” Il Giornale reports. “Panicked and in pain‚ after the second abuse the young woman found the strength to free herself from her tormentor and escape with her boyfriend.” The victims fled the scene and were helped by passersby on a nearby street. Police were quickly alerted‚ and after reviewing CCTV footage‚ they were able to apprehend a total of seven suspects. They were all identified as citizens of Egypt‚ three of whom are minors. Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini called for the suspects to be chemically castrated if found guilty. Ragazzina STUPRATA da una banda di SETTE egiziani davanti al fidanzato‚ minacciato‚ bloccato e tenuto lontano.Non venitemi a parlare di “tolleranza” o “errore”. Davanti ad orrori del genere non può esistere clemenza ma soltanto una cura: CASTRAZIONE chimica.Conto che la… pic.twitter.com/Chf9oMwte0— Matteo Salvini (@matteosalvinimi) February 3‚ 2024 “Don’t come and talk to me about ‘tolerance’ or ‘error‚'” Salvini wrote on X. “In the face of horrors of this kind there can be no clemency but only one cure: chemical CASTRATION.” “I hope that the proposal presented by the Lega will be voted on as soon as possible.” An investigation and legal proceedings are ongoing. Dan Lyman on X | Gab

from SD Bullion: TRUTH LIVES on at https://sgtreport.tv/

from ZeroHedge: Two of France’s main farming unions on Thursday agreed to suspend protests and lift road blockades across the country after the government announced measures the deemed “tangible progress” in the ongoing revolt against EU ‘climate-driven’ initiatives designed to wean society off of evil‚ non-bug-based‚ carbon-emitting food while China‚ India‚ and the rest of the world […]

NEW – Thousands of Swedes marched in Stockholm to protest taxpayer-funded news channels‚ accusing them of spreading "extreme ideologies and misinformation."pic.twitter.com/Xaeojs4KDU — Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) February 3‚ 2024

by George C. Upper III‚ Western Journal: House Speaker Mike Johnson just handed out some serious ammunition to those who have been saying — for years‚ in some cases — that Joe Biden isn’t actually running the country as president. “I’m not sure Joe Biden is actually making these decisions‚” the Louisiana Republican said of […]

from Viva Frei: TRUTH LIVES on at https://sgtreport.tv/