Middle East: UK 'undaunted' after warship attacked by Houthi drone

Summary

The transcript discusses escalating military tensions in the Red Sea region, including recent attacks on the UK's HMS Diamond warship by Houthi rebels using drones and missiles. It examines the strategic significance and vulnerabilities of the area and the challenges of patrolling such a large zone. It also covers the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Gaza resulting from ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, including high casualties and displacement. Despite international pressure and protests, there appears no end in sight for either crisis.

Takeaways

• 😟 The situation in the Red Sea continues to escalate, with more attacks on ships despite military efforts
• 👀 New footage shows HMS Diamond intercepting and destroying a drone, the latest of several attacks the ship has faced
• 🌊 Attacks are now occurring across a wide area of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, making it difficult for a limited naval presence to fully protect shipping
• 🛡️ Military action against Houthi capabilities may have some impact but is unlikely to solve the threat they pose in the Red Sea
• 😔 The halting of UN funding over Gaza controversies is negatively impacting humanitarian efforts there
• 😰 The situation for civilians in Gaza is dire, with high casualties and displacement as fighting intensifies
• ✌️ Attempts at a ceasefire and hostage release have so far failed, with Netanyahu resisting pressure to end the conflict
• ☮️ Hamas is no military match for Israel's forces, but Iran supports them to put pressure on the US over the Red Sea crisis
• 👎 Netanyahu may feel increasingly isolated, but there seems no closer to an end to the Gaza crisis
• 😕 Overall, no imminent resolution appears likely for either the Red Sea or Gaza conflicts

Q & A

What is Operation Prosperity Guardian and what is its purpose?

Operation Prosperity Guardian is an international military effort to provide protection for merchant shipping in the Red Sea region against Houthi rebel attacks.

What kind of attacks have been carried out against the HMS Diamond recently?

The HMS Diamond has faced multiple attacks in recent months including drone attacks and anti-ship cruise and ballistic missiles launched by Houthi rebels.

Why is it difficult to fully secure the Red Sea against Houthi attacks?

The Red Sea covers a large area making comprehensive security difficult with limited naval resources. The narrow Bab al-Mandab Strait is only 20 miles across but Houthis are now attacking up and down the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

How are Western forces attempting to counter Houthi capabilities?

Western forces are trying to target Houthi radars, missile systems, and military command and control infrastructure to degrade their attack capabilities.

What is the impact on Gaza of delayed UNRWA funding?

The delayed UNRWA funding has heavily impacted Gaza with over 26,400 Palestinians killed, 68,000 injured, and a worsening humanitarian situation according to Hamas.

Where is the current fighting concentrated in Gaza?

The fighting is concentrated around Khan Younis, which is the power base of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

What kind of pressure is building on Netanyahu regarding the conflict?

There is growing international pressure on Netanyahu to do more to prevent casualties and potential genocide. He may feel increasingly isolated.

What role does Iran play in the conflicts?

Iran supports both Hamas against Israel and the Houthis against the Saudi-led coalition, allowing it to pressure the US and its allies on multiple fronts.

Is there hope for a ceasefire agreement soon?

There was potential for a US-brokered 2-month ceasefire and prisoner exchange but Netanyahu rejected it. No end to the conflicts appears imminent.

What military factors prevent a definitive resolution?

Hamas and Houthis can't match Israeli and Saudi military power but remain able to continue attacks. There is no clear military path to fully stopping their capabilities.

Outlines

00:00

😞Escalating Situation in Red Sea Despite International Military Efforts

Paragraph 1 discusses the escalating situation in the Red Sea despite international military efforts like Operation Prosperity Guardian. It highlights the recent interception and destruction of a drone by HMS Diamond, one of several attacks the ship has faced. The paragraph explains why it is difficult to stop these attacks given the vast area ships need to patrol and the intent and capability of the Houthis.

😓Worsening Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza Despite Military Action

Paragraph 2 talks about the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with over 26,400 Palestinians killed and 68,000 injured so far. It mentions the controversy surrounding UN funding being cut and the impact on aid efforts. The paragraph also notes that despite IDF's military superiority, there seems to be no end in sight for the over 3 month long conflict.

Keywords

💡Red Sea

The Red Sea is the location where recent military escalations and attacks have taken place. It is a strategic region where shipping channels are vulnerable to attacks from Houthi rebels in Yemen using drones and missiles. The attacks showcase the intensifying conflict and instability in the region.

💡military escalation

There has been an increase or 'escalation' in military activity and tensions in the Red Sea region, including recent drone and missile attacks on merchant ships and the HMS Diamond navy vessel. This escalation relates to the worsening conflict between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition.

💡HMS Diamond

A British navy ship that has been patrolling the Red Sea and intercepting Houthi rebel attacks. It exemplifies the direct threat to military assets in the region and the courage of navy crews facing these attacks.

💡drone attacks

The Houthi rebels have been increasingly using explosive drones to attack ships in the Red Sea. The video analysis focuses especially on a recent attempted drone strike on HMS Diamond that was intercepted. It demonstrates the asymmetric military capabilities being used against naval forces.

💡humanitarian crisis

The conflict between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza has created immense suffering for civilians and a humanitarian emergency. Over 26,000 Palestinians have been killed and 68,000 injured so far. The crisis reveals the human impact of escalating violence.

💡military solution

The video host concludes that the conflicts in Gaza and the Red Sea cannot be solved by military means alone. Despite degradation of Hamas, Israel is not safer. Diplomacy and reducing tensions are needed alongside military action.

💡Iran

Iran is referenced as a state sponsor of Houthi rebels in Yemen and Hamas militants in Gaza, indirectly exacerbating both conflicts by providing weapons, finance and training to these groups. Its role illustrates the geopolitical tensions underlying the regional instability.

💡asymmetric warfare

Groups like Hamas and the Houthis have relied on asymmetric tactics such as drone and missile strikes to attack better equipped conventional military forces. The video focuses especially on Houthi asymmetric attacks.

💡ceasefire

The lack of ceasefires allowing humanitarian access or prisoner exchanges shows the intensity of violence and unlikelihood of imminent conflict resolution in Gaza and Yemen.

💡shipping lanes

Commercial shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden are being threatened by long-range Houthi rebel attacks using anti-ship missiles and explosive drones. The vulnerability of global trade routes is emphasized.

Highlights

The situation in the Red Sea is escalating with continued attacks on Royal Navy ships by Houthi rebels

HMS Diamond destroyed a drone in the latest attack, the third time it has been involved in intercepting drones and missiles

Patrolling the Red Sea is difficult due to its size, so some attacks are likely to get through despite military efforts

Targeting Houthi radars and military infrastructure may impact their capabilities but won't solve the problem

The UN does vital humanitarian work in Gaza, so suspending funding over an incident involving 0.1% of staff is unfortunate

Over 26,400 Palestinians have been killed and 68,000 injured so far in the conflict

Fighting near Khan Yunis has caused more displacement as a 2 square mile tent city is set up near Rafah crossing

There was potential for a ceasefire and hostage release brokered by the US, but Israel rejected it

Iran supports Hamas to put pressure on the US regarding the conflict in the Red Sea

International pressure is growing on Israel over civilian casualties, but a military solution seems unlikely

Protests in Tel Aviv show frustration over lack of progress in securing hostage releases

Hamas is no military match for Israel's forces, though attacks continue with Iran's support

Netanyahu may feel increasingly isolated, but no end to the conflict appears imminent

The Red Sea situation is worsening with no clear path to resolution

The Israel-Gaza conflict continues to cause massive casualties with no end in sight

Transcripts

the situation in the Red Sea it just

doesn't seem to be improving what's your

take really on the the military efforts

that are on underway to stop it and do

you think it's going to be enough well

it's definitely um escalating at the

moment isn't it Prosperity Guardian was

that International effort to provide an

umbrella military umbrella protecting

Merchant shipping in the region but we

got footage released by the mod last

night uh that shows HMS Diamond

intercepting and then destroying uh the

Drone we can see the missile system

there's the explosion as it as it goes

um it's um and you got to remember this

is an attack on a royal Navy ship you

imagine what the crew feel like at the

time it's incredible bravery and the

courage and professionalism of the crew

quite frankly this is the third attack

that Diamond's been involved in up to

now um 15th of December it took out a

drone that was the first time the Royal

Navy had intercepted um some sort of

drone for 40 years since the Gulf War in

91 and on 9th of January diamond and its

us colleagues were involved in a whole

host of attacks where 18 drones were

launched at them two anti- ship um

cruise missiles one anti ship ballistic

missile so it's been a busy time um for

the ships now if we look at the map of

the region we can actually see why it's

going to be quite difficult for the um

for these attacks to um to be stopped

initially The babal mandab Straits which

is between Yemen and the um border is

about 20 miles across so you can

actually see shipping there that's where

the the yemenese were originally the hu

is originally targeting now it's up and

down the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aiden

that's a huge area now for a limited

number of ships to patrol so inevitably

enough attacks and sooner or later some

of them get through now the West is

actually trying to Target The houthi

Radars their missile systems their

military command and control setup but

that's the capability the intent from

the houthis you're not going to stop

them at all and therefore whilst the

military action will have some impact on

the houthis on the ground it isn't going

to solve the problem in the Red Sea can

we talk very briefly about the situation

in Gaza today as well well that we've

been talking a lot about the controversy

surrounding um what's been happening the

the funding being postponed for onra

what's the situation on the ground like

in Gaza at the moment well from a

military perspective the unrra thing is

very unfortunate I think the 12 people

alleged to have been involved on that

fateful day of 7th of October but it's

worth setting in context there are 3,000

core United Nations personel on the

ground in Gaza 13,000 total lined so it

represents less than 0.1% of the total

and the UN do an amazing job is reliant

on their support and therefore by

stopping the funding Hamas have released

today over 26,400 Palestinians have been

killed so far 68,000 injured and the

humanitarian situation on the ground is

sparring out of control now they're

fighting around car Unis that's getting

intent that's the home of Yaya Sina um

who's the head of Hamas and that's

causing a load more displaced people to

move even further south there's a tent

city now that's been set up near the

Rafa crossing that's over two square

miles large um The only positive sound

was there looked to be potential for a

US broker another ceas far potentially

two months potentially releasing 100

hostages but frankly prime minister neth

yahu said no chance whatsoever um even

though that in Tel Aviv there's been

lots of protests about are you doing

enough to release our hostages here we

are almost three well over three months

now into this conflict are we any closer

though to to seeing the end of it um

from the the red sca no I mean it's

worth just reminding viewers that Hamas

is no match militarily for the IDF Iran

supports Hamas but also supports thethis

by getting the houth involved in the Red

Sea it puts more pressure on America to

draw the war to to a whole International

pressure is growing on prime minister

Netanyahu not only the international

court of justice that said they've got

to do more to sort of prevent any any

genocide going on casualties contingent

amount as a military guy there's never

been a military solution to what's going

on there and May well be degraded but

has that really made Israel a safer

Place Netanyahu may be feeling

increasingly isolated but we don't seem

to be getting any closer to the end of

the war anytime soon