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U.S. NEWS Friday 5 January 2024

Houthis launch sea drone to attack ships hours after U.S., allies

issue 'final warning'

By TARA COPP "Let our message now be
Associated Press clear: we call for the im-
WASHINGTON (AP) — An mediate end of these ille-
armed unmanned sur- gal attacks and release of
face vessel launched unlawfully detained ves-
from Houthi-controlled Ye- sels and crews," the coun-
men got within a "couple tries said in the statement.
of miles" of U.S. Navy and "The Houthis will bear the
commercial vessels in the responsibility of the conse-
Red Sea before detonating quences should they con-
on Thursday, just hours after tinue to threaten lives, the
the White House and a host global economy, and free
of partner nations issued a flow of commerce in the
"final warning" to the Iran- region's critical waterways."
backed militia group to Since late October, the
cease the attacks or face Houthis have launched
potential military action. scores of one-way attack
Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, drones and missiles at com-
the head of U.S. Navy op- mercial vessels transiting
erations in the Middle East, the Red Sea. U.S. Navy war-
said it was the first time the ships have also intercepted
Houthis had used an un- ballistic missiles the Pen-
manned surface vessel, tagon says were headed
or USV, since their harass- U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, who heads the Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, speaks at an toward Israel. Cooper said
ment of commercial ships event at the International Defense Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, a total of 61 missiles and
in the Red Sea began after Feb. 21, 2023. Associated Press drones have been shot
the outbreak of the Israel- down by U.S. warships.
Hamas war. They have, are likely assembled in Ye- deeply involved in plan- This raises questions as to In response to the Houthi
however, used them in men but often fitted with ning the Houthis' attacks on whether any action against attacks, Defense Secretary
years past. components made in Iran, commercial vessels in the the Houthis would also ad- Lloyd Austin in December
Fabian Hinz, a missile ex- such as computerized guid- Red Sea. dress Iran's role in any way, announced Operation
pert and research fellow ance systems, Hinz said. He said the United States which could risk widening Prosperity Guardian, with
at the International Institute At the United Nations, U.S. isn't seeking a confronta- the conflict. the United States and other
for Strategic Studies, said deputy ambassador Chris- tion with Iran, but Tehran A statement Wednesday countries sending addi-
the USV's are a key part of topher Lu said at a emer- has a choice. signed by the United States, tional ships to the southern
the Houthi maritime arse- gency Security Council "It can continue its current Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Red Sea to provide protec-
nal and were used during meeting on Wednesday course," Lu said, "or it can Canada, Denmark, Ger- tion for commercial vessels
previous battles against the that Iran has supplied the withhold its support without many, Italy, Japan, Neth- passing through the critical
Saudi coalition forces that Houthis with money and which the Houthis would erlands, New Zealand, Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
intervened in Yemen's war. advanced weapons sys- struggle to effectively track Singapore and the United Cooper said 1,500 commer-
They have regularly been tems, including drones, and strike commercial ves- Kingdom gave the Houthis cial ships have been able
used as suicide drone boats land attack cruise mis- sels navigating shipping what a senior Biden admin- to transit safely since the
that explode upon impact. siles and ballistic missiles. lanes through the Red Sea istration official described operation was launched
Most of the Houthis' USVs He said Iran also has been and Gulf of Aden." as a final warning. on Dec. 18.q

Bomb threats prompt evacuations of government

buildings in several states, but no explosives found

By MICHAEL GOLDBERG states prompted lockdowns shay Lawson, a spokesperson
Associated Press at multiple state capitols for the FBI's Jackson Division,
JACKSON, Miss (AP) — Gov- Wednesday. The threats also said in a statement. "While
ernment buildings in several follow a spate of false reports we have no information to
states were evacuated Thurs- of shootings at the homes of indicate a specific and cred-
day following bomb threats, public officials in recent days. ible threat, we will continue
causing brief disruptions for In Jackson, Mississippi, officials to work with our local, state,
the second day in a row in said the state Supreme Court, and federal law enforcement
some places. which is across the street from partners."
The Mississippi Capitol and the state Capitol building, A spokesperson for the Hawaii
courthouses in Arkansas, received a bomb threat. State Judiciary said Hawaii
Hawaii, Maine, Montana Bomb-sniffing dogs circled courthouses and the federal Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch walks past the Mississippi
and New Hampshire were the building before officials courthouse in Honolulu both State Capitol as the Capitol Police respond to a bomb threat
evacuated or searched, but cleared the area. received a mass email say- at the statehouse and the Mississippi Supreme Court building in
no explosives were immedi- The FBI said it was aware of ing explosives were placed Jackson, Miss., Thursday morning, Jan. 4, 2024.
ately found, and the buildings "numerous hoax incidents" in court facilities. The mes- Associated Press
were reopened to the public. Thursday. sage appears to have been many states on Wednesday, interiors of state courthouse
The latest round of evacua- "The FBI takes hoax threats sent "by the same person/ spokesperson Jan Kagehiro buildings to confirm there
tions comes after an emailed very seriously because it puts entity" that sent similar threats said in an emailed statement. was no threat, but facilities
threat to officials in several innocent people at risk," Mar- to state capitol buildings in Sheriffs were sweeping the remained open, she said.q