WORLD BRIEFING: January 12, 2024
U.S.-led airstrikes on Yemen’s Houthi rebels in response to their attacks on Red Sea shipping pulled the world’s focus Friday back on the yearslong war raging there, even as tensions rise across a Middle East already torn by Israel’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The strikes killed at least five people and wounded six, the Houthis said, without elaborating on what was targeted. As the bombing lit the predawn sky over multiple sites held by the Iranian-backed rebels, Saudi Arabia quickly sought to distance itself from the attacks as it seeks to maintain a delicate détente with Iran and a cease-fire in the Yemen war from which it hopes to finally withdraw.
UK PM Rishi Sunak in Kyiv today [Friday] to set out a major new package of support - increasing military funding for Ukraine next financial year to £2.5 billion & supporting largest ever commitment of drones. PM and President Zelensky will also sign a historic UK-Ukraine Agreement on Security Cooperation. Of the £2.5 billion, at least £200 million will be spent on a major push to rapidly procure and produce thousands of military drones for Ukraine, including surveillance, long-range strike and sea drones. Will give Ukraine cutting edge, battle-tested capabilities to defend their citizens and target the invading Russian forces on land and sea. This will be the largest delivery of drones to Ukraine from any nation, UK says
Ukrainian shelling and a drone strike near the city of Horlivka in the Russia-occupied region of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine has killed two people and wounded six others, Denis Pushilin, the Kremlin-backed regional leader said on January 12. The U.S. State Department on January 11 imposed sanctions on three Russian entities and one individual involved in the transfer and testing of North Korea's ballistic missiles for Russia's use against Ukraine, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said - RFE/RL
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia plans to launch an offensive in Ukraine ahead of the presidential election in March in hopes of achieving "some small tactical victories" before launching "something global or massive afterward."
Israel's plan to "destroy" Gaza comes from "the highest level of state", the UN's top court has heard. The claims were made by South African lawyers as it presented its case accusing Israel of genocide at the International Court of Justice. South Africa also called on the court to order Israel to cease military operations in Gaza. Israel - which will present its defence on Friday - has vehemently rejected the accusations as "baseless" - BBC
