The Wire - January 19, 2024

//The Wire//2330Z January 19, 2024////ROUTINE////BLUF: HOUTHI FORCES BEGIN TARGETING AMERICAN OIL TANKERS.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-Middle East: Conflict continues in Gaza. Over the past few days, fighting along the northern border with Lebanon has intensified following Israeli raids. Hezbollah has also increased rocket attacks, with the Israeli port city of Haifa being struck with rockets overnight.Red Sea/HOA: The vessel targeted yesterday in the eastern Gulf of Aden has been identified as the M/V CHEM RANGER, an American-owned tanker vessel. This marks the first deliberate targeting of an American-owned tanker so far in this conflict.Far East: China continues military drills in the vicinity of the Taiwan Strait, following Taiwanese elections last week.-HomeFront-USA: Congress quietly passes a stopgap funding bill to avoid a government shutdown. The funding bill, passed with bipartisan support, will fund the government until March 1.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: Information is limited and contradictory as to the damage sustained in attack on the M/V CHEM RANGER. CENTCOM claims that both cruise missiles fired at the vessel missed. Other sources claim that the missiles did hit the vessel, resulting in severe damage. At this time independent verification cannot be conducted to verify either claim.Analyst: S2A//END REPORT//