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Earth Intelligence

27 Jan 2024 — 5 min read

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Texas Defends U.S. Border
U.S. vs Houthis

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Texas Defends U.S. Border:

Yesterday, a press release from Texas, highlighted the ongoing efforts of Operation Lone Star, a collaborative initiative between Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas National Guard. This operation focuses on securing the Texas border, halting the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and people, and countering transnational criminal activities. Since its inception, Operation Lone Star has resulted in over 496,700 apprehensions of illegal immigrants and more than 38,700 criminal arrests, leading to over 35,100 felony charges.
Additionally, in combating the fentanyl crisis, Texas law enforcement has seized over 454 million lethal doses of fentanyl. As part of its border security measures, Texas has transported significant numbers of migrants to various cities across the United States. These include over 12,500 migrants to Washington, D.C., over 37,500 to New York City, over 31,200 to Chicago, over 3,400 to Philadelphia, over 16,000 to Denver, and over 1,500 to Los Angeles.
Governor Abbott asserts that these actions are necessary due to the Biden Administration’s failure to secure the border, arguing that without Texas's intervention, these individuals and contraband would have entered communities across Texas and the nation. The release also highlights recent events under Operation Lone Star. Governor Abbott reaffirmed Texas's constitutional right to self-defense in response to the federal government's perceived inaction on border security.
Additionally, Texas DPS has been actively involved in several high-profile incidents, including the arrest of a teenage smuggler in Webb County, the apprehension of a smuggling guide wanted for murder, and the arrest of individuals for criminal trespass at Shelby Park. The Texas National Guard has also deployed advanced surveillance systems along the border to enhance security efforts. These Modular Mobile Surveillance Systems (M2S2) are equipped with high-tech cameras capable of detecting migrant caravans from a distance, furthering Texas's efforts to monitor and secure the border.

U.S. vs Houthis:

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced a series of incidents involving Houthi militants in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. CENTCOM, a pivotal component of the U.S. Department of Defense, oversees American military operations in a strategic area encompassing the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia. It plays a crucial role in monitoring and responding to military developments in this region.
On January 26th, at approximately 1:30 PM Sanaa time, CENTCOM reported that the USS Carney (DDG 64), an Arleigh-Burke class destroyer, was targeted by an anti-ship ballistic missile fired by Iranian-backed Houthi militants from Yemen. The missile was successfully neutralized by the USS Carney, avoiding any casualties or damage. That evening, at around 7:45 PM Sanaa time, the situation escalated when the Houthis launched another missile at the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker M/V Marlin Luanda.
The vessel was hit and sustained damage, leading to a distress call. The USS Carney and other coalition ships responded to assist, with no injuries reported. In response to these aggressive actions, CENTCOM conducted a strike on January 27th, at 3:45 AM Sanaa time, targeting a Houthi anti-ship missile in Yemen that posed an imminent threat to naval and commercial ships in the Red Sea.
This preemptive strike by U.S. Forces successfully destroyed the missile, reinforcing the safety of the region's international waters and ensuring the continued freedom of navigation for U.S. Navy and merchant vessels. This series of events underscores CENTCOM's ongoing commitment to maintaining stability and security in one of the world's most significant regions.

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