Wednesday☕️

Earth Intelligence

06 Mar 2024 — 5 min read

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CENTCOM Activity
Intellexa Sanctions

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CENTCOM Activity:

On March 4, early in the morning at 2:15 a.m. Sanaa time, Houthi forces launched an anti-ship ballistic missile from Yemen into the southern Red Sea, which fell into the water without causing any harm to commercial or U.S. Navy ships. Later that day, between 3:50 p.m. and 4:15 p.m., the same group fired two more missiles into the Gulf of Aden, targeting the M/V MSC SKY II, a container ship under Liberian flag and Swiss ownership. Although one missile hit the ship, causing damage, there were no injuries reported, and the vessel did not seek assistance, continuing its journey.
In response, at 8 p.m. that evening, CENTCOM forces conducted self-defense operations against two anti-ship cruise missiles threatening merchant and U.S. Navy ships in the area, aiming to safeguard maritime navigation. The following day, March 5, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., CENTCOM forces intercepted one anti-ship missile and three unmanned aerial systems launched by the Houthis towards the USS Carney in the Red Sea, preventing any damage or injuries. Additional defensive actions were taken between 8:45 p.m. and 9:40 p.m., destroying three anti-ship missiles and three unmanned surface vessels emanating from Houthi territories, ensuring the safety of international waters for both merchant and U.S. Navy ships.
Furthermore, on March 5, at 2:30 p.m. Gaza time, a humanitarian aid mission was conducted over Northern Gaza by Central Command and the Royal Jordanian Air Force, delivering vital supplies to civilians caught in the conflict. This mission saw U.S. Air Force C-130 aircraft and Army Soldiers drop over 36,800 meals provided by the U.S. and Jordan, aiding an area in critical need. These efforts, part of a broader initiative to deliver life-saving aid to Gaza, include plans for ongoing missions and the enhancement of aid delivery through land corridors.

Intellexa Sanctions:

Yesterday, the U.S. took decisive action against the Greece-based spyware firm Intellexa, along with several of its principal figures, for their involvement in cyber-espionage targeting American government officials. The U.S. Treasury Department has levied sanctions against two individuals and five entities associated with the Intellexa Consortium for their role in producing and disseminating spyware aimed at journalists, activists, policy experts, and U.S. officials. These sanctions involve freezing any U.S. assets of those implicated and prohibit any dealings with them by Americans, with the possibility of additional penalties for any violations.
This measure represents the first instance of the U.S. government targeting a commercial spyware company with such sanctions. Intellexa, notorious for its Predator software which enables covert surveillance through digital devices, has been implicated in espionage activities in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and the U.S. The consortium, encompassing various spyware businesses, is accused of facilitating widespread surveillance and unauthorized data harvesting.
Originally founded in Israel by a former Israeli intelligence officer, Tal Dillian, Intellexa expanded its operations to Cyprus and Greece to take advantage of more permissive export controls on surveillance technology. The company has been accused of providing surveillance capabilities to the governments of Egypt and Vietnam, including an incident where it attempted to infect the phones of U.S. Congress members during diplomatic negotiations between the U.S. and Vietnam.

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