NK Drone Production, Houthi Naval Attack

THE WAR NEWSLETTER — NOV 15 2024

Good morning. Today’s email brings you news from Yemen and North Korea.

1 - YEMEN

1 thing to know

On Monday, Houthi terrorist forces launched a significant combined attack against two U.S. Navy destroyers in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

The context 

The attack involved at least eight drones and eight missiles, targeting USS Spruance and USS Stockdale. Both ships successfully intercepted all projectiles and there was no damage or casualties. 

The U.S. military responded with overnight airstrikes against Houthi weapon storage facilities, using F-35 Lightning fighters launched from the USS Abraham Lincoln.

More from the region

This is the second encounter between Houthi forces and the US this year.

Houthi spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Sare'e claimed they also successfully struck the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea, Pentagon Press Secretary Major General Patrick Ryder denied these claims.

Is this newsletter useful? If you’ve enjoyed having useful, curated news in The War Newsletter, please take a moment to forward this to a friend.

TECH SPOTLIGHT: THE BUFFALO

The Buffalo is an armored mine protected vehicle built by the US, based on a similar vehicle built by South Africa, but improved with six wheels instead of four, and also by the addition of a hydraulic arm for the disposal of mines. 

The vehicle is built on a V-shaped monohull chassis that directs the forces from an explosion away from it. It can also support cage armor for protection against anti-tank rounds, and has six-inch thick glass armor.  All six tires are built to be able to run while flat, and the vehicle is also equipped with sensors for the detection of mines.

What it’s used for

The Buffalo is used chiefly by the US, but also Canada, France, and Italy.  It has seen action by multiple countries during the Afghanistan war, as well as during the Iraq war.

2 - NORTH KOREA

1 thing to know

The leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un, inspected a drone launch site and has ordered the country to begin mass-production of explosive suicide drones.

The context 

North Korea again demonstrated its growing military potential with the state media publishing images of the North Korean leader inspecting a drone launch site, as well as images of targets, such as outdated tanks, being blown up by the drones in testing scenarios.

Kim Jong Un was satisfied with the progress of the weapons, and called on North Korea to build a production system as soon as possible, and begin mass producing the drones.

More from the region

This latest weapons test comes on the heels of last month's testing of an intercontinental ballistic missile, showing their growing military power and escalating tensions in the region.

It is also speculated that North Korea may be getting Russian technology or aid to its nuclear program in return for their deployment of troops and equipment to Ukraine on behalf of Russia.

North Korea has also launched numerous balloons filled with trash which burst over South Korea, allegedly as a response to South Korea using their own balloons to drop leaflets inside their country.

P.S. If you have a source, tip, or piece of information we missed, please reply to this email and tell us about it. Thank you!