218: US to Designate Houthis as Specifically Designated Global Terrorists + France to Provide Scalp Missiles to Ukraine + USMC Developing Medium-Range Air Defense Capability + Spain Purchasing 120mm & 155mm Munitions + More

For review:1. US CENTCOM X (Twitter); 17 Jan: one-way attack UAS, launched from Houthi controlled areas in Yemen, struck M/V Genco Picardy in the Gulf of Aden (Marshall Islands flagged, U.S. owned/operated bulk carrier ship). No injuries and some damage reported.  Vessel is seaworthy and continuing underway.2. Statement from US National Security Advisor (Jake Sullivan): US to Designate Houthis as Specifically Designated Global Terrorists (effective 30 days from 17 Jan 2024).3. US CENTCOM reports that US Navy Forces operating from the USS Lewis B. Puller,  seized Iranian materiel bound for the Houthis in Yemen. Items seized include propulsion, guidance, and warheads for Houthi medium range ballistic missiles (MRBMs) and anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs), as well as air defense associated components. 2 US Navy Seals lost at sea during this operation on 11 Jan 2024.4. Israel Prime Minister (Benjamin Netanyahu) reportedly rejects proposal from US Secretary of State (Antony Blinken) that would normalize Israel's relations with Saudi Arabia- in return for Palestinian statehood. Report is from three unnamed senior US officials.   5. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi  say war in the North (with Lebanon) in increasing. The IDF goal in Lebanon — is (to set conditions), for the return of Israeli residents to communities in the north,.6. France to supply Ukraine with Scalp-EG cruise missiles (French President Emmanuel Macron). 7.  Spain Purchasing 120mm Mortars & 155mm Artillery Munitions. (Destination Ukraine?)8. Belarus to develop doctrine concerning the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons, stationed in the country.9. USMC Developing Medium-Range Intercept Capability (MRIC). First Unit Equipped will be the 1st Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion (Hawaii), in 2025.