ISDEI Instituto de Seguridad, Defensa y Estudios Internacionales

A screenshot from the video Yemeni forces have seized a US-made REMUS 600 autonomous underwater vehicle belonging to the Saudi Navy, according to pro-Houthi sources. The vehicle was seized inside the Yemeni territorial waters in the Red Sea. The REMUS 600 is often used to detect sea mines and to conduct reconnaissance in coast waters.

Illustrative image An intense fighting between government forces and Ahrar al-Sham is ongoing in the Armoured Vehicle Base area in Damascus’ Eastern Ghouta. The base is located near the town of Harasta. Ahrar al-Sham, supported by some units of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, launched a new offensive on positions of the Syrian Army in the area on December 29. Since then, the sides have been clashing for control over this strategic facility. The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) had repelled a major part of militant attacks and remained in control over the base. However, militants were able to capture some points in its vicinity. Some pro-militant media outlets even claimed that the base was fully encircled and separated from the rest of the government-held area. However, these reports were not confirmed. On January 1, reports appeared that the Syrian military had decided to deploy reinforcements to the area in order to stabilize the situation there. It’s important to note that Ahrar al-Sham r...

FILE IMAGE: MIM-23 HAWK missile system The Turkish military has deployed air defense systems near the town of Afrin in northern Syria. Afrin is controlled by the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Turkish forces deployed at least one MIM-23 HAWK missile system and radars near the town of Dar al-Izzah. Dar al-Izzah is now de-facto controlled by the Turkish military and its local proxies. Some sources describe the Tukrish decision as a part of preparations for military operation against the SDF.