As tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East in the wake of the deadly terror attack on Israel by Hamas‚ another Islamic militant group‚ the Houthis‚ has gained infamy with a series of attacks on ships in the Red Sea from their bases in Yemen. In one of their latest provocations‚ a Houthi anti-ship missile reportedly came within just a few seconds of striking a U.S. Navy warship before it was shot down by the ship’s defensive weapon system. The Biden administration re-designated the Houthis as a terrorist organization — it was taken off the foreign terrorist organization list by Biden in early 2021 — and the U.S. is reportedly planning further strikes against Houthi positions in Yemen. With the prospect of a full military confrontation with the United States growing by the day‚ it’s important to examine who exactly the Houthis are and how they came to control a large portion of Yemen. What would become the Houthi movement was founded by Hussein al-Houthi‚ a religious leader in the Zaydi sect of Shia Islam that formed in Yemen during the 9th century. The Zaydis dominated the northern part of the country until a revolution in 1962 overthrew the old kingdom and established the Yemen Arab Republic. Mohammed Hamoud/Anadolu via Getty Images The new regime greatly diminished the Zaydi’s power in society until May 1990‚ when the Yemen Arab Republic unified with its southern neighbor‚ the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen — the only communist state in the Middle East — to form the modern nation of Yemen. Al-Houthi served in the Yemeni Parliament from 1993 to 1997 as part of the Zaydi-backed Party of Truth and helped found the Believing Youth‚ a religious association of young people who preached Zaydi doctrine and decried the influence of other Muslim sects‚ notably Saudi Arabian Wahabbism‚ in the country. Al-Houthi and the Believing Youth were particularly critical of President Ali Abdullah Saleh‚ who responded by cracking down on the group. Support for al-Houthi and his movement grew in the late ’90s and into the early 2000s‚ especially after President Saleh expressed support for the U.S. War on Terror in the wake of 9/11. The U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 further radicalized the Houthi movement‚ and it adopted the official slogan‚ inspired by Iran’s infamous chant‚ “God Is the Greatest‚ Death to America‚ Death to Israel‚ A Curse Upon the Jews‚ Victory to Islam.” It also began communicating and modeling itself after Hezbollah‚ the Iran-backed terrorist organization headquartered in Lebanon. Under orders from Saleh‚ Yemeni government forces began attacking Houthi bases in late 2003‚ and the country’s military killed al-Houthi in 2004‚ making him a martyr to the wider movement and intensifying its resistance to Saleh’s regime. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP The Houthis retreated to the northwest corner of the country and managed to defeat the Yemeni military‚ backed by Saudi Arabia‚ several times over the next several years. Thousands were killed and hundreds of thousands were displaced by the insurgency‚ further destabilizing Saleh’s government. During the Arab Spring in 2011‚ internal dissent ousted Saleh from office‚ and his vice president‚ Abdrabbuh Hadi‚ struggled to maintain order in the country‚ with major protests breaking out in 2014. The situation continued to deteriorate until Houthi militants stormed the Yemeni capital‚ Sanaa‚ in January 2015. The Houthis forced the president to resign and cemented their control over the northern part of the country‚ while opposition groups‚ which included a Saudi-backed coalition as well as Al-Qaeda‚ carved out areas of control in the southern regions. Mohammed Hamoud/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images In a strange twist‚ ex-President Saleh — the man whose crackdown a decade earlier had killed the Houthis’ leader and confined them to a backwater province — now allied with the radical militants. Most of the Yemeni army supported Saleh and joined forces with the Houthis. As the Saudis continued their attacks‚ the Houthis drifted closer to Iran and Hezbollah for support. The United States also conducted over a hundred airstrikes on Houthi positions. The war‚ as well as the Saudi blockade of Houthi territory‚ exacerbated a massive humanitarian crisis in Yemen. Almost 400‚000 people died between 2015 and 2022‚ according to the Council for Foreign Relations. A cholera epidemic has ravaged the country‚ and five million people are at risk of famine. In 2017‚ Saleh defected from the Houthis to side with the Saudis and the United Arab Emirates‚ but he was soon cornered in his Sanaa compound and killed by a Houthi sniper. As the war raged on‚ the Houthis began attacking Saudi oil facilities‚ most likely with help from Iran. The Iranian Quds Force‚ then led by General Qasem Soleimani‚ supplied weapons and training to the Houthis as part of a proxy conflict with Saudi Arabia. As one of his last acts as president in 2021‚ Donald Trump designated the Houthis as a foreign terror organization in response to the strikes on Saudi Arabia as well as attacks on ships off Yemen’s coast‚ but Biden almost immediately removed that designation. The Biden administration also ended its support for Saudi-led offensives against the group. After several failed Saudi offensives and Houthi gains in the country‚ the war began to fizzle out in the wake of the COVID pandemic. The U.N. brokered a ceasefire in 2022 that lasted most of the year. Iran and Saudi Arabia reached an accord‚ mediated by China‚ to restore formal relations in early 2023‚ while Houthi representatives met with Saudi officials later in the year to begin negotiating a deal. Reports indicated that the two sides were coming close to a definitive agreement when Hamas’ attack on Israel derailed progress. Almost immediately‚ the Houthis joined in the assault‚ launching missiles and drones at Israeli targets. They soon resorted to a tactic they used against the Saudis — attacking container ships. Some of the world’s largest shipping companies have ceased transit through the Red Sea‚ which usually sees nearly 15% of yearly global trade pass through. Houthi Movement via Getty Images The Houthis have expressed hatred for the United States and Israel for over 20 years‚ have successfully repelled numerous attempts to destroy them‚ and have a strong grip on the northern part of the country — the traditional stronghold of the Zaydi sect. Further U.S. strikes‚ along with the re-designation of the Houthis as a terror group‚ could tip the balance‚ but for now the organization possesses the upper hand in Yemen and the conflict will most likely continue for some time.

The failed vote to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas was a “setback‚” but House Republicans will try again and prevail‚ Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) declared on Wednesday. Johnson spoke to reporters on Capitol Hill the morning after a series of votes in which lawmakers were unable to approve impeachment articles against Mayorkas over his handling of the border crisis as well as a $17.6 billion Israel aid package. “Last night was a setback‚ but democracy is messy‚” Johnson said in response to a question on impeachment‚ noting the House GOP has a “razor thin margin” over the Democrats. .@SpeakerJohnson on failed impeachment: "Last night was a setback but democracy is messy…We will pass those articles of impeachment. We'll do it on the next time round." pic.twitter.com/owlIqe24i0 — CSPAN (@cspan) February 7‚ 2024 The speaker alluded to Rep. Al Green (D-TX)‚ who showed up at the last moment to cast his vote while in a wheelchair after being rushed from a hospital where he has been recovering from abdominal surgery. “Sometimes when you’re counting votes and people show up when they’re not expected to be in the building‚ that changes the equation‚” Johnson said. Three GOP lawmakers broke ranks and joined all voting Democrats to defeat the resolution‚ arguing that the problems with border security boil down to policy differences rather than impeachable offenses. Because GOP Vice Chairman Blake Moore (R-UT) flipped to a “no” vote at the last moment to break a tie‚ Republicans will get another chance to bring up the impeachment resolution in the future. They await the return of Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA)‚ who has been battling cancer. Johnson said lawmakers have a “duty” to hold Mayorkas and the Biden administration accountable. “We will pass those articles of impeachment. We’ll do it on the next time round‚” Johnson said without providing a date for the next vote. Johnson chided the majority of House Democrats who voted against the Israel aid bill‚ claiming they did so for “political purposes‚” and said “we’ll see” what the Senate does with its $118 billion package coupling border security reforms with funds for Ukraine‚ Israel‚ and other foreign causes. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP “I have made very clear that you have to address these issues on their own merits‚” Johnson said‚ “and Israel desperately needs the assistance‚ everyone knows that.” .@SpeakerJohnson on his inexperience and the removal of @SpeakerMcCarthy: "It was a mess what happened here‚ but we're cleaning it up…I don't think this is a reflection on the leader‚ it's a reflection on the body itself." pic.twitter.com/ggROsoZ01R — CSPAN (@cspan) February 7‚ 2024 Johnson also pushed back on critics who say the House’s struggles to pass measures reflect his inexperience and allies who view the removal of now-former Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) as speaker as a disaster for the GOP. “It was a mess what happened here‚ but we’re cleaning it up … I don’t think this is a reflection on the leader‚ it’s a reflection on the body itself‚” Johnson said.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has agreed to testify before Congress about his secretive hospitalization for complications following a procedure to treat prostate cancer‚ according to a House panel. A spokesperson for the House Armed Services Committee told the media on Tuesday that the Department of Defense (DoD) “confirmed” Austin would appear before the panel on February 29 to discuss “his failure to disclose his hospitalization.” Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) sent a letter to Austin last month‚ calling on the secretary to testify because of his “unwillingness to provide candid and complete answers” sought by the committee. Although he initially picked February 14 for a hearing‚ Rogers told POLITICO that Austin had a “date conflict.” Austin‚ 70‚ faced controversy after the revelation that the secretary had been hospitalized on January 1 and delegated some of his duties to a deputy without informing officials at the White House and Congress. Some critics‚ including GOP lawmakers and former President Donald Trump‚ called for Austin’s ouster as more details emerged‚ including that Austin kept his cancer diagnosis under wraps until the story broke. Multiple inquiries ensued‚ and the White House released new guidelines for Cabinet secretaries to enhance transparency rules when authority is delegated to a subordinate. The DoD said Austin had resumed his duties from home after being released from the hospital on January 15‚ and the secretary returned to work at the Pentagon on January 29. During a press conference last week‚ Austin expressed remorse for how his cancer diagnosis and hospitalization were handled. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP “We did not handle this right‚ and I did not handle this right‚” Austin said. “I should’ve told the president about my cancer diagnosis. I should have also told my team and the American public. And I take full responsibility. I apologize to my teammates and to the American people.” Austin also acknowledged that Congress “had some very relevant questions that they’ve asked us‚ and we will continue to answer those questions” as well as tackle any “issues” raised by Rogers. A Pentagon spokesperson previously told the press the DoD “provided the committee three letters in a good-faith effort to respond to the committee as expeditiously as possible‚ recognizing that there is an internal 30-day review underway‚ and the DoD inspector general is conducting his own review.”

Search and rescue officials have located a U.S. Military helicopter that went missing on Tuesday while carrying five Marines during a routine training exercise in southern California. “The U.S. Marine Corps is searching for five U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 Marine Aircraft Group 16‚ 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing‚” the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing said in a statement. “The Marines were flying a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter during a routine training flight from Creech Air Force Base to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar on Feb. 6. 2024‚ when the aircraft was reported overdue.” The Marines said that the helicopter was found Wednesday morning by civil authorities in Pine Valley‚ California. “The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing is managing search and rescue efforts through the Wing Operations Command Center and using ground and aviation assets to locate the aircrew in coordination with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and multiple federal‚ state and local agencies‚” the statement added. .@CALFIRESANDIEGO firefighters are assisting with search efforts for a military helicopter reported missing in the area north of Interstate 8 &; Kitchen Creek Road‚ located southeast of Pine Valley. Multiple agencies are searching the area covered in snow making it hard to access. pic.twitter.com/Y3oxNz75Pg — CAL FIRE/San Diego County Fire (@CALFIRESANDIEGO) February 7‚ 2024 Fox Weather reported that there was “heavy precipitation in the area where officials received the last ping of the missing helicopter at 5‚300 feet” and that there was “anywhere from 6 to 10 inches of snow accumulation‚ with even more on the way.” The weather report noted that the mountain area where the helicopter went missing can have “severe” snow conditions that make it difficult for rescue crews to respond to incidents. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP Last month‚ a U.S. Navy helicopter carrying six crewmembers crashed into San Diego Bay during a training exercise. All six crewmembers‚ who were operating an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter‚ survived and were rescued off the coast of Coronado by a nearby Navy vessel shortly after the crash. “Due to the nature of the training‚ a safety boat was on location‚” a statement from Cmdr. Beth Teach of the Naval Air Force Pacific Fleet said. The crew members went through medical evaluation but none of them appeared to suffer any life-threatening injuries‚ according to the Navy.

Gordon Ramsay is famous for being a great chef. And sometimes a bit of a jerk‚ at least on camera. Such is the nature of his television persona. Gordon is the well-known host of cooking shows‚ “Hell’s Kitchen‚” and “Kitchen Nightmares.” In the shows‚ he offers young chefs “tough love” with berating comments and yelling. But who is the real Gordon Ramsay introducing his newest baby to us? Image from Instagram. Turns out the grumpy persona is mostly for the benefit of the television cameras. Gordon is both a premier chef and a proud father. Numbering in his troops are three girls and‚ with the most recent addition‚ three boys. His oldest daughter is Megan (25). Next came twins Holly Anna and Jack Scott (24). Matilda (Tilly) is currently 22‚ and was the end of the child parade for a bit. Gordon Ramsay’s son Oscar James (4) arrived after an 18-year hiatus in childbearing. In November 2023‚ Gordon and his wife Tana proudly introduced fans to their newborn‚ Jesse. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gordon Ramsay (@gordongram) Gordon and Tana Ramsay have been married for over 27 years. Their goal was to have six children. With the arrival of baby Jesse‚ that goal has been achieved. Even though they took a long hiatus from child-rearing‚ they are ecstatic about their youngest boys. Gordon Ramsay Meets His Match The girls favor Tana‚ but newborn baby Jesse definitely favors Gordon Ramsay‚ right down to his trademark scowl! Image from Instagram. When Gordon Ramsay posted the above image on his Instagram‚ fans immediately began commenting about the scowl. Jesse was discontent about his breakfast options. User Charles Aryan stated‚ “I have a feeling he is about to call me an idiot sandwich.” Another user teased that Gordon Ramsay had “met his match.” We think the fans might be correct. Gordon Ramsay’s new baby‚ Jesse‚ has cemented himself in our hearts. We look forward to watching the two youngest Ramsay sons grow. Although Gordon Ramsay keeps his children out of the spotlight‚ there is no mistaking the “proud dad” moments he shares with us. If you enjoyed seeing a different side of Gordon Ramsay with his new baby‚ please share this. You can find the source of this story’s featured image here and here. The post Like Father‚ Like Son: Gordon Ramsay’s Baby Inherited His Trademark Scowl! appeared first on InspireMore.

Each and every one of us deserves to be celebrated and loved. This seems to be a driving force behind the work of the Tim Tebow Foundation. The former football star’s organization is known for many things but‚ ultimately‚ their goal is to help the most vulnerable people (or MVPs‚ as they call them‚) no matter who they are or where they’re located. One of their most popular events is called Night to Shine. These special events take place all around the world and are hosted by local churches. Thanks to the hard work of volunteers‚ folks with disabilities are able to experience the prom night of their dreams! God is so good!! Love getting to witness these beautiful MVPs head down the red carpet! I hope this Queen knows she is royalty! pic.twitter.com/95fIgjgjEK— Tim Tebow (@TimTebow) February 6‚ 2024 “God is so good!!” Tebow writes when sharing the video above. “Love getting to witness these beautiful MVPs head down the red carpet! I hope this Queen knows she is royalty!” The people who organize Night to Shine events don’t hold back when it comes to making sure their guests feel like royalty. There’s music‚ dancing‚ food‚ and even a red carpet for them to show off their fabulous looks! The rain did not take away the shine from these Kings and Queens! pic.twitter.com/rPlXDituJ1— Tim Tebow (@TimTebow) February 6‚ 2024 Tim Tebow Celebrates First Night to Shine of 2024 in Guatemala Tebow and his wife‚ Demi-Leigh Tebow‚ were guests at this year’s first Night to Shine. It took place in Guatemala City‚ and the loving couple couldn’t couldn’t have been more excited to be there! “The rain did not take away the shine from these Kings and Queens!” Tebow says. Kicking off the Night to Shine 2024 in Guatemala City! For the last 10 years we’ve been blessed with the opportunity to celebrate Kings and Queens around the globe and we can’t wait to celebrate tens of thousands more this year! Lets go!!! pic.twitter.com/CfpntvBPho— Tim Tebow (@TimTebow) February 6‚ 2024 In another video‚ Tebow shares clips of various fun moment throughout the night‚ including ones where him and his wife are dancing with guests. By the end of the night they’re exhausted‚ but they also couldn’t be happier with how the event turned out. “For the last 10 years we’ve been blessed with the opportunity to celebrate Kings and Queens around the globe and we can’t wait to celebrate tens of thousands more this year!” Tebow writes. “Let’s go!!!” You can find the source of this story’s featured image here! The post Tim Tebow Celebrates His “MVPs” With Their Own Special Night To Shine Event: “God Is So Good!” appeared first on InspireMore.

There are dog lovers‚ and then there’s Roman McConn of “Roman to the Rescue.” This 12-year-old boy has been helping out at animal shelters since he was a small child. He even started his own charity to get his four-legged friends into great homes. On his television show‚ which first aired in 2022‚ he’s able to help even more shelter dogs get adopted! At the age of four‚ Roman McConn was horrified to learn that some shelters euthanize unwanted dogs. That’s when he made it his life’s goal to get these pets get adopted! His parents helped him launch Project Freedom Ride‚ which moves pooches out of areas with lots of kill shelters. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Project Freedom Ride (@projectfreedomride) Through his TV show on Disney XD‚ “Roman to the Rescue‚” the young man collaborates with influencers to help shelter dogs find the best possible homes. Roman McConn is no stranger to the spotlight‚ of course. For years‚ he’d been uploading videos of shelter dogs to social media in the hopes of getting them adopted. According to an Instagram post‚ he was even on The Ellen Degeneres Show when he won the Kid of the Year Award! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Project Freedom Ride (@projectfreedomride) Some people dream of getting popular enough on social media to get their own TV show‚ but Roman McConn just wanted to help shelter dogs find homes. He may be reaching a wider audience on “Roman to the Rescue‚” but his goal remains the same. What an inspiring kid! You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post This 12-Yr-Old Has Helped Thousands Of Shelter Dogs Find Homes. Now He Has His Own TV Show! appeared first on InspireMore.

Last Wednesday‚ a Massachusetts family experienced every parent’s worst nightmare: Their child went missing. According to the Auburn MA Police Department‚ the 12-year-old child went missing at night‚ making the freezing temperatures all-the-more dangerous. The missing child was eventually found by a clever K9 officer but‚ first‚ hours passed without a trace of them. During these terrifying hours‚ a variety of folks gathered to help. This includes the Auburn police officers and troops as well as detectives from the Detective Bureau. As the night progressed and temperatures continued to drop‚ time was of the essence. Facebook Finally‚ Officer Ljunggren made a discovery. Or rather‚ their K9 partner‚ Biza‚ did. This clever canine picked up the 12-year-old’s scent‚ sending them on a two-mile trek to a telling location. Here‚ there was evidence that the missing child had been there recently. Missing Massachusetts Child Found By Clever K9 Officer Soon enough‚ this evidence led officers right to the child — best of all‚ they were safe! Instagram Biza’s first day of training was in September 2022. In the years that followed‚ she’s proven time and time again to be a valuable‚ life-saving team member. For this‚ the officers and child’s family couldn’t be more grateful. “The child was reunited with their family and is safe‚” the Auburn Police Department shares. “We are proud of the hard work put in by K9 Biza and are happy to report a positive outcome! You can find the source of this story’s featured image here! The post Missing 12-Yr-Old Found After K9 Officer Tracks Scent For Miles In Freezing Temperatures. appeared first on InspireMore.

In a relationship‚ you sometimes have to do things you don’t enjoy in order to spend more time with your significant other. For some men‚ this means shopping. While it’s true that not all husbands hate going to the mall‚ one Instagram account is sharing hilarious photos of those who do. It’s called Miserable Men‚ and they pretty much exclusively post pictures of bored guys in stores waiting to go home. If you’ve ever been to the mall with someone who can literally shop until they drop‚ you might be able to relate. Not everyone has the stamina to hit store after store with unlimited enthusiasm! Here are some of the funniest pictures of men who have definitely lost interest in their partner’s shopping trip. 1. When life gives you a comfy chair… View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miserable Men (@miserable_men) Time flies when you’re napping in a recliner! If they didn’t want people to fall asleep at the mall‚ then they shouldn’t have made the chairs so comfortable. 2. He might as well get a makeover while he’s there‚ right? View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miserable Men (@miserable_men) What else can you do when the only chair in sight is for makeovers? On the bright side‚ at least he’ll finally learn what shade of foundation to use. The post This Whole Page Is Dedicated To Men Reluctantly Waiting For Their Wives To Finish Shopping. appeared first on InspireMore.

Reba McEntire is remembering her friend and colleague Toby Keith days after his sudden passing. “We’re going to miss him so much‚” she told PEOPLE‚ “not only as a friend but a fellow performer and person in the music business and from Oklahoma.” “But he doesn’t have to fight anymore‚” Reba continued. “And he doesn’t have to hurt anymore. I hope one day to get to see him up in Heaven. Thank God we have his wonderful music to keep us company‚ even though he’s not here on earth with us.” Toby Keith was diagnosed with stomach cancer in October of 2021 and went public with the disease in following summer. At that same time‚ he announced that he was taking a career hiatus to focus on his health and family. The country star was able to return for several performances before his death. Reba McEntire and Toby Keith Toured Together in the ’90s Reba McEntire and Toby Keith knew each other well. In 1995‚ they toured together with Rhett Atkins‚ and they had plenty of reunions over the years. “That was a lot of fun‚” she said of their tour. “Toby was more of the renegade‚ the outlaw type‚ and I’m the Little Miss Goody Two-Shoes‚ and so it was kind of like two ends of the spectrum.” But she said they had one thing in common. “I do love me a Solo cup‚” she laughed. Toby Keith left behind a legacy as a singer and songwriter. He had 20 chart-topping hits during his 30 years in the industry‚ most of which he penned himself‚ including Should’ve Been a Cowboy and Don’t Let the Old Man In. In 2015‚ he was inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame‚ which was one of his proudest career moments. “He was a great writer‚ a great singer. When Toby came on the radio‚ you knew who that was‚” Reba added. “Toby Keith was a distinctive vocalist‚ a stylist‚ that you knew exactly who he was. So‚ that’s a wonderful trait to have.” Instagram Toby Keith died with his family by his side on Feb. 5‚ 2024. He was 62. The post Reba McEntire Opens Up About Loss Of Toby Keith‚ Hopes “To See Him Up In Heaven” One Day. appeared first on InspireMore.