End Times Headline News. January 16 2024

IRGC attack US consulate in Iraq. U.S.-owned ship hit by missile. NJ National Guard Prepares to Deploy to Iraq. IRGC deployed in Yemen . Trump Wins Iowa Caucus. Davos Day 1

One-time or recurring donations can be made through Ko-Fi:

IRGC attack US consulate in Iraq as tensions between the US and Iran escalate

Several civilians are believed to have died in the attack, with Kurdish regional government officials announcing the death of a prominent businessman and four of his family members.

The American consulate in Erbil in the Kurdistan region of Iraq was attacked Monday evening by drones belonging to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), according to a report on Al Jazeera.

The IRGC took responsibility for the attack in northern Iraq announcing that they had attacked an "intelligence headquarters and gathering place of anti-Iranian terrorist organizations in response to the latest terrorist crimes against Iran's enemies."

New Jersey National Guard Prepares to Deploy to Iraq and Syria Amid Attacks

It’s unclear if the deployment of 1,500 troops is part of a regular troop rotation or a reinforcement.

The New Jersey National Guard is preparing to deploy 1,500 troops to Iraq and Syria amid a spate of attacks on US bases in the two countries that started in mid-October over President Biden’s full-throated support of Israel’s onslaught in Gaza.

It’s unclear if the deployment is part of a scheduled troop rotation or if they’re being sent to reinforce the US military presence in the region. According to the latest figures, there are about 2,500 US troops stationed in Iraq and 900 in Syria, where they back the Kurdish-led SDF, allowing the US to occupy and control about one-third of Syrian territory.

Yemen's Houthis say they will target US ships

The Yemeni Houthi movement will expand its targets to include US ships, an official from the Iran-allied group told Al Jazeera on Monday.

Nasruldeen Amer, a spokesperson for the Houthis, said the United States was "on the verge of losing its maritime security."

US, UK forces can no longer pass through Bab el-Mandeb Strait: Yemeni official

A Yemeni official has warned that American and British forces can no longer pass through the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait as tensions grow in the region following illegal US-led military strikes on the Arab country.

Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a member of the political bureau of the Ansarullah resistance movement, issued the warning on Monday after the United States and its allies bombed Yemen amid frustration with anti-Israel naval operations in the Red Sea.

U.S.-owned ship hit by missile from Yemen in Gulf of Aden

The condition of the ship and the extent of the damage caused by the missile strike are still undisclosed

A missile fired from Yemen struck a U.S.-owned ship in the Gulf of Aden on Monday, according to reports from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations and private security firms. 

Ambrey and Dryad Global identified the vessel as the Eagle Gibraltar, a Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier owned by Eagle Bulk, a firm based in Stamford, Connecticut, and traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard deployed in Yemen

Commanders and advisors from Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are on the ground in Yemen and playing a direct role in Houthi rebel attacks on commercial traffic in the Red Sea.

The IRGC has stationed missile and drone trainers and operators in Yemen, as well as personnel providing tactical intelligence support to the Houthis, U.S. and Middle East officials told Semafor. The IRGC, through its overseas Qods Force, has also overseen the transfer to the Houthis of the attack drones, cruise missiles, and medium-range ballistic missiles used in a string of strikes on Red Sea and Israeli targets in recent weeks, these officials said.

Qatar Diverts Gas Tankers Away From Red Sea to Avoid Risks

(Bloomberg) -- Liquefied natural gas suppliers, including Qatar and Russia, are avoiding the Suez Canal amid heightened risks and continued attacks by Houthis on vessels in the Red Sea. 

Three tankers carrying Qatari LNG, which had paused off the coast of Oman over the weekend after US-led airstrikes against the militant group in Yemen, now appear to be heading toward the Cape of Good Hope in southern Africa or to Southeast Asia, according to ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. The ships were initially planning to sail through the Red Sea to deliver gas to Europe.

IDF uncovers 100 rocket launchers as Hamas's control of Gaza crumbles

In the Beit Lahia area, soldiers of the 401st Brigade Combat Team located about 100 rocket launchers and about 60 rockets ready for launch.

The IDF has succeeded in killing more Hamas terrorists and uncovered approximately 100 rocket launchers, according to an IDF statement on Tuesday.

In the Beit Lahia area, soldiers of the 401st Brigade Combat Team located about 100 rocket launchers and about 60 rockets ready for launch. During operations to recover the rockets, the soldiers engaged dozens of Hamas terrorists and killed them.

Terror in Israel: Hamas terrorist wounds over a dozen in Ra'anana, one murdered

The terrorists stabbed a bystander, then swapped vehicles three times after crashing, the police stated. The terrorists were from Hebron and were later arrested. 

Hamas claimed responsibility for the combined ramming and stabbing attacks in Ra'anana on Monday afternoon, which left over a dozen people wounded and one person dead.

A terrorist stabbed a woman while another terrorist stole a car and proceeded to carry out ramming attacks in several locations, Israel Police confirmed. The terrorist swapped vehicles three times after crashing, the police stated. The terrorists were Muhammad Zaidat, 44, and Ahmed Zaidat, 24, both from Hebron and were later arrested. 

Gallant: Intense fighting is over in northern Gaza, will soon end in Khan Younis too

Defense minister rejects current calls for ceasefire, says only military pressure on Hamas will bring about new hostage deal

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Monday that the “intensive phase” of Israel’s ground offensive in northern Gaza has ended, and it will soon be over in the Khan Younis area of the Strip’s south as well.

Troops have been carrying out operations at a lower intensity in northern Gaza, after the military said it had defeated all of Hamas’s battalions in the area. The soldiers have been working to locate the remaining Hamas sites and kill or capture the terror group’s last operatives.

Ukraine Urges China To Be Involved In Swiss-Hosted Peace Summit

President Volodymyr Zelensky appears increasingly more serious about pursuing peace negotiations to end the war, and this was on display in comments issued by his top aide headed into the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. 

Ukraine’s presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak on Sunday explained that Kiev now believes it is crucial for China to be at the table for future talks on its peace formula. "China needs to be involved in talks to end the war with Russia," the Ukrainian top representative said following diplomatic meetings going into the WEF.

Zelensky rejected favorable peace deal with Russia – ex-aide

Ukraine now faces ten to 15 years of war, Aleksey Arestovich has said

Ukraine had the chance to make peace at the 2022 Istanbul talks but something or someone changed President Vladimir Zelensky’s mind, according to an interview with his former aide, Aleksey Arestovich, published on Monday.

Freddie Sayers, the editor in chief of the British outlet UnHerd, interviewed Arestovich almost a year after Ukraine’s top spin doctor left Zelensky’s service.

Secret German MoD Document Lays Out Path to World War III

Wargames potential Russian attack on NATO’s eastern front as soon as next month

The Germany military is preparing for a potential attack by Russia in February which culminates in a wider war after the U.S. presidential election.

German newspaper Bild reports on the details of a hitherto classified Berlin Ministry of Defense document called Alliance Defence 2025 with alarming implications. The secret strategy document wargames a hybrid Russian attack on NATO’s eastern flank as soon as next month and then lays out the steps on how the conflict would escalate month by month.

Fact Check: Is Russia Really Getting Ready to Invade NATO?

NATO is getting ready for Russian aggression against the alliance’s eastern flank, Bild says, citing a "secret Bundeswehr document" about preparations for the possible flashpoint. But what's the actual chance of a Russian attack on NATO, and which side, historically, has dreamt about and planned for a World War III scenario in Eastern Europe?

The German military is reportedly getting ready for a hot war between Russia and NATO, with a conflict scenario imagined in a classified Bundeswehr document envisioning a gradual escalation of tensions from February onwards, culminating in the buildup of hundreds of thousands of Russian and NATO troops around the Baltics and potential clashes by the summer of 2025.

Grant Shapps set to send 20,000 military personnel to eastern Europe

The Defence Secretary is set to pledge to send 20,000 British military personnel to a major Nato exercise in eastern Europe as he warns the post-Cold War “peace dividend” is at an end.

Grant Shapps will warn that “battle lines are being redrawn” as he announces the deployment of Army, Navy and RAF members to the drill on Russia’s borders in a speech in London.

North Korea abandons hope of peaceful reunification

Leader Kim Jong-un has called for the constitution to be amended to classify South Korea as the “No. 1 hostile country”

North Korea has followed through on leader Kim Jong-un’s conclusion that peaceful reunification with Seoul is impossible, scrapping the government agencies that were involved in such efforts and preparing to constitutionally brand South Korea as Pyongyang’s archenemy.

Speaking to North Korea’s parliament on Monday, Kim called for South Korea’s constitutional status to be changed to the “No. 1 hostile country.”

North Korea test-fires new hypersonic missile

The launch was Pyongyang’s first weapons test this year amid growing tensions with Seoul

North Korea has tested a solid-fuel ballistic missile armed with a hypersonic warhead, the Korean Central Telegraphic Agency (KCTA) reported on Monday. The launch was conducted amid growing tensions with Pyongyang’s southern neighbor, after Seoul recently conducted military drills with the US near the North’s border.

Trump Gives Speech After Winning Iowa Caucus; Ramaswamy To End Campaign

Update (2323ET): As predicted, Donald Trump has been declared the winner of the Iowa Caucus by the Associated Press. Trump beat both Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley by nearly 30 points and 40 points respectively, in line with the final NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa poll.

According to Bloomberg, Vivek Ramaswamy is ending his 2024 campaign and endorsed Trump.

Defense Secretary Austin Finally Leaves Hospital After 2 Weeks, Refuses To Resign

Amid a backdrop of scandal and controversy while still rebuffing calls to resign, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has been released from the hospital Monday, following a full two week stint there, with the first four days of that in ICU wherein the White House was kept in the dark.

Austin had been admitted to Walter Reed hospital on January 1st for complications following prostate cancer surgery. A new Pentagon statement says he is still going to work remotely from home "for a period of time" before returning to his office. The statement sought to assure that he has "full access" to secure communications capabilities.

Pro-Palestinian Rioters Nearly Breach White House Gate In Clash With Police

A pro-Palestinian protest in the nation’s capital on Jan. 13 led to clashes between protesters and riot police, during which an exterior gate of the White House was nearly breached.

Police and federal agents reportedly waited near the White House in anticipation as protesters crashed toward the reinforced gate amid attempts by some rioters to scale it. “During the demonstration near the White House complex Jan. 13, a portion of the anti-scale fencing that was erected for the event sustained temporary damage,” the U.S. Secret Service told Fox News in a statement, adding that “the issues were promptly repaired on site by U.S. Secret Service support teams.”

Chaos erupts in NYC as pro-Palestine protesters clash with police

Pro-Palestine protesters have been filmed clashing with police as they took to the streets of Manhattan on Monday. The demonstrators marched in the “Flood Manhattan for Gaza” rally. Protesters were filmed ripping down posters, including one that featured a child who had been kidnapped by Hamas terrorists. Other demonstrators were filmed chanting “shame on you” at a person holding an Israeli flag on their balcony. The protest began in Union Square and ended at Gracie Mansion.

Davos Day 1: Klaus Schwab says "selfish" people are to blame for trust crisis

The World Economic Forum's 2024 annual meeting is underway and True North is on the ground all week bringing you the coverage that only independent media will. The Andrew Lawton Show is live from Austria – the nearest affordable place to stay while reporting on the conference. In this episode, Andrew talks about the conference agenda and Klaus Schwab's belief that people are the problem when it comes to falling trust in institutions – rather than the institutions themselves. Andrew checks in with his True North colleague Cosmin Dzsurdzsa for early impressions from the ground.

Fake Epidemics, Tests & Drugs with Rebecca Culshaw-Smith

Fake Epidemics, Tests & Drugs with Rebecca Culshaw-Smith

Millions Of Americans’ Supplies Threatened By Gas Outage During Artic Storm

A massive storage facility in Washington state serving the natural gas network that provides electricity and heating fuel to millions of Americans from the Pacific Northwest south to New Mexico went down Saturday, HuffPost has learned.

The Jackson Prairie Underground Natural Gas Storage Facility in Lewis County, roughly two hours south of Seattle, suffered a complete outage, triggering an emergency on the 1,500-mile Northwest Pipeline that ships gas to power plants and heating networks across a region currently struck by arctic weather.

Bone-Chilling Cold Tests Power Grids From Texas to Alberta

An Arctic blast that’s sweeping through North America is heightening the risk of blackouts. With more cold still in the forecast, electric grids from Texas to Alberta will continue to be under strain and some power prices have surged.

In Texas, which is facing one of its biggest grid tests since deadly winter blackouts in 2021, power demand on Sunday from homes and businesses is expected to hit a winter record of more than 75 gigawatts — and then later in the week possibly set an all-time record.

Biden Angry With Republicans Trying To Stop Kids Seeing Gay Porn

During a radio interview, Joe Biden expressed disbelief that Republicans have a problem with gay porn books being made available to children as young as six years old in schools across the country.

Biden claimed that Republicans are trying to ban books, a tactic that has been repeatedly used to downplay the fact that sexually explicit material and books promoting transgenderism are being placed in school libraries. “The idea that you can be told that you can’t read certain books. This is the United States of America, for God’s sake!” Biden stated.

Mother says her 7-year-old son was written up at school for saying ‘Jesus Christ’

“Jesus Christ” is said in many places, including church and Bible study.

But one mother in Tennessee said her 7-year-old son was written up in school for saying “Jesus Christ.” Shonna Coleman said she got a call from her son’s first grade teacher telling her the boy had said a bad word that day.

“So we was like, ‘OK, so what did he say?’ And she said, ‘He said Jesus Christ,’” Coleman said.

World Economic Forum EXPELS Christians from 'demonic' Davos promenade

Rebel News is on the ground in Davos, Switzerland, asking questions to some of the most influential VIPs in the world. Today, the team witnessed a group of Christians being detained for handing out Christian material.