Egypt Prepares Aircraft Carrier to Serve as Field Hospital in Libya

Food aid that was dispatched to help those affected by Storm Daniel in Libya. (AFP)
Food aid that was dispatched to help those affected by Storm Daniel in Libya. (AFP)
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Egypt Prepares Aircraft Carrier to Serve as Field Hospital in Libya

Food aid that was dispatched to help those affected by Storm Daniel in Libya. (AFP)
Food aid that was dispatched to help those affected by Storm Daniel in Libya. (AFP)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ordered on Wednesday the preparation of a Mistral aircraft carrier to serve as a field hospital for the victims of Storm Daniel that struck Libya.

The president instructed the establishment of shelter camps in the Western Military Region for Libyans who lost their homes, according to the Egyptian presidency post on X.

State television quoted presidential spokesman Ahmed Fahmy as saying that Sisi directed the forces and members heading to Libya to make every effort to mitigate the effects of the humanitarian disaster.

Furthermore, the European Union has released an initial €500,000 ($536,545) in humanitarian funding to tackle the most urgent needs of people in Libya affected by the impact of Storm Daniel.

Immediately, EU Member States – so far Germany, Romania, and Finland - have offered substantial assistance in the form of shelter items such as tents, field beds and blankets, 80 generators, food items, as well as hospital tents and water tanks.

Funding will be channeled through partners operating on the ground to deliver lifesaving health and water and sanitation supplies for the flood response in Libya.

The Permanent Mission of the State of Libya to the UN office in Geneva requested on Tuesday assistance from the EU following the floods that killed more than 5,000.

In the same context, the first two planes of the Qatari air bridge arrived at Benina International Airport in Benghazi. The two planes are carrying 67 tons of relief aid as an emergency response to the humanitarian situation in areas affected by floods and torrents.

The aid included medical and food supplies, in addition to a field hospital.

Algeria also dispatched humanitarian aid to Libya including medical supplies, tents and food. The Algerian team included divers and rescue operators.

Furthermore, Jordan dispatched a humanitarian aid plane to Libya.

Hussein Al-Shibli, Secretary-General of Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization, stated that this was done in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates and the Jordanian Armed Forces.

The Organization added that the first plane carries emergency relief materials consisting of tents, blankets, mattresses, and food parcels.

For his part, Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq issued directives to send urgent humanitarian aid to Libya.



US Army Vows to Degrade Houthi Military Capabilities

This handout photo released by the US Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) shows the US Navy Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Laboon (DDG 58) and USS Gravely (DDG 107), part of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Group (IKECSG), sailing in formation in the Red Sea with the Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour (CVH 550) on June 7, 2024, as part of their mission to support maritime stability and security in the Middle East region. (US Navy / AFP)
This handout photo released by the US Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) shows the US Navy Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Laboon (DDG 58) and USS Gravely (DDG 107), part of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Group (IKECSG), sailing in formation in the Red Sea with the Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour (CVH 550) on June 7, 2024, as part of their mission to support maritime stability and security in the Middle East region. (US Navy / AFP)
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US Army Vows to Degrade Houthi Military Capabilities

This handout photo released by the US Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) shows the US Navy Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Laboon (DDG 58) and USS Gravely (DDG 107), part of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Group (IKECSG), sailing in formation in the Red Sea with the Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour (CVH 550) on June 7, 2024, as part of their mission to support maritime stability and security in the Middle East region. (US Navy / AFP)
This handout photo released by the US Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) shows the US Navy Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Laboon (DDG 58) and USS Gravely (DDG 107), part of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Group (IKECSG), sailing in formation in the Red Sea with the Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour (CVH 550) on June 7, 2024, as part of their mission to support maritime stability and security in the Middle East region. (US Navy / AFP)

A merchant vessel in the Arabian Sea reported an explosion in close proximity to it on Monday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said.

UKMTO said the crew was reported safe and the vessel was proceeding to its next port of call.

The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) later identified the vessel as Liberian-flagged container MSC SARAH V, saying it was attacked by a missile while navigating the Arabian Sea but was not hit. The ship was sailing 246 nautical miles southeast of Yemen's Nishtun.

The ship reported a missile landing in the water approximately 50 meters off the starboard side of the ship, JMIC said.

"The vessel was likely attacked due to perceived Israeli association," JMIC's note added.

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi militias have been launching drone and missile strikes in shipping lanes since November, saying that are acting in solidarity with Palestinians in Israel's war in Gaza.

In dozens of attacks, the Houthis have sunk two vessels, seized another and killed at least three seafarers.

A Houthi military spokesman said in a statement that the militias used a remote-controlled vessel to make a direct hit against the Transworld Navigator bulk carrier in the Red Sea.

He also claimed that the Houthis attacked the Stolt Sequoia in the Indian Ocean with a number of cruise missiles.

In a statement on Sunday, the US Central Command said this was the fourth time the militias target the Transworld Navigator.

The crew reported minor injuries and moderate damage to the ship, but the vessel has continued underway, it said on the X platform.

"This continued malign and reckless behavior by the Iranian-backed Houthis threatens regional stability and endangers the lives of mariners across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden," it added.

"CENTCOM will continue to act with partners to hold the Houthis accountable and degrade their military capabilities," it vowed.