The Times of Israel is liveblogging Sunday’s events as they happen.
Man shot to death in Tiberias, woman found dead in Holon
Police are investigating two apparent murders overnight, both seemingly criminal in nature and unrelated to terror concerns.
In Tiberias, Bashar Zarani, 23, was shot to death in an apparent criminal dispute, though his family believes he was not the target, the Ynet news site reports.
The killing of Zarani, from the Galilee town of Tura’an, marks the 241st slaying in the Arab community this year, a massive uptick from 114 killed at this point last year, according to the Abraham Initiatives NGO, which tracks murders in Arab society.
In Holon, near Tel Aviv, police say a 57-year-old woman was found dead in her home. Authorities offer few details about the suspected killing.
US says Houthi drones attacked warship, tankers in Red Sea
The US military says a warship was targeted with four UAVs fired from Yemen, and says a tanker was hit by a suicide drone, with another nearly missing a second vessel.
No injuries are reported in any of the incidents.
In a statement, the US Central Command says the USS Laboon “shot down four unmanned aerial drones originating from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen that were inbound to” the frigate.
The ship is in the southern Red Sea as part of a US-led coalition meant to protect shipping lanes from attack by the Iran-backed rebels in the key Bab al-Mandeb strait.
On December 23 two Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles were fired into international shipping lanes in the Southern Red Sea from Houthi controlled areas of Yemen. No ships reported being impacted by the ballistic missiles.
Between 3 and 8 p.m. (Sanaa time), the USS LABOON (DDG… pic.twitter.com/jcBisbXBaS
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 24, 2023
It says the Laboon also responded to distress calls after attacks on the M/V BLAAMANEN, a Norwegian-flagged and owned tanker, which was nearly hit by an attack drone, and the M/V SAIBABA, a Gabon-owned, Indian-flagged crude tanker that did suffer a strike.
“These attacks represent the 14th and 15th attacks on commercial shipping by Houthi militants since Oct. 17,” it says.
In addition, CentCom says two ballistic missiles were fired from Houthi-controlled areas at the shipping lanes, but no vessels were impacted.
Sirens sound in north over suspected drone, rocket attacks
Alerts are sounding in three Israeli communities in northern Israel over a suspected enemy drone infiltration and rocket attack.
Residents of Sasa, Matat and Dovev are told to shelter over the suspected drone attack, while Dovev is also put under a rocket warning.
חדירת כלי טיס עוין (24/12/2023 02:44): דוב''ב, מתת, סאסא pic.twitter.com/p9jvtGhWiL
— צופר – צבע אדום (@tzevaadom_) December 24, 2023
Police in Cologne, Vienna up security around churches amid reports of Islamist threat
Cologne police have searched Germany’s landmark cathedral with sniffer dogs Saturday and say worshippers attending Christmas Eve Mass will undergo security screening before being allowed in, amid reported fears of an Islamist attack.
In Austria, police in Vienna also say they are taking heightened security measures around churches and Christmas markets, deploying both uniformed and plainclothes officers.
The German daily Bild reports that officials in Austria, Germany and Spain all received indications that an Islamist group was planning several attacks in Europe, possibly on New Year’s Eve and Christmas.
According to the newspaper, the targets of these attacks could be Christmas masses in Cologne, Vienna and Madrid.
Sniffer dogs are looking for explosives in Cologne Cathedral, Germany ????????.
After a specific terror warning, a major operation is underway at Cologne Cathedral this evening!
The security authorities in Austria????????, Germany ???????? and Spain ???????? have received indications that an Islamist… pic.twitter.com/DGeLcyXZ5s
— Luís Da Cruz (@morphiaz) December 23, 2023
Michael Esser, head of the criminal investigation department of the Cologne police, says in a news release that the threat indications pointed to New Year’s Eve rather than Christmas, but added that “we are putting everything possible in motion for the security of cathedral visitors on Christmas Eve.”
Police and cathedral officials urge those attending Mass on Sunday evening to arrive early and not bring bags or purses.
The European Union’s home affairs commissioner, Ylva Johansson, warned on December 5 that Europe faces a “huge risk of terrorist attacks” over the Christmas holidays due to fallout from the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
US says Iran attacked tanker off Indian coast with suicide drone
A chemical tanker struck Saturday off the coast of India was targeted “by a one-way attack drone fired from Iran,” the Pentagon says.
The attack took place around 10 a.m. local time and caused no casualties aboard the Japanese-owned vessel, it says, adding that a fire was extinguished.
The US military “remains in communication with the vessel as it continues toward a destination in India,” the Pentagon statement adds.
The Pentagon statement says the Chem Pluto ship flew under a Liberian flag and was operated by a Dutch entity. A private security firm has earlier said it was “linked” to Israel.
Jerusalem also believes Tehran was directly behind the attack, according to Hebrew media Saturday.
The drone strike occurred 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) off the coast of India, it notes, adding that no US Navy vessels were in the vicinity.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the strike, which came amid a flurry of drone and missile attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels on a vital shipping lane in the Red Sea.
On Friday, Washington said Iran has been “deeply involved” in the planning of the attacks.
Drones explode near ships off Yemen, UK office reports
Ships near the Red Sea’s Bab al Mandeb Strait were attacked by drones, the UK’s Maritime Trade Operations office reports.
No injuries were reported in the two incidents, which occurred within half an hour of each other some 50 miles off the coast of Yemen.
In the first incident, an unmanned aircraft exploded near a vessel, which did not suffer any damage.
UKMTO WARNING 019/DEC/2023https://t.co/Z0vTdolDwv#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/9M4pYwOKD0
— United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) (@UK_MTO) December 23, 2023
Some 20 minutes after that, a drone buzzed a vessel and then blew up some 1.5 miles away from it.
UKMTO NOTICE 020/DEC/2023 UPDATE 001 https://t.co/Z0vTdolDwv#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/r1fNOWHIHD
— United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) (@UK_MTO) December 23, 2023
There is no immediate word on the identities of the vessels.
Ships have been repeatedly attacked in the area by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who seek to choke the vital shipping lane in response to Israel’s war in Gaza