//The Wire//2330Z June 21, 2024//

//ROUTINE//

//BLUF: HOUTHI TARGETING CONTINUES TO ADAPT IN RED SEA. DOD FAILS TO ACCOUNT FOR FUNDING SENT TO CHINESE LABORATORIES RESEARCHING PATHOGENS.//

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-International Events-

Middle East: Growing concern has been expressed by various world powers regarding the increasing potential for an Israeli invasion of Lebanon. AC: While the Israeli military claims that the military and logistical preparations have been completed for a military operation within Lebanon, a political decision as to such has not yet been released to the public.

Red Sea/HOA: Following the successful strike on the M/V TUTOR, Houthi forces have increased attempts to target commercial shipping via unmanned watercraft. Over the past few days, CENTCOM has claimed to have destroyed several such Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs), though it is not clear as to if this targeting was successful, or if it was conducted as an immediate defense against operationally deployed craft. AC: Of note, the strike carried out on the TUTOR did not involve the more advanced weaponry known to be within the Houthi Order of Battle (OOB). The Houthis have at least several different variants of USV, purpose built for attacking commercial shipping. However, the first successful use of a USV by the Houthis during this conflict was via the conversion of a standard fishing skiff, complete with the deception tactic of using mannequins by which to close with the intended target undetected. This may pose a unique challenge for American forces, who many not easily discern such USVs from legitimate fishing vessels (whereas the dedicated USVs are very easily identifiable military targets, even from a considerable distance).

-HomeFront-

USA: Car dealerships around North America continue to suffer the widening impacts of a cyberattack that occurred a few days ago. CDK Global, the provider of the software used by most car dealerships to manage inventory, conduct sales, etc, was rendered ineffective by a ransomware cyberattack which resulted in the company taking most of their systems offline.

Washington D.C. – The DoD Office of Inspector General publicly released their report (Dated June 18) regarding the limitations of DoD systems to track the funding allocated by the DoD to Chinese research laboratories conducting research on “pathogens of pandemic potential”. 

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Analyst Comments: It is not clear as to if the Pentagon failing to provide funding data for how much tax revenue was sent to Chinese research labs was done out of malice, incompetence, or both, but the end result is a lack of surprise on the part of the American taxpayer in any case.

Analyst: S2A1

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