Topic: Houthi Rebels

Kamala Harris claimed during the debate that no active-duty U.S. military personnel are currently in combat zones, a statement challenged by recent casualties and deployments. U.S. troops remain engaged in operations against ISIS in Iraq and faced fatal attacks in Jordan earlier this year. Additional naval forces continue to engage Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, contradicting the assertion of a peaceful deployment status.

The U.S. military launched airstrikes against Iranian-linked weapon storage facilities in Syria following 40 attacks on U.S. troops. The Pentagon has deployed a second aircraft carrier and a nuclear submarine to the region as a message of deterrence to Iran and its proxies.

Saudi Arabia's Abqaiq refinery and Khurais oil field were targeted by drone strikes, disrupting 10% of global oil production. While Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the ten-drone swarm, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo alleged Iranian involvement, citing a lack of evidence that the launch originated from Yemen. Reports from sources in the region suggest the projectiles may have been cruise missiles rather than standard drones due to the 500-mile range required for the mission.

UN Ambassador Nikki Haley presented fragments of a missile launched by Houthi rebels at Saudi Arabia, claiming the Iranian logo on the debris serves as irrefutable evidence of treaty violations. Critics argue the hardware appears to be a modified Russian Scud-B missile and suggest the presentation was a staged "dog and pony show" to justify a U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer mistakenly claimed that Iran had attacked a U.S. naval vessel. He was actually referring to a Houthi rebel attack on a Saudi ship off the coast of Yemen. The gaffe was used by critics to suggest the administration is looking for a pretext for conflict with Iran.

The USS Mason came under fire from cruise missiles in the Red Sea for the third time in four days. The missiles were reportedly fired from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen. The hosts express skepticism about the "fishy" nature of the story, questioning how the rebels obtained cruise missiles and suggesting the events might be a setup for deeper U.S. military involvement in the region.

The discussion focuses on the Houthi rebels in Yemen and their shared interest with the U.S. in fighting Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), despite their "Death to America" motto. The hosts joke about the "Stargate" in the Gulf of Aden and the "Byzantine" nature of Yemeni politics. They observe that the U.S. may be forced to work with groups it previously bombed.