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Yemen
Saudi-Led Airstrikes Kill Over 130
At least 134 Houthi rebels have been killed in airstrikes led by Saudi Arabian forces near the Yemeni city of Marib, according to Saudi military authorities. Fighting for the area had renewed over the past few weeks following months of relative quiet since the Houthis pushed into the area in February. After the rebels overran Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, in 2014, Marib became a stronghold of the the government. In spite of the apparent success of the airstrikes, the insurgents have proceeded to take over another district south of the city. The rebels are backed by Iran and are fighting against an internationally-recognized Yemeni government which receives primary support from Saudi Arabia.
This map depicts the Yemeni city of Marib, where fighting has resumed between Iranian-backed Houthi rebels and government forces supported by Saudi Arabia. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: AFP on Twitter
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Ethiopia
Army Launches Offensive
The United Nations and some Western government officials have confirmed reports by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) that Ethiopia’s national army, alongside allied forces from the Amhara region, launched an offensive against the TPLF in the northern Tigray region on Monday. The Ethiopian government has not explicitly confirmed any attacks but a spokesperson for the Prime Minister said the government has an obligation to protect its citizens from acts of “terrorism.” Fighting in Tigray has been ongoing since November 2020 and has left thousands dead, millions displaced, and at least 400,000 living in famine conditions. This new offensive breaks a ceasefire declared by the Ethiopian government last June.
This map depicts the Tigray region in northern Ethiopia, where the national army has reportedly launched an offensive. Click on the map to learn more.
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Somalia
Water Dispute with Kenya Settled
On Tuesday, the International Court of Justice ruled on a maritime border dispute between Somalia and Kenya. The area, which is abundant in natural resources, is considered to be an economic asset to both countries. The verdict ruled predominantly in Somalia’s favor, with the border being drawn slightly above Somalia’s claims. Before the court released its ruling, Kenya withdrew from the case and said it would not recognize the verdict. Although the United Nations has ruled on the dispute, it will be difficult for Somalia to enforce with a mostly-absent maritime authority. The verdict has led to increased tensions between the two countries, but armed conflict is unlikely.
This map depicts the conflicting maritime border claims of Kenya and Somalia. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: At almost 1 mile (1,560 m) deep, what is the deepest cave in the western hemisphere?
A: Sistema Huautla
Sistema Huautla, or the Huautla Cave System, is located in the Sierra Mazateca in Oaxaca, Mexico. Explorers in the 60s realized the multiple caves in the area were all interconnected and part of a larger cave system which came to be known as Sistema Huautla. While it boasts the deepest cave system in the western hemisphere, it also holds the record for the longest of the deepest caves in the world, at 55 miles (89 km) long. The cave has 29 separate entrances and at least 12 big chambers or ‘rooms’ within the cave—one of them being twice the size of the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium.
Source
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Q: Earlier this year, South Korea unveiled a $43 billion plan to build the world’s largest wind power plant. Currently, at 157 sq miles (407 sq km), where is the largest offshore wind farm located?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’s DailyGeo.
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