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On Thursday evening, Rishi Sunak will be hosting a complete Cabinet conference, amidst growing rumors that the UK and other Western nations may intervene against Houthi insurgents in response to recent assaults in the Red Sea region.
The scheduled meeting was expected to start at approximately 7:45pm following a warning from Defence Secretary Grant Shapps to the Iranian-backed group. He cautioned them to “keep an eye out” if disruptions persist in the critical international shipping lane. Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron was observed entering Number 10 shortly before 8pm.
It is understood that Sir Keir Starmer and shadow defence secretary John Healey will receive a briefing after the call, and Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle was spotted arriving at the Cabinet Office.
According to No 10, the prime minister spoke with the Egyptian president on Thursday to talk about the interference and reaffirm that the UK will persist in safeguarding the right to navigate and preserving lives at sea.
On Wednesday, naval forces from the UK and US successfully neutralized several attack drones deployed by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. This is believed to be the most significant attack yet by the Yemen-based militants.
According to reports, Rishi Sunak will host a complete Cabinet conference on Thursday evening.
Mr. Shapps cautioned that additional measures would be implemented if the attacks continue, as there is increasing international worry over the disturbance in the important global trade pathway.
The individual also expressed their belief that the Houthis, a Shia faction that has controlled Yemen’s capital since 2014, were receiving assistance from Iran.
Mr. Shapps stated to Sky News that there is no doubt that Iran is leading the events in the Red Sea and not only supplying the necessary tools for these attacks, but also providing intelligence to facilitate them.
Our message to the Houthis is clear: this must stop. Watch this space for updates.
The HMS Diamond, a destroyer in the Royal Navy’s air defense fleet, participated in addressing the most recent attack, which the Houthis have stated was in retaliation to the Israeli bombing of Gaza.
Mr. Shapps, who is also known as X on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, shared the following message: “Last night, HMS Diamond, along with American warships, effectively defended against the biggest assault to date by the Iranian-supported Houthis in the Red Sea.”
Using Sea Viper missiles and guns, Diamond successfully destroyed several attack drones that were targeting her and commercial ships in the vicinity. Fortunately, neither Diamond nor her crew suffered any injuries or damage during the operation.
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The United Kingdom, along with its allies, has stated before that these unauthorized assaults are completely unacceptable. If they persist, the Houthis will face consequences.
“We are committed to taking necessary measures to safeguard innocent lives and the world economy.”
The HMS Diamond, a destroyer in the Royal Navy’s air defense, successfully neutralized several attack drones launched by the Iranian-backed Houthis in the Red Sea.
The course of potential future actions from the US, the UK, and other allies is yet to be determined.
There is talk of a potential response that may include targeting the Houthi command centers with strikes.
On Wednesday, the Prime Minister’s spokesperson informed journalists, “I will not make any guesses about our potential response to ongoing attacks.”
“We reserve the right to take additional measures to safeguard commercial shipping and prevent further destabilization of the region. We will continue to monitor this situation.”
Antony Blinken, the secretary of state for the United States, reiterated concerns about a potential reaction while speaking in Bahrain.
He stated that he will not disclose any potential occurrences beforehand.
“All I can tell you again, we’ve made clear – we’ve been clear with more than 20 other countries – that if this continues, as it did yesterday, there will be consequences. And I’m going to leave it at that.”
Houthi followers chant phrases while participating in a ceremony to mark the completion of training for recently enlisted fighters in Sanaa.
Several prominent shipping companies and the large oil corporation BP have chosen to reroute their ships away from southern Africa, which results in longer journeys and higher expenses, rather than taking the chance of traveling through the Red Sea.
If the crisis persists, consumers may bear the burden of increased costs, hindering attempts to control inflation and lower interest rates.
The governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, stated that he was closely monitoring the situation during his appearance before Members of Parliament.
The US Central Command reported that the Houthis carried out a “sophisticated assault” and were able to take down 18 attack drones, two anti-ship cruise missiles, and an anti-ship ballistic missile. This attack involved the use of Diamond, US warships, and F/A-18 fighter jets.
The report stated that the strike was the 26th instance of Houthi aggression on the shipping routes of the Red Sea since November 19.
On Tuesday, during a meeting with the Foreign Affairs Committee, Lord Cameron expressed his disapproval of Houthi assaults in the Red Sea following the Gaza conflict, labeling them as “unacceptable” in one of the “vital waterways”.
Source: independent.co.uk
