British Royal Navy
UK defence ministry stated that British Royal Navy shot down an Iranian-backed Houthis missile fired at a merchant vessel in the Gulf of Aden on Thursday.
“The HMS Diamond warship used a Sea Viper missile system to shoot down the missile on Wednesday”, the ministry reported.
Grant Shapps, the UK’s Defence Secretary, noted, “The UK continues to be at the forefront of the international response to the Iranian-backed Huthis’ dangerous attacks on commercial vessels, which have claimed the lives of international mariners”.
“I want to thank the brave crew of HMS Diamond for her vital role in saving innocent lives and protecting international shipping from illegal Houthi attacks”, Shapps continued.
On January 12, US and British forces launched their first joint strikes aimed at diminishing the Houthis’ capacity to target vessels transiting the critical Red Sea trade route.
The Houthis claim that the strikes are in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where Israel is at war with Hamas.
The Houthis began attacking Red Sea vessels in November.
The US military has also conducted unilateral air raids, although the Houthis have vowed to continue their strikes.
The Red Sea accounts for around 12 percent of international maritime trade. Since the attacks began, some maritime firms have ceased utilizing the channel, opting for the longer and more expensive route around South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope.
Also read: 18 Countries’ Leaders Urge Hamas To Release Hostages
