Rishi Sunak
Following the Royal Air Force (RAF) strikes against Houthi rebels, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak vowed to protect British interests abroad.
In Yemen, the UK and US forces launched their fifth joint operation since January, targeting Houthi positions.
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) acknowledged that strikes were launched against the Houthis on Thursday in response to Houthi attacks on foreign ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
In a statement issued Friday, Sunak stated, “Last night, the RAF successfully conducted a fifth set of strikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen alongside the US”.
“These strikes were conducted to further degrade the military capabilities of the Houthis and to prevent further attacks on international shipping”, Sunak continued.
Sunak went on to say, “The strikes were taken in self-defence in the face of an ongoing threat that the Houthis pose”.
When asked if this new round of strikes risked escalation with Iran, Sunak replied, “We have always said that we will not hesitate to protect British interests abroad and at home”.
The UK PM explained, “There is an ongoing threat that the Houthis pose, 197 attacks since November, all our intelligence indicates that previous sets of strikes have been successful in degrading the military capabilities of the Houthis: targeting supply, command and control launch sites for missiles and there is also a risk in inaction that would damage the global economy and further risk our international security”.
The Ministry of Defence claimed, “Intelligence had confirmed two locations near Hudaydah as being involved with the anti-shipping attacks, with buildings identified as housing drone ground control facilities and providing storage for very long-range drones”.
Surface-to-air weapons deployed to disrupt coalition operations to protect regional shipping were also suspected to be on-site.
Several Houthi sites near Ghulayfiqah, further south on Yemen’s coast, have also been identified as being part of the group’s anti-shipping campaign.
RAF Typhoon FGR4s used Paveway IV-guided bombs to strike the target buildings at the three locations.
The Ministry of Defence went on to say, “The utmost care was taken in planning the strikes to minimise any risk to civilians or non-military infrastructure”.
This is the fifth joint operation between the US and UK militaries against the Houthis since January 12.
In recent months, the Houthis have stepped up attacks on ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, demanding that Israel cease the war in Gaza, which has killed over 36,000 Palestinians.
The war began on October 7, when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and seizing 250 hostages.
According to the US Maritime Administration, since November, the Houthis have launched over 50 strikes on ships, seizing one vessel and sinking another.
The strikes have hampered shipping routes throughout the region.
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