The UK is reportedly considering airstrikes on Houthi rebels after the US Navy revealed it sank three boats targeting a container ship in the Red Sea. Grant Shapps, the UK's defence secretary, emphasized that the government would not hesitate to take "direct action" to prevent further attacks. Reports suggest that the UK and US are preparing a joint statement to issue a final warning to the Yemeni group.
The US military reported that four boats from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen fired at the Maersk Hangzhou, coming within meters of the vessel. US helicopters fired back, resulting in the death of several crews on the armed Houthi boats. The incident marked an attempt to disrupt global trade, prompting the UK to consider military responses.
In a Telegraph op-ed, Shapps asserted that the UK is committed to holding malign actors accountable for unlawful seizures and attacks. He emphasized that the UK "won't hesitate to take further action to deter threats to freedom of navigation in the Red Sea."
Earlier this month, a Royal Navy destroyer joined international efforts to deter attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea as part of the US-led Operation Prosperity Guardian. Reports suggest that the UK is weighing the possibility of an armed response as the Iran-backed Houthis claim attacks on ships linked to Israel or heading to Israeli ports.
The Houthi attacks aim to end Israel's air and ground offensive targeting the Gaza Strip following the Hamas attack on 7 October. The UK has condemned the Houthi attacks as "outrageous" and continues to explore diplomatic solutions while working with allies and partners to protect freedom of navigation.
The situation in the Red Sea is deemed serious, with Houthi attacks considered unacceptable and destabilizing. The UK government has called for the Iranian-backed Houthis to cease these illegal attacks and is actively pursuing diplomatic routes. Tensions in the region persist, with ongoing efforts to safeguard maritime security and trade traffic in the strategically vital waterway.