David Cameron Says Latest Air Strikes Sends ‘Clearest Possible Message’ to Houthis

A Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4 taking off from an unidentified base for attacks on Houthi targets in Yemen on Jan. 22, 2023. Ministry of Defence

Foreign Secretary David Cameron says a fresh round of “precision strikes” against Houthi rebel targets in Yemen was designed to “send the clearest possible message” that they must stop their “unacceptable” attacks on merchant shipping in the international shipping lanes in the Red Sea.

The Iran-backed Houthis—who control a large swathe of northern Yemen, including the city of Sana'a—have been firing missiles at ships sailing between the Suez Canal and the Gulf of Aden.

The Houthis, who are closely allied with Hamas, claim they are targeting vessels heading for Israel but Britain has accused them of a “completely indiscriminate” campaign against merchant shipping in the Middle East.

A map published on the website of the Israeli newspaper Haaretz showed the list of ships targeted by the Houthis this month included a bulk carrier, the Genco Picardy, heading from Egypt to India and a U.S. tanker, the Chem Ranger, which was sailing from Jeddah to Kuwait.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) said four Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s joined U.S. planes in targeting sites in Yemen where the Houthis were believed to be operating missiles and drones.

An MOD statement said: “Our aircraft used Paveway IV precision-guided bombs to strike multiple targets at two military sites in the vicinity of Sana'a airfield. These locations were being used to enable the continued intolerable attacks against international shipping in the Red Sea.”

They said the mission followed up on an earlier RAF strikes on Jan. 11 and other U.S. operations, “to degrade the Houthis’ capability to conduct such attacks.”

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps “Dangerous Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea have continued to threaten the lives of sailors and disrupt shipping at an intolerable cost to the global economy.”

Shapps Says UK Acting in ‘Self-Defence’

He said, “Along with our U.S. partners, we have conducted a further round of strikes in self-defence.”

“Aimed at degrading Houthi capabilities, this action will deal another blow to their limited stockpiles and ability to threaten global trade,” added Mr. Shapps, who took over as defence secretary last year.

Mr. Shapps said: “Alongside our ongoing diplomatic efforts, we will continue to support regional stability across the Middle East, working hand in hand with our like-minded partners.”

Yahya Sare'e, the Houthis’ military spokesman, was quoted by the Quds News Network on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying, “The air force of the American-British aggression carried out 18 airstrikes in the past hours on the capital Sana'a, as well as other cities and these attacks will not pass without a response and punishment.”

The Red Sea provides access to the Suez Canal, a channel which serves 15 percent of the world’s shipping, and the Houthi attacks have affected global trade, with the Danish container firm Maersk rerouting some vessels around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa to avoid becoming targets.

There are fears the extra cost and time being taken will be passed on to customers in Europe by way of higher prices for imported goods.

RAF armourers preparing a Typhoon FGR4 ahead of attacks on Houthi targets in Yemen. Ministry of Defence

Mr. Cameron said on Tuesday, “Since we last took action ten days ago, there have been over 12 attacks on shipping by the Houthis in the Red Sea. These attacks are illegal, they are unacceptable.”

‘We Back our Words ...With Action’

“What we have done again is send the clearest possible message that we will continue to degrade their ability to carry out these attacks while sending the clearest possible message that we back our words and our warnings with action,” he said.

Mr. Sunak later told MPs: “We are not seeking a confrontation. We urge the Houthis and those who enable them to stop these illegal and unacceptable attacks. But, if necessary, the United Kingdom will not hesitate to respond again in self defence.”

“We cannot stand by and allow these attacks to go unchallenged. Inaction is also a choice,” added the prime minister.

There have been disputes about whether the leader of the opposition Labour Party, Sir Keir Starmer, and the speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, were informed of Monday night’s attacks in advance, as per parliamentary protocol.

Mr. Sunak spoke to U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday evening and a Downing Street spokesman said they agreed to “continue efforts alongside international partners to deter and disrupt” the Houthi attacks.

A joint statement issued by Britain, the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands described the strikes as “proportionate and necessary.”

PA Media contributed to this report.