Prime Minister said: “The Royal Air Force has
carried out targeted strikes against military facilities used by
Houthi rebels in Yemen.
“In recent months, the Houthi militia have carried out a series
of dangerous and destabilising attacks against commercial
shipping in the Red Sea, threatening UK and other international
ships, causing major disruption to a vital trade route and
driving up commodity prices. Their reckless actions are risking
lives at sea and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
“Despite the repeated warnings from the international community,
the Houthis have continued to carry out attacks in the Red Sea,
including against UK and US warships just this week.
“This cannot stand. The United Kingdom will always stand up for
freedom of navigation and the free flow of trade. We have
therefore taken limited, necessary and proportionate action in
self-defence, alongside the United States with non-operational
support from the Netherlands, Canada and Bahrain against targets
tied to these attacks, to degrade Houthi military capabilities
and protect global shipping.
“The Royal Navy continues to patrol the Red Sea as part of the
multinational Operation Prosperity Guardian to deter further
Houthi aggression, and we urge them to cease their attacks and
take steps to de-escalate.”
