Dealing with the Houthi attacks on international shipping
The US and UK governments have taken limited, necessary and proportionate action in self-defence to defend lives and protect global shipping, in the face of dangerous and destabilising Houthi attacks in the red sea.
- Despite repeated warnings from the international community the Houthi militia have continued to carry out a series of dangerous and destabilising attacks against commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Their reckless actions are risking lives at sea and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
- This was simply unacceptable and could not be allowed to continue with no response. Therefore, the Royal Air Force, alongside the United States with non-operational support from the Netherlands, Canada and Bahrain, carried out targeted strikes against military facilities used by Houthi rebels in Yemen. These were carefully aimed to avoid civilian casualties and there does not appear to be any suggestion that any innocent civilians were harmed.
- The attacks were aimed to degrade Houthi military capabilities and protect global shipping as the Royal Navy and Britain's allies continue to patrol the Red Sea to deter further aggression. We urge them to cease their attacks and de-escalate.
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