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TOPSHOT - A picture taken on May 14, 2019, shows a general view of the Hodeida port in the Yemeni port city, around 230 kilometres west of the capital Sanaa. - Yemen's Huthi rebels have handed over security of key Red Sea ports to the "coastguard" but much work remains to remove military equipment, the UN said.
On Thursday night, the UK is expected to join the US in launching air strikes against the Houthis in Yemen 'within hours' to protect global shipping in the Red Sea.
UK aircraft and Royal Navy ships were scheduled to participate in the operation within hours, approved by Cabinet ministers in an emergency joint call.
UK, US to Fire Air Strikes Against Houthis
TOPSHOT - A picture taken on May 14, 2019, shows a general view of the Hodeida port in the Yemeni port city, around 230 kilometres west of the capital Sanaa. - Yemen's Huthi rebels have handed over security of key Red Sea ports to the "coastguard" but much work remains to remove military equipment, the UN said.
The decision was confirmed after a frenetic behind-the-scenes activity in Whitehall that included a National Security Council meeting and an urgent Cobra meeting of senior ministers.
On Thursday, Rishi Sunak warned Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the Egyptian president, that the UK would continue to take action to defend freedom of navigation and protect lives at sea.
A Downing Street spokesman said they had discussed the rise in Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and the disruptive impact on global shipping, including the Suez Canal.
UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron traveled to Downing Street at 8 pm on Thursday to brief ministers on the call. UK Labour Leader Keir Starmer, the shadow Defense Secretary John Healey, and the Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle also received a briefing on the situation.
The briefing indicated that there would be no time for a parliamentary vote to support military action.
The US National Security Spokesperson for the White House, John Kirby, said, "We will take all necessary measures to oppose and eliminate the threats that the Houthis continue to pose to commercial shipping in the Red Sea." He added that they will continue to consult with allies and partners about the appropriate next steps.
The UK Defense Secretary, Grant Shapps, gave a hint earlier this week that the Houthi rebels should "watch this space" and warned that Iran was "guiding what is happening there in the Red Sea."
Shapps' hint comes after Cameron's warning last month that Britain would not put up with Tehran's malign activities, either in the Middle East or on home soil.
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US, UK Shoot Down Houthi Drones, Missiles
The Houthis launched several drones, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles that were purportedly all Iranian-designed. Centcom has reported that the weapons were fired from areas in Yemen under Houthi control.
Centcom said on Tuesday night that the Houthi missiles and drones were aimed at an area through which numerous merchant vessels were passing.
The Houthis carried out 26 attacks on Red Sea shipping lanes since November 19. The Galaxy Leader, a vehicle carrier sailing from Turkey to India, was their most recent target.
The group claimed responsibility for initiating the attacks and said that they were against Israel's military actions in Gaza.
Four destroyers, one from the UK and fighters from the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower, participated in the operation. No damage or injuries were reported.
Last month, the US established an international marine coalition to address the attacks. Due to the attacks, several shipping companies have used the longer maritime route around southern Africa instead of the Red Maritime.
The Houthis stated that they intend to continue attacking until a resolution is reached regarding the conflict in Gaza.
US soldiers successfully intercepted a drone launched from Yemen over the weekend. Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, the commander of US naval forces in the Middle East, reported about the Houthis' recent use of an explosive-laden sea drone in commercial routes.
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