The Prime Minister has told MPs in the House of Commons that the “UK will not hesitate” to launch further airstrikes in Yemen and has urged the Houthis to stop their attacks in the Red Sea.
The Iranian backed Houthis militants have continued to attack commercial vessels in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea despite being attacked by the US and the UK in an attempt to put an end to the “attack drones.”
On Monday evening the US and UK conducted airstrikes on two military Houthis launch sites in Yemeni capital Sanaa.
The Prime Minister told MPs, “We are not seeking a confrontation. We urge the Houthis and those who enable them to stop these illegal and unacceptable attacks.
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“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.”
Rishi Sunak said in the Commons that four RAF Tyhpoon fighter jets attacked sites that are used to launch “attack drones” to hit commercial vessels in the Red Sea, he added that “all intended targets were destroyed.”
Sunak said that “in the coming days” the Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron will head to the Middle East.
The Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said his party backs the “targeted action to reinforce maritime security in the Red Sea.”
The Labour leader told MPs in the Commons, “The Houthi attacks must stop.
“They are designed to destabilise us so we must stand united and strong, they bring danger to ordinary civilians who are working hard at sea, so we must protect them, and they aim to disrupt the flow of goods, food and medicines, so we must not let them go unaddressed.”
MPs will debate the situation on Wednesday, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said, “It’s important that parliamentarians are able to have their say but we are acting in line with precedence.
“The powers to make a decision on this action rest with the Prime Minister.”
