The Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has sent a stern warning to Houthis militants in Yemen that “action will be taken” if they do not stop using “attack drones” in the Red Sea to attack commercial shipping vessels.
Downing Street has warned on Wednesday afternoon that the UK can “reserve the right” to take “further steps” to protect commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
Overnight the Royal Navy HMS Diamond and US naval forces destroyed “multiple attack drones” in what has been described as the largest single attack to date.
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The Prime Minister’s official spokesman told reporters on Wednesday, “I am not going to speculate about how we will or will not respond to continued attacks.”
“We do reserve the right to take further steps to protect commercial shipping and avoid the risk of further destabilising the region. That is something we will keep under review.”
Grant Shapps warned that further action will be taken against the Iranian backed Houthis militants as there is growing global concern over the disruption in the key global shipping route.
Shapps posted on X, “Overnight, HMS Diamond, along with US warships, successfully repelled the largest attack from the Iranian-backed Houthis in the Red Sea to date.
“Deploying Sea Viper missiles and guns, Diamond destroyed multiple attack drones heading for her and commercial shipping in the area, with no injuries or damage sustained to Diamond or her crew.
“The UK alongside allies have previously made clear that these illegal attacks are completely unacceptable and if continued the Houthis will bear the consequences.
“We will take the action needed to protect innocent lives and the global economy.”
The Defence Secretary told GB News, “If this doesn’t stop, then action will be taken.
“So I suppose the simplest thing is to say watch this space.”
Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron told MPs on the Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday, “No-one wants to see escalation of conflict in the Middle East, but it is unacceptable to have the freedom of navigation affected in this way.”
He added, “They need to be told … this is not a sort of free option, that consequences follow.”
