Rishi Sunak known as an emergency Cabinet assembly tonight as expectations mount that the UK is poised to affix navy strikes towards Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The Prime Minister briefed prime ministers on the escalating scenario after a string of assaults on ships within the Red Sea. Foreign Secretary David Cameron was seen coming into No10 simply earlier than 8pm and Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle was additionally summoned to a Whitehall briefing.
Labour chief Keir Starmer and Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey are additionally understood to have been briefed. Downing Street refused to remark final night time however any navy motion could be anticipated to be executed alongside the United States and different allies.
It comes after UK and US naval forces destroyed “multiple attack drones” deployed by Houthi rebels within the Red Sea, believed to be the biggest assault so far. Royal Navy destroyer HMS Diamond was concerned within the response to the most recent assaults, which the Iran-backed Houthis claimed are in retaliation to the Israeli bombardment of Gaza.
The UK and the US have repeatedly advised the Yemen-based group to cease concentrating on business vessels within the Red Sea however the warnings have gone unheeded.
Earlier, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps advised Sky News: “Be in no doubt at all, Iran is guiding what is happening there in the Red Sea, providing them not just with equipment to carry out those attacks but also often with the eyes and ears to allow those attacks to happen. We must be clear with the Houthis, that this has to stop and that is my simple message to them today, and watch this space.”
White House nationwide safety spokesman John Kirby advised reporters: “The Houthis need to stop these attacks – and they will bear the consequences of not doing so. We’re going to do what we have to do to counter these threats.”
Mr Sunak mentioned the assaults with Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi yesterday afternoon, Downing Street mentioned. A No10 spokesperson mentioned the PM advised him “the UK would continue to take action to defend freedom of navigation and protect lives at sea”.
Ministers are alarmed concerning the financial influence of the assaults within the Red Sea, which is a crucial transport route. A Treasury evaluation warned final month that disruption may shrink the British economic system by as much as 0.3 per cent – a determine that’s now anticipated to be worse.