Janice R. Andrews
Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron defended UK strikes on Houthi targets in the Red Sea during a press briefing today over the recent joint military campaign in Yemen. Lord Cameron said that the “lights are flashing red on the global dashboard” and underlined the necessity for “strong leadership” in the face of growing dangers on a global scale.
Lord Cameron defended the military operation by claiming that “more attacks” in the Red Sea would have resulted from a failure to retaliate against Houthi attacks.
He called the Houthi actions “effectively terrorist attacks” and made a suggestion that the UK may be open to joining more military operations.
The coordinated action was carried out by the US and British militaries in response to an attack on international trade in a vital maritime channel. Fears of a possible escalation in the Middle East were downplayed by Lord Cameron, who said that “not acting is also a policy, and it was a policy that wasn’t working.”
Citing 26 events since November, one of which involved an attack on HMS Diamond, Lord Cameron further defended the first response to the attacks in the Red Sea. He maintained that the decision to use military force was made because warnings by themselves were insufficient.
on queries on any links between the Israel-Hamas war and the Red Sea assaults, Lord Cameron refuted them. Nonetheless, former MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove acknowledged the regional impact and said that there were “inevitable” linkages.
Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting of the Labour Party backed the government’s decision, calling it a “open and shut case.” In the interest of Britain’s national interest and self-defense, Streeting underlined the necessity of acting quickly and decisively.
Conversely, the Liberal Democrats demanded a vote on the issue be taken retroactively and attacked the government for “bypassing” parliament. Layla Moran, the foreign affairs spokesperson, acknowledged the strikes by the Houthis with concern, but she maintained that lawmakers should not be kept silent over the crucial matter of military action.
In a televised statement, the Houthi-controlled Yemeni military forces promised that the bombardment “will not go unanswered and unpunished.” They said that in light of the current situation in Gaza, it would not stop them from supporting Palestinians.
The UK government’s military engagement in response to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea has drawn criticism from both home and abroad, and the situation is still tense. As the administration gets ready to deliver a speech in the Commons on Monday, more developments are anticipated.
