Advertisement
Sunak defends decision for UK to join US in ‘limited’ strikes on Yemen’s Houthis
- British PM said aim of last week’s strikes was to ‘disrupt’ Houthis’ ability to launch attacks and he did not rule out joining further military action
- A Houthi spokesman said British and American ships had become ‘legitimate targets’ following strikes launched by the two countries last week
Reading Time:4 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told parliament on Monday that UK strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, conducted alongside the United States, were “limited, not escalatory” and came in response to a threat to British vessels.
Advertisement
Sunak faced questions about why British lawmakers did not get a say on the military action, and he did not rule out joining further military action if Houthi attacks continue.
Four Royal Air Force Typhoon jets took part in last week’s US-led strikes on sites used by the Iran-backed rebels, who have been attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea. The US says Friday’s strikes hit Houthi weapons depots, radar facilities and command centres.
Sunak told lawmakers that British jets targeted launch sites for drones and ballistic missiles, and that the UK’s initial assessment was that all 13 planned targets had been destroyed, without civilian casualties. He said the aim was to “degrade and disrupt” the Houthis’ ability to launch attacks.
US forces carried out another strike on Saturday on a Houthi radar site, but the group’s attempted attacks have continued.
Advertisement
Advertisement