Rishi Sunak justifies UK and US defensive actions with strikes on Houthi rebel sites in Yemen

UK and US Launch Strikes on Houthi Rebel Sites in Yemen The UK and US have conducted targeted strikes on military facilities in Yemen, with Rishi Sunak stating that these actions are necessary and proportionate to protect global shipping in the Red Sea. The strikes are in response to the threat posed by the Houthi rebel group, which is backed by Iran and has been targeting international shipping in the region. Houthi officials have warned that there will be consequences for the UK and US as a result of these strikes. This marks the first time that the US-led coalition has taken action against the Houthi militia since they started attacking ships in the Red Sea last year. The Houthis control a significant portion of Yemen and claim to be supporting Hamas by targeting ships heading to Israel. The US Air Force has reported that more than 60 targets at 16 locations used by the Houthi rebels were struck during the operation. Rishi Sunak has accused the Houthi rebels of threatening UK and international ships and causing significant disruption to the trade route. He stated that the UK has taken limited, necessary, and proportionate action in self-defense, with non-operational support from the Netherlands, Canada, and Bahrain. The main objective of the strikes was to degrade the Houthi military capabilities and safeguard global shipping. The UK's Royal Air Force conducted precision strikes on Houthi sites, including an airfield used for launching drones and missiles and another site utilized for attack drones. The Ministry of Defence has indicated that early assessments suggest that the strikes have dealt a blow to the Houthis' ability to threaten merchant shipping. Armed Forces Minister James Heappy emphasized that the strikes were undertaken in self-defense to disrupt the Houthi's capacity to attack US and UK warships and commercial shipping in the region. Lord Dannatt, the former head of the British Army, pointed out that the UK and US have a responsibility as permanent members of the UN Security Council to protect global trade. Meanwhile, a Houthi leader has warned that the US and UK will soon realize the folly of their actions, and the group maintains that it will continue attacking ships associated with or heading to Israel. The Houthi spokesperson, Mohammed Abdulsalam, asserted that there was no justification for the aggression against Yemen and that the targeting of ships would persist.