Rishi Sunak has said the UK is “not seeking a confrontation” with Yemen’s Houthi fighters – but it will strike again if their attacks in the Red Sea continue.
Royal Air Force jets took part in a second wave of joint US-UK action against the group on Monday night after further attacks on the vital shipping lane.
Politics Live: Rishi Sunak says UK ‘not seeking confrontation’ with strikes on Houthis
The prime minister told MPs: “We are not seeking a confrontation. We urge the Houthis and those who enable them to stop these illegal and unacceptable attacks.
“But, if necessary, the United Kingdom will not hesitate to respond again in self defence.
“We cannot stand by and allow these attacks to go unchallenged. Inaction is also a choice.”
Four RAF Typhoons and a pair of Voyager tankers were involved in the latest action.
Several targets were hit at two military sites north of Yemen’s capital Sanaa.
Mr Sunak said the strikes were aimed at sites the Houthis use to support their attacks on shipping and “all intended targets were destroyed”.
The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, have been targeting shipping they claim is linked to Israel in the context of the conflict with Hamas.
But the UK and allies have warned the attacks are indiscriminate and have included targeting Royal Navy and allied warships.
Middle East latest: Houthis warn UK and US to ‘expect a response’
The Red Sea route leading to and from the Suez Canal is one of the world’s most important shipping routes and there are concerns the cost of diverting vessels away from it, around southern Africa, will fuel inflation and damage the global economy.
Outlining the UK’s wider approach to the situation, Mr Sunak said new sanctions would be announced “in the coming days” and in the long term, the UK must “end the illegal flow of arms to the Houthi militia”.
He said this would include “working closely with our allies and partners to disrupt and deter the supply of weapons and components”.
“We are going…
