‘Precise strikes’ on Houthi rebels are ‘necessary’ to remove threats to world supplies, says ex head of British Army
PRECISE strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen are "necessary" to remove the threats to global trade, an ex-British army chief has declared.
Explosions rang out across Yemen last night as the UK and US struck 60 Houthi targets in 16 locations in response to their Red Sea attacks.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said they acted in "self-defence" after the Iran-backed militia group vowed America and Britain will "pay a heavy price" for their "blatant aggression".
General Richard Dannatt insisted the PM was right in saying the response is "necessary action".
The former top brass told TalkTV: "One hopes very much that it's intelligence-led, intelligence of pretty high quality, so that the targets that are being struck by UK and US forces are precisely targeted against Houthi installations in order to restrict and reduce and hopefully remove the threats to international shipping transiting the Red Sea."
Lord Dannatt added: "Someone has to salute the courage and the bravery of British servicemen and women once again, who are willing to take action on behalf of UK interests and the national interests.
"They are risking their lives in carrying out these operations. So one salutes their courage."
In a separate interview with the BBC, Lord Dannatt highlighted how the "fragility of world chains of supply are being exposed by what's going on in the Red Sea", adding: "It does make sense that action is taken to ensure that world trade can continue."
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The action taken last night marked the first time strikes have been launched against the group since it started targeting international shipping in the Red Sea late last year.
US President Joe Biden described the blitz on sites used by the Iran-backed militia group as aa "success" and said he would "not hesitate" to launch more.
More than 100 precision-guided munitions were used to hit Yemen's capital Sanaa as well as Hudaydah, the Houthi Red Sea port stronghold, and other locations.
Warship-launched Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets were used during the strikes, the US said.
The US and UK said the attacks were intended to disrupt and degrade the militants' threat to global trade following weeks of drone and missile attacks on cargo ships in the region.
Armed Forces Minister James Heappey told Times Radio this morning direction action with Iran has not been considered but added: "It is definitely the case that Iranian ally groupings across the Middle East have been very active over the last two months."
He said the UK and Western allies have been "very clear throughout that this must not escalate into a regional conflict".
Houthi spokesman Nasr Aldeen Amer told Sky News his group would respond.
"A brutal aggression against our country, for which they [the attackers] will pay absolutely and without hesitation, and we will not back down from our position in supporting the Palestinian people, whatever the cost," he said.
Strikes were carried out with the support of Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed.
Denmark, Germany, New Zealand and South Korea also assisted.
The US President said military action was a "direct response to unprecedented Houthi attacks against international maritime vessels".
He added that it sent a "clear message" that the US and its partners will not tolerate attacks which have been crippling international shipping.
General Michael Erik Kurilla, United States Central Command Commander, said: "We hold the Houthi militants and their destabilising Iranian sponsors responsible for the illegal, indiscriminate, and reckless attacks on international shipping that have impacted 55 nations so far, including endangering the lives of hundreds of mariners, including the United States.
"Their illegal and dangerous actions will not be tolerated, and they will be held accountable."
The US and Britain both said the group faced “consequences” for unleashing 18 drones and three missiles at a Royal Navy warship and nearby merchant vessels on Tuesday.
The plans were finalised yesterday following meetings of the Prime Minister's National Security Council and the emergency committee Cobra.
Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron attended and other top UK politicians, including opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer, were briefed ahead of the military action.
Sir Keir said he supports the targeted strikes but called for a statement in Parliament “at the first opportunity”.
The Labour leader, told The BBC: "Clearly the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have to be dealt with, their attacks on commercial shipping, attacks on important trade routes and putting civilian lives at risk and therefore, we do support this action.
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“I do think there needs to be a statement in Parliament, which isn’t sitting today so it’s for the Government to make sure there’s a statement in Parliament as soon as possible at the first opportunity, to set out the justification, to set out the limits and scope of the operation.
“I also want to see a summary of the Government’s legal position published as soon as possible, and I would hope that that can be published today.”
