In the wake of recent US and British airstrikes on Yemen’s Houthi rebels, tensions in the Middle East have escalated, drawing global attention to the long-standing conflict in the region. The strikes, conducted in response to Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping, have reignited debates about the UK’s involvement in the Yemen war.
At least five people were reported killed and six wounded in the airstrikes, with the Houthi rebels confirming the attacks without specifying their targets.
The bombing illuminated the predawn sky over multiple Houthi-held sites, prompting Saudi Arabia to swiftly distance itself from the strikes in an effort to maintain delicate diplomatic relations with Iran and the ongoing ceasefire in Yemen.
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Prime Minister Rishi Sunak defended the Royal Air Force’s actions, stating that targeted strikes were carried out against military facilities used by the Houthis.
Sunak emphasised that the UK’s response was “limited, necessary, and proportionate” in self-defence, coordinated with the United States and with non-operational support from the Netherlands, Canada, and Bahrain.
In a joint statement, several nations, including Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea, the United States, and the United Kingdom, expressed their commitment to de-escalating tensions in the Red Sea while stressing the need to defend lives and protect commerce in the critical waterway.
However, Russia has called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to address the airstrikes, and France, the current council president, has confirmed the meeting will take place Friday afternoon.
The Houthi rebels, who have been responsible for numerous attacks involving drones and missiles, warned of a fierce military response to any attack by American forces on their sites in Yemen.
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