Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and his US counterpart Lloyd Austion will deliver a “final warning” to the Iran-backed Houthi militias in Washington today.
Military chiefs want to take a more “offensive” approach to help protect one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.Houthis have been using sites in Yemen to bombard vessels operating in the Red Sea.
The attacks began after the start of the Israel-Hamas war on 7 October but have dramatically spiked during December.
Eight of the 23 ships attacked so far have been either UK registered, had Brits in their crew or carried goods for the UK.
Major shipping firms such as BP, Mediterranean Shipping Company, Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk are diverting vessels away from the Red Sea amid concerns the crisis will drive up the price of goods and inflation.
They will instead travel around Africa, adding weeks to journeys.Defence Secretary Grant Shapps warned: “Those terrorists who are disrupting trade in the Red Sea are drinking in the last chance saloon. Diplomatic efforts have been made to find a resolution but with limited success.
“We cannot allow one of the world’s key waterways that serves global trade to be held for ransom. “Attacks on commercial shipping with drones and missiles is an attack on all of us and the culture and freedoms we cherish.
“There is no justification for targeting civilian shipping in this way. We need an immediate end to these illegal attacks.
“If the Houthis continue to threaten lives and trade, we will be forced to take the necessary and appropriate action.”
The US military revealed that it shot down two anti-ship ballistic missiles fired towards a container ship by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.
Hours later, four boats tried to attack the same ship, but US forces opened fire, killing several of the armed crews, the US Central Command (Centcom) said. No-one was injured on the ship.
“This is the 23rd illegal attack by the Houthis on international shipping since November 19,” Centcom said.
A British government source said: “The Defence Secretary and his US counterpart will issue a final warning to the Rebels. The problem is getting worse, as witnessed by the spike in attacks. A more offensive approach will be taken.”
The source added that the world’s focus on Israel/Gaza and now the Red Sea is being seized upon by the Kremlin over Ukraine.
“Vladimir Putin will be pleased that the world’s eyes are focussed on the Middle East. It is important to continue to focus on Ukraine.”
The Houthis backed the Hamas terrorists following the October 7 attacks and have used missiles, hijackings and harassment against ships they claim have links to Israel.
The aggression prompted the launch of a US-led multinational naval operation to protect shipping routes. However, some allies have been reluctant to join.
Earlier this month, Royal Navy warship HMS Diamond shot down an attack drone launched by the Houthis in the Red Sea.
It was the first time the Royal Navy has fired air defence weapons in anger for more than 30 years.
