Shapps visits Royal Navy in Red Sea to thank crews

The UK Defence Secretary has visited British armed forces in the Red Sea, a the UK Government said it “won't stand by” while international shipping is under attack from Houthi rebels.

Grants ha pp sm et th eh ms Diamond company to thank them for defending freedom of navigation, after the Iran-backed Houthis said they would continue targeting vessels, including those from Britain.

The UK Government held crisis talks with the shipping industry to say it will not allow international maritime trade to be held to ransom.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said the situation remains concerning as attacks persisted despite RAF airstrikes on Houthi positions.

Theuk joined theu sin carrying out strikes against the group in Yemen last week, but ships have continued to be targeted along the vital Red Sea and Gulf of Aden trade routes.

Shipping lines and oil giants have diverted vessels away from the Red Sea and Suez Canal, but the alternative route around southern African adds time and costs, which could hamper efforts to tackle inflation.

Mr Shapps said he had visited the company on Thursday to thank them “for their incredible work defending freedom of navigation, savinginnocent lives and ensuring merchant shipping is protected from the illegal Houthi attacks”.

The US military said on Thursday that it had fired another wave of ship and submarine-launched missile strikes against Houthicontrolled sites.

It is the fourth time recentlythat it has directly targeted the group in Yemen as violence ignited in the wake of the israel-ham as war continues to spill over in the Middle East. US President Joe Biden said the strikes would continue, but acknowledged they had not yet stopped the Houthi attacks.