The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Cabinet in Houthi talks
Rishi Sunak held a full Cabinet call yesterday evening amid mounting speculation that Britain and Western allies could take imminent action against Houthi rebels following attacks in the Red Sea.
Ministers discussed a response to disruption on the key global shipping route, with Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron seen entering Number 10.
Sir Keir Starmer and shadow defence secretary John Healey were briefed by the government after the call, it is understood, and commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle was seen arriving at the cabinet office late yesterday.
With the Commons having finished business for the week, the Liberal Democrats and the SNP demanded Parliament be recalled if the UK Government is preparing to take military action before Monday.
The Commons speaker cannot recall Parliament without being asked to do so by the government, and Mr Sunak is not expected to make such a request.
Mr Sunak used a conversation with the Egyptian president earlier yesterday to emphasise the UK’s commitment to defending its interests.
He discussed the disruption in the Red Sea with Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and promised Britain would continue to “take action to defend freedom of navigation and protect lives at sea”, No 10 said.
It comes after UK and US naval forces destroyed “multiple attack drones” deployed by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, believed to be the largest attack yet from the Yemen-based force.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has warned further action will be taken if assaults persist amid growing global concern about the disruption.
He also said he believed the Houthis, a Shiite group which has held Yemen’s capital since 2014, were acting with the support of Iran.
“Be in no doubt at all, Iran is guiding what is happening there in the Red Sea, providing them not just with equipment to carry out those attacks but also often with the eyes and ears to allow those attacks to happen,” Mr Shapps told Sky News.
“We must be clear with the Houthis that this has to stop and that is my simple message to them today, and watch this space.”
The Royal Navy air defence destroyer HMS Diamond was involved in the response to the latest in a series of attacks, which the Houthis have claimed are a response to the Israeli bombardment of Gaza.
Mr Shapps also posted on X, formerly Twitter:
“Overnight, HMS Diamond, along with US warships, successfully repelled the largest attack from the Iranian-backed Houthis in the Red Sea to date.
“The UK alongside allies have previously made clear that these illegal attacks are completely unacceptable and if continued the Houthis will bear the consequences.
“We will take the action needed to protect innocent lives and the global economy.”