US military left frustrated as Sunak reveals mission before planes had returned to base

Political Editor

THE decision that led to British bombs falling on Houthi targets in Yemen was made by Rishi Sunak at around 11am on Thursday morning.

Sitting at the head of the table in the Cabinet Office’s suite of rooms, specially protected for national security discussions, the Prime Minister gave the green light. That 10.30am gathering was not the first time a military strike on the Houthis was considered. The possibility had been discussed back in December after a spate of attacks by the Houthis.

As aides and MPs took their Christmas holidays to catch a breath before election year, Whitehall security figures were mulling options for military intervention. Hopes that action would not be needed after an apparent easing of Houthi attacks were dashed by a flurry of activity in the New Year, leading to a joint statement from Britain’s allies on Jan 3 that amounted to a “cease and desist” demand.

But on Tuesday night the Houthis fired almost 20 drones and a wave of missiles – ones that American and

British military forces had to repel by force. The assault, Washington and

The assault, Washington and London decided, demanded a tough response, one that would be framed as self-defence

London decided, demanded a tough response. One that would be framed as self-defence but would also force the US and UK to step onto the front foot.

Then, on Wednesday night, a legal and diplomatic case to support the UK’s missile strike on Houthis gathered momentum after a UN Security Council resolution demanding an end to the group’s attacks was passed. China and Russia abstained.

By the end of the Cobra meeting, Mr Sunak had made up his mind. “He made clear he agreed with the proposed operation,” said a source.

There would be more formal steps to come. A wider National Security Council meeting came straight afterwards. A Cabinet meeting would be called for sign-off. But from that Cobra meeting onwards the plan to strike military targets was now being operationalised.

Complications abounded, however. For one, the Prime Minister had long-planned to make news yesterday on military matters – just not about the Middle East. Before Christmas, Downing Street had decided that Ukraine should be the first location in Mr Sunak’s 2024 international travel schedule and had been carefully preparing a secret Kyiv