The UK remains ready to act again against Houthi rebels in Yemen if attacks on military and merchant ships in the Red Sea continue, Britain’s foreign secretary warned today. David Cameron.

“We have sent a clear message: the actions of the Houthis are reprehensible and we are determined to put an end to them (…) We will always defend freedom of navigation. And above all we are ready to put our words into action”, assured the minister in his article published today by the Sunday Telegraph.

The head of British diplomacy underlined that “keeping the sea lanes open is a vital national interest”, as there is a risk that prices will rise “in Britain and around the world”.

His comment echoes that of US President Joe Biden, who warned he would “not hesitate” to “order further measures” if necessary to protect international trade.

While the war between Israel and Hamas rages on in the Gaza Strip, tensions have risen in recent months in the Red Sea with Houthi attacks targeting maritime traffic in solidarity with the Palestinians.

Early Friday morning, US and British airstrikes targeted military installations of the Iran-backed rebels who control large swaths of Yemen, reigniting fears of a regional escalation of the conflict in Gaza.

The US military also carried out a new strike yesterday, Saturday, against “a radar installation” of the Yemeni rebels.

These military actions “helped reduce the capabilities of the Houthis”, Cameron said, stressing that these strikes were “necessary, proportionate and legal” as well as “entirely separate” from the conflict in Gaza.

The British foreign minister also denounced the role played by Iran, telling Sky News today that there was no doubt that Tehran was the “malign player” behind the “middlemen” in the region, who are the Houthis or the Hamas.

Some British MPs have expressed regret that parliament was not informed before the strikes and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is due to speak to MPs tomorrow, Monday.

Opposition Labor leader Keir Starmer, poll favorite to become prime minister at the next election, told the BBC today that he would support a possible continuation of airstrikes in Yemen “as long as they are justified”.