London Thanasis Gavos

The UK and its allies are not seeking to clash with the Houthis in Yemen and no decision has been taken on a protracted military operation against them, but the latest attacks on rebel positions on Monday night were an act of “self-defence” in response to “persistent threat” from them in the Red Sea, Rishi Sunak said.

The British Prime Minister made an extraordinary statement in the House of Commons at midday on Tuesday following the second operation against the Houthis involving Royal Air Force Typhoon jets from the Akrotiri base.

Mr Sunak said the latest strikes were “limited, targeted and necessary”, as the Houthis have carried out dozens of attacks on commercial ships and military targets in the Red Sea, 12 of them since the first US-British operation on January 11.

“We acted to further degrade their ability to carry out such attackssaid the British prime minister, later assuring senior opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer that new information confirmed the strikes against the Houthis had been effective.

It also said British jets struck two military sites that housed “multiple specific targets used by the Houthis to support their attacks on shipping”.

He also emphasized that “maximum attention” was given to the protection of civilians.

Saying that Britain was not seeking conflict in the region and that the attacks in Yemen were not linked to the war in Gaza, Mr Sunak called on the Houthis and those who support them “to stop these illegal and unacceptable attacks».

But he warned that his country “will not hesitate to respond again in self-defense” if the attacks in the Red Sea continue.

He also announced a visit by Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron to the region within the week and new sanctions jointly with the US against actors supporting the Houthis.