British jets are reportedly gearing up to launch a series of air strikes against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in the wake of recent attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.
Reports first published in The Times suggest that Britain plans to coordinate with Western allies, including the United States and possibly another European nation, to execute targeted missile strikes.
The potential targets include locations in the Red Sea or mainland Yemen, the base of the Houthi rebels.
The decision follows a warning from Grant Shapps, the UK Defence Secretary. On Sunday, Shapps stated, “If the Houthis continue to threaten lives and trade, we will be forced to take the necessary and appropriate action.”
The gravity of the situation is underscored by the planned release of an unprecedented joint statement by the UK and US, warning the Houthis against continued aggression towards commercial vessels.
The Houthi rebels have been actively targeting vessels in the Red Sea, a strategic maritime route. These actions are interpreted as demonstrations of support for Hamas in its conflict with Israel in Gaza.
The repercussions of these attacks have been far-reaching, many shipping companies have resorted to the longer, more expensive route around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope instead of passing through the Suez Canal.
Things are starting to look like heating up in the middle east. Putin will be pleased anything that draws NATO and Western forces away from his attempted and bungled empire building in Ukraine is going to be beneficial.
Israel for example being given priority to replenish artillery shells via US stocks and production schedules is one example.
Everything that takes aid away from Ukraine is a danger.
There is no way that the pacifist president Joe Biden is going to authorise taking on the Houthi – it would be “escalatory”. Plus, it would upset the Ayatollahs and particularly the IRGC
Agree sleepy Joe isn’t going to hold any line. His foreign policy is weak, his decision making excessively slow and his leadership skills…lacking.
Checkout latest UKDJ article; a Wasp Class LHD and an LSD have entered the Eastern Med. A significant USMC force.
He clearly does not understand the application of military force in the achievement of diplomatic goals either
I think that comment shows what you don’t understand. Rather than the US’s diplomatic policies.
Well, lets consider a few recent American diplomatic successes then. Start with the preciptate Afghan pull out, which Biden did without bothering to consult ANY of his NATO allies. Obviously, Biden’s threat of sanctions failed to deter Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Then Biden’s visit to Ireland to connect with his ancestors, insulting the British PM on the way. Or his decision to sell the Argentine 24 F-16’s. Then giving the Israelis the green light to bomb Gaza back into the stone age.
War is said to be diplomacy by other means. Do I understand that right?
So you wouldn’t bomb Hamas? Argentina getting F16 is better then Argentina getting closer relations to China with Chinese kit. The Americans are the ones doing the heavy lifting in all these conflict zones. Without American money and equipment, Russia would have been successful in Ukraine.
Maybe if the Houthis attacked an Irish ship he would do something 😂
They don’t have crews anyway so no great loss.
O/T; Do you think the bridge warns the galley before executing a “handbrake turn” as in the top photo?
I wouldn’t doubt it
“Evasive action” would probably get broadcast through the ship’s speakers to give crew a few seconds of warning.
Panic in the messes then?
I hope the O/C has a gimbal for his mug of tea. God forbid one of His Majesty’s sailors spill their dinner!
What strikes me as odd is that she is flying the White Ensign from the stern well out of any harbour.
I’m ex-Army, don’t understand the significance of that.🙄
When at sea, the ensign is usually flown from the mast.
Ah! The big sticky up bit!
😄
Using Typhoons operating out of Cyprus! Surely this is what the QECs were designed and purchased for?
The fact that we are not shows just how far we need to go to bring our capabilities up to where they should be!!
Surely you never use a sinkable aircraft carrier when you have an unsinkable one? My only issue with that is we will need Egyptian or Israeli permission to overfly their territory.
We could probably transit to Oman first, then launch strikes from there. It would allow quicker reactions to new targets without costly aerial refuelling.
Using say Cyprus to support ops in Syria or the Levant makes sense. Using it or indeed Oman (never mind Arabic angle) doen’t really, as the distances to be covered all require dedicated tanker support. Cyprus to Yeman is approx 1500nm each way, while Oman to Yeman is approx 700 nm. Putting a carrier 100nm or so off shore would give you all sorts of options, not least the ability to launch strikes as and when required at a far higher rate then anything travelling 1000nm or more. Its what we have carriers for, only we dont have all our… Read more »
Yes it seems strange to me. We have bases in Oman, why not use them?
Use an Arabic base to attack another muslin country how does that conversation go?
The Yemeni government is also at war with the Houthis
Hi Levi, see my reply to @ChrisLondon above.
Am I alone in thinking Mr Shapps talks too much ?
No he is a jerk. Like the rest.
Along with breathing too much…
He does because he is a politician and a suit full of F’ all.
Forces News video on You Tube:
Calls for UK to deploy HMS Queen Elizabeth to Red Sea
It is not just the rebels’ ability to conduct strikes in the Red Sea (and further afield) which needs to be neutralised, but also the logistics which supply them.
If this is not achievable by HMG services, then an introspective review, by those who created this inability, and kick in the butt is necessary (stand in a circle and kick forward as hard as you can😉).