LONDON: UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps strongly warned the Houthis, urging them to cease their attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
Shapps, speaking on Sky News, asserted that there was “no doubt” about Tehran’s involvement, accusing it of supplying weapons and intelligence to the group. He declared, “Enough is enough,” emphasizing the need to convey a clear message to the Houthis that such actions must cease. Shapps briefly stated, “That is my simple message to them today.”
Earlier, the Houthi group targeted a ship in the Red Sea. Houthis have intensified attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea in reaction to Israel’s war in Gaza. Various shipping lines have halted operations because of the attacks taking the longer journey around Africa.
Houthi Group Attacks on Vessels in Red Sea
Earlier, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) had received a report of an incident in the Red Sea approximately 50 nautical miles west of Yemen’s Al-Hudaida.
Houthis have vowed to continue attacks until Israel stops its war on Gaza, and warned that it would attack US warships if it was targeted.
They had called for all ships planning to cross the Red Sea to inform them in advance about their destinations and declare no connections to Israel to avoid being attacked.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Saturday reported that the USS Laboon (DDG 59) naval destroyer shot down a drone sent by the Houthis near commercial ships in Red Sea international waters.
