Towards international action against the Houthis? The Times reported Thursday evening that British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will hold a full-fledged cabinet meeting tonight as the country prepares for a military offensive with the United States against Yemen's Houthi militia. According to the BBC, Sunak is expected to give an update at a cabinet meeting on the prospects of a joint operation between Washington and London.
A member of the Houthi security forces in the background of a ship in the Red Sea, photo: AP.
Earlier, the US Army's Central Command reported the Houthi militia's 27th attack on a commercial vessel in the Red Sea. According to a US military statement, the militia fired ballistic missiles from the areas under its control in Yemen at the vessel. There were no casualties and no damage was reported. US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said last night: "The Houthis had a choice. We warned them. We stationed ships in the Red Sea. They had a choice, and the right choice was to stop the attacks. Now they will bear the consequences of their failure to make the right choice.
Sources told the Wall Street Journal that the Houthis had moved some of their weapons and equipment in anticipation of an attack by the United States and its allies. Some of the missiles are stored in the former Yemeni president's bunker in Sana'a.
Now that the option of a joint operation between the two countries is on the agenda, the British prime minister will hold a conference call with the cabinet. Other senior officials are expected to attend the meeting. UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said earlier this week that "a military strike is essential", warning that the Houthis had crossed every boundary.
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