Britain and the US were last night poised to launch strikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen, as the leader of the rebel group promise d to respond to any assault with fresh attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. Western defence sources indicated preparations were intensifying last night in response to a Houthi attack of 21 missiles and drones aimed at US and UK warships on Tuesday night, though its scale and timing remain secret.
Asked about potential US strikes against the Houthis in Yemen, the national security spokesperson, John Kirby, said: "I'm not going to telegraph our punches one way or another here. We're gonna do what we have to do, to counter and defeat these threats that the Houthis keep throwing up on commercial shipping in the Red Sea." On Wednesday, Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, said "there will be consequences" following the Houthi attack - while the British defence secretary, Grant Shapps, told journalists to "watch this space".
Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, leader of the Iran-backed group, which controls the north and west of Yemen, said yesterday that if struck, Houthis would fight back, suggesting any conflict would be extended.
"Any American attack will not remain without a response. The response will be greater than the attack that was carried out with twenty drones and a number of missiles," Houthi said in a TV address.
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