The prime minister's defiant statement in the Commons yesterday - suggesting he was prepared to sanction further strikes if necessary - came shortly after a missile struck a US-owned ship off the coast of Yemen.
Earlier, defence secretary Grant Shapps said Britain will "wait and see" before deciding to launch any fresh strikes - but also warned that if Houthi attacks don't stop "we will then have to take the decisions that need to be taken".
The US military's central command yesterday confirmed the latest attack - putting the blame on Iran-aligned Houthi rebels. "The ship has reported no injuries or significant damage and is continuing its journey," the central command said.
United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which oversees Middle East waters, also reported that missile fire had struck a ship in the Gulf of Aden, about 100 miles southeast of the southern Yemen border.
"As a result of the impact, the vessel suffered limited damage to a cargo hold but is stable and is heading out of the area," the USbased operator Eagle Bulk Shipping said in a statement. There were no reports of injuries or significant damage.
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Denne historien er fra January 16, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
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Ten-man Forest earn draw in feisty battle at the Bridge
Chelsea’s winning run in the Premier League was brought to an end by 10-man Nottingham Forest who battled to a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge to maintain their own strong start to the season.
Brighton fight back to end Tottenham's winning run
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United's vanilla display at Villa may yet save Ten Hag
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Wreck of 'ghost ship' found off the coast of California
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'Impossible' for Beijing to rule Taiwan as motherland
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Heinz apologises as Black family advert sparks outrage
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Landlord charges 'entitled' diners for wasting pub food
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Man endures cancer battle away from home as he waits for cladding work to begin
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'No one should live with threat of domestic abuse'
Dermot O'Leary backs Independent campaign for a refuge
