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The UK has said strikes on targets linked to Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen were self-defence amid a row over Rishi Sunak’s decision not to consult parliament.
Labour leader Keir Starmer has demanded the govermment make a statement to MPs “at the first opportunity” and said he wanted to see a summary of the government’s legal position published as early as today.
Overnight the Royal Air Force launched strikes against military facilities used by Houthi rebels in Yemen, the prime minister confirmed, saying the UK will “always stand up for freedom of navigation and the free flow of trade”.
It follows weeks of warnings to the group since it started targeting international shipping in the Red Sea late last year.
A joint statement from countries including the UK and the US said the action had been taken “in accordance with the inherent right of individual and collective self-defence”.
Mr Sunak said the rebels “reckless actions” were risking lives at sea and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
He said: “Despite the repeated warnings from the international community, the Houthis have continued to carry out attacks in the Red Sea, including against UK and US warships just this week.
“This cannot stand. The United Kingdom will always stand up for freedom of navigation and the free flow of trade. We have therefore taken limited, necessary and proportionate action in self-defence, alongside the United States with non-operational support from the Netherlands, Canada and Bahrain against targets tied to these attacks, to degrade Houthi military capabilities and protect global shipping.”
The Military of Defence said coalition forces identified key facilities involved in Houthi targeting of HMS Diamond and US Navy vessels on Tuesday “and agreed to conduct a carefully coordinated strike to reduce the Houthis’ capability to violate international law in this manner”.
Lord Ricketts, who served as the UK’s first national security adviser, said strikes against the rebels were “necessary” and “inevitable”.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I think it became inevitable when the clear warnings that the US and UK and others had put out over weeks were ignored by the Houthis.
“And I think the final straw was that very complex and dangerous attack on the naval task force itself a couple of nights ago, I think at that point they couldn’t allow this to continue.
“It’s already having a major disruptive effect on this big maritime artery which carries 20% of all the world’s container traffic, as well as a lot of oil and gas exports.”
He added that the coalition “tried to make it large enough to send a very powerful message, but equally being clear it’s targeted against the attacks on shipping, it’s not a declaration of war against the Houthis more generally.”
Armed Forces Minister James Heappey played down concerns about the danger of escalation, after criticism from Russia.
He told BBC Breakfast that “allegations of escalation from the Kremlin always ring hollow”.
But he conceded that there could be “nervousness” in the region.
The prime minister has come under pressure to bring MPs back to parliament to discuss the strikes.
Sir Keir said he supported targeted strikes but called for a statement in Parliament “at the first opportunity”.
The Labour leader, asked if the military action his support, told the BBC Radio 5 Live breakfast programme: “Clearly the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have to be dealt with, their attacks on commercial shipping, attacks on important trade routes and putting civilian lives at risk and therefore, we do support this action.”
But he also called for a statement in Parliament “at the first opportunity, to set out the justification, to set out the limits and scope of the operation” and said he wanted to see a summary of the government’s legal position “published as soon as possible, and I would hope that that can be published today.”
The Liberal Democrats and the SNP demanded Parliament be recalled if the UK Government is preparing to take military action.
The Commons Speaker cannot recall Parliament without being asked to do so by the Government, and Mr Sunak is not expected to make such a request.
Before the strikes were confirmed, Liberal Democrat defence spokeswoman Layla Moran said a vote in Parliament would be “vital” if Britain was poised to launch an attack, while Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf said MPs must be given the chance to debate and scrutinise such a move.
