Fears of Red Sea chaos as Houthi weapon stashes survive despite RAF blitz

15 January 2024 , 12:54

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Footage shows the moment Yemen was struck by missiles from the US and UK (Image: sky news)

The majority of Houthi rebels' weaponry has survived targeted airstrikes by the US and UK amid fears of Red Sea chaos, White House officials claim.

The blitz on the drone and missile stashes last week destroyed 90% of those targeted but the Iran-backed group retains three-quarters of its ability to fire on ships transiting the Red Sea, two US officials have said.

The Houthis' actions have posed a threat to the flow of global trade, disrupting merchant vessels from passing through the sea to the Suez Canal, a route which serves 15% of world shipping. The militant group, which backs Hamas, claims it has targeted ships with links to Israel.

On Thursday and Friday British Typhoon jets and American Lightning stealth bombers backed by cruise missiles struck around 30 locations in Yemen. This was followed by “mopping up” attacks over the weekend. Top US military officer, Lt. Gen. Douglas Sims, the director of the military’s Joint Staff, said on Friday that the strikes had achieved their objective of damaging the Houthis’ ability to launch the kind of complex drone and missile attack they had conducted last Tuesday (January 9).

But the two unnamed US officials cautioned on Saturday that even after hitting more than 60 missile and drone targets with more than 150 precision-guided munitions, the strikes had damaged or destroyed only about 20 to 30% of the Houthis’ offensive capability, much of which is mounted on mobile platforms and can be readily moved or hidden.

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One of four RAF Typhoon aircraft returning to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus after the strikes in Yemen (PA)

The two U.S. officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal military assessments, reports the New York Times. Experts expect more air strikes once munitions depots and storage facilities are located and say new tactics of blasting “pop-up targets” at short notice will be needed as soon as the Houthis attempt to moved or deploy weaponry, reports The Sun. Iran has supplied the Houthis with multiple mobile launch platforms that remain hidden from satellites and spy planes.

It comes after UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said Britain needs to "wait and see" what happens after the joint air strikes. He added the UK must "consider" whether it "has to take further action" to repel Houthi attacks. Sunday saw further action in the region, with the US military confirming that one of its fighter jets shot down an anti-ship cruise missile fired towards an American destroyer in the Red Sea.

Mr Shapps, taking part in a media round ahead of a speech on Monday, said the actions by the Houthi rebels in Yemen are akin to "thuggery" as he refused to rule out taking part in further co-ordinated air strikes. But Mr Shapps said the attacks have been "completely unacceptable", with ships from more than 50 nations affected. Mr Shapps also defended issuing a warning to the Houthis a day before the joint strikes with the US, having told them to "Watch this space" on Thursday.

Many of the weapons stashes are still intact (UK MoD)

The Sunday Times quoted a senior diplomat as saying there was "some real annoyance" in Washington after the remark was made. The Cabinet minister said his comment was part of an "agreed approach" with American allies. Asked about the report, he told Sky News: "That is not true. I speak to my American friends all the time and they - and we - were very clear that we would be signalling the fact that if they didn't stop, then there would be action.

"And so I used that phrase very deliberately in order to say 'If this carries on, then we will have to step in'. They carried on, and I'm afraid we did have to step in, but that was part of an agreed approach to this."

Meanwhile, Rishi Sunak said that the Government would "not hesitate" to protect security in the Red Sea. The Prime Minister, speaking on a visit to Essex, said: "Our aim is to de-escalate tensions in the region and actually restore stability back to the area.

The Galaxy Leader cargo ship in the Red Sea (AFP via Getty Images)

"We faced an escalating series of attacks from the Houthis on commercial shipping, including an attack on a Royal Navy warship. That's unacceptable. It's right that we took proportionate, targeted action against military targets to send a strong message that that behaviour is unacceptable.

"It was a last resort, it came after the end of exhaustive diplomatic activity including a UN Security Council. Now, I think it is encumberment on the Houthis to recognise the international condemnation for what they are doing and desist. But we, of course, will not hesitate to protect our security where required."

Ryan Merrifield