UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron has spoken out against escalating attacks by Iran-backed groups, stating that they cannot be tolerated. The United States has confirmed that it shot down four drones launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, while Cameron labeled Iran as a “malign influence”. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that the USS Laboon guided-missile destroyer intercepted the drones as they approached the vessel, resulting in no injuries or damage. The USS Laboon also responded to distress calls from two attacked tankers – one Norwegian-flagged and the other Indian-flagged.
CENTCOM stated that these recent attacks mark the 14th and 15th instances of Houthi militants targeting commercial shipping since October 17. Additionally, the Houthis fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles into international shipping lanes in the Southern Red Sea, although no vessels were hit. Meanwhile, the US Defense Department revealed that a drone launched from Iran struck a Liberian-flagged, Japanese-owned chemical tanker in the Indian Ocean on Saturday, causing no casualties. The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency had previously reported an explosion caused by a drone near a vessel in the Bab el-Mandab Strait off the coast of Yemen.
The Houthi rebels, who control significant areas of Yemen, have been carrying out an escalating campaign of drone and missile attacks on commercial shipping since the beginning of the conflict in Gaza. They claim to be showing support for Palestinians facing Israeli bombardment. In response to these attacks, the US launched Operation Prosperity Guardian, a multinational security force aimed at protecting shipping in the region. This comes as the Red Sea remains one of the busiest trade routes globally.
David Cameron’s condemnation of Iran stems from the country’s support for the Houthis and other armed groups. In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, the former UK prime minister referred to Tehran as a “thoroughly malign influence in the region and the world”. He highlighted the Houthis, Hezbollah, Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, and Hamas as proxies supported by Iran. Cameron stressed the importance of sending a clear message to Iran that this escalation of attacks will not be tolerated.
The White House has also accused Iran of being deeply involved in the Houthi rebels’ attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. However, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Ali Bagheri, dismissed these allegations, stating that the Houthis have their own resources and make decisions independently. While Iran acknowledges providing political support to the Houthis, they deny arming the group or providing them with intelligence.
As tensions escalate in the region, the international community, led by the US and the UK, is taking action to protect commercial shipping and condemn Iran’s involvement in the conflict. The importance of sending a strong message to Iran is emphasized by Cameron, who calls for an end to the escalating attacks on commercial shipping.
