Houthis Target HMS Diamond: Grant Shapps declares UK “undaunted” in face of Iranian-backed attacks

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has declared the United Kingdom’s unwavering resolve after Iran-backed Houthi rebels targeted Royal Navy destroyer HMS Diamond in the Red Sea in their latest onslaught.

The attack saw the British vessel successfully shoot down a drone deployed by the Yemen-based group, showcasing the crew’s resilience. The incident follows recent joint UK-US military action against the rebels.

Despite the ongoing international efforts, the Ministry of Defence emphasised the intolerable and illegal nature of the Houthis’ actions.

Shapps took to social media, affirming, “The UK remains undaunted after yesterday’s illegal attack on @HMSDiamond by the Iranian-backed Houthis.

“Our commitment to protect innocent lives and the freedom of navigation is absolutely unwavering.”

The British destroyer, alongside US Navy ships, has been a recurrent target for the Houthi rebels.

This event comes on the heels of another rebel strike, where a British-linked oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden, the Marlin Luanda, was set ablaze.

The fire was extinguished with no casualties, thanks to the assistance provided by French, Indian, and US naval ships.

The Yemeni forces claimed responsibility for the attack on the Marlin Luanda, attributing it to “American-British aggression against our country.”

The Houthis have consistently targeted vessels in the Red Sea, often with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, posing a threat to the crucial global trade route.

Despite a recent series of UK and US air strikes, it appears that the Houthi rebels remain undeterred.

Reports suggest that British warships, including HMS Diamond, lack the firepower to attack Houthi targets on land.

Former Defence Secretary Michael Portillo echoed concerns, stating that the UK destroyer stationed in the Red Sea cannot fire missiles to land targets.

In response to these concerns, a Ministry of Defence spokesperson clarified that commanders choose the best equipment for the job.

While HMS Diamond focuses on air defence and successfully destroyed Houthi drones, the Royal Air Force plays a crucial role in striking land targets with high precision.

As tensions rise, the Foreign Secretary embarked on a Middle East trip to mitigate fears of the Gaza conflict escalating into a broader regional crisis.

Lord Cameron, writing in The Mail on Sunday, proposed the establishment of a new international group involving the US, UK, key EU states, Gulf and Arab countries, and Turkey to broker a lasting solution to the conflict.

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