London [UK], January 2: Britain is reportedly considering air strikes on Houthis after the US said its navy sank three boats that had been targeting a container ship in the Red Sea.
UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said the government would not hesitate to take "direct action" to prevent further attacks amid reports the UK and US are preparing a joint statement to issue a final warning to the Yemeni group.
It comes after the US military said four boats from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen fired at the Maersk Hangzhou and got within metres of the vessel as US helicopters fired back.
Several of the armed boat crews were killed, the US Central Command (Centcom) said. No one was injured on the ship.
Writing in the Telegraph newspaper, Shapps said the UK "won't hesitate to take further action to deter threats to freedom of navigation in the Red Sea".
Source: Qatar Tribune
