Britain plans to bomb Iranian-backed rebels threatening world economy | World | News

Britain and the United States are drawing up secret plans to bomb sites in Yemen to stop rebel attacks on Red Sea shipping that threaten the world’s economy.

Most of the world’s attention has been on Israel and Gaza, but concern is growing over the increasing boldness of Houthi strikes on cargo fleets

The move follows three weeks of chaos in the vital maritime gateway to the Suez Canal, after the Iranian-backed rebels began to strike commercial shipping transiting the international waters of the Bab al-Mandab strait.

Their aim is to disrupt commercial shipping to the extent that it forces the West to drop its support for Israel, which is currently engaged in a bitter war against Hamas in Gaza.

Last night experts questioned Russia’s role in the campaign, which is set to raise the price of Liquid Natural Gas bound for the West by sea from Qatar, just as Europe begins to stabilise after Moscow’s attempt to leverage its energy supplies.

A British naval contingent left by HMS Diamond and including the frigate HMS Lancaster, three minesweepers and three support vessels have been moved into regional waters.

Last week Diamond, a type- 45 destroyer, became the first Royal Naval vessel to fire a shot in anger since the Libyan campaign 12 years ago, when it launched a Sea Viper missile to intercept an Iranian drone aimed towards a commercial vessel.

Now, in a top secret plan, military commanders have proposed using US and UK Reaper drones armed with Hellfire missiles to carry out precision attacks on Houthis military bases on the outskirts of Sanna, in Yemen.

It follows a decision to send UK Social Forces to the US base in Djibouti – on the edge of the Bab al-Mandab – a week ago, to monitor and collate intelligence from sources inside Yemen about the location of rebel operating bases.

It is understood their primary focus is an Iranian spy ship called the Saviz which, intelligence sources claim, is co-ordinating the Houthi strikes and identifying targets.

The US has a Reaper drone squadron based in Djibouti while the UK has a similar unit based in Kuwait – but any operation would need to be signed off by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

In the meantime, merchant vessels are to be protected by a new US-led 10-nation coalition joint naval task force of warships armed with surface to air missiles.

Operation Prosperity Guardian will be headed by the existing Combined Task Force 153 and is supported by France, Italy, Netherlands, Bahrain, Spain and Egypt.

The US fleet Navy has at least three destroyers in the vicinity of the Bab al-Mandab strait between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden –USS Carney, USS Mason and USS Thomas Hudner.

They will shortly be joined by the French Navy guided-missile frigate FS Languedoc and HMS Diamond, which operates an advanced air defence system capable of identifying drones hundreds of miles away.

HMS Lancaster could be called to join the task force if needed at a later stage.

Before recent attacks, 12 percent of the world’s seaborne trade used the Suez Canal and therefore went through the Bab al-Mandab Strait to enter or exit the Red Sea.

In terms of petroleum (crude oil and oil products), more than 6.2 million barrels per day of petroleum traveled through the Strait. This reflects a little more than 9 percent of the total seaborne petroleum trade.

Though there have been no injuries or deaths reported from Houthi attacks so far, the fallout has still been immense for global shipping.

At least 12 shipping companies have suspended transit through the Red Sea over the attacks, among them some of the world’s largest: the Italian-Swiss giant Mediterranean Shipping Company, France’s CMA CGM and Denmark’s AP Moller-Maersk.

Last night Peter Aylott, director of policy for the UK Chamber of Shipping, questioned the accuracy of the Houthis information.

“What has surprised the West most has been Yemen’s uncanny ability to accurately identify which vessels to attack to press these attacks accurately. There has been zero collateral damage,“ said Mr Aylott, a former Lt Commander with command experience.

“I think it is worth asking the question whether Iran has the experience to collate open source material so accurately, or whether it is actually Russia, which has a proven track record in this sort of thing and every incentive.”

Russia expert Keir Giles , of the Chatham House think tank, said: “Russia may not be the driving force behind this, but it will certainly behave opportunistically in offering any help it can.”

US military chiefs have already moved the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D Eisenhower and her task force of warships into the Gulf of Aden in what is regarded as a show of military intent by Washington.

“In terms of goods, we can expect some delays as vessels take the longer route, but it is important or emebe that the industry still has much spare capacity following the pandemic and the economic downturn that followed,” said Peter Aylott.

“It may take four to six weeks but networks can be reorganised.”

“It’s a different matter when it comes to crude oil and gas. It’s not that we will run out of heating oil or gas for power stations, but we can expect spikes in the cost of gas and oil. Hydrocarbon prices are already going through the roof. Just as we celebrate low inflation figures, we might experience a tick up.”

“If diverted from the Red Sea entirely, we can expect a significant impact on the World’s Economy. This is a driver that is keeping some operators using the route.”

The Houthis have stated that if Western warships move into the area they will turn the waterway into a maritime graveyard indicating their forces will mine the region and close the entrance to Suez.

And Peter Aylott warned that any attempt by Houthis to use ballistic missiles, which are fired up into the air and land at hypersonic speeds. may prove a challenge to naval vessels.

“Only a select few types of vessel can handle ballistic missiles. The real problem is that we have not faced this threat for a very long time. This is not the Falklands and Iraq where these are being fired en masse. We are out of practice and there is a risk that the coalition will find it difficult from a geographic and capability point of view to protect merchant shipping.”

Justin Crump, of the Sibylline strategic risk group said: “The refusal to deploy a convoy system is dangerous, in my view.

“Container vessels are currently strung out. it is not difficult for Houthis to board them if the nearest deterrent is 150 miles away.”