Cabinet thought to be due to discuss UK and US military action against Yemen’s Houthi fighters
Rishi Sunak is holding a full cabinet call this evening which is thought to be about UK and US military strikes against Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
The meeting started at 7.45pm tonight, with senior figures including foreign secretary David Cameron seen entering Downing Street.
It comes after an emergency COBRA meeting was held this morning, followed by a call between Mr Sunak and Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi this afternoon.
Downing Street said the leaders discussed “the concerning rise in Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and the disruptive impact on global shipping, including through the Suez Canal”.
“The prime minister said the UK would continue to take action to defend freedom of navigation and protect lives at sea,” a spokesperson added.
Attacks by Houthi fighters – both on Israel and on commercial ships in the Red Sea – have stoked fears of a wider conflict in the region already affected by the war in Gaza.
On Tuesday, a British warship shot down seven drones launched by the Iranian-backed Houthi fighters in an operation with US forces to repel the largest drone and missile attack to date.
The attack came despite a warning by the United States, the UK and other partners issued a week ago to the group to end the targeting of commercial shipping or “bear the responsibility of the consequences”.
Earlier, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps accused Iran of meddling and declared “enough is enough” – hinting that the UK could be ready to strike.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also warned that “there will be consequences” for the continued Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.
Holding a last-minute evening cabinet meeting is an unusual step.
Sky News’s deputy political editor Sam Coates said: “Downing Street haven’t formally briefed why this call is happening, but a cabinet meeting only happens at short notice when there’s a moment of national importance.”
Sir William Patey, a former ambassador to several countries in the Middle East, also told Sky News: “You don’t hold an emergency cabinet meeting unless you’re considering a military response.
“The Americans have clearly put some military options on the table and have invited us to participate.”
Sky News understands that Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, has also been called to a briefing in Whitehall tonight.
Starmer to be briefed on cabinet call
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and the Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey are also to be briefed by the government shortly after the cabinet call, it is understood.
Veteran left wing MP John McDonnell said if military action is decided, it should not go ahead “without Parliamentary approval”.
He added: “If we have learnt anything in recent years it’s that military intervention in the Middle East always has dangerous & often unforeseen consequences. There is a risk of setting the region alight.”
Read More: Why are the Houthis attacking ships in the Red Sea?
It comes as the US confirmed a 27th Houthi attack on international shipping since 19 November.
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that ‘there will be consequences’ if Houthi fighters will continue their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.
The attack happened at 2am Yemen time in the Gulf of Aden.
No injuries or damage were reported, but in a televised briefing a spokesperson for the US military confirmed that UK and US forces downed 18 one-way attack drones, two anti-ship cruise missiles, and one anti-ship ballistic missile.
Brigadier General Pat Ryder said “dozens” of commercial ships were operating in the area at the time.
Asked if a change of approach in the Red Sea should be expected, he said he won’t “telegraph, forecast or speculate on any potential future operations”.
But he added: “I think that statement from multiple nations when it comes to the fact that there will be consequences, should the attacks not stop, speaks for itself. And I’ll just leave it at that.”
Sir William said that given the Houthis have ignored warnings to stop attacking shipping, continuing to intercept drones is not “in the long term very feasible”.
Read more:
What the Red Sea battleground means for UK shoppers
Gaza residents say the ‘suffering of people is huge’
He said: “I’m sure that the Americans, Brits, and other members of the international coalition will be considering whether there are feasible targets that can be struck in Houthi-run territory of Yemen that are viable.”
However he said that an issue in the past has been finding viable targets, which he defines as bases where missiles are launched from or stored.
The US in particular is under pressure to re-establish proper deterrents against the Houthi rebels.
Concerns are growing about the global economic impact of the disruption to shipping through the vital Red Sea, with vessels choosing to divert, pushing up the cost of trade and potentially causing inflation to rise.
The Houthis, a group of Shia Islamists based in western Yemen, oppose US and Israeli influence in the Middle East – with its slogan containing the words “death to America”, “death to Israel” and a “curse upon the Jews”.
Counter-terrorism police are investigating after an incident involving a crossbow and a firearm left two women injured in Leeds.
Police were called to Otley Road at 2.47pm on Saturday to reports of a “serious incident involving a man seen with weapons”, West Yorkshire Police said.
Officers arrived at the scene to find two women injured – and a 38-year-old man with a self-inflicted injury. All three were taken to hospital, with the man held under arrest, but their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
“Two weapons have been recovered from the scene, which were a crossbow and a firearm,” Counter Terrorism Policing North East said in a statement.
The incident happened on the ‘Otley Run’ pub crawl, with one venue saying it was closed for the evening due to “unforeseen circumstances”.
Officers guard one of the crime scenes
Officers inside the cordon in Leeds
Counter Terrorism Policing’s statement added: “Due to the circumstances surrounding the incident, Counter Terrorism Policing North East have taken responsibility for leading the investigation with the support of West Yorkshire Police.
“Extensive enquiries continue to establish the full circumstances and explore any potential motivation.”
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described it as a “serious violent incident” and said she was being kept updated by police.
“Thank you to the police and emergency services for their swift response,” she said. “My thoughts are with the victims and all those affected by this attack.”
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Wrexham AFC have been promoted for the third season in a row.
The North Wales-based side has gone from the National League to the Championship in just three seasons, under its Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
Wrexham were second in the table and had a run of eight games unbeaten ahead of their match against Charlton Athletic on Saturday, which they won 3-0.
Wrexham’s James McClean lifts the League One trophy. Pic: PA
Wrexham’s Dan Scarr celebrates with the fans on the pitch after Wrexham won promotion to the Championship. Pic: PA
It is the first time any club has been promoted for three consecutive seasons within the top five tiers of English football.
The third oldest association football club in the world, Wrexham AFC was bought by Reynolds and McElhenney in 2020, and has since been the subject of a Disney+ documentary, Welcome To Wrexham.
Reynolds, wearing a Wrexham sweatshirt, and McElhenney were pictured celebrating each goal, and after the game, as the fans came onto the pitch at the SToK Cae Ras (Racecourse Ground) to celebrate the victory with the players.
Wrexham co-owners Rob McElhenney (L) and Ryan Reynolds and Ryan’s wife Blake Lively, before the match. Pic: PA
Both stars came onto the pitch after the supporters returned to the stands.
Speaking to Sky Sports, McElhenney praised those behind the scenes, referring to “so many that don’t get the credit they deserve, people who aren’t talked about”.
Reynolds said bringing success back to the club “seemed like an impossible dream” when they arrived in North Wales in 2020.
Wrexham’s Sam Smith celebrates in front of the fans after Wrexham won promotion to the Championship. Pic: PA
He put the three promotions down to “the coaching staff, the greatest dressing room” and an “all for one, one for all” attitude throughout the club, adding he was “speechless with their commitment and their emotion”.
As for the mouth-watering prospect of another promotion to the promised land of the Premier League, the pair agreed it was “for tomorrow”, before ending the interview with a joint mic-drop.
Veteran striker Steven Fletcher said, “as soon as I came to this club, I knew it was something special. We want to go again. We’ll reset in the summer, take a break and go again”.
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