British Defense Minister: We Are Prepared to Take Direct Action to Deter the Houthis

British Defense Minister Grant Shapps stated on Monday that his country is "prepared to take direct action" against the Houthis to deter their attacks in the Red Sea. London’s warnings come as tensions rise in this vital shipping lane, following U.S. helicopters firing on three Houthi boats on Sunday. The Houthis have launched attacks using drones and missiles on ships in the Red Sea, claiming they are doing so in solidarity with the Palestinians amid the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Hours after the latest incident, Shapps noted that "Britain may escalate its military interventions." In the Daily Telegraph, he emphasized that "we are prepared to take direct action and will not hesitate to take additional measures to deter threats to the freedom of navigation in the Red Sea," describing the situation in the region as "a test for the international community, which will have repercussions for other waterways that may become a flashpoint."