UK Defense Minister Says Royal Navy Warship Faced Largest Attack In Decades
British Defense Minister Grant Shapps said Tuesday’s assault on a Royal Navy warship in the Red Sea was the most significant in decades.
Shapps indicated that the British ship HMS Diamond was specifically targeted, amidst a broader assault on shipping in the region. Stressing the urgency for change, the Minister emphasized that the current situation in the Red Sea is unsustainable.
“Yesterday saw the largest attack on a Royal Navy warship in decades. I’d like to thank the crew of HMS Diamond for their heroic service in the Red Sea, as they continue to defend innocent lives and global trade from these intolerable Houthi attacks,” Shapps said on X. “The successful destruction of seven incoming attack drones was a powerful demonstration of the expertise, bravery and leadership of all sailors aboard and an undeniable display of the importance of the entire Royal Navy in keeping Britain safe from growing threats.”
According to a Centcom post on X, “Eighteen OWA UAVs, two anti-ship cruise missiles, and one anti-ship ballistic missile were shot down by a combined effort of F/A-18s from USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), USS Gravely (DDG 107), USS Laboon (DDG 58), USS Mason (DDG 87), and the United Kingdom’s HMS Diamond (D34). This is the 26th Houthi attack on commercial shipping lanes in the Red Sea since Nov. 19. There were no injuries or damage reported.”
NBC, citing Pentagon officials, reports that Washington is preparing a plan with response options to address the escalating attacks by the Houthis in the Red Sea
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a strong statement, said that the Red Sea attacks are supported and abetted by Iran.
“There have been hundreds of attacks now since November on shipping in the Red Sea affecting more than 40 countries tied to ships with 40 different countries. And we had the biggest attack – UAVs, missiles – just yesterday. These attacks have been aided and abetted by Iran with technology, equipment, intelligence, information; and they are having a real-life impact on people,” Blinken said.
Warning Iran, Blinken said that support for the Houthis must cease immediately, emphasizing the detrimental consequences of expanding the conflict.
When asked at. a press conference in Bahrain about what the consequences could be, Blinken replied, “I’m not going to telegraph or preview anything that might happen. All I can tell you is, again, we’ve made clear, we’ve been clear with more than 20 other countries that if this continues as it did yesterday, there will be consequences.”
Later Blinken added, “there’ll be consequences for the Houthis’ actions. We’ve also repeatedly tried to make clear to Iran, as other countries have as well, that the support that they’re providing to the Houthis, including for these actions, needs to stop. It’s not in their interest to see the conflict escalated, and we’re not the only ones who sent that message to Iran.”
Some material for this report was provided by Al Bawaba