feb 3, 2024 - US and UK Strikes on Houthis 'Not an Escalation'

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The latest round of strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen are "not an escalation" of the conflict, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has said.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed that three sites were hit by RAF Typhoon jets on Saturday night.

More than 30 targets were struck in the third wave of joint UK and US attacks on the Iran-backed group.

It comes after the US hit sites Syria and Iraq on Friday, following a deadly attack on a US military base.

On Saturday, 36 Houthi targets across 13 locations in Yemen were hit by air strikes from a coalition of eight countries.

Houthis have been targeting ships they say are linked to Israel and the West that travel through the important Red Sea trade route.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said recent attacks on UK and international vessels were "unacceptable". "It's our duty to protect innocent lives and preserve freedom," he said.

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