Britain should be ready to consider military strikes on Yemen's Houthis and do more to support its Gulf allies, the former UK defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon has said, according to The National.
Speaking in Dubai, Sir Michael said the United States was shifting its focus to homeland defence and the Indo-Pacific, so Europe and the Middle East counted for less in Washington and partners needed to act together. He said Gulf security was tied to Britain's own economic and energy security.
The Houthis have been in direct conflict with Saudi Arabia since July, declaring a naval blockade of the kingdom and threatening to close the Bab al-Mandab strait. The UK has sent an air defence system to Kuwait and an RAF tanker to support Saudi jets, but Sir Michael said ministers should consider going further, as in the joint US-UK strikes of 2024.
Source: The National
