ROYAL Air Force jets have attacked a drone manufacturing facility used by the Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen.
The attack on Tuesday night was the first such raid by British warplanes since Labour took office and comes after US president Donald Trump ordered a sustained campaign of action against the Houthis.
Defence Secretary John Healey said the raid was in response to the Houthi threat to shipping in the Red Sea. The Houthis are carrying out this action in a show of support for Palestine amid Israel's ongoing assaults on Gaza.
Healey said the action is causing “regional instability and risking economic security for families in the UK”.
The attacks have led to vessels being diverted around the southern tip of Africa, adding delays and costs to shipments of goods.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the action was part of a joint operation alongside US forces, who have struck more than 800 Houthi targets since March.
It is the first time the RAF has stuck Houthi targets in Yemen since May 2024 under Rishi Sunak’s administration.
The MoD said “careful intelligence analysis” identified a cluster of buildings used by the Houthis to manufacture drones around fifteen miles south of Sanaa.
The strikes were conducted by Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s, which used Paveway IV precision-guided bombs.
Healey said: “This Government will always act in the interests of our national and economic security.
“Royal Air Force Typhoons have successfully conducted strikes against a Houthi military target in Yemen and all UK aircraft and personnel have returned safely to base.
“We conducted these strikes, supported by the US, to degrade Houthi capabilities and prevent further attacks against UK and international shipping.
“This action was taken in response to a persistent threat from the Houthis to freedom of navigation.
“A 55% drop in shipping through the Red Sea has already cost billions, fuelling regional instability and risking economic security for families in the UK.
“The Government is steadfast in our commitment to reinforcing global stability and protecting British working people.
“I am proud of the dedication and professionalism shown by the servicemen and women involved in this operation.”
The strikes come ahead of the expected passage of the Royal Navy’s flagship HMS Prince of Wales through the Red Sea.
The aircraft carrier and its escorts are conducting exercises in the Mediterranean before heading to the Indo-Pacific later this year.
