Yemen news live: US says Houthis targeted naval destroyer with anti-ship cruise missile

New satellite images show the before and after of the Houthi sites hit by US-led airstrikes, which come as the group continually disrupt cargo in the Red Sea.

The Houthis claim to be targeting Red Sea vessels which are either owned by or heading to Israel, in support for Hamas in Gaza.

The group have already promised both the UK and US will face ‘retaliation’ for this week’s strikes, which they say has killed five and injured at least six.

Joe Biden has already said the US would “not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to address MPs in the House of Commons today following military strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen last Thursday.

Sunak came under fire from some MPs after he joined the US in military action in the Red Sea without consultation with parliament.

He is now expected to deliver an oral statement to MPs this afternoon where he will explain the decision and take questions from his colleagues.

Grant Shapps has said Britain’s strikes against Houthis in Yemen were carried out to send a “very clear message” to the Iranian-backed rebels.

The defence secretary denied that the UK had any intention of invading Yemen “or anything like that”.

“It was simply to send a very clear message to the Iranian-backed Houthis that their behaviour in the Red Sea was completely unacceptable,” he said.

Mr Shapps said that Britain will strike against the Houthis again if they do not stop attacking cargo ships in the Red Sea, adding that ministers will “take the decisions that need to be taken”.

The attacks came after the Houthis launched their largest attack on Red Sea shipping, one of 27 such assaults since 19 November.

Officials said that 21 missiles and drones were fired at warships and commercial vessels near the Bab al-Mandab Strait earlier this week, the southern bottleneck of the Red Sea, with US and UK warships blowing them out of the sky.

Here is what we know so far:

The Islamist group claims it began striking a narrow strip of sea between Yemen and east Africa, which is a key international trade route, in a bid to end Israel’s air and ground offensive against Hamas.

But who are Yemen’s Houthi rebels? How are they linked to the conflict between Israel and Palestine, and why are they attacking western ships now?

Read the full story here:

Laura Kuenssberg challenged Keir Starmer if it is time as Labour leader to call for a ceasefire.

Sir Keir said: “I do think we need a sustainable ceasefire. The question is how do we get there?”

He added that we need a “humanitarian truce” to allow aid to get in, as well as the release of all hostages held by Hamas.

However, when pushed once more, he confirmed he is not calling for an immediate ceasefire.

“Remember, this is the same gang that ‘surrendered’ in Afghanistan, where no one was held accountable or FIRED,” Mr Trump claimed. “It was the most embarrassing ‘moment’ in the history of the United States. Now we have wars in Ukraine, Israel, and Yemen, but no ‘war’ on our Southern Border. Oh, that makes a lot of sense. Crooked Joe Biden is the worst President in the history of the United States!”

Commenting on Lord’s Cameron interview, The Independent’s editor in chief said: “The worry is, are we getting into something we can’t get out of?

“What is being argued by both Cameron and Starmer is correct, but yes there are amber, maybe red, lights flashing.”

When it comes to US military strikes, the UK is used to being a loyal, junior helper – but after coordinated action against Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, London should be asking Washington: what’s the plan… and how do we get out of this one?

When asked why parliament was not consulted on the Houthi attacks, Lord Cameron said it was necessary to take quick action to launch the strikes in Yemen for reasons of operational security.

He said “he doesn’t think it would have been right” to have a debate in parliament before the strikes. However, there will be a statement in the Commons tomorrow.