UK Warships in Red Sea Lack Missile Capabilities to Hit Sites in Yemen
UK Royal Navy vessels in the Red Sea reportedly lack the missile systems to hit land targets in Yemen, forcing Royal Air Force warplanes to travel thousands of miles to hit Houthi positions.The UK has joined the US in efforts to secure commercial shipping routes in the Red Sea following attacks by Houthi rebels on freighters allegedly linked to Israel. The Daily Telegraph reported that most "retaliatory strikes" on the Houthis have been carried out by the US Navy destroyers, equipped with Tomahawk-guided missiles, which have a significant advantage over the UK's naval forces in terms of offensive capabilities. A UK defence source told The Daily Telegraph that HMS Diamond, stationed in the Red Sea, is primarily an air defence destroyer. Its main role has been to counter Houthi drones targeting shipping routes. The vessel's primary armament consists of fixed artillery guns, which limits its offensive range and capabilities. The inability of Royal Navy ships to strike the Houthis forced British warplanes based in Cyprus to make a 4,500km round trip to bomb targets in Yemen.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) organization said on Monday a merchant vessel was suspiciously approached by three small boats, 44 nautical miles west of Yemen's Al-Mukha. The merchant vessel's security team fired warning shots. The organization added that the vessel proceeded safely to the next port of call. Yemen's Houthi group launched several attacks on ships over the last two months in response to Israel's war on Gaza.
On Monday, the Indian Navy said they intercepted the vessel, acting as per established Standard Operating Procedures, ensuring the successful release of all 17 crew members along with the boat. Indian Navy's INS Sumitra came to the rescue of an Iranian fishing vessel that Somalian pirates in the Arabian Sea hijacked. The operation forced the pirates to abandon the fishing vessel. In a statement, the Indian Navy said that INS Sumitra responded to a distress message regarding the hijacking of an Iranian-flagged fishing vessel Iman. Pirates had boarded the vessel, and the crew were taken hostage. The Navy said INS Sumitra intercepted the vessel and forced the pirates to release the crew along with the boat. Attacks on ships in the Arabian Sea and the Red have escalated since the start of Yemen's Houthi operations in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea.
On Monday, Hamas said that releasing hostages it is holding would require a guaranteed end to the Israeli offensive in Gaza and withdrawal of all invasion forces, reiterating its position after Israel held a meeting with Qatari and Egyptian mediators. Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said, "The success of the Paris meeting is dependent on the Occupation (Israel) agreeing to end the comprehensive aggression on the Gaza Strip." 132 Israeli hostages remain in Gaza. Hamas previously said a full release would require that Israel free all of the thousands of Palestinians held on security grounds in its prisons.
