UK engages in 3rd wave of strikes against Houthis in Yemen

Britain has engaged in a third wave of "proportionate and targeted" strikes alongside its US allies against Houthis in Yemen to further degrade their capabilities, the government said on Saturday.

"The Royal Air Force engaged in a third wave of proportionate and targeted strikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen. We acted alongside our US allies, with the support of many international partners, in self-defence and in accordance with international law," Defence Minister Grant Shapps said in a statement.

US officials told Reuters earlier in the day that the US had launched a series of strikes against targets in Yemen.

Britain and the US have launched coordinated strikes in Yemen this year against Houthi forces, who have been attacking shipping in the Red Sea in what they describe as acts of solidarity with the Palestinians against Israel.

That has fuelled fears that the conflict could spread to other regions in the Middle East.

"This is not an escalation. We have already successfully targeted launchers and storage sites involved in Houthi attacks, and I am confident that our latest strikes have further degraded the Houthis’ capabilities," Shapps added.