After the Royal Ships were attacked by Houthis in the Red Sea, Britain stop sending troops to Yemen

Mytips.id, NEWS - Britain declares an end to ground troop deployments in Yemen, says Vice Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, while adding that airstrikes have weakened the Iran-backed Houthi militants. 

As known, since early January, the United States and Britain have been launching air attacks on the Houthi military in Yemen after months of Houthi attacks on commercial and naval ships in the Red Sea.

The Houthi group claims that these disruptions to global trade are in response to Israel's attacks on the Palestinian people in Gaza. "Let's be clear from the start. We have no plans to get involved on the ground (again)," Dowden said in an interview at the British embassy residence in Abu Dhabi, as reported by Arab News on Saturday, February 3, 2024. 

He stated that the airstrikes, which have received international support (especially from their second country allies), aim to reduce the Houthi's ability to threaten ships in the Red Sea rather than drive out the group, which has withstood Saudi bombing campaigns for years. 

Attacks on ships in the Red Sea have raised the profile of the Yemeni movement, which took control of most of the country almost a decade ago. Many people in the Middle East see the Houthis as the only Arab power that dares to continually attack Israel. 

Major shipping companies have mostly abandoned the main trading route of the Red Sea and switched to longer routes around Africa. 

This has increased costs, triggered concerns about global inflation, and weakened Egypt's foreign revenue usually obtained from shipping goods through the Suez Canal to or from the Red Sea. 

Dowden said he believes the military attacks are a step to diminish the Houthi's ability to threaten the Red Sea and are part of broader actions that include sanctions against Houthi figures. "We need to intensify the pressure on the Houthis because the root of this pressure lies in the UK's commitment to guarantee stability and free trade of goods and movement." 

Britain and the US view their coordinated efforts as having widespread international support. Australia, Bahrain, Canada, the Netherlands, and other countries have provided material support for the campaign but have not participated in the airstrikes. 

However, only a few of London and Washington's closest Arab partners have joined in the campaign or provided public support. 

The Houthi group remains opposed. US and British ally ships in the Red Sea continue to be targeted by drones and missiles, and the Houthi group has issued statements provoking Britain and America with threats to target their naval vessels.

Nevertheless, countries like China and Russia, which indirectly support Hamas-Palestine, are ensured safe passage through the Red Sea. 

The British and American airstrikes also come amidst unrelated peace processes in Yemen. In December, the UN stated that the Houthis and other warring parties committed to implementing ceasefires and political dialogue. Dowden described the broader regional situation as "fragile and dangerous" and urged all parties to exercise restraint."