UK and US aid workers told to leave Yemen by Houthi amid ongoing airstrikes

ITV News' Global Security Editor Rohit Kachroo reports live from Yemen as the UK threatens further airstrikes against the Houthi


Aid workers from the UK and the US have been told to leave Yemen by the Houthi government, a letter seen by ITV News says.

The Houthi-run foreign affairs ministry requested that all NGO workers with American or British citizenship leave the country within 30 days.

It comes as Rishi Sunak has said the UK "will not hesitate" to launch further airstrikes on the Houthi in Yemen after multiple sites used by the Iranian-backed military group were bombed on Monday night.

The prime minister said a joint bombing campaign with the US was intended to warn Houthis that attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea - as it has done 12 times in 10 days - is "unacceptable".

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said four Royal Air Force Typhoons and a pair of Voyager tankers were involved in the latest military strike, which saw multiple targets hit at two military sites near the Sanaa airfield in Yemen.

It said that a “very rigorous analysis” was carried out to avoid civilian causalities and the US military confirmed the latest round of strikes were against eight targets.

The PM, providing an update to MPs on the Red Sea situation, said: “We are not seeking a confrontation. We urge the Houthis and those who enable them to stop these illegal and unacceptable attacks.

“But, if necessary, the United Kingdom will not hesitate to respond again in self defence.

“We cannot stand by and allow these attacks to go unchallenged. Inaction is also a choice.”

Sir Keir Starmer said Labour supported the action in the Red Sea but warned he would only judge further action on the Houthis on a "case-by-case basis".

The Houthi group has said it is only attacking ships in the Red Sea which are owned by Israel, in retaliation for the military action it is taking against the Palestinian-based Hamas terror group.

But Sir Keir said the Houthi attacks "do absolutely nothing for the Palestinian people".

"What is needed in Gaza is a humanitarian truce now, a sustainable ceasefire to stop the killing of innocent civilians, the space for the return of all the hostages, urgent humanitarian relief and a decisive step towards a two-state solution."

Lord Cameron insisted the UK had “no quarrel with the Yemeni people” but action was needed to respond to the “indiscriminate” attacks by the Houthis.

He added: “What the Houthis are doing is unacceptable, it’s illegal and it’s threatening the freedom of navigation. That’s why we’ve taken the action."


Lord David Cameron said the Houthis have 'effectively threatened the freedom of navigation' and fresh UK and US strikes in Yemen on Houthi targets send the 'clearest possible message' their actions are 'unacceptable'

Mr Sunak and US President Joe Biden spoke on Monday evening, with the two leaders undertaking to “continue efforts alongside international partners to deter and disrupt” attacks by Houthis.

The Houthis’ media office also said in an online statement that several American and UK raids targeted Yemen’s capital, Sanaa.

The UK took part in an initial joint strike operation against the group in Yemen earlier this month, but ships have continued to be targeted along the vital Red Sea and Gulf of Aden trade routes.

In recent days, the US launched seven rounds of airstrikes on Houthi military sites, targeting air bases under the rebels’ control and suspected missile launch sites.


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