Britain has warned of severe consequences after US and UK warships were forced to repel a barrage of 20 Houthi rockets, drones and cruise missiles fired at ships in the Red Sea.
It was the most sustained and complex assault mounted by the Iranian-backed group since the Houthi force governing Yemen from the capital, Sana’a, launched its attacks. More than 20 attacks have been mounted since mid-October, deterring a large number of major shipping companies from using the Red Sea naval route and pushing up prices.
Grant Shapps, the UK defence secretary, said: “The attacks launched by the Houthis are unacceptable and their consequences will be severe”.
I’m not sure how to do the cost/benefit analysis on this one. If it keeps the shipping lanes open, and avoids costs on pretty much everything going up, £30m might be quite cheap.
The problem is it’s $30mil to shoot down 20x $2-10k drones in addition to the ballistic missiles, and the shipping lanes are still closed with no end in sight. The one demand from Ansar Allah to stop attacks is a ceasefire in occupied Palestine. That seems like it would be even cheaper.