BRITAIN’S biggest warships could spearhead strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen as tensions explode in the Red Sea.
Calls are growing for the HMS Queen Elizabeth and its sister HMS Prince of Wales to be deployed amid fears escalations will spark World War 3.
5
5
5
The £3.5 billion aircraft carriers, ready to be sent to the conflict zone in Yemen, are currently anchored in Portsmouth.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson told the Mail Online: “One of our aircraft carriers is constantly held at high readiness to deploy along with the aircraft, personnel and supporting ships it requires.
“Any decision as to whether to deploy the carriers would be made in conjunction with our allies and based on operational need.”
Described as “investments in British security, prosperity and place in the world” the two vessels are the most expensive ships built for the Royal Navy.
And following threats by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels after recent UK and US airstrikes calls for the ships’ deployment have been mounting.
The Houthis warned the strikes “will not go unpunished” after RAF Typhoon jets blasted eight Houthi sites when rebels refused to halt attacks on ships in the Red Sea.
Lord Admiral West, 75, said it was absurd for the UK to rely solely on RAF jets from Cyprus to strike Houthi targets.
He told the Mail Online: “I find it absolutely extraordinary we have not sent a carrier. As with either HMS Queen Elizabeth or HMS Prince of Wales in situ we would be able to make a much more significant contribution.
“Instead, we are reduced to flying thousands of miles to and from Cyprus and to dropping a strictly limited number of warheads at great expense.
‘Why did we bother building the carriers when, seemingly, we are reluctant to deploy them operationally.
“Doing so would send a very strong message to the Iranians and the Houthis. We need to plan for the medium to longer term as there is no end in sight.”
And former defence minister, Mark Francois,agreed: “Part of the Royal Navy’s historic mission has been to protect freedom of navigation for ours and allied shipping.
“So deploying an aircraft carrier would be wholly in keeping with this.”
The calls come amid fears the world is on the brink of an all-out war triggered across the Middle East over Israel’s ongoing battle with Hamas.
Britain’s ships in the Red Sea have come under attack from Houthi rebels who have vowed to inflict economic pain in the West in revenge for the war in Gaza.
The UK-US attack near the capital city Sanaa was the second blitz, followed by a meticulously planned operation earlier this month.
The attack saw the aircraft make their way from Cyprus to Yemen and back in hours, refuelling mid-air as they blitzed the targets.
The rising tensions in the Red Sea have led the UK to beef up its defences by upgrading its Sea Viper surface-to-air missile system.
5
5
