LONDON, May 18 : The UK Royal Navy says it will use its F-35 aircraft in retaliatory strikes in case of any attack by Houthi terrorists on its flagship HMS Prince of Wales, which is currently traversing the Red Sea.
The 65,000-ton warship, carrying more than 18 F-35B Lightning II jets, is currently enroute to the Indo-Pacific and is being escorted by HMS Dauntless, a Type 45 destroyer equipped with the Sea Viper air-defence system.
According to The Daily Mail, the UK military has drawn up plans for contingency operations that would see F-35s strike Houthi camps in Yemen should the carrier be targeted.
Downing Street has also reportedly given the green light for elite Special Boat Service (SBS) operatives and Royal Marines to conduct rescue missions should any pilot be downed during operations.
Pre-emptive strike options are also said to be under consideration, depending on the level of threat encountered during the carrier’s passage through the strait.
Sources suggest the UK is also weighing limited pre-emptive strike options if credible threats emerge during the carrier group’s passage through the Bab-el-Mandeb-a narrow, high-risk corridor that has become a hotspot for Houthi attacks on shipping.
The Iran-aligned outfit has launched more than 500 strikes against commercial and naval vessels in the region over recent months, in support of Hamas terrorists. The escalation has turned the Red Sea-an extremely vital maritime route for international trade-into one of the world’s most dangerous shipping lanes, prompting military response from the UK, US, Israel, and the European Union.
The HMS Prince of Wales recently passed through the Strait of Messina, between Sicily and mainland Italy, conducting live exercises to simulate defence against drone and missile attacks. The Ministry of Defence has declined to comment on the ship’s precise routing, citing operational security.
(UNI)
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