PM-Aim Of Strikes To De-Escalate Red Sea Tensions

Speaking on a visit to the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak states that the gov't "believes strikes with the US on Yemen will degrade and disrupt Houthi capabilities in the Red Sea", adding that, "Our aim is to de-escalate the tensions and restore stability." Sunak asserts that the UK needs to send a "strong signal" that Houthi rebels cannot act with "impunity" in launching attacks on shipping in and around the Red Sea.

• Earlier, the PM's spox confirmed that Sunak can be expected to deliver a statement on the military action to the House of Commons on Monday 15 Jan, but that there are no plans to hold a vote on striking Houthi targets. Spox claims that there are no further airstrikes planned, but that the gov't would "keep security plans under review."
• Despite opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer backing the airstrikes, gov't likely keen to avoid any Commons vote that could expose divisions within the Conservative party. Memories remain of thesurprise defeat suffered by then PM, now Foreign Secretary, Lord Cameron's gov't in 2013 on a vote regarding taking military action against Syria's Bashar al-Assad for the use of chemical weapons.