'We cannot allow one of the world's key waterways to be held for ransom'

Shapps warns rebels attacking Red Sea ships

- Martyn Brown

BRITAIN and America are poised to launch fresh air strikes on rebels wreaking havoc in the Red Sea.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and his US counterpart Lloyd Austin will deliver a "final warning" to the Iran-backed Houthi militias in Washington today.

Military chiefs want to take a more "offensive" approach to help protect one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. Houthis have been using sites in Yemen to bombard vessels operating in the Red Sea.

The attacks began after the start of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7 but spiked in December.

Eight of the 23 ships attacked so far have been either UK registered, had Britons in their crew or carried goods for the UK.

Crisis