U.K. blames Iran for Houthi attacks in the Red Sea

British Foreign Minister Daniel Cameron called his Iranian counterpart to make clear the position taken by Rishi Sunak's government.

On the eve of 2024, David Cameron, foreign minister of the United Kingdom, assured that Iran must take responsibility for the increasing number of Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. The United States was forced to shoot down three Houthi vessels because the rebels tried to board a merchant ship.

Since Oct. 7, when Hamas attacked Israel and unleashed an ongoing war, the Houthis in Yemen have supported the Palestinian terrorist group. They have attacked vessels in the Red Sea, forcing major companies to divert commercial vessels.

In this context, Cameron, who was prime minister of the country between 2010 and 2016 but today occupies a spot in Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's cabinet, revealed a recent conversation he had with his Iranian counterpart. The Iranian regime has long been accused of supporting the Houthis in Yemen.

"I spoke to Amir Abdolahian today about Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, which threaten innocent lives and the global economy. I made clear that Iran shares responsibility for preventing these attacks given their long-standing support to the Houthis," he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

On the other hand, the Iranian media quoted Amirabdollahian, who said the following: "The Israeli regime cannot be allowed to commit massacres of women and children and genocide in Gaza and set the region on fire, while the stopping of a Zionist ship in the Red Sea is seen as endangering the security of this economic waterway."

The United States shot down three ships in the Red Sea

Also on Dec. 31, the United States reported that it destroyed three Houthi ships as they attempted to carry out another attack against a commercial ship.

"On Dec. 31 at 6:30am the container ship Maersk Hangzhou issued a second distress call in less than 24 hours reporting being under attack by four Iranian-backed Houthi small boats. The small boats, originating from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, fired crew served and small arms weapons at the Maersk Hangzhou, getting to within 20 meters of the vessel, and attempted to board the vessel. A contract embarked security team on the Maersk Hangzhou returned fire," reported the U.S. Central Command.