Yemen airstrikes LIVE: Rishi Sunak calls emergency cabinet meeting to plan response to attacks from Houthi rebels

The US and the UK are ready to carry out airstrikes against the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen as early as tonight – targeting the ballistic sites where the rebels have been launching missiles.

Lord Cameron spoke on Monday about the situation in the Red Sea, which he labelled as ‘extremely dangerous’.

Downing Street has just released details of a call Mr Sunak had with Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi this afternoon to discuss the rise in Houthi attacks.

A Downing Street spokesperson said the PM told him ‘the UK would continue to take action to defend freedom of navigation and protect lives at sea’.

The Prime Minister thanked President Sisi for his continued support on the humanitarian and diplomatic effort in Gaza, including on joint work to secure the release of British hostages and those with links to the UK.

They agreed on the importance of significantly scaling up the aid reaching Palestinians in Gaza to prevent a worsening humanitarian crisis. The Prime Minister said the UK was urging Israel to open more land crossings and to allow in far greater quantities of aid, up to 500 trucks a day.

The Houthi attacks in the Red Sea are heavily impacting vessels carrying cargo with shipping companies in response rerouting around South Africa.

Tesco boss Ken Murphy has warned this could create a knock-on effect on the prices of some goods.

The US Central Command says the Houthis have carried out 27 attacks in the Red Sea since November 19.

They said the rebels’ latest attack came today at around 2am (Yemen time) when they fired an anti-ship ballistic missile ‘from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen into international shipping lanes in the Gulf of Aden’.

One ship saw the missile hit the water. No one was injured and no damage was reported.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps spoke yesterday about the Houthi’s continued attacks in the Red Sea.

You can hear what he said in the video below.

The UK’s only Palestinian MP Layla Moran says it’s vital there is a vote in Parliament if Britain is planning military action.

The Cabinet was tonight due to sign off military reprisals against Iranian-backed rebels terrorising shipping in the Red Sea.

Rishi Sunak summoned an emergency meeting of the Cabinet at 7.45pm to brief ministers ahead of expected overnight air strikes against Houthi rebels operating out of Yemen.

Downing Street declined to comment ahead of what is expected to be a significant military operation led by the United States.

But Whitehall sources confirmed that the Prime Minister is ready to sign off military reprisals against the Houthis, who have launched a string of attacks on merchant shipping in the Red Sea in recent weeks.

The plans were finalised today following meetings of the Prime Minister’s National Security Council and the emergency committee Cobra.

Sir William Patey, the former UK ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Iraq, has told Sky News the airstrikes could spark a conflict between the UK and Iran.

He told Sophy Ridge.

Ultimately the biggest danger is that we end up in a conflict with Iran because the Houthis are acting here not on their own but agents of Iran.

The West is plotting airstrikes in response to the Houthi rebels attacks in the Red Sea.

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron has just been seen walking into No10 Downing Street ahead of the meeting.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage as Rishi Sunak is about to hold an emergency meeting with his cabinet.

The Prime Minister is set to plan with members a response to the attacks from the Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.