Looks like we're going to be attacking...

Seems a lot more complicated than that.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houthi_movement

As usual we (so it seems) will wade in. Don't be surprised if the number of small boats swell even further.

But answer me this, why doesn't Germany, Norway, France, Denmark etc get involved? Lets see maybe some of them will but it seems to me its always the UK who is front of the pack in being an aggressive partner with the US. 

The houthi movement and the situation overall may be 'complicated' - these things normally are (see Houthis/Yemen and Saudi Arabia for starters). But the fact that international shipping is being attacked in international waters is not at all complicated. It's illegal under international law, its terrorism, and it is a direct threat to many countries interest as well as the rule of international law.

Re. Britain being a standout US side by side partner. There is of course much truth in that. But I don't think it is as simple as you are portraying. In Syria and Libya, France was a significant player, more so than the UK even. Canada also been involved in at least one of those. France is also currently operating in the Red Sea along with the US and UK. If it heats up I expect more will come in. 

The Danish and Norwegian navies are a fraction of the size of the RN, as indeed are the populations of their countries. Germany of course has self imposed restrictions on overseas intervention - albeit reducing - thanks to its heritage. It did though contribute to Afghanistan - though a factor there may have been the US's original invoking of article 5. 

Despite the diminution of the Royal Navy, one of the areas the RN does have world class assets is air defence: namely the T45s*. So the current operations down there are the sort of thing the RN might be expected to take a lead role in vs other NATO/Western countries that do not have similar capability. I'd surmise. 

That said, when it comes to some land counter strike, then short of there being a QE or PoW carrier down there, I'm far less certain what the UK can bring to the table. Unless they are seriously considering submarine launched TLAMs which I would have thought unlikely and inappropriate/overkill.

*assuming they aren't in port being repaired, or drifting aimlessly in the Gulf thanks to breakdown in their powerplants in warm waters.....

Back in 1958 in what was Aden I was involved in bombing and staffing these bastards in their mountains. Fat lot of good that did!!!

I think it's more Red Sea / Bab al-Mandab Strait, but yeah,

michaelc you posted this in the ukraine thread but its at least as pertinent here as well.



I understand your concerns and fear, and indeed historical perspective which are inevitably forever skewed by e.g. Iraq in particular.

But the simple question is "What do you propose instead". The fact that Yemen itself is nowhere near us is virtually irrelevant ? Because this is not about a power struggle in Yemen - unlike the Saudi's awful campaign there against the Houthis - nor directly about a power struggle between Yemen and somewhere else. Even if geo politics provides the backdrop.

The issue here is that international shipping is being - indeed virtually has been - driven out of the Red Sea by illegal attacks. The fact that it is 'nowhere near us' is irrelevant - it is very much 'on our doorstep' regardless of distance from us.  Are you suggesting that the west should sit back and allow the Red Sea to be closed down ? The Red Sea is as I'm sure you are aware absolutely critical to international trade.