Yemen Monitor/London/Exclusive:
The British Royal Navy is preparing for a possible attack on one of its main aircraft carriers as it travels near areas under the control of the Iranian-allied Houthis in Yemen.
British press reported on Saturday that plans have been put in place for F-35 fighter jets to launch strikes against Houthi camps if HMS Prince of Wales comes under fire while passing through Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key chokepoint in the Red Sea.
The British government has also granted permission to Special Boat Service (SBS) and Royal Marines forces to launch a rescue mission if any fighter pilot is shot down, according to sources in the British government.
The British warship HMS Prince of Wales is scheduled to pass soon through Bab al-Mandab Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, en route to a deployment operation in the Pacific Ocean.
It is believed to have 18 F-35 aircraft on board.
Britain has attacked Houthi positions several times with the participation of US forces, with the latest attack occurring south of Sana’a on April 29th. The Houthis have vowed that London will pay the price for its attacks.
The Houthis and the US had announced a truce on May 6th, in a surprise declaration of a ceasefire after more than 1,100 airstrikes launched by the Trump administration against the Houthis since March 15th.
