Policy paper

Summary of the UK Government Legal Position: The legality of UK military action to target Houthi facilities in Yemen on 22 January 2024

Published 23 January 2024

© Crown copyright 2024

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/summary-of-the-uk-government-legal-position-the-legality-of-uk-military-action-to-target-houthi-facilities-in-yemen-on-22-january-2024/summary-of-the-uk-government-legal-position-the-legality-of-uk-military-action-to-target-houthi-facilities-in-yemen-on-22-january-2024

  1. On 12 January 2024, the Government published a summary of its legal position on the legality of UK military action to target Houthi facilities in Yemen. This updated summary follows further military action taken on 22 January 2024, and confirms that the legal basis for the further military action remains the same.

  2. The Houthis have been carrying out dozens of serious attacks on shipping in the Red Sea for a sustained period. British flagged vessels, as well as the vessels of many other States, have been the subject of those attacks. On 9 January, this culminated in an attack against HMS Diamond, involving multiple drones. Those attacks against shipping in the Red Sea continue, with 10 further attacks since 11 January.  The government assesses that attacks will continue unless action is taken to deter them.

  3. Military intervention to strike carefully identified targets in order to effectively downgrade the Houthi’s capabilities and deter further attacks was lawfully taken. It was necessary and proportionate to respond to attacks by the Houthis and this was the only feasible means available to deal with such attacks.

  4. The UK is permitted under international law to use force in such circumstances where acting in self-defence is the only feasible means to deal with an actual or imminent armed attack and where the force used is necessary and proportionate.

  5. The Government has notified the United Nations Security Council of the actions it is taking under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.

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