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UK legal advice says Yemen strikes justified under international law

January 12, 2024 at 1:38 pm

Thousands of Houthi graduates who completed their military training, attend a military parade with their light and heavy weapons in Amran, Yemen on December 20, 2023 [Mohammed Hamoud – Anadolu Agency]

The British government, on Friday, published a summary of its legal advice, which said its decision to strike Houthi military targets in Yemen was justified under international law, Reuters reports.

“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,” the document said.

The document was titled ‘Summary of the UK Government Legal Position: The legality of UK military action to target Houthi facilities in Yemen’ and was published on the government website.

The British government will notify the United Nations Security Council of the actions it has taken, it added.

Earlier, Russia said the attack on Yemen took place without any mandate from the United Nations and was thus an illegal “adventure” by the United States and its allies.

VIEW: US and UK target areas in Yemen in response to Houthi Red Sea attack