Bab al-Mandeb, Yemen (Agencies): The Royal Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, is preparing for potential hostilities as it navigates the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a critical maritime passage near Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen. The UK-led Carrier Strike Group 25 (CSG 25), which includes warships from Spain, Norway, and Canada, is transiting the strait amid heightened tensions in the region.
The 65,000-ton warship, carrying 18 F-35 fighter jets, has reportedly been authorized to launch pre-emptive strikes against Houthi positions if attacked. Downing Street has also cleared elite rescue operations, with the Special Boat Service (SBS) and Royal Marines prepared to recover downed pilots if necessary.
The Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, has been a hotspot for Houthi attacks on international shipping. Throughout 2024, the Houthis launched missile and drone strikes against vessels transiting the strait, prompting US, UK, and allied navies to deploy warships to intercept threats. The UK recently joined US-led airstrikes targeting Houthi positions suspected of housing Iranian-supplied anti-ship missiles and attack drones.
The HMS Prince of Wales is being escorted by the Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless, equipped with the Sea Viper defense system, designed to intercept aerial threats. The carrier recently conducted drone and missile defense drills while passing through the Strait of Messina, between Sicily and Italy, to prepare for potential engagements.
The UK Ministry of Defence has declined to comment on the specific threat profile faced by CSG 25, citing operational security concerns. However, military analysts warn that large warships remain vulnerable to low-tech missile and drone attacks, similar to those used by Ukraine to sink Russia’s Moskva missile cruiser in 2022.
The HMS Prince of Wales is en route to a major Indo-Pacific deployment, where it will participate in joint exercises with Australia and Japan. The UK’s Royal Navy continues to assess evolving threats in the region as tensions escalate.