Lord Cameron says world is the most ‘dangerous’ it has been in decades

Lord Cameron has warned the world is the most “dangerous” it has been in decades and blamed Iran for the growing instability in the Middle East.

The Foreign Secretary said it was “hard to think of a time” when there had been so much “insecurity” amid the war in Gaza and attacks by Houthi rebels.

He said “the lights are absolutely flashing red on the global dashboard” after the UK and US launched airstrikes in Yemen to protect Red Sea shipping.

British and US fighter jets dropped bombs on terrorist targets on Thursday night after the Houthis attacked a Royal Navy warship in the region.

Rishi Sunak is set to make a statement to Parliament on Monday about the “limited and necessary” military action and what further steps the UK will take.

Lord Cameron said: “Take a step back from this, it is hard to think of a time when there has been so much danger and insecurity and instability in the world.

“What we need at that time is strong leadership and a clear plan, that is what we have with the Prime Minister and the team in place.

“If you don’t act against the Houthis in the Red Sea, you are going to see more attacks, they are effectively terrorist attacks, you will see more of that.”

The Foreign Secretary added: “There’s no doubt that the malign actor in the region who is behind these proxy groups is Iran. Iran backs Hamas, they back the Houthis.”

A pick-up truck carrying tribal supporters of the Houthis is seen near Sana’a, Yemen – KHALED ABDULLAH/Reuters

His remarks came as Sir Richard Dearlove, the former head of MI6, said the situation in Yemen was linked to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

Ministers have tried to downplay suggestions that the situation in Gaza was responsible for increased attacks by Houthi rebels against Red Sea shipping.

But Sir Richard, who headed up the spy service from 1999-2004, said: “The problem is in the Middle East, in the Arab world, making that separation, particularly on the Arab Street, is extremely difficult.

“But if one’s being rational in analysis I agree with David Cameron that freedom of navigation is a different issue from Gaza, but the Arab street doesn’t think that.”

He continued: “Inevitably there’s a connection. They’re going to have an impact across the whole area.”

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