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Daily Mail
05-05-2025
- Daily Mail
How can I see the Red Arrows' iconic flypast? Map reveals when and where planes will be visible over Britain's skies
A spectacular flypast featuring some of the Royal Air Force 's most iconic aircraft will take place today to mark 80 years since the Second World War ended in Europe. The display involving the Red Arrows and a score of historic and current military aircraft will be the culmination of a military procession through London at 1.45pm. But the public will also get the chance to see some of the aircraft elsewhere as they will go over parts of Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Surrey and Hampshire. Planes involved in tensions with Russia will be involved, including P8 Poseidons, which conduct reconnaissance missions surveying Russian vessels near UK waters. Voyager aircraft which deliver equipment to Ukrainian forces and fly Ukrainian recruits to the UK for training will be part of the flypast over Buckingham Palace. Crowds gathered below on The Mall will also get to see Typhoon fast jets, which are a key part of Nato Air Policing, and fifth generation F-35 Lightning fighters. The flypast will follow a route from holding patterns across South East England before converging in formation over London, where the Royal Family will be watching. The Red Arrows will take off from RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire at 1.05pm before heading out the coast off Boston and travelling along the North Norfolk coast. They will stay near the coast down towards Suffolk before turning back inland near Aldeburgh and heading into Essex over Colchester and Chelmsford. The planes will fly over Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford before passing over Buckingham Palace and then out of the capital over South West London. Continuing their journey over the Surrey Hills, the planes will then head towards Hampshire before finishing at Bournemouth Airport at about 2.05pm. The flypast will take place after armed forces from Nato allies will join a military procession through London, featuring personnel from the US, France and Germany. The words of Sir Winston Churchill's 1945 victory speech, spoken by Timothy Spall, will begin the commemorations as hundreds of street parties are held elsewhere. Thousands of people are expected to line the streets of London to hear the performance of Churchill's speech and take in the procession and flypast. The five-minute flypast will involve 23 military aircraft which are expected to fly directly down The Mall from Admiralty Arch in six waves. The first aircraft to appear will be a Lancaster bomber operated by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight – followed by the Voyager and A400M Atlas. The C-17 Globemaster will be next, then the P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, two Typhoon FGR4s, a Rivet Joint and two F-35B Lightnings. The final wave will involve the Red Arrows made up of nine Hawk jets and four more Typhoon FGR4s. The flypast and other events today will start the build-up to this Thursday - May 8 - which marks exactly 80 years since the Allies formally accepted Germany's surrender. The King, Queen and other members of the royal family are looking forward to all the week's VE Day events, a Palace aide said. 'They will unite with the rest of the nation and those across the Commonwealth and wider world in celebrating, commemorating and giving thanks to the wartime generation whose selfless devotion duty and service should stand as an enduring example to us all - and must never be forgotten.' Sir Keir Starmer said the stories we will hear this week from those who fought are a reminder that 'our victory was not just for Britain'. 'It was also a victory for good against the assembled forces of hatred, tyranny and evil. 'VE Day is a chance to acknowledge, again, that our debt to those who achieved it can never fully be repaid,' the Prime Minister said in an open letter to veterans. Alan Kennett, a 100-year-old Normandy veteran, will start the procession involving more than 1,300 members of the armed forces and youth groups. They are set to march down Whitehall, through Admiralty Arch and up The Mall towards Buckingham Palace. The Nato detachment, which will also include personnel from Poland, Lithuania and Sweden, will march in the procession wearing the uniforms of their respective nations under the Nato flag. Representatives of the Ukrainian military, selected from the UK armed forces' training programme for Ukrainian recruits Operation Interflex, will also take part. The Cenotaph will be dressed in Union flags. The procession begins after Mr Kennett receives the Commonwealth War Graves' Torch For Peace by air cadet Warrant Officer Emmy Jones. The King, Queen, Sir Keir and Second World War veterans will be on a platform on the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace. Members of the royal family are later expected to make an appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch the RAF flypast. Following Queen Elizabeth II's death in 2022, this year will be the first landmark VE Day commemoration without any of the royals who stood on the balcony that day. In 1945, large crowds gathered outside Buckingham Palace to catch a glimpse of King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, and Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. The young Princess Elizabeth sneaked out into the streets to join the celebrating crowds and later spoke of being swept up in a 'tide of happiness and relief'. Street parties will be held in towns and cities across the UK as part of the special events - including community tea parties, 1940s dress-up events, and gatherings aboard Second World War warships. Local authorities throughout the country have offered support for communities and organisations wishing to hold a VE Day street party, with some councils such as Portsmouth waiving fees to close roads for the celebrations. The Palace of Westminster, the Shard, Lowther Castle in Penrith, Manchester Printworks, Cardiff Castle and Belfast City Hall are among hundreds of buildings which will be lit up from 9pm tomorrow. A new display of almost 30,000 ceramic poppies at the Tower of London is also set to form another touching tribute. The poppies have been set to resemble a wound to reflect the long-lasting sacrifices made during the war. A service at Westminster Abbey will begin with a national two-minute silence of reflection and remembrance on Thursday, where veterans will be part of the congregation. Horse Guards Parade will then hold a live celebratory concert to round off the commemorations. Pubs and bars have also been granted permission to stay open for longer to mark the anniversary. Venues in England and Wales which usually close at 11pm will be able to keep serving for an extra two hours to celebrate. Churches and cathedrals across the country will ring their bells as a collective act of thanksgiving at 6.30pm, echoing the sounds that swept across the country in 1945, the Church of England said.
The Herald Scotland
01-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Hegseth warns Iran ‘will pay consequence' of supporting Houthis
The strikes have drawn controversy in the United States over Mr Hegseth's use of the unclassified Signal messaging app to post sensitive details about the attacks. Early on Thursday, he directly threatened Iran in a message on the social platform X. Message to IRAN: We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis. We know exactly what you are doing. You know very well what the U.S. Military is capable of — and you were warned. You will pay the CONSEQUENCE at the time and place of our choosing. — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) May 1, 2025 'Message to IRAN: We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis. We know exactly what you are doing,' he wrote. 'You know very well what the U.S. Military is capable of — and you were warned. You will pay the CONSEQUENCE at the time and place of our choosing.' The US is conducting strikes on Yemen from its two aircraft carriers in the region — the USS Harry S Truman in the Red Sea and the USS Carl Vinson in the Arabian Sea, targeting the Houthis because of the group's attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, a crucial global trade route, and on Israel. The UK Defence Ministry described the site attacked as 'a cluster of buildings, used by the Houthis to manufacture drones of the type used to attack ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, located some 15 miles (25 kilometres) south of Sanaa.' Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s took part in the raid, dropping Paveway IV guided bombs, the ministry added. 'The strike was conducted after dark, when the likelihood of any civilians being in the area was reduced yet further,' the ministry said. The Houthis reported several strikes around Yemen's capital, Sanaa, which the group has held since 2014. Other strikes hit around Saada. The joint UK-US strike follows an alleged US airstrike on Monday which hit a prison holding African migrants, killing at least 68 people and wounding 47 others. The US military said it was investigating. On April 18, an American strike on the Ras Isa fuel port killed at least 74 people and wounded 171 others in the deadliest known attack of the US campaign. The Houthis are the last militant group in Iran's self-described Axis of Resistance that is capable of regularly attacking Israel. The rebels began their attacks over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip and the Israeli decision to block the flow of aid to Palestinians.
Calgary Herald
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
U.K. military launches airstrikes with U.S. targeting Yemen's Houthi rebels
Article content DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The British military launched airstrikes with the United States targeting Yemen's Houthi rebels, officials said early Wednesday, their first attack in Washington's new intense campaign targeting the Iran-backed group. Article content The United Kingdom offered a detailed explanation for launching the strike, in a departure from the U.S., which has offered few details about what it says are more than 1,000 targets it has hit since beginning its campaign on March 15. Article content Article content Article content Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s took part in the raid, dropping Paveway IV guided bombs, the ministry added. Article content 'The strike was conducted after dark, when the likelihood of any civilians being in the area was reduced yet further,' the ministry said. Article content Article content The British offered no information on the damage done in the strike, nor whether they believed anyone had been killed. Article content 'This action was taken in response to a persistent threat from the Houthis to freedom of navigation,' U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey said. 'A 55% drop in shipping through the Red Sea has already cost billions, fueling regional instability and risking economic security for families in the U.K.' Article content The Houthis reported several strikes around Yemen's capital, Sanaa, which the group has held since 2014. Other strikes hit around Saada. Article content The British have taken part in airstrikes alongside the U.S. since the Biden administration began its campaign of strikes targeting the Houthis back in January 2024. However, this new strike is the first to see the British involved in the campaign under U.S. President Donald Trump.
The Independent
30-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
British jets bomb Houthi military target in Yemen
Royal Air Force jets attacked a drone manufacturing facility used by the Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen. The attack on Tuesday night was the first such raid by British warplanes since Labour took office and comes after US President Donald Trump ordered a sustained campaign of action against the Houthis. Defence Secretary John Healey said the raid was in response to the Houthi threat to shipping in the Red Sea, which was causing 'regional instability and risking economic security for families in the UK'. The Houthis have targeted shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, busy sea lanes on the route from Asia to Europe using the Suez Canal. The attacks have led to vessels being diverted around the southern tip of Africa, adding delays and costs to shipments of goods. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the action was part of a joint operation alongside US forces, who have struck more than 800 Houthi targets since March. It is the first time the RAF has stuck Houthi targets in Yemen since May 2024 under Rishi Sunak's administration. The MoD said 'careful intelligence analysis' identified a cluster of buildings used by the Houthis to manufacture drones around fifteen miles south of Sanaa. The strikes were conducted by Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s, which used Paveway IV precision-guided bombs. Mr Healey said: 'This Government will always act in the interests of our national and economic security. 'Royal Air Force Typhoons have successfully conducted strikes against a Houthi military target in Yemen and all UK aircraft and personnel have returned safely to base. 'We conducted these strikes, supported by the US, to degrade Houthi capabilities and prevent further attacks against UK and international shipping. 'This action was taken in response to a persistent threat from the Houthis to freedom of navigation. 'A 55% drop in shipping through the Red Sea has already cost billions, fuelling regional instability and risking economic security for families in the UK. 'The Government is steadfast in our commitment to reinforcing global stability and protecting British working people. 'I am proud of the dedication and professionalism shown by the servicemen and women involved in this operation.' The strikes come ahead of the expected passage of the Royal Navy's flagship HMS Prince of Wales through the Red Sea. The aircraft carrier and its escorts are conducting exercises in the Mediterranean before heading to the Indo-Pacific later this year. In a sign that even highly-sophisticated warships are at risk in the Red Sea, the US Navy aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman lost one of its F/A-18 jets earlier this month when it fell overboard, reportedly as the vessel executed a sharp turn to avoid a Houthi attack. The Houthis claim their actions are in response to Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza, an assertion dismissed by the UK and allies. Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said: 'The Conservative government carried out multiple rounds of air strikes to degrade the Houthis' capabilities and protect freedom of navigation and international shipping. 'We support a continuation of this approach, working jointly with the US. 'There remains no justification whatsoever for the Houthis' reckless and dangerous actions.'
The National
30-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
RAF jets bomb Yemen for first time under Labour
The attack on Tuesday night was the first such raid by British warplanes since Labour took office and comes after US president Donald Trump ordered a sustained campaign of action against the Houthis. Defence Secretary John Healey said the raid was in response to the Houthi threat to shipping in the Red Sea, which was causing 'regional instability and risking economic security for families in the UK'. File photo of a Typhoon FGR4, the type of aircraft used in the strike against the Houthis (Image: PA)The Houthis have targeted shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, busy sea lanes on the route from Asia to Europe using the Suez Canal. The attacks have led to vessels being diverted around the southern tip of Africa, adding delays and costs to shipments of goods. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the action was part of a joint operation alongside US forces, who have struck more than 800 Houthi targets since March. READ MORE: 'Hell of a commute': Labour pick London councillor to contest Highlands seat It is the first time the RAF has stuck Houthi targets in Yemen since May 2024 under Rishi Sunak's administration. The MoD said 'careful intelligence analysis' identified a cluster of buildings used by the Houthis to manufacture drones around fifteen miles south of Sanaa. The strikes were conducted by Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s, which used Paveway IV precision-guided bombs. Healey said: 'This Government will always act in the interests of our national and economic security. 'Royal Air Force Typhoons have successfully conducted strikes against a Houthi military target in Yemen and all UK aircraft and personnel have returned safely to base. 'We conducted these strikes, supported by the US, to degrade Houthi capabilities and prevent further attacks against UK and international shipping. 'This action was taken in response to a persistent threat from the Houthis to freedom of navigation. 'A 55% drop in shipping through the Red Sea has already cost billions, fuelling regional instability and risking economic security for families in the UK. READ MORE: Seamus Logan: Independence is needed to secure Scotland's green future 'The Government is steadfast in our commitment to reinforcing global stability and protecting British working people. 'I am proud of the dedication and professionalism shown by the servicemen and women involved in this operation.' The strikes come ahead of the expected passage of the Royal Navy's flagship HMS Prince of Wales through the Red Sea. The aircraft carrier and its escorts are conducting exercises in the Mediterranean before heading to the Indo-Pacific later this year.
