British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said the UK had no choice but to take military action against the Houthis in Yemen over their attacks in the Red Sea, the BBC reported.
Cameron said the UK had issued "warning after warning" to the group before joining the US-led strikes this week.
In an article for the Sunday Telegraph, he said prices in the UK would rise if the Houthis blocked important trade routes.
The pro-Hamas group attacked ships in the Red Sea, claiming it was targeting Israel over the Gaza war.
Their attacks on cargo ships - some of which have no clear connection to Israel - have led major shipping companies to divert ships from the Red Sea, opting instead for a longer route around South Africa.
Britain's foreign minister said the UK was taking part in the strikes to protect "freedom of navigation".
He also suggested Britain could launch further strikes on Houthi targets if their attacks continue.
"If the Houthis refuse this passage of ships, vital supply chains are at risk and prices in Britain and around the world will rise," he said.
"We will work with allies. We will always protect freedom of navigation. And, crucially, we will be ready to back up words with action," the senior diplomat added.
The Houthis are a political and military group that controls much of Yemen, including the capital. They are supported by Iran - the sworn enemy of Israel.
The Houthis have declared their support for Hamas and say they attack any ship traveling to or owned by Israel. According to the US, since November 19, they have carried out at least 27 attacks and fired a number of drones and missiles at Israel.
Cameron said the Houthis' claim that their attacks were linked to the Gaza war was "nonsense".
"They have attacked ships from countries all over the world that were heading to destinations all over the globe," he wrote.
The foreign minister added that the joint actions "would have somewhat contributed to reducing the capabilities of the Houthis, built with the support of Iran"./BGNES