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UK to refuel Saudi jets to help counter Houthi attacks
Al Jazeera • • general
Key Points:
- The United Kingdom has agreed to provide limited military support to Saudi Arabia by offering air-to-air refuelling for Saudi planes to help defend against attacks by Yemen’s Houthis, according to Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
- The support is time-limited and focused solely on defensive operations, specifically refuelling aircraft involved in intercepting missile and drone strikes, rather than participating in offensive strikes against the Houthis.
- The agreement follows increased Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including missile and drone strikes on Riyadh, and their territorial gains in Yemen, which threaten key shipping routes through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
- The UK’s decision aims to protect British and regional interests, particularly ensuring the security of vital oil pathways, while continuing a longstanding military alliance with Saudi Arabia.
- This move complements earlier UK support, such as deploying the Sky Sabre air defence system to Saudi Arabia earlier this year to defend against Iranian missile threats.
