Britain to defend Saudi Arabia from Houthi drones and missiles, rules out offensive attacks | Today’s news
Britain will deploy Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoon fighter jets on defensive missions over Saudi Arabia to help intercept missiles and drones fired by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels while ruling out offensive attacks against the group, the British government said on Tuesday.
Defense Secretary Wes Streeting said the fighter jets would conduct defensive air operations to protect Saudi cities, civilians and critical national infrastructure from air strikes.
The deployment follows a request by the Saudi government for additional military aid as Houthi attacks on the oil-rich kingdom intensify. Britain will also send a military transport plane and an unspecified number of military advisers to Saudi Arabia.
Streeting said the British aircraft would seek to intercept incoming missiles and drones, but would not hit Houthi targets on the ground.
“The Houthis’ continued attacks on our ally Saudi Arabia are absolutely despicable,” Streeting said in a statement, pointing to the Riyadh airport attacks as evidence of an escalating regional threat.
He added that the UK had approved further military support, with RAF Typhoons flying defensive air missions to protect Saudi airspace.
UK extends military support to Saudi Arabia
The latest announcement follows Britain’s earlier decision to provide air-to-air refueling support to Saudi aircraft operating against the Houthis. According to Streeting, this mission will be extended for another 90 days.
The UK will also deploy an Atlas A400M military transport aircraft and military advisers, extending its support beyond previously announced refueling assistance.
The expanded deployment comes as Saudi Arabia seeks more help from its allies to defend against missile and drone attacks. Riyadh has reportedly approached several countries, including France, Britain, Pakistan and Egypt, for air defense support.
Britain has stressed that its involvement is to help Saudi Arabia defend itself rather than expand the conflict.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s spokesman, Tom Wells, denied that Britain was being drawn into the fighting.
“Our support to Saudi Arabia is considered, proportionate and aimed at helping it defend itself against the Houthi’s relentless attacks,” Wells said.
Britain says there is no military solution to the conflict in Yemen
Despite the increased military aid, the UK government has reiterated that military action alone cannot deliver a lasting settlement in Yemen.
Streeting said in a written statement to parliament that the government remained convinced that “there is no long-term military solution to the conflict in Yemen”.
He said Britain continued to support the United Nations-led political process as the best route to lasting peace.
The conflict between Yemen’s Houthis and the Saudi-backed government escalated again as the rebels targeted Saudi Arabia with missiles and drones. Riyadh’s main international airport was reportedly hit several times earlier this month.
The renewed violence raises concerns about the security of Saudi Arabia’s civilian infrastructure and potential implications for regional stability and energy supplies.
Egypt also announces military support for Saudi Arabia
Egypt separately announced aid to Saudi Arabia, pledging to provide “all possible forms of support” to help the kingdom defend its security and stability.
A regional official briefed on the matter said Egypt would deploy air defense systems and aircraft to intercept missiles and drones fired at Saudi Arabia. The support would not include sending ground troops to Yemen, the official said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief reporters.
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said on Saturday that his government would take “any measures” necessary to defend Saudi Arabia. He also called for parliament to convene to authorize the deployment of troops and military equipment.
Parliament has been in session for two days and is due to reconvene for a vote next week.
Yemen conflict: background
Yemen descended into civil war in 2014 after the Houthis seized Sana’a, the capital and much of the country’s north, forcing the internationally recognized government into exile.
A Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015 to try to restore the government to power. The ensuing conflict caused a major humanitarian crisis, killing more than 150,000 people.
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