UK agrees support for Saudi in struggle with Houthis: reports

The UK has agreed to provide military support to Saudi Arabia in its struggle against the Iran-backed Houthis. According to the PA news agency, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the UK will provide defensive air-to-air refuelling for Saudi jets. This support will be limited to helping Saudi aircraft defend the country from drone and missile attacks, rather than supporting strikes against the Houthis.

The decision was made after the Houthis, who control parts of Yemen, intensified their attacks on Saudi Arabia. The UK's support will involve deploying one Voyager plane, which is expected to be based out of RAF Akrotiri. According to Al-Monitor and Jerusalem Post, Burnham described the move as helping to stabilize the wider region.

The UK and Saudi Arabia have been close military allies for decades, with the UK serving as one of Saudi Arabia's largest arms suppliers. The Jerusalem Post reported that Britain had previously deployed its Sky Sabre air defense system to Saudi Arabia to help protect it from Iranian missile attacks. The air-to-air refuelling support is a time-limited agreement.

Brief written by urgent.news from Al-Monitor, Jerusalem Post, People Daily Kenya, Ajel English, Middle East Eye — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.