British Prime Minister Andy Burnham says he has agreed to a request for ‘defensive’ air to air refueling of Saudi jets.
Revealed On 22 Sep 2026
The UK has agreed to offer restricted navy help to Saudi Arabia to assist it repel assaults by Yemen’s Houthis, in keeping with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
Talking to reporters as he flew to the United Nations Common Meeting in New York on Monday, Burnham stated he had agreed that the Royal Air Power would supply air-to-air refuelling of Saudi planes.
Really useful Tales
record of three gadgetsfinish of record
“We’ve got obtained a request from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for navy help, and on the recommendation of the defence secretary and the overseas secretary, final evening I agreed to that request for defensive air-to-air refuelling,” he stated.
The settlement is “time-limited” and will likely be stored below overview, he added.
Saudi Arabia had requested for help from the UK after the battle between the Houthis and Yemen’s Saudi-backed authorities reignited in latest weeks.
The Houthis have launched missile and drone strikes on Saudi Arabia, together with one that targeted Riyadh on Saturday earlier than being intercepted.
They’ve additionally superior inside Yemen, seizing the essential port metropolis of Mocha and key Crimson Sea islands, permitting them to raised monitor transport site visitors by the Bab al-Mandeb, by which some 12 p.c of world commerce usually passes.
Burnham stated he was “appearing to safe the pursuits of Britain and the broader area, due to course Saudi Arabia has been experiencing assaults, is potential additional disruption, and we have to maintain these pathways [for oil] open”.
The UK mission will likely be restricted to supporting Saudi plane defending the nation from assault from drones and missiles relatively than supporting strikes towards the Houthis, the PA information company reported. UK officers say the newest navy settlement will begin within the coming days and contain one RAF Voyager refuelling Saudi planes on “defensive” missions.
The UK and Saudi Arabia have been shut navy allies for many years, with London serving as one of many kingdom’s largest arms suppliers.
Earlier this yr, the UK deployed its Sky Sabre air defence system to Saudi Arabia to assist defend it from Iranian missile assaults throughout the USA and Israel’s struggle on Iran.
