British fighter jets will help defend Saudi Arabia against aerial attacks from Houthi rebels, Ministry of Defence sources have confirmed, as Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has said has condemned the “absolutely despicable” incidents
British fighter jets will help defend Saudi Arabia against “absolutely despicable” attacks from Houthi rebels, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has said. It comes a month after Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced plans “defensive” air-to-air refuelling in the region.
RAF Typhoons will fly defensive missions to help protect Saudi cities and critical infrastructure from strikes from the Iran-backed militant group, as the UK extends its military support to the kingdom. The UK will also send military advisers and an Atlas A400M military transport aircraft to help move equipment.
Mr Streeting said: “The continuing attacks from the Houthis on our ally Saudi Arabia are absolutely despicable. The targeting of the airport in Riyadh in particular shows the lengths the Houthis are going to escalate the situation in the region.
“That’s why today I have approved further UK military support. RAF Typhoons will fly defensive air missions to help protect Saudi airspace from drones and missiles. This builds on the UK equipment and personnel we already have in the country to defend against Houthi air attacks.”
Prime Minister Andy Burnham last month announced that British planes would provide “defensive” air-to-air refuelling for Saudi jets.
Speaking to reporters as he travelled to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the Prime Minister said: “We have received a request from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for military support.
“On the advice of the Defence Secretary and the Foreign Secretary, last night I agreed to that request for defensive air-to-air refuelling.
“That’s the agreement we’ve given.”
The refuelling mission was the latest addition to the UK Sky Sabre air defence system, which is already deployed in Saudi Arabia.
Burnham said he was “acting to secure the interests of Britain and the wider region because, of course, Saudi Arabia has been experiencing attacks, is looking at potential further disruption, and we need to keep those pathways open, and hence our agreement to the request”.
The Iran-backed Houthis have secured a stranglehold over the Bab al-Mandab strait, a maritime chokepoint on the Red Sea vital for traffic heading to Europe through the Suez Canal.
The Saudis have been targeting the Houthis, while the Yemeni group has been firing missiles at the oil-rich kingdom.