UK to Refuel Saudi Jets Amid Escalating Houthi Attacks
The UK has agreed to provide limited military support to Saudi Arabia in its conflict with Yemen's Houthi rebels. According to British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, the RAF will offer 'defensive' air-to-air refuelling for Saudi aircraft to help them defend against drone and missile attacks.
The agreement, which is expected to start within days, will be time-capped and could last for weeks, UK officials said. The mission will involve the use of the Voyager tanker and is in addition to the Sky Sabre air defence system already deployed in Saudi Arabia.
The move comes as tensions escalate between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, which has led a military coalition backing Yemen's internationally recognized government since 2015. The Houthi rebels have been attacking oil facilities inside Saudi Arabia and disrupting shipping in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial global route.