Britain announced on October 20 that it will deploy RAF Typhoon fighter jets on defensive missions to help protect Saudi cities and infrastructure from Houthi attacks.
Britain will also provide transport, advisers and refuelling support. The Ministry of Defence said the jets would help defend against attacks from the air. It said the jets would not fly missions to attack the Houthis.
The UK will provide an A400M transport aircraft to move defence equipment within Saudi Arabia. It will also send military advisers to support Saudi staff officers. Britain is extending support for refuelling aircraft in the air during Saudi air operations.
This includes missions against Houthi military targets, which the government says threaten people in Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The new measures add to British air-defence equipment and personnel already in the kingdom to counter missiles and drones. The announcement follows recent Houthi missile and drone attacks on Saudi targets.
The targets included Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport and oil facilities. The attacks came as fighting in Yemen grew more intense. London said it condemned attacks on civilian targets.
It listed regional security, energy supplies and trade among its concerns. London also acknowledged the conflict’s devastating impact on Yemeni civilians. The Ministry of Defence announcement did not say how many Typhoons would be deployed or when they would begin flying missions.