Britain will send Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoons on defensive missions over Saudi Arabia and extend refueling for Saudi air operations by 90 days, citing risks to trade and energy supplies.
The jets are assigned to help protect Saudi cities and critical infrastructure from Houthi aerial attacks. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) said they will not conduct offensive strikes against the Houthis. The government gave neither a flight start date nor the number of Typhoons it intends to deploy.
The refueling commitment has a separate scope. Defense Secretary Wes Streeting said in a written statement to Parliament that Britain would continue supporting Saudi defensive air operations for a further 90 days. Those operations include action against Houthi military targets in Yemen, he said.
An RAF A400M aircraft will be available to carry defense materiel within Saudi Arabia. Britain will also send advisers to assist Saudi staff officers, though it did not say how many. The Typhoon mission adds to air defense equipment and refueling support Britain was already providing.
Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said two attacks on Oct. 8 targeted facilities at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport and a Saudia aircraft, killing three Saudi citizens. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Oct. 12 that an RAF Voyager refueling aircraft sent earlier had completed 14 operational missions by then.
Streeting warned that threats to shipping through the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait could disrupt trade and energy supplies. He said that could raise costs for British households and businesses, a domestic economic risk the government has cited in explaining its Saudi defense support.
Streeting said in his written statement to Parliament: “The Government remains clear that there is no long-term military solution to the conflict in Yemen.” Britain supports a political process led by the United Nations (UN) and separately encourages negotiations between the parties, he said. The government will monitor whether partners receiving British assistance meet their obligations to protect civilians and keep its military contribution under review. It announced no date for the next decision.
