Summary Britain will deploy RAF Typhoon fighter jets and military support personnel to Saudi Arabia to help defend cities and critical infrastructure against Houthi attacks
LONDON (Dunya News) - The United Kingdom will deploy fighter jets to Saudi Arabia to strengthen its air defences against escalating attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, the British government announced on Tuesday.
The UK Ministry of Defence said the deployment would provide additional defensive military support to Riyadh, including Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoon fighter jets to protect Saudi cities and critical infrastructure from aerial attacks.
“The UK will fly defensive counter air missions to support the protection of Saudi cities and critical national infrastructure against aerial attack, using RAF Typhoon fighter jets,” the ministry said in a statement.
It emphasised that the aircraft would operate exclusively in a defensive capacity and would not carry out offensive strikes against the Houthis.
Britain will also send a military transport aircraft to facilitate the movement of defence equipment within Saudi Arabia, alongside military advisers who will assist Saudi staff officers.
Defence Minister Wes Streeting condemned the continuing Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, describing them as “absolutely despicable”.
He said the targeting of Riyadh’s airport demonstrated the extent to which the rebels were seeking to escalate the regional conflict.
Riyadh faces intensifying attacks
The British announcement comes amid a sharp escalation in attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, including its capital and key infrastructure.
According to the report, Riyadh’s international airport has been targeted 20 times since the beginning of October. A recent Houthi strike reportedly killed 13 people and injured more than 300.
The attacks have raised concerns about the security of civilian infrastructure and the potential consequences for regional stability and international aviation.
The Houthis have also imposed a naval blockade affecting Saudi Arabia, attacked oil tankers and seized areas of Yemen’s Red Sea coastline that are important for energy exports.
The disruption has contributed to rising energy prices, adding an economic dimension to the growing security crisis.
Yemen’s conflict reignites
The latest escalation follows the collapse of a years-long truce in Yemen, with the country’s civil war reigniting in September.
Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government since 2015, placing the kingdom at the centre of the conflict with the Iran-aligned Houthi movement.
Saudi Arabia, Yemen’s government and the United States accuse Iran of supporting the Houthis. Tehran denies the allegations.
The renewed fighting has intensified concerns that the conflict could widen further and threaten regional security, particularly around vital maritime routes in the Red Sea.
Britain reinforces defensive role
The deployment highlights Britain’s continued security cooperation with Saudi Arabia as attacks on the kingdom intensify.
By restricting the fighter jets’ mission to defensive operations, London has drawn a distinction between protecting Saudi territory and conducting direct offensive action against the Houthis.
The effectiveness of the deployment will depend on developments on the ground and in the air, as well as the ability of Saudi and allied forces to counter incoming missiles and other aerial threats.
The move also underscores the growing international concern over the security of Gulf infrastructure, energy supplies and maritime trade as Yemen’s conflict enters another volatile phase.
