Britain will deploy Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets to Saudi Arabia to help defend the kingdom against increasing attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, the British government announced on Tuesday.
The aircraft will protect Saudi cities and critical infrastructure from drones and missiles, the Defense Ministry said. They will not carry out offensive strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.
“The Houthis’ continued attacks on our ally Saudi Arabia are absolutely despicable,” British Defense Secretary Wes Streeting said.
He notably condemned the attacks on Riyadh international airport, which has been targeted 20 times since the beginning of October.
Strikes on the airport have killed at least 18 people and injured hundreds this month, according to reports.
What additional military support is Britain providing?
This deployment follows a request from Saudi Arabia and extends the military assistance announced by London in September.
Britain will also send an Atlas A400M military transport plane and military advisers. It extended by 90 days its offer to ensure in-flight refueling of Saudi planes operating against the Houthis.
The announcement comes as Yemen’s civil war continues to escalate after a years-long truce broke down in September.
Houthi attacks are increasingly targeting Saudi oil installations and civilian infrastructure. Rebels also imposed a naval blockade and attacked oil tankers, disrupting oil exports and driving up energy prices.
In Yemen, authorities said a Houthi strike Monday killed 58 people at a training camp for Saudi-backed government security forces.
Saudi Arabia and the United States accuse Iran of supporting the Houthis, an allegation Tehran denies.
What is the impact of the conflict on the Saudi economy?
Saudi Arabia has postponed its flagship Future Investment Initiative conference, informally known as “Davos in the desert,” until 2027.
The event, initially scheduled for October 26-29, was expected to attract major international financiers.
According to media reports, major banks and private equity firms had raised security concerns about attending the event.
The conference is a key part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to attract foreign investment and diversify its economy away from oil.
Edited by: Roshni Majumdar
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