Britain has agreed to provide limited support to Saudi Arabia, to counter attacks from Iran-backed Houthis. Riyadh has requested the support after the Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen, intensified their attacks on Saudi Arabia, a new front in the wider war that began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February. For the new air-to-air refuelling support, Britain will deploy one Voyager plane in the coming days.
Britain and Saudi Arabia have been close military allies for decades, with Britain serving as one of the kingdom’s largest arms suppliers. Earlier this year, Britain deployed its Sky Sabre air defence system to Saudi Arabia to help protect it from Iranian missile attacks during the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said that this is a time-limited agreement in terms of the assistance that we will provide, but we will keep it under review,” he said, adding that Britain was “playing our part” in the West Asia and also by supporting efforts to keep the Strait of Hormuz open.
