Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced that Britain will provide limited military support to Saudi Arabia to counter attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. Speaking while traveling to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Burnham stated that the Royal Air Force (RAF) has agreed to provide air-to-air refueling for Saudi aircraft. The agreement, which is scheduled to begin in the coming days, will involve one RAF Voyager supporting Saudi planes on defensive
missions. While the initial agreement is for a matter of weeks, Burnham noted it will be kept under review.
UK to Provide Air-to-Air Refueling to Saudi Arabia Against Houthi Attacks
Burnham said the decision was made to secure the interests of the wider region and Britain, specifically citing the need to keep oil pathways open as Saudi Arabia faces attacks and potential further disruption. The U.K. has condemned the Houthi attacks and stated it will work with partners to protect civilians, support humanitarian access, and maintain regional stability. This move follows requests from Saudi Arabia for air-defense support from allies including Egypt, Pakistan, France, and Britain to defend against drones and missiles.
Escalation of Houthi Attacks on Saudi Infrastructure
The U.K. intervention comes amid a major escalation in conflict. Houthi rebels have launched a wave of missile and drone strikes targeting civilian and economic facilities in the Saudi cities of Khamis Mushait, Najran, Jazan, and Abha. Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki, a spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition, reported that these attacks wounded 73 people, including children and women. The strikes ignited fires at utilities and oil facilities in the kingdom’s southern region, including attacks on King Khalid Air Base and Aramco facilities in Abha and Najran.
The Houthis also targeted Riyadh on a Saturday, though that strike was intercepted. According to Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, these actions are a response to Saudi aggression. The rebels have claimed to have downed four Saudi reconnaissance drones within a 24-hour period, including one spotted in Bayda province.
Maritime Blockades and Oil Export Disruptions
The Houthis have declared a blockade on Saudi shipping in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical route through which approximately 12% of global trade normally passes. This naval blockade has targeted Saudi-linked vessels and oil facilities. On August 24, a Saudi-flagged very large crude carrier (VLCC) named the Amzan was struck by a ballistic missile 63 nautical miles west of Yanbu, causing a fire on the main deck. The vessel, owned by the national shipping company Bahri, reported no crew injuries.
The attacks have significantly impacted Saudi oil exports. Yanbu serves as the primary Red Sea oil port for Saudi Arabia to bypass the Iran-blockaded Strait of Hormuz. Before the blockade, Saudi Arabia exported four million barrels per day from Yanbu; however, intelligence from Lloyd’s List indicates exports have since fallen by at least one-third. To mitigate these losses, Saudi Arabia has reportedly established a shuttle service transporting crude to Egypt for pipeline transit to the Mediterranean, though estimates place those exports at around one million barrels per day.
Conflict Roots and Humanitarian Impact
The current flare-up shattered a 2022 truce and followed a Houthi attempt to fly a plane from Tehran to Sanaa, which was blocked by a coalition airstrike on the Sanaa airport runway. In response, the Houthis launched missile and drone attacks and a maritime blockade. Simultaneously, Saudi-backed government forces have reclaimed territory in the provinces of Taiz and Hodeida.
The humanitarian toll continues to rise. The International Organization for Migration reports that approximately 18,500 people have been displaced in Hodeida and Taiz. Additionally, Houthi officials accused Saudi Arabia of striking the Central Corrective Facility in the city of Hazm in Jawf province, killing seven people, including a child, and wounding at least seven others. This follows a history of strikes on detention centers; a 2022 strike in Saada killed at least 87 prisoners, and a 2019 strike in Dhamar killed over 100. U.N. estimates indicate the broader civil war in Yemen has killed at least 150,000 people.
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