British Prime Minister Andy Burnham says he has agreed to a request for ‘defensive’ air to air refueling of Saudi jets.
Revealed On 22 Sep 2026
The UK has agreed to offer restricted navy assist to Saudi Arabia to assist it repel assaults by Yemen’s Houthis, in response to British Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
Chatting with reporters as he flew to the United Nations Basic Meeting in New York on Monday, Burnham mentioned he had agreed that the Royal Air Pressure would offer air-to-air refuelling of Saudi planes.
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“Now we have obtained a request from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for navy assist, and on the recommendation of the defence secretary and the overseas secretary, final evening I agreed to that request for defensive air-to-air refuelling,” he mentioned.
The settlement is “time-limited” and might be saved beneath evaluate, he added.
Saudi Arabia had requested for assist from the UK after the battle between the Houthis and Yemen’s Saudi-backed authorities reignited in latest weeks.
The Houthis have launched missile and drone strikes on Saudi Arabia, together with one that targeted Riyadh on Saturday earlier than being intercepted.
They’ve additionally superior inside Yemen, seizing the essential port metropolis of Mocha and key Pink Sea islands, permitting them to raised monitor transport visitors by way of the Bab al-Mandeb, by way of which some 12 p.c of world commerce usually passes.
Burnham mentioned he was “performing to safe the pursuits of Britain and the broader area, due to course Saudi Arabia has been experiencing assaults, is potential additional disruption, and we have to hold these pathways [for oil] open”.
The UK mission might be restricted to supporting Saudi plane defending the nation from assault from drones and missiles somewhat than supporting strikes in opposition to the Houthis, the PA information company reported. UK officers say the newest navy settlement will begin within the coming days and contain one RAF Voyager refuelling Saudi planes on “defensive” missions.
The UK and Saudi Arabia have been shut navy allies for many years, with London serving as one of many kingdom’s largest arms suppliers.
Earlier this 12 months, the UK deployed its Sky Sabre air defence system to Saudi Arabia to assist shield it from Iranian missile assaults throughout the USA and Israel’s battle on Iran.
