UK expands military support for Saudi Arabia as RAF refuelling backs operations against Houthi targets in Yemen

Britain has expanded military support for Saudi Arabia, extending RAF air-to-air refuelling for Saudi operations that include strikes on Houthi military targets in Yemen while also deploying Typhoon fighters for defensive missions over Saudi territory.

The UK Defence Ministry said RAF Voyager tankers would continue supporting Saudi “defensive air operations,” including missions aimed at degrading Houthi military targets in Yemen, for a further 90 days.

Separately, RAF Typhoons have been deployed to protect Saudi cities and critical infrastructure from Houthi drone and missile attacks. The British government says the Typhoons will operate only in a defensive role and will not conduct offensive strikes in Yemen.

The expansion was approved by Defence Secretary Wes Streeting, who said Britain was responding to escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.

The move has drawn scrutiny because of rising civilian casualties from renewed Saudi airstrikes in Yemen. According to the Yemen Data Project, cited by Amnesty International and Declassified UK, at least 66 civilians were killed and 90 wounded in Saudi airstrikes during the latest escalation, including children.

Declassified UK reported that as many as 20 RAF Voyager refuelling missions have been flown from RAF Akrotiri since Britain announced additional support in September, although the precise Saudi missions supported by individual flights cannot be independently established because aircraft transponders are switched off over parts of the Red Sea.

Streeting previously supported calls for restrictions on arms sales to Saudi Arabia over civilian harm in Yemen. The current government says it expects Saudi forces receiving British assistance to comply with international humanitarian law and maintains there is no long-term military solution to the conflict.