The UK will deploy an aerial refueling aircraft to support Saudi Arabia’s response to Houthi missile and drone attacks, the BBC reported, citing British officials.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said London has agreed to provide defensive air-to-air refueling following a Saudi request for military assistance.
A single Royal Air Force Voyager tanker is expected to begin operating from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus within days.
Its role will be to refuel Saudi combat aircraft involved in intercepting incoming missiles and drones, rather than conduct strikes itself.
Government officials described the deployment as temporary, with the initial mission expected to last several weeks.
The deployment follows renewed Houthi attacks against Saudi territory, as the Iran-backed Yemeni group has recently launched drones and ballistic missiles toward Riyadh and energy facilities along the Red Sea coast.
Houthi forces have also seized the port city of Mokha and nearby Perim Island, which overlooks the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the entrance to the Red Sea.
The waterway is a major route for international trade and energy shipments.
Security Concerns
According to the BBC, British officials have presented the deployment as an effort to protect regional shipping and limit the conflict’s economic impact.
Burnham said keeping key trade routes open was central to the decision, while UK Defence Minister Luke Pollard argued that supporting Saudi Arabia could help prevent further escalation in the Red Sea and additional pressure on British fuel prices.
The mission could also form part of a broader European response.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte previously indicated that allied governments were discussing possible assistance for Saudi Arabia.
The UK has already taken military action against the Houthis.
In 2024, it joined the US in striking targets in Yemen following attacks on commercial vessels and a Royal Navy warship.