Britain will provide military support to Saudi Arabia to counter attacks by Iran-backed Houthis and protect energy supplies, Andy Burnham has confirmed – marking his first authorisation of military action as prime minister, reports BritPanorama.
Speaking to The Independent en route to New York for the UN General Assembly, where he will meet Donald Trump face-to-face for the first time, Mr Burnham revealed he had agreed to Riyadh’s request for defensive air-to-air refuelling.
Recent advances by the Houthis in Yemen have seen the rebel group launch attacks across Saudi Arabia, extending the wider Middle East conflict and further threatening global energy supplies.
The UK is expected to deploy support within days, involving a single Royal Air Force aircraft. This assistance is understood to focus on defensive capabilities, potentially including measures to intercept drones.
Mr Burnham stated: “We have received a request from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for military support, and on the advice of the defence secretary and the foreign secretary, last night I agreed to that request for defensive air-to-air refuelling, and that’s the agreement that we’ve given.”
He added that he was addressing cost of living pressures and the need to secure the interests of Britain and the wider region amidst ongoing Houthi attacks and potential disruptions. The Prime Minister noted that the agreement is time-limited, understood to be weeks rather than months.
The UK government has reported that several civilians have been injured following drone and missile attacks targeting numerous sites across Saudi Arabia, including cities, airports, military bases, and energy infrastructure across Riyadh and Jeddah, as well as Saudi shipping vessels in the Red Sea.
Concerns emerged in parliament last week regarding Houthi attacks leading to the closure of a 1,200km east-west pipeline that allows for the bypass of the Strait of Hormuz, impacting the export of millions of barrels of oil daily.
This pipeline has been a crucial alternative route since the onset of the conflict with Iran, and its temporary closure has raised fears about rising oil prices.
The latest escalation follows a dramatic increase in fighting between the Houthis and Yemen’s Saudi-backed, internationally-recognised government, after the rebel group gained control of parts of the Red Sea coast, jeopardising Saudi oil exports and launching strikes across the border.
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen accused the Houthis of targeting Mecca, claiming an incoming drone was intercepted over the holy city last week. In response, Saudi Arabia issued security alerts for Mecca, Taif, and Jeddah. However, Houthi political bureau member Mohammed al-Farah denied the accusations, describing them as “an outright lie.”
The Houthis, in control of Yemen’s capital since 2014, have carried out several significant attacks on Saudi Arabia in recent weeks. In retaliation, Saudi Arabia has reportedly conducted hundreds of strikes against Houthi positions.
According to the United Nations, nearly 700 people have been killed and thousands injured amid this latest escalation in fighting. Over 130,000 Yemenis have been displaced within their country, while more than 3,000 have fled by boat across the Red Sea to Africa.
