British Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced on Monday that he had agreed to Saudi Arabia’s request for limited defensive air‑to‑air refuelling, saying it would help stabilize the region.
Saudi Arabia sought the assistance after Houthi rebels, who dominate Yemen’s most populous areas, escalated attacks on the kingdom, opening a new front in the conflict that followed U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February.
“We have received a request from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for military support, and, after consulting with the defence and foreign secretaries, I approved the request for defensive air‑to‑air refuelling last night,” he told reporters while en route to New York for a United Nations General Assembly meeting.
“Saudi Arabia is currently under attack, and we must keep vital routes open, which is why we agreed to the request,” he said.
Britain and Saudi Arabia have maintained close military ties for decades, with Britain ranking among the kingdom’s largest arms suppliers.
Earlier this year, Britain sent its Sky Sabre air‑defence system to Saudi Arabia to safeguard the kingdom against Iranian missile strikes amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.
For the new air‑to‑air refuelling assistance, Britain will deploy a single Voyager aircraft in the coming days.
“The assistance is time‑limited, and we will keep it under review,” he said, adding that Britain was “fulfilling its role” in the Middle East by supporting efforts to keep the Strait of Hormuz open.
