On Tuesday (October 20), the United Kingdom announced that it will deploy Royal Air Force “Typhoon” fighter jets to assist Saudi Arabia in repelling attacks launched by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The UK Ministry of Defense stated that the “Typhoon” fighter jets will be utilized for conducting “defensive counter-air missions” with the aim of safeguarding Saudi cities and critical infrastructure.
Additionally, the UK will send military advisors and an RAF A400M transport aircraft to support the transportation of defense equipment within Saudi territory.
A spokesperson for the UK Prime Minister’s Office told reporters on Tuesday that the UK has already provided aerial refueling support to Saudi Arabia, deployed air defense assets, and British military personnel to help safeguard Saudi security. The spokesperson mentioned that the newly deployed “Typhoon” fighter jets will be responsible for intercepting missiles and drones targeting Saudi Arabia, and not for conducting airstrikes within Yemen’s borders.
The “Typhoon” fighter jets are capable of effectively shooting down large drones and various types of cruise missiles. Destroying such weapons using jets or helicopters is more cost-effective than utilizing high-end air defense missiles.
Defense Minister Wes Streeting emphasized in a statement on Tuesday that these aircraft will undertake defensive missions and will not launch offensive strikes against the Houthi rebels.
“The continued attacks by the Houthi rebels against our ally Saudi Arabia are despicable. The recent attacks on Riyadh’s airport demonstrate the extreme measures the Houthi rebels are willing to take to escalate the regional situation,” Streeting said. “Hence, I have approved additional military support from the UK to Saudi Arabia today.”
Over the past month, Houthi rebels have escalated their attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting key infrastructure including oil facilities and airports by launching ballistic missiles and drones. On October 10th and 11th, Houthi rebels twice struck King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, resulting in 14 deaths, over 300 injuries, and disruption to flights.
Saudi Aramco, the oil giant, has also faced attacks on its headquarters in Dhahran and a national oil pipeline spanning the country in recent weeks.
On Monday and Tuesday, Riyadh sounded air raid sirens multiple times. The Saudi-led coalition announced on Tuesday morning that they intercepted a Houthi missile aimed at the Saudi capital.
This additional support from the UK comes in response to a request from the Saudi government. Earlier this month, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that the UK was willing to consider requests from Saudi Arabia.
According to Yemeni authorities, on Monday (October 19), Houthi rebels attacked a training camp of Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces inside Yemen, resulting in 58 deaths, over 200 injuries, and 14 people missing.