The United Kingdom will deploy Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets to help protect Saudi cities and critical infrastructure from Houthi missile and drone attacks, the UK Ministry of Defence said on Tuesday.
The aircraft will fly defensive air missions over Saudi Arabia and will not carry out strikes against Houthi targets, the ministry said.
It did not specify how many jets would be sent or when they would begin operations.
The deployment follows a request from the Saudi government and expands Britain’s existing military support to the kingdom.
The UK will also provide an Atlas A400M transport aircraft to move defence equipment within Saudi Arabia and send military advisers to support Saudi staff officers.
British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said the Typhoons would help protect Saudi airspace from missiles and drones.
He cited attacks on civilian targets, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, as a reason for the additional support.
The UK said it would also extend air-to-air refuelling support for Saudi defensive air operations.
The ministry said that support includes operations aimed at degrading Houthi military targets in Yemen that it considers a threat to Saudi and Yemeni people.
The refuelling role is separate from the stated mission for the RAF Typhoons, which the UK says will be defensive.
The announcement comes amid intensified fighting in Yemen.
The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, have been fighting forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
The conflict escalated after airstrikes on Houthi-held Sanaa airport in July, breaking a ceasefire that had largely paused fighting since 2022.
