Britain announced Tuesday that it is expanding military support for Saudi Arabia against the Houthis to include “defensive” air patrols by Royal Air Force jets. Defense Secretary Wes Streeting said Royal Air Force Typhoon jets will “conduct defensive counter-air operations over Saudi Arabia, helping to protect Saudi cities, civilian populations and critical national infrastructure” from missiles and drones fired by the Iran-backed militants in Yemen. That means the British planes would try to shoot down missiles or drones in the air, but Streeting said the British planes won’t strike Houthi targets on the ground. The UK will also send a military transport plane and an unspecified number of military advisers to Saudi Arabia, Streeting said. The announcement follows Britain’s decision last month to offer in-air refueling of Saudi planes operating against the Houthis. That mission is being extended by another 90 days, Streeting said. The conflict between the Houthis and Yemen’s Saudi-backed government has reignited, with the Houthis aiming missile and drone strikes at Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh airport. Streeting called the attacks “despicable” and said targeting the airport showed “the lengths the Houthis are going to escalate the situation in the region.” Streeting said in a written statement to Parliament that “the government remains clear that there is no long-term military solution to the conflict in Yemen.” “We continue to support a UN-led political process as the best route to a durable peace,” he said. Egypt has also announced military assistance, saying it will provide “all possible forms of support” to help Saudi Arabia “defend its security and stability.” President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said Saturday that his government would take “any measure” to defend Saudi Arabia and called for parliament to convene to authorize the deployment of troops and military equipment. Parliament held two days of deliberations and is scheduled to reconvene for a vote next week.
