Britain is deploying Royal Air Force Typhoon fighters to Saudi Arabia to assist in defending the country against the increasing attacks from Houthi rebels in Yemen. The UK Ministry of Defence announced that these aircraft will be stationed to protect Saudi cities and critical infrastructure from drone and missile attacks and will not participate in offensive operations against the Houthis.
Condemnation of Houthi Attacks
UK Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, deemed the ongoing Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia unacceptable, particularly condemning the attacks on Riyadh International Airport, which has been targeted 20 times since the beginning of October. Reports indicate that these attacks on the airport have resulted in at least 18 deaths and hundreds of injuries this month.
Expansion of Military Cooperation with Saudi Arabia
This deployment comes at the request of Saudi Arabia and expands military cooperation announced in September. Britain will also send an Atlas A400M military transport aircraft and military advisors to Saudi Arabia. The country has extended its offer to provide air refueling to Saudi aircraft operating against the Houthis for another 90 days.
This announcement comes as the civil war in Yemen has escalated following the collapse of a years-long ceasefire in September. Houthi attacks on Saudi oil facilities and civilian infrastructure have increased, and the rebels have also established a naval blockade and attacked oil tankers, disrupting oil exports and raising energy prices.
Within Yemen, officials reported that a Houthi attack on Monday killed 58 people at a training camp for Saudi-backed security forces. Saudi Arabia and the United States accuse Iran of supporting the Houthis, a claim Tehran denies.
Saudi Arabia has postponed its upcoming investment conference, informally known as “Davos in the Desert,” until 2027. The event, which was scheduled to take place from October 26 to 29, was expected to attract prominent international investors. Reports indicate that banks and major investment firms have expressed concerns about the security of attending this event.
This conference is part of Saudi Arabia's efforts to attract foreign investment and diversify the country's economy away from oil.
