The United Kingdom announced on 20 October that it will deploy Typhoon fighter jets from the British Royal Air Force (RAF) to help defend Saudi Arabia from Houthi attacks. The decision expands London’s military support for the kingdom and aims to protect cities, civilians, and critical infrastructure from missiles and drones.
The announced mission is defensive in scope: the aircraft will operate over Saudi territory and will not carry out offensive strikes against the Houthis. The British Ministry of Defence set that limit as part of the mission, which was presented by Defense Secretary Wes Streeting.
The Typhoons will join the in-flight refueling support the United Kingdom already provides to Saudi aircraft. London has also deployed air defense teams and personnel to help protect the country, so sending fighter jets adds another component to military assistance that was already underway.
The announcement also includes the deployment of a military transport aircraft and military advisers to Saudi Arabia, Streeting said. These resources will accompany the expansion of British support for the country.
The decision comes amid an intensification of the conflict between the Iran-backed Houthis and the Saudi-backed government of Yemen. The rebels have launched missiles and drones at Saudi territory; the new British patrols are intended to bolster its defenses, without Typhoons carrying out offensive strikes against the group.
Image: An RAF Eurofighter Typhoon in flight, in a file photo from July 2012. Peter Gronemann / Wikimedia Commons.
