UK to Fly Typhoon Jets on Defensive Missions for Saudi Arabia Against Houthi Attacks
The UK Typhoon jets Saudi Arabia deployment will see RAF Typhoon fighters fly defensive counter-air missions to protect Saudi cities and critical infrastructure from escalating Houthi attacks, Dawn reported via AFP on Tuesday.
The Ministry of Defence said the Typhoons will fly defensive counter-air missions and “will not conduct offensive strikes against the Houthis”. The deployment is part of what London called “additional defensive military support” for Riyadh.
Britain will also send an Atlas A400M military transport aircraft to move defence material inside Saudi Arabia, along with UK military advisers to support Saudi staff officers.
Why the UK Typhoon jets Saudi Arabia deployment is happening now
Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia have intensified sharply this month. The kingdom’s international airport in Riyadh has been targeted 20 times since the start of October. A recent strike on the airport killed 13 people and wounded more than 300.
The Houthis have also imposed a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, attacking tankers and seizing stretches of Yemen’s Red Sea coast that are vital for oil exports. The disruption has already pushed energy prices higher.
Defence Minister Wes Streeting called the attacks “absolutely despicable”. He said the targeting of Riyadh airport in particular “shows the lengths the Houthis are going to (to) escalate the situation in the region”.
Inside Yemen, the escalation is taking a heavy toll. Authorities said a Houthi strike on Monday against a training camp for Saudi-backed government security forces killed 58 people.
Yemen’s civil war, in which Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition backing the government since 2015, reignited in September after a years-long truce collapsed. Saudi Arabia, the Yemeni government and the United States accuse Iran of backing the Houthis. Tehran denies the charge.
A clear step up from September’s support
This is a major expansion of Britain’s military role. In September, London announced an RAF Voyager air-to-air refuelling aircraft for Saudi operations. That package contained no fighter jets.
The new deployment follows a direct Saudi request, which Prime Minister Andy Burnham said earlier this month that Britain was prepared to consider. Al Jazeera’s coverage adds that the support also extends air-to-air refuelling help for Saudi air operations.
Britain already has equipment and personnel in the kingdom to defend against Houthi air attacks. The Typhoons build on that footprint.
What it means for Pakistan
The crisis carries direct consequences for Pakistan. Brent crude held near a five-month high of $110.10 a barrel on Tuesday as Middle East tension lifted prices, and industry watchers warn it could climb further if Gulf shipping lanes face more disruption.
Pakistan imports most of its fuel, so every spike in global crude feeds straight into the import bill and pump prices. The government cut petrol by Rs5.16 per litre from October 20, but a sustained rally would make further relief unlikely in the next review.
The human stakes are high too. Millions of Pakistanis live and work in Saudi Arabia. A Saudia pilot was among three people killed in Houthi attacks on Riyadh airport earlier this month, and the Houthis’ earlier missile strikes on the Abha and Riyadh airports killed three people. PIA suspended its Riyadh flights after earlier strikes on Saudi airports, showing how quickly the crisis reaches ordinary Pakistanis.
What happens next
The MoD has not said how many Typhoons will deploy or when the first missions will fly. The Saudi-led coalition is meanwhile continuing air attacks on Houthi positions inside Yemen, while the Houthis have vowed to keep up their campaign. Analysts will watch whether the British deployment steadies the situation or draws London deeper into the region’s widening conflict.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the UK sending fighter jets to Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia asked for help after Houthi attacks on its cities and airports intensified. The UK Typhoon jets will fly defensive counter-air missions to protect Saudi cities and critical infrastructure from aerial attack.
Will British jets attack the Houthis?
No. The Ministry of Defence has stated clearly that the aircraft will operate in a defensive role and will not conduct offensive strikes against the Houthis.
How serious are the Houthi attacks?
Riyadh’s international airport has been targeted 20 times since the start of October. A recent attack killed 13 people and wounded more than 300. The Houthis have also imposed a naval blockade, hitting tankers and Red Sea shipping routes.
What does this mean for Pakistan?
Rising crude prices squeeze Pakistan’s fuel import bill and pump prices, and millions of Pakistanis live and work in Saudi Arabia. PIA has already suspended Riyadh flights during earlier strikes, showing how quickly the crisis reaches ordinary Pakistanis.
