UK to Help Refuel Saudi Jets Tackling Houthi Attacks
BBC Homepage
Skip to content
Accessibility Help
Your account
Home
News
Sport
Earth
Reel
Worklife
Travel
Culture
Future
Music
TV
Weather
Sounds
More menu
More menu
Search BBC
Home
News
...
UK to provide "defensive air-to-air refuelling" support for Saudi Arabia
By Chris Mason, Political Editor, Frank Gardner, Security Correspondent, and Isabella Allen and Richard Wheeler
Published 21 September 2026
Updated 54 minutes ago
Andy Burnham has announced that the UK will offer "defensive air-to-air refuelling" support to Saudi Arabia in response to attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen.
This is expected to begin within days, involving a single British aircraft – an RAF Voyager based in Cyprus.
The Prime Minister made the decision following a request from Saudi Arabia for "military support", approved on advice from Defence Secretary Wes Streeting and Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband.
Government sources stress the offer is "time limited", likely lasting only "weeks".
The Houthis are engaged in a civil war with Yemen's internationally recognised government, backed by Saudi Arabia. In recent days, they have launched drone and ballistic missile attacks on Riyadh as well as energy sites along the Saudi Red Sea coast.
UK support would involve aiding Saudi jets in shooting down incoming Houthi missiles and drones.
The Voyager aircraft is one of a core fleet of nine – eight military and one civilian registered – owned by the RAF. Five additional aircraft are also available for recall if needed.
Burnham linked the decision to cost-of-living pressures, stating:
"I go back to the point I made about cost-of-living pressures and acting to secure the interests of Britain and the wider region... [the] agreement to the request."
Defence Minister Luke Pollard argued that UK support would "ensure there's not further escalation in the Red Sea, which could further risk our fuel prices". He emphasised that the support complies with international humanitarian law.
Shipping routes through the Red Sea are a crucial global economic lifeline. The Houthis recently seized control of Mokha and Perim Island, hindering Saudi Arabia’s access to these vital routes.