UK Agrees to Refuel Saudi Combat Aircraft After Houthi Attacks
Britain will deploy an RAF Voyager tanker to provide air-to-air refuelling support for Saudi combat aircraft following recent Houthi attacks.
Britain will deploy an RAF Voyager tanker to provide air-to-air refuelling support for Saudi combat aircraft following recent Houthi attacks.
Saudi Arabia says it intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone over Taif, but falling debris killed a Yemeni resident and injured two others, exposing the residual danger of successful air defence.
Saudi Arabia has asked China to press Iran to restrain the Houthis, exposing a growing collision between Tehran’s regional leverage and the interests of its most important oil customer.
US officials reportedly met sanctioned Houthi representatives at the US Embassy in Oman as Washington seeks to keep American and commercial shipping outside the Saudi-Houthi war.
Saudi Arabia is reportedly running short of missile interceptors and has approached Britain, France, Pakistan and Egypt for air-defence support as Houthi attacks continue.
A Houthi offensive involving an estimated 100,000 fighters has routed Saudi-backed forces and strengthened the Iran-aligned movement around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Saudi Arabia says its air defences destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered prohibited airspace, while the Houthis deny threatening the holy city.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has sought Egyptian backing as Houthi forces expand along Yemen’s Red Sea coast and more than 100,000 people are displaced.
Saudi Arabia has issued emergency alerts across several cities as Houthi missile and drone attacks intensify, with 13 civilians injured and critical oil infrastructure already disrupted.
The Houthis say they launched dozens of missiles and drones at a Saudi military airbase as Gulf states postpone talks with Iran over reopening Hormuz.