UK to fly RAF Typhoon jets over Saudi Arabia to defend cities from Houthi attacks

Britain will send RAF Typhoon fighter jets to fly defensive missions over Saudi Arabia to protect its cities and critical infrastructure from Houthi attacks, the UK Ministry of Defence said on Tuesday 20 October, Dawn reported from AFP. The jets will fly "defensive counter air missions" and will not strike the Houthis in Yemen. Business Recorder and CNBC also reported the deployment.

What the UK is sending

• RAF Typhoon jets for defensive counter air missions over Saudi cities and critical national infrastructure. The MoD has not said how many or where they will fly from.
• A military transport aircraft to move defence equipment within Saudi Arabia.
• UK military advisers to work alongside Saudi staff officers.

The MoD called it "additional defensive military support" to Riyadh. Defence Minister Wes Streeting said: "The continuing attacks from the Houthis on our ally Saudi Arabia are absolutely despicable." He singled out the strikes on Riyadh's airport as showing "the lengths the Houthis are going to".

Why now

According to AFP, Riyadh's international airport has been hit 20 times since the start of October, and one recent strike killed 13 people and wounded more than 300. The Houthis have also declared a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia, attacked its tankers, taken parts of Yemen's Red Sea coast that matter for oil exports and fired missiles at the kingdom, pushing up energy prices.

Yemen's civil war reignited in September when a years-long truce collapsed. Saudi Arabia has led a coalition backing Yemen's government since 2015. Riyadh, the Yemeni government and Washington accuse Iran of arming the Houthis; Tehran denies it.

What it means for Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is home to more Pakistani workers than any other country, and Riyadh's airport is a main route for them and for Umrah pilgrims. Before travelling, check your flight with your airline and the Saudi aviation authority, as attacks on the airport have caused disruption this month. Pakistan has condemned the attacks: Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar called them totally unacceptable, and the two countries have a defence pact. The conflict has already pushed Saudi Arabia to postpone its FII investment conference to 2027.

Higher oil prices from the Red Sea fighting also feed into Pakistan's fuel bill: the latest pump readings are on our petrol price page, and remittances from the Gulf can be worked out in rupees on our riyal to rupee page.