Egypt Independent·Egypt·Tuesday, October 20, 2026 at 12:31 PM UTC

UK to deploy fighter jets to defend Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks

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Flames burn at a facility belonging to Saudi oil giant Aramco, south of Riyadh, on October 3, 2026. In recent weeks Aramco, majority-owned by the Saudi state, has come under attack from the Houthi authorities targeting the kingdom as part of the war in Yemen. AFP/Getty Images

The United Kingdom said Tuesday it will deploy fighter jets to defend Saudi Arabia against attacks by the Iran-allied Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The UK will fly “defensive counter-air missions” using Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets to protect Saudi cities and critical infrastructure, the defense ministry said in a statement.

Over the past month, the Houthis have intensified their targets on Saudi Arabia, launching ballistic missiles and drones at key infrastructure, including oil facilities and airports, in response to the kingdom’s support for the Yemeni government.

“The continuing attacks from the Houthis on our ally Saudi Arabia are absolutely despicable,” UK Defense Secretary Wes Streeting said in the statement. “The targeting of the airport in Riyadh in particular shows the lengths the Houthis are going to escalate the situation in the region.”

“This builds on the UK equipment and personnel we already have in the country to defend against Houthi air attacks,” he added.

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