UK to fly RAF missions defending Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks, Bloomberg reports

Britain ​will deploy Royal Air Force fighter jets on defensive missions ‌to help protect Saudi Arabia from escalating Houthi attacks, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, citing British officials familiar with ‌the matter.

RAF Typhoon fighter jets will help ‌defend Saudi cities and infrastructure against aerial attacks by the Iran-backed group, while Britain will also provide an Atlas A400M ⁠transport aircraft ​and military ⁠advisers, the report said. Britain's Ministry of Defence did not ⁠immediately respond to a request for comment.

In September Britain said ​it would provide additional defensive military assistance to ⁠Saudi Arabia following renewed Houthi attacks, including an RAF Voyager ⁠air-to-air ​refuelling aircraft. That announcement did not include fighter jet support. Houthi attacks have intensified in Saudi ⁠Arabia in recent weeks, with Yemen authorities saying on ⁠Monday that ⁠a strike on a government security forces training camp had killed 58 people.