Britain announces defensive Typhoon missions over Saudi Arabia, extends refuelling by 90 days
Key Facts
Britain's Ministry of Defence said in a statement issued on 20 October that Typhoon fighter jets would conduct air defence missions over Saudi Arabia to protect the kingdom's cities and critical infrastructure from aerial attacks. The ministry described the fighter operations as "air defence missions", defining the role British aircraft would play in supporting Saudi defences. It confirmed in the same statement that the jets "will not conduct offensive strikes against the Houthis", as part of its announcement of military support for the kingdom. The package also includes an Atlas military transport aircraft to move equipment within Saudi Arabia, according to details of the British mission reported by The National. The newspaper added that British military advisers would help support their Saudi counterparts, alongside the fighter and military transport components.
Alongside the announcement of the Typhoon missions, Britain extended its mission to refuel Saudi aircraft in the air for an additional 90 days, according to remarks by the defence secretary reported by the Associated Press. On the continuation of this element of military support, the minister said: "That mission is being extended for another 90 days." Britain's Ministry of Defence had previously announced its approval to provide a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft in response to a request from the Saudi government. The ministry designated that support for Saudi defensive activity supporting Yemen's recognised government, according to its earlier statement on assistance to the kingdom. Previous British support also included the deployment of air defence equipment and British personnel to help protect against missiles and drones.
In its political position accompanying the earlier support, Britain's Ministry of Defence affirmed that "the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Yemen have the right to defend themselves". British Typhoon fighter jets have previously carried out defensive missions in the region, according to another ministry statement on strengthening air defences in the Gulf. The ministry said the joint British-Qatari squadron had conducted joint defensive operations against Iranian attacks since the start of the conflict. It described the squadron's activity as directed against incoming Iranian attacks, in its account of the defensive operations in which the aircraft had participated in the region. On Yemen, Britain's defence secretary affirmed his country's continued support for a United Nations-led political process to achieve lasting peace, in remarks reported by the Associated Press.
The British assistance comes amid attacks on Saudi airports that killed 19 people, according to a toll The National attributed to a coalition spokesman. The spokesman added that 364 people were injured in those attacks, according to the newspaper. In Riyadh, King Khalid International Airport reopened on Sunday, The National reported in its coverage of developments affecting travel to Saudi Arabia. But many airlines continued to suspend flights, according to the newspaper, as the airport reopened to air traffic. Flights operated by many carriers thus remained suspended despite the reopening of the capital's airport, as the kingdom faced the human toll and travel disruption caused by the escalation.
Regionally, Egypt's National Defence Council pledged to provide "all necessary and possible forms of support" to Saudi Arabia, according to The National's reporting on Egypt's position. The council linked the kingdom's security to Egyptian and Arab security as it announced its support for Saudi Arabia in confronting the attacks. The newspaper reported that Egypt would act only at Riyadh's request, and that no formal Saudi request had been announced when its report was published. In London, Britain's Ministry of Defence linked the escalation in the Gulf to potential disruption to energy supplies in its account of the implications for Britain. The ministry also warned of higher living costs and costs for British businesses, citing security of supply and economic burdens among the reasons for British concern over developments in the region.
The fallout from the escalation extended to Saudi Arabia's business calendar, with the Future Investment Initiative conference rescheduled to 2027, according to a statement by its chief executive reported by The National. The conference had been scheduled to take place in Riyadh from 26 to 29 October, before the announcement postponing it to the newly designated year. The chief executive confirmed in her statement that the conference "will now be held in 2027", announcing the change to the investment forum's scheduled date in the Saudi capital. On the next step, she said new dates for the forum would be announced "very soon", according to The Washington Post's reporting of her remarks. The conference thus awaits the announcement of its new dates in 2027, after its previously scheduled October run in Riyadh was cancelled.