UK nears agreement on military support for Saudi Arabia against Houthis - report

The UK is close to agreeing to provide Saudi Arabia’s military with operational support to counter Houthi fighters and plans to lobby other countries to help Riyadh repel the Iran-backed group. Prime Minister Andy Burnham is inclined to offer defensive support after considering Saudi requests over the past several days, according to Bloomberg who spoke with several people familiar with the matter.

An agreement would mark one of Burnham’s first significant military decisions since taking office. Some of the people said the support could include aerial refueling for the Saudi military.

One of those familiar with the discussions emphasized the importance of restoring stability in the Middle East, pointing to Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and threats to the Bab el-Mandab Strait, a key shipping route.

Bloomberg reported last week that the British government was considering requests from Riyadh for a range of diplomatic and military assistance. The operational support now under consideration would be defensive, according to the people.

Burnham has also agreed that the UK government will lobby other nations to offer their own support for Saudi Arabia against the Houthis, the people said. That diplomatic effort would accompany the British government’s consideration of how to respond to the requests for defensive military support submitted by Riyadh.