Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Military Assistance

Wes Streeting Excerpts

Tuesday 20th October 2026 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Defence (Wes Streeting)]

Recent attacks on civilian airports in Riyadh underscore the importance of standing with our allies to protect innocent lives. Therefore, I am pleased to update the House today on the United Kingdom’s defensive military support to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The United Kingdom has a long-standing defence and security partnership with Saudi Arabia and a strong interest in a stable, secure and prosperous middle east.

We unequivocally condemn Houthi attacks and fully support the right of Saudi Arabia and the legitimate Government of the Republic of Yemen to defend themselves. Our objective is to help our partners protect their territory, civilian populations and critical national infrastructure, while supporting efforts to create the conditions for a political resolution to the conflict.

Escalating instability in the region has direct consequences for the United Kingdom. The Red sea and Bab al-Mandab strait are among the world’s most important maritime trade routes. We cannot allow international shipping to be threatened or held to ransom.

Continued instability risks disrupting global trade and energy supplies, increasing costs for British families and businesses, while also undermining regional and international security. The Houthis pose a serious threat to the region; supporting a more secure and stable middle east is firmly in the United Kingdom’s national security and economic interests.

The United Kingdom is currently providing Saudi Arabia with air defence support and air-to-air refuelling for defensive Saudi air operations, including to degrade Houthi military targets in Yemen that threaten the Saudi and Yemeni people. In response to escalating Houthi missile and drone attacks, the Prime Minister has now authorised additional military support.

We are extending the provision of air-to-air refuelling for a further 90 days. In addition, RAF Typhoon aircraft will conduct defensive counter-air operations over Saudi Arabia, helping to protect Saudi cities, civilian populations and critical national infrastructure from Houthi attack. These aircraft will operate in a defensive role and will not conduct offensive strikes against the Houthis.

The United Kingdom will also make an RAF A400M aircraft available to support the movement of matériel within Saudi Arabia in support of its defence. UK military advisers will deploy to support Saudi staff officers.

The Government remain clear that there is no long-term military solution to the conflict in Yemen. We continue to support a UN-led political process as the best route to a durable peace. We remain deeply concerned by the humanitarian situation in Yemen and the suffering experienced by civilians. Alongside our defence engagement, the United Kingdom will continue its diplomatic efforts, humanitarian assistance and work to encourage de-escalation and negotiations between the parties.

We remain in regular contact with my international counterparts, and the Government will keep both the conflict and the UK military contribution under close review. We expect all partners receiving UK assistance to comply fully with their obligations under international law, including in relation to the protection of civilians. We will continue to monitor and assess this as part of our ongoing engagement.

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