WW1 to Houthis: British jets for Saudi Arabia build on long military bond
The UK has announced the deployment of Royal Air Force Typhoon jets to assist Saudi Arabia in defending against Houthi missile and drone attacks. This move reinforces a long-standing military partnership between the two nations that dates back over a century.
Why it matters
The deployment highlights the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the UK's continued strategic military involvement in the region.
The UK’s deployment of jets to defend Saudi Arabia is the latest chapter in a military relationship older than the kingdom itself.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info An RAF Typhoon aircraft, seen here being prepared for operations across the Middle East, at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus [Sgt Lee Goddard/ Handout/MoD Crown Copyright via Getty] By Nils Adler Published On 21 Oct 2026 21 Oct 2026 The United Kingdom has announced it will deploy Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets to help defend Saudi Arabia from missile and drone attacks by Yemen’s Houthis, the armed group also known as Ansar Allah (Arabic for Supporters of God).
The jets will play a “defensive role”, the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in a statement on Tuesday, adding that they will not carry out attacks against the Iranian-backed armed group.
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