The UK agreed to provide additional defensive military support to Saudi Arabia after renewed Houthi attacks and escalating regional violence, the Ministry of Defence said in a press release published on 22 September 2026. Following a request from the Saudi government, the UK said it would send an RAF Voyager air-to-air refuelling aircraft to support Saudi defensive activity in support of the legitimate government of Yemen.

The ministry said the support builds on existing UK military contributions to Saudi air defence, including deployed air defence equipment and UK personnel helping protect against missile and drone attacks. It cited risks to the UK from Gulf tensions, including higher prices, disruption to energy supplies and extra costs for British businesses, and said it condemned the Houthi attacks while stating that Saudi Arabia and Yemen have the right to defend themselves.

The release described Saudi Arabia and Yemen as long-standing UK partners and said protecting regional stability, trade and energy supplies and encouraging a diplomatic resolution to the Yemen conflict served UK interests. The planned deployment was reported on that date.