RAF Typhoons to defend Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks

The UK will use RAF Typhoon fighter jets to help defend Saudi cities and critical infrastructure against Houthi aerial attacks, expanding its military support to Riyadh under measures announced on 20 October 2026.

The Ministry of Defence said the fighters would fly defensive counter-air missions and would not conduct offensive strikes against the Houthis. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said their role would include helping protect Saudi airspace from drones and missiles.

The package also includes an RAF A400M transport aircraft to move defence materiel within Saudi Arabia, alongside British military advisers to support Saudi staff officers. It builds on existing UK air-defence equipment deployed to help protect the kingdom against missile and drone attacks.

Britain will also extend air-to-air refuelling support for Saudi air operations. The ministry described those operations as defensive but explicitly included action against Houthi military targets in Yemen that threaten Saudi and Yemeni people.

That gives the package two distinct roles: RAF fighters will help defend Saudi Arabia from aerial attack, while British refuelling support will also assist Saudi operations against targets inside Yemen. The restriction on offensive strikes applies specifically to the Typhoons described in the announcement.

“RAF Typhoons will fly defensive air missions to help protect Saudi airspace from drones and missiles,” Streeting said.

The ministry cited escalating Houthi attacks and condemned the targeting of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. Streeting singled out the airport attack as evidence of the group’s escalation.

London linked the additional support to Britain’s economic and security interests, warning that violence in the Gulf could disrupt energy supplies, increase business costs and push up the cost of living. It also said the escalation was worsening Yemen’s humanitarian crisis.

The announcement did not specify how many Typhoons would take part, where they would operate from, when the missions would begin or how long the additional support would last.