UK agrees support for Saudi in struggle with Houthis: reports

AI Summary

The UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has agreed to provide defensive military support to Saudi Arabia against attacks by Iran-backed Houthis. This includes offering air-to-air refueling to Saudi jets but excludes direct involvement in strikes against the Houthi forces.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has agreed to give military support to Saudi Arabia to help it tackle attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis, media reports said on Monday. British planes will provide "defensive" air-to-air refuelling for Saudi jets, he told reporters as he travelled to the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The UK mission will be limited to supporting Saudi aircraft defending the country from attack from drones and missiles rather than supporting strikes against the Houthis, the PA news agency reported.