Britain has agreed to provide Saudi Arabia with limited military support as Houthi attacks intensify across the region.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said a Royal Air Force aircraft would provide aerial refuelling for Saudi planes conducting defensive operations.

Burnham announced the decision while travelling to New York for the United Nations General Assembly. He described the assistance as defensive and said it followed a request from Saudi Arabia.

The deployment does not, on the information currently available, amount to a commitment of British aircraft to conduct direct strikes in Yemen. Aerial refuelling can nevertheless extend the distance or duration that Saudi military planes are able to operate.

That distinction is likely to receive close examination from Parliament, international law specialists and organisations monitoring civilian casualties.

The decision follows Houthi attacks against Saudi territory, shipping and energy facilities.

Saudi Arabia is a major global oil exporter. Damage to production sites or sustained interference with shipping could affect international energy prices and supply chains.

The Houthis have also declared a blockade affecting Saudi shipping in the Bab el Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea.

The Bab el Mandeb is a narrow passage connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Approximately 12 per cent of world trade normally moves through the route, making it an important link between Asia, Europe and the Mediterranean.

Britain has longstanding defence and commercial relationships with Saudi Arabia. Earlier in 2026, the British government deployed additional aircraft, helicopters, military specialists and the warship HMS Dragon as regional conflict intensified.

British officials have said their defensive cooperation is intended to protect civilians and critical infrastructure. Critics of UK involvement are expected to seek assurances about how the aircraft will be used and whether support could connect Britain more deeply to the conflict.

Saudi Arabia led a coalition that entered Yemen’s war in 2015 after Houthi fighters forced the internationally recognised government from the capital.

Airstrikes, ground fighting and restrictions on trade contributed to extensive civilian suffering. All parties to the conflict have faced allegations involving breaches of international humanitarian law.

The latest British decision comes as civilians again flee contested areas of Yemen and concerns grow that regional hostilities could widen.

The government will face pressure to disclose the mission’s legal basis, operational restrictions, expected duration and measures intended to prevent civilian harm.

Military support may be described as limited, but aerial refuelling is an operational contribution. Its consequences will depend on which aircraft receive assistance and how the supported missions are conducted.