WASHINGTON (October 20, 2026) – The United Kingdom will provide military support to Saudi Arabia, as the country navigates ongoing attacks from Houthi rebels. The Houthis, a Yemeni military group, have launched a series of drone strikes on Saudi targets, including airport attacks in the capital city of Riyadh.
U.K. Defense Secretary Wes Streeting said the Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets will fly defensive air missions to help protect Saudi airspace from drones and missiles. He also stated that the fighter jets would operate only in a defensive role and would not conduct offensive strikes against the Houthis.
For more analysis on these developments, please consider Gordon Gray, Kuwait Professor of Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Affairs at the GW Elliott School of International Affairs. Gray worked for the U.S. government for 35 years. Gray’s public service included U.S. Ambassador to Tunisia from 2009-2012, Senior Advisory to the Ambassador in Iraq 2008-2009, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs from 2005- 2008. His other foreign assignments included Egypt (where he served as Deputy Chief of Mission from 2002 until 2005), Canada, Jordan, Pakistan, and Morocco, where he began his career as a Peace Corps volunteer.
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