# Britain backs Saudi Arabia against Houthi rebels > The U.K. is deploying military aircraft to help Saudi Arabia fight Iran-backed Houthis threatening global energy supplies through the Red Sea. - Title: Britain backs Saudi Arabia against Houthi rebels · TIME - Summary: The U.K. is deploying military aircraft to help Saudi Arabia fight Iran-backed Houthis threatening global energy supplies through the Red Sea. Britain is… - Keywords: united kingdom, saudi arabia, houthis, yemen, red sea, military support, raf voyager, energy supply, bab el-mandeb, luke pollard, andy burnham, Britain - Source: TIME — https://time.com/article/2026/09/22/uk-military-saudi-arabia-support-yemen-iran-houthis-rebels-fight - Author: Tiago Ventura - Published: 2026-09-23T18:57:04+00:00 - Read time: 3 min - Topics: united kingdom, saudi arabia, houthis, yemen, red sea, military support, raf voyager, energy supply, bab el-mandeb, luke pollard, andy burnham ## Britain backs Saudi Arabia militarily The U.K. is providing military support to Saudi Arabia to help fight Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen and protect global energy supplies through the Red Sea. ## RAF Voyager to refuel Saudi jets Britain will deploy an RAF Voyager aircraft from Cyprus to provide air-to-air refueling for Saudi Typhoon jets, allowing them to stay airborne longer and strike more flexibly. ## Houthis threaten critical sea route Houthi rebels have captured Yemen's port city of Mokha and Perim Island, positioning themselves to control the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a chokepoint linking Asia and Europe. ## Shipping traffic already declining Vessel crossings through the Bab el-Mandeb dropped from 53 on July 15 to 34 on September 15, as shipping companies fear Houthi threats despite their claims the waterway will stay open. ## Oil rerouting through Red Sea Crude shipments through the Bab el-Mandeb surged from 5.6 million barrels per day in Q1 2026 to 8.1 million in Q2, as companies avoid the Strait of Hormuz amid Iran tensions. ## U.K. fuel prices already rising Petrol prices in Britain rose 9.1 pence per litre between July and August 2026, compared to just 0.3 pence the year before, driven by Middle East instability. ## Defense Minister cites cost of living British Defense Minister Luke Pollard said the deployment is purely defensive and aims to prevent further Red Sea escalation that could raise fuel prices and threaten national security. > ensure there's no further escalation in the Red Sea, which could further risk our fuel prices ## Prime Minister calls it time-limited Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the military assistance is a time-limited agreement that will be kept under review, framing it as action to secure British and regional interests. > time-limited agreement in terms of the assistance that we will provide, but we will keep it under review ## Century-old U.K.-Saudi alliance Britain and Saudi Arabia have been allies since 1927, when the U.K. recognized Saudi independence through the Treaty of Jeddah, solidifying the kingdom's boundaries. ## Britain armed Saudi campaign before The U.K. supported Saudi Arabia's military coalition against Houthis from 2015 to 2022, exporting £7.1 billion in arms during that period before the truce took hold. ## BAE Systems profits from alliance British defense contractor BAE Systems listed Saudi Arabia as its largest customer by sales in its air business, supplying Typhoon, Tornado, and Hawk aircraft plus support services. ## U.S. hesitates on direct strikes Trump reportedly considered striking Houthis but decided against it, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling the conflict very dangerous and complex while reaffirming U.S. support for Saudi Arabia. > If it comes down to it, the United States will always stand with Saudi Arabia and support them ## Other allies offer words, not weapons France, Pakistan, and Egypt condemned Houthi attacks but have not publicly announced new military support for Saudi Arabia, leaving Britain as the main Western military contributor. ## Saudi Arabia seeks broader alliances Saudi Arabia is strengthening bilateral security relationships beyond the U.S., including the Mecca Pact with Pakistan and Turkey signed in August, as it faces its worst security situation in years. ## Oil disruption ripples through economy Oil price spikes cascade through the global economy, raising costs for shipping, transportation, energy, and consumer goods, affecting inflation and living standards worldwide. ## Key takeaway Britain is sending air-to-air refueling support to Saudi Arabia to prevent Houthi control of a critical shipping chokepoint that could spike fuel prices worldwide.