RAF Typhoon fighter jets will fly defensive patrols over Saudi Arabia's cities and key infrastructure to help shoot down missiles and drones launched by Yemen's Houthis, The Guardian reports.
The paper describes it as the most significant military operation approved by Andy Burnham since he became prime minister. Alongside the jets, the UK will send an Atlas A400M heavy transport aircraft and military advisers, adding to an existing pledge of air-to-air refuelling for Saudi fighters from an RAF Voyager tanker.
The Iran-aligned Houthis launched an offensive in September that has grown into a wider regional conflict, including strikes on Saudi airports and oil sites. Earlier this month a missile hit King Khalid international airport in Riyadh, killing 13 people in the deadliest single attack of a war that has claimed 19 lives in Saudi Arabia. A written statement to Parliament is expected.
Source: The Guardian
