Britain will refuel Saudi jets defending against Houthi missiles and drones. Standing by an ally and a vital trade route, or a step back into Yemen's war?
An RAF Voyager tanker flying from Cyprus will support Saudi aircraft on defensive missions only, not strikes, for "a matter of weeks". Prime Minister Andy Burnham agreed after a Houthi missile attack on Riyadh and a Houthi push along Yemen's Red Sea coast, a route that carries about 12% of global trade.
What happened
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has agreed to a Saudi request for military help against the Iran-backed Houthis. A single RAF Voyager tanker, flying from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, will refuel Saudi aircraft on defensive missions against drones and missiles, not strikes on the Houthis, for "a matter of weeks" and under review. It follows a Houthi missile attack on Riyadh and a Houthi offensive along Yemen's Red Sea coast towards the Bab al-Mandab strait, which carries about 12% of global trade.
Why people disagree
Supporters say the Houthis now threaten a key shipping route and a long-standing partner, and a limited, defensive-only mission protects UK interests without joining the fighting. Critics point to Britain's controversial backing for the Saudi-led war in Yemen since 2015, in which more than 150,000 people died, and fear mission creep. Others argue one tanker, when Saudi Arabia has its own, is more a political signal than real help.
What's still unclear
Whether the mission stays defensive and ends within weeks, whether Parliament gets a say if it grows, whether Saudi forces can halt the Houthi advance, and what it means for Yemen's humanitarian crisis, with more than 130,000 people already displaced.
Sources
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