According to a Bloomberg report, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham is leaning toward granting operational military support to Saudi Arabia in its campaign against the Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen. The support may include aerial refueling, and Burnham plans to urge other countries to provide similar assistance. The move follows a Saudi request for aid and earlier reports that Britain was expected to offer support.
According to a Bloomberg report published late Monday, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is leaning toward providing operational military support to Saudi Arabia in its campaign against the Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen. The support could include aerial refueling, and Burnham is expected to call on other nations to contribute similar assistance, the report said.
As The Zioneer reported earlier Monday, Britain was expected to provide operational support to the Saudi military. The development follows a formal Saudi request for diplomatic and military aid from the UK, first reported by The Zioneer on September 15. Burnham, who became prime minister in July after the resignation of Keir Starmer, has taken a more assertive stance on foreign policy.
The Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, have escalated attacks on Saudi territory in recent months. The exact scope of the proposed British support and the level of participation from other countries remain unconfirmed.
3 developments
- StrongBloomberg: Saudi Arabia requests UK diplomatic and military aid against Houthis
- StrongBritain agrees to provide defensive military aid to Saudi Arabia against Houthi strikes
- ConfirmedSaudi Arabia reportedly preparing large-scale military operation against Houthis in Yemen
- StrongUS reportedly provides military support to Saudi Arabia in offensive against Houthis
Source and signal
- Open-source intake