UK to deploy fighter jets to defend Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks

The United Kingdom said Tuesday it will deploy fighter jets to defend Saudi Arabia against attacks by the Iran-allied Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The UK will fly “defensive counter-air missions” using Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets to protect Saudi cities and critical infrastructure, the defense ministry said in a statement.

Over the past month, the Houthis have intensified their targets on Saudi Arabia, launching ballistic missiles and drones at key infrastructure, including oil facilities and airports, in response to the kingdom’s support for the Yemeni government.

“The continuing attacks from the Houthis on our ally Saudi Arabia are absolutely despicable,” UK Defense Secretary Wes Streeting said in the statement. “The targeting of the airport in Riyadh in particular shows the lengths the Houthis are going to escalate the situation in the region.”

“This builds on the UK equipment and personnel we already have in the country to defend against Houthi air attacks,” he added.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

英国周二表示，将部署战斗机保卫沙特阿拉伯，抵御也门胡塞武装（伊朗支持的武装组织）的袭击。

英国国防部在一份声明中表示，英国将使用皇家空军的台风战斗机执行“防御性反空袭任务”，以保护沙特阿拉伯的城市和关键基础设施。

过去一个月，胡塞武装加大了对沙特阿拉伯的袭击力度，向包括石油设施和机场在内的重要基础设施发射弹道导弹和无人机，以报复沙特王国对也门政府的支持。

英国国防大臣韦斯·斯特里廷在声明中表示：“胡塞武装持续袭击我们的盟友沙特阿拉伯，这种行为令人发指。特别是袭击利雅得机场，表明胡塞武装为升级地区局势不择手段。”

“这建立在英国已经部署在该国的装备和人员之上，用于防御胡塞武装的空袭，”他补充道。

这是一则正在更新的新闻。