The UK will deploy an RAF midair refueling aircraft to support Saudi Arabia as it wages a war against Ansar Allah in Yemen.
“Following a request from the Saudi Arabian Government, the UK has agreed to provide an RAF Voyager air-to-air refueling aircraft to support Saudi defensive activity in support of the legitimate government of Yemen,” a statement released by the UK government on Tuesday explained.
It continued, “The support builds on the UK’s existing military contribution to Saudi Arabia’s air defense, including the deployment of air defense equipment and UK personnel helping to protect against missile and drone attacks.”
While the Saudi-backed government in Yemen is internationally recognized, Ansar Allah has controlled Yemen’s capital city and most populated areas of the country for a decade.
In July, Saudi Arabia and the forces it supports in Yemen twice attacked the Sanaa airport. Ansar Allah argued the attacks were a violation of the 2022 ceasefire and imposed a blockade of Saudi shipping in the Red Sea, targeted Saudi Arabia with missiles and drones, and went on an offensive against Saudi-backed forces in Yemen.
Ansar Allah has seized significant territory from Saudi-backed forces and caused major disruptions to the kingdom’s energy infrastructure.
Saudi Arabia has twice asked President Donald Trump to take direct action against Ansar Allah, but the President has so far decided against strikes. The New York Times reported that, on Wednesday, Trump met with military advisers to discuss strikes on Ansar Allah. The week before, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called the President to request that the US directly intervene in Yemen as Ansar Allah was taking swaths of territory, including the Red Sea coastline, from Saudi-backed forces.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the President decided not to authorize strikes. However, bin Salman made a second appeal to Trump. The President appeared to change his mind and ordered the Pentagon to prepare for war with Yemen.
According to the Times’ accounting, Trump changed direction again on Sunday and elected to hold off on strikes. The President’s decision came so late that target lists had been approved and bombs were already loaded on the planes.
A senior administration official told the outlet that most members of Trump’s inner circle are “deeply skeptical or outright opposed” to attacking Ansar Allah. Current and former officials do not believe that limited US strikes against Ansar Allah will change the situation on the ground.
One particular concern is that even if the US strikes Ansar Allah targets, the Saudi and UAE-backed forces in Yemen are ill-equipped to exploit the American support.
Trump ordered strikes on Ansar Allah in March of 2025 in response to a blockade of Israeli shipping. The US conducted a major, weeks-long bombing campaign in Yemen. After Ansar Allah nearly hit a US aircraft carrier, the two sides agreed to a ceasefire that notably did not include lifting the blockade against Israel.
The blockade of Israeli shipping was later lifted when Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire in October 2025. Ansar Allah would impose a blockade against Saudi shipping once fighting reignited in July.
Following the outbreak of fighting in Yemen, Ansar Allah has met with US officials and expressed that the group is committed to the ceasefire with the US. Additionally, US officials say Ansar Allah pledged that it would only enforce a blockade against Saudi Arabia, but not completely close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. However, US officials are concerned that the group will close the narrow chokepoint if American planes begin bombing Yemen.
On Sunday, Fox News’ Trey Yingst said Trump told him that the US remains in “constant” communication with Ansar Allah.
Turkey has also expressed interest in supporting Saudi Arabia under the trilateral defense pact signed by Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia earlier this year. Pakistan has so far stopped short of pledging direct military involvement.
Additionally, the Foreign Ministers of the G7 states, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, the US, and the EU High Representative, issued a joint statement on Tuesday that condemned Ansar Allah and expressed “full solidarity” with Saudi Arabia but stopped short of any pledges to provide military support.
