Stories
Britain Bowed to Saudi Threat, Now Supports Against Houthis
N
News18•23-09-2026, 09:28
Britain Bowed to Saudi Threat, Now Supports Against Houthis
- •Britain will provide defensive military assistance to Saudi Arabia against the Houthis, including air-to-air refueling.
- •This aid will allow Saudi ships to stay airborne longer and intensify operations against the Houthis.
- •The Al-Yamamah deal was the largest arms agreement between Britain and Saudi Arabia, brokered by BAE Systems.
- •The deal was embroiled in a bribery scandal involving over 60,000 crore rupees, implicating BAE and the Saudi royal family.
- •Britain halted the bribery investigation after Saudi threats, a decision ordered by then-PM Tony Blair citing national security.
Key Questions Answered
Britain has assured defensive military assistance by providing air-to-air refueling support, enabling British military aircraft to refuel Saudi fighter jets in the air so they can stay aloft longer and intensify operations against the Houthis.
Al-Yamamah was the largest arms deal ever between Britain and Saudi Arabia, reached in 1985 and signed in 1988, under which Britain agreed to supply Tornado, Hawk, and Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft through BAE Systems.
Then-Attorney General Lord Goldsmith informed the House of Lords that the investigation had been stopped after Saudi Arabia threatened to cut off counter-terrorism intelligence and warned that British citizens would face danger on British streets.
