Saudi Arabia has formally requested military assistance from the United Kingdom following a series of Houthi attacks on its strategic facilities. The kingdom’s authorities have expressed deep concern about the ongoing offensive, which threatens critical infrastructure along the Red Sea coast.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is reportedly considering the possibility of providing operational support to Saudi forces to counter Houthi offensives near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Riyadh has made an official request for the UK to assist in repelling attacks targeting its oil infrastructure, but London has yet to confirm a formal response.
The crisis has compounded Prime Minister Burnham’s foreign policy and economic challenges ahead of his government’s first budget presentation. Recent Houthi strikes on the “East-West” oil pipeline have caused global Brent crude prices to surge nearly to $110 per barrel. British officials privately warned that loss of control over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait could trigger a severe disruption in global shipping and accelerate inflation.
Houthi forces have established control over much of Yemen’s Red Sea coastline and are very close to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Reports from September 10 indicate that Saudi aircraft conducted two strikes at Moha International Airport in Taiz province, Yemen, as part of a broader offensive by Houthi forces. In total, 18 attacks were recorded in the region, with targets including districts such as Mauza, Makbana, and Mocha Junction.
Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a representative of the Houthi political wing, stated that the movement aims to restore Yemen’s sovereignty rather than annex new territories.
