Britain is considering additional military assistance for Saudi Arabia, including defensive support and help identifying Houthi targets, while British military advisers have been sent to assess options. The move follows a sharp escalation in Yemen and a series of Houthi attacks on Saudi civilian and energy infrastructure.
Riyadh has also sought wider intelligence and security cooperation as it tries to contain the threat. Accounts of Saudi contact with Israel have centred on intelligence coordination facilitated through the United States Central Command, although neither Saudi Arabia nor Israel has publicly announced a bilateral security arrangement. Any such cooperation would be politically sensitive because the two countries do not have formal diplomatic relations.
The immediate pressure has increased as Houthi forces expanded along Yemen’s western coast, capturing the port of Mocha and taking positions on islands close to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. United Nations officials said on Monday that the situation around the strait had become increasingly volatile, with the Houthis reportedly capturing several islands in the southern Red Sea.
The UN said commercial shipping through the Red Sea appeared to remain unaffected for the time being, but warned that the Houthi advance had added to market concerns at a time when traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is also disrupted.
Saudi Arabia’s security concerns were reinforced on Tuesday when its forces intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered restricted airspace over the holy city, according to the Saudi-led coalition. Coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki said the safety of Mecca was a “red line” and warned that deterrent measures would be taken.
The Houthis denied targeting Mecca or other religious sites, while continuing to claim attacks on Saudi military and energy targets. Saudi authorities have accused the group of striking Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran earlier this month, saying 73 civilians, including women and children, were injured.
Britain has publicly condemned the Houthi attacks and said Saudi Arabia and Yemen have the right to defend their security and sovereignty in accordance with international law. Foreign Secretary Edward Miliband reiterated Britain’s solidarity with Riyadh in a telephone call with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Saturday, with both sides discussing efforts to protect shipping and global supply chains.
The United Kingdom is already involved in maritime security initiatives around Yemen. Its Yemen Maritime Security Partnership brings together Saudi Arabia, the United States, Yemen’s internationally recognised government, Japan and the European Union to strengthen the Yemeni Coast Guard, disrupt weapons smuggling and protect freedom of navigation. Britain has committed $4 million to the initiative, which has attracted more than $20 million in international pledges. The partnership has engaged more than 35 international partners to strengthen security along Yemen’s coastline and across the Red Sea.
Washington has separately agreed to provide Saudi Arabia with intelligence and targeting support after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sought direct American military help against the Houthis. President Donald Trump declined to authorise US strikes, but US Central Command has remained engaged with Saudi officials.
The Houthi advance has strategic implications beyond Saudi territory. Bab el-Mandeb links the Gulf of Aden with the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, making it a key passage for energy cargoes and container shipping. Control of positions overlooking the strait could give the Houthis greater ability to threaten vessels or impose restrictions on Saudi-linked shipping.
The Saudi government has accused Iran of sustaining the Houthis with military support, a charge Tehran has rejected while denying that it directs the group’s operations. Britain told the UN Security Council that Iran’s long-standing support for the Houthis was contributing to instability and called for tighter implementation of the arms embargo on Yemen.
The renewed fighting has also worsened Yemen’s humanitarian emergency. The UN refugee agency said more than 100,000 people had been displaced internally, while thousands more had fled by sea to Djibouti as clashes spread across several fronts.
