Defensive air-to-air refuelling involves one military aircraft supplying fuel to another aircraft while both are airborne. This allows military aircraft to remain in the air for longer periods without repeatedly returning to an airbase to refuel.
A civil war has been ongoing in Yemen between the internationally recognised Yemeni government and Houthi fighters. Saudi Arabia supports the Yemeni government in the conflict.
In recent days, the Houthis have claimed that they launched drone and ballistic missile attacks against energy facilities in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, and areas along the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia has also alleged that Houthi fighters attempted to attack the holy city of Mecca. According to Saudi Arabia, its air-defence systems intercepted and destroyed the Houthi attacks on the outskirts of Mecca.
The alleged attack was criticised by several Muslim countries and leaders. However, the Houthi group and its supporters rejected Saudi Arabia’s allegation as false. Thousands of Houthi supporters also staged protests in Yemen against Saudi Arabia.
Earlier, in January 2024, Britain joined the United States in carrying out airstrikes against Houthi positions across Yemen. At the time, then-British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Britain had acted “in self-defence” after ships were targeted. One of the vessels involved was a Royal Navy warship.
The conflict involving the Houthis subsequently remained relatively quiet for some time. However, tensions have risen again in recent weeks. The Houthis have strengthened their position in several parts of Yemen, including areas around important shipping routes through the Red Sea that are vital to global trade and the economy.
The Houthis recently seized the strategically important Red Sea port city of Mokha and Perim Island. Perim Island lies at the entrance to the Red Sea and forms part of an important shipping route used by Saudi Arabia.
Houthi fighters have launched surprise attacks that forced government forces to retreat from several locations. They have taken control of almost the entire Red Sea coastline of Yemen, including the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a crucial maritime route for international shipping.
The Bab al-Mandeb route has become even more important amid concerns that the Strait of Hormuz could remain almost completely closed or that shipping through it could be severely affected following Israeli and US attacks on Iran.
Saudi Arabia also relies on the maritime route for much of its energy trade. The Houthi control of the area has therefore increased Saudi concerns.
The Houthis had already taken control of most of Yemen’s densely populated areas several years ago. This month, they advanced rapidly along Yemen’s coast towards Bab al-Mandeb.
According to a United Nations estimate, more than 100,000 people have been displaced in recent days after fighting suddenly intensified along Yemen’s Red Sea coast.
The United Nations-mediated ceasefire between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, reached in 2022, was already fragile and has completely broken down in recent months. Both sides are now using missiles, drones and airstrikes.
Saudi Arabia supports Yemen’s internationally recognised government and has carried out hundreds of airstrikes in the flat coastal region.
The Houthis, meanwhile, have been strengthening their position in the area. They have also launched hundreds of drones and missiles at cities and infrastructure in southwestern Saudi Arabia.
The conflict has also increased the strategic importance of Djibouti, a small African country located on the opposite side of the Red Sea. Djibouti sits directly across from Bab al-Mandeb.
Djibouti is among the countries with the highest number of military bases in the world. It was once a French colony.
Since 2003, the United States has operated a major military base there, with military forces from several countries also present. China also has a major military base in Djibouti, representing its largest military presence in the Indian Ocean region. The facility has recently been upgraded.
Djibouti, however, has made clear that it has no intention of becoming involved in the war between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government.
The Houthis are an armed group belonging to Yemen’s minority Shia Zaydi community. The group was formed in the 1990s to fight what it alleged was corruption under then-President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
The group was named after its founder, Hussein al-Houthi. The Houthis also refer to themselves as “Ansar Allah”, meaning “Supporters of God”.
During the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, Houthi rebels adopted a slogan that included chants against the United States and Israel and called for the victory of Islam.
The Houthis have described themselves as part of Iran’s so-called “Axis of Resistance”, alongside Hamas and Hezbollah. The group opposes Israel, the United States and Western countries.
The Houthis also describe themselves as an ally of Iran. Saudi Arabia is a common opponent of both.
The Houthis have repeatedly faced allegations of receiving weapons from Iran. The United States and Saudi Arabia have accused Iran of supplying ballistic missiles to the Houthi rebels.
Saudi Arabia has also accused Iran of providing the Houthis with cruise missiles and drones.
Large parts of Yemen’s population live in areas controlled by the Houthi rebels. The organisation collects taxes in northern Yemen and has also issued its own currency.
Houthi rebels have also drawn inspiration from Lebanon’s armed Shia group Hezbollah. According to the US research institute Combating Terrorism Center, Hezbollah has provided the Houthis with extensive military training and expertise since 2014.
At the beginning of 2014, the Houthis had become politically powerful in Yemen. They then launched an uprising against President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, who had succeeded Ali Abdullah Saleh as president.
The Houthis reached an agreement with their former rival Saleh and sought to return him to power.
The Houthis took control of Yemen’s northern Saada province before capturing the capital, Sanaa, in early 2015.
President Hadi subsequently left Yemen and went abroad.
Saudi Arabia, which borders Yemen, then intervened militarily. It sought to remove the Houthis from power and restore Hadi to the presidency. The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain also supported Saudi Arabia in the campaign.
The Houthi rebels resisted the attacks and retained control over large parts of Yemen.
In 2017, the Houthis killed Ali Abdullah Saleh after he broke his alliance with the group and attempted to align himself with Saudi Arabia.
The latest British decision to provide defensive air-to-air refuelling support comes against this backdrop of renewed fighting, intensified Houthi attacks and growing concerns over strategic Red Sea shipping routes and Saudi Arabia’s security.
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