00:00UK is deploying fighter jets to Saudi Arabia to help defend the kingdom against missile and drone attacks by Iran
00:07-backed Houthi rebels.
00:08The Defence Ministry says Royal Air Force Typhoon jets will help protect Saudi cities and critical infrastructure amid escalating attacks.
00:17The move by the UK would mark one of the strongest showings of support for the Saudis to date.
00:24The statement stressed that the deployment is strictly defensive, with British jets not taking part in offensive strikes against the
00:32Houthis.
00:33The UK will also send an additional aircraft to help transport defence equipment within Saudi Arabia, along with military advisers
00:41to support Saudi forces.
00:43The deployment marks an expansion of Britain's military support for Riyadh.
00:47In September, Prime Minister Andy Burnham agreed to send an RAF Voyager aircraft to support Saudi operations, but its role
00:55was limited to air-to-air refilling.
00:58The latest move goes further, putting British fighter jets directly into Saudi Arabia's air defence operations.
01:04The British government also condemned the Houthi attacks, saying they were deepening Yemen's humanitarian crisis.
01:10It also warned that escalating violence in the Gulf could disrupt energy supplies, driving up living costs and hurt British
01:18businesses.
