Andy Burnham said the UK will provide Saudi Arabia with defensive air-to-air refuelling support following attacks by Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen.

The support is expected to begin within days and initially involve one RAF Voyager aircraft based at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.

The UK government described the assistance as time-limited and said it was agreed after a Saudi request for military support.

The Houthis have recently targeted Riyadh and energy sites with drones and ballistic missiles, raising concerns about disruptions to vital Red Sea shipping routes, the BBC has reported.

The UK previously joined the US in airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen in 2024, while officials have indicated that further European support for Saudi Arabia may be possible.