Saudi Arabia has asked Britain and other allies for missile-defence support as fighting with Houthi forces intensifies in Yemen and the United States faces dwindling stocks of interceptors.
France, Pakistan, Egypt and the UK have been asked to deploy air-defence assistance, according to two officials. Saudi Arabia’s main ally and arms supplier, the US, has also seen its supply of interceptors fall during the war with Iran, one official said.
US backs Yemen government as talks continue
Washington reiterated its support for Yemen’s internationally recognised government on Wednesday, while US officials held direct talks with Houthi representatives in Oman last weekend.
The meeting took place at the US embassy in Muscat with help from the Omani government, according to sources. The Houthis told American officials they did not intend to attack US vessels and remained committed to a 2025 ceasefire with the US, the sources said.
Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for US Central Command, said the military was “closely monitoring” the situation between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed government.
He added that the US had a longstanding “military relationship with our Saudi partners, and you see that manifesting today”.
Neil Hop, the top US diplomat for Yemen, separately told Foreign Minister Afrah al-Zouba that Washington maintained its “strong support” for Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
The US embassy in Yemen said the United States “stands in solidarity with the Yemen government and its people against Iran-backed Houthi aggression”.
Fighting reported around Mocha and Marib
Yemeni government forces said the Saudi-led coalition had attacked Houthi positions and equipment around the south-western port city of Mocha. Government forces also reported drone strikes against Houthi targets in northern Marib province.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said Saudi warplanes had carried out 40 air strikes on Taiz, Marib and Hodeidah over the previous 24 hours. The Houthis said they had responded by targeting Khamis Mushait airbase and an oil facility in Yanbu, on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast.
The group also claimed to have shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet over Marib using a “locally made surface-to-air missile”. The claim has not been independently verified.
Houthi forces’ reported downing of Saudi aircraft could alter the balance of power, according to Al Jazeera’s Yemen correspondent, as Saudi Arabia relies heavily on air strikes against Houthi positions.
