Iran must stop arming Houthis in Yemen, G7 says ahead of UN General Assembly

Saudi Arabia has retaliated with hundreds of air strikes in the region.

The Houthis have also launched hundreds of drones and missiles at cities and infrastructure in south-western Saudi Arabia, including the capital city, Riyadh.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said the UK will provide “defensive air-to-air refuelling” support for Saudi Arabia, involving a single British aircraft, a Voyager, based out of RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.

Burnham said the announcement followed a request from Saudi Arabia for “military support”, which he agreed to on the advice of Defence Secretary Wes Streeting and Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has also requested military support from President Donald Trump, US media reported.

Trump has wavered for weeks over whether to act on a Saudi request for help in fighting the Houthis, the New York Times reported on Monday.

The US president had earlier told Fox News that he was in “deciding mode” as he considered options for the next steps in the war against Iran.

On Sunday, US embassies across the Middle East issued new security alerts as fighting between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed coalition in Yemen intensified.

The Houthis declare themselves to be part of the Iranian-led “axis of resistance” against Israel, the US and the wider West – along with armed group such as Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement.

Tehran has previously denied supplying weapons to the Houthis and says it only supports them politically.