UK Prime Minister Burnham is weighing Saudi requests for diplomatic and military
aid, including operational support to counter Houthi advances along Yemen’s Red
Sea coast toward the Bab al‑Mandeb and to defend Saudi oil infrastructure; he
has not yet decided. UK officials warned Houthi control of the Bab al‑Mandeb
would be catastrophic for international shipping and could oil lift prices and
inflation. London said the East–West oil pipeline might take up to six weeks to
restore; Burnham has approved sending UK military advisers to support Saudi
operations. A government spokesman said the UK will work with partners to
support regional stability, and Foreign Secretary Miliband reiterated firm
support for Saudi Arabia and the internationally recognized Yemeni government.
