UK troops stationed in Saudi Arabia with missiles to defend against Houthi drone and rocket attacks
The Independent
Britain has troops stationed in Saudi Arabia to provide air defence against possible drone and missile attacks by Houthi rebels, at a time of growing concern about the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
The Independent understands that a unit of around 50 gunners from 12 Regiment Royal Artillery are deployed at a base near Riyadh, as well as well as number of oil installations, in a bilateral defence arrangement with Saudi Arabia, which has led a military alliance against the Houthis in Yemen.
The move has taken place under Operation Crossways, a mission to train Saudi armed forces. The British contingent’s weaponry is said to include the Starstreak High Velocity Missile (HVM) system, mounted on Stormer armoured vehicles. The missiles travel at three times the speed of sound with multiple warheads. A 12 Regiment document on current deployments states: “Operation Crossways (Saudi Arabia) deployed with High Velocity Self Propelled [missiles] to defend our allies from modern attack UAVs [drones].”
The US, UK and a number of other Western states are engaged in prolonged military action against the Iranian-backed Houthis, who have been targeting commercial shipping in the Gulf in retaliation for the Israeli offensive in Gaza which, according to the Hamas-affiliated Palestinian health authority, has claimed 28,000 lives so far.
The Royal Navy frigate, HMS Richmond, took over last week from HMS Diamond in the American-led Operation Prosperity Guardian, which seeks to protect ships in the Red Sea. RAF Typhoon fighters have taken part in raids on Yemen from their base at Akrotiri in Cyprus.
The Houthi leadership has repeatedly threatened to enlarge their actions, and strikes on vessels in the Red Sea have continued, adding hugely to the cost of shipping, with vessels increasingly going around Africa instead of using the Suez Canal. Western security officials have warned that the Houthi leadership appears intent on broadening the conflict.
The initial Royal Artillery deployment in Saudi Arabia took place four years ago. Two Giraffe radars sent at the time were brought back a year later.
