UK sends Typhoon jets to defend Saudi Arabia as Türkiye moves to ratify Makkah pact with Pakistan
RAF fighters will fly defensive missions against Houthi drones and missiles, while Ankara has sent the Pakistan–Saudi Arabia–Türkiye defence agreement to parliament. Saudi Arabia's allies are lining up behind it.
At a glance
- The UK Ministry of Defence said on October 20 that RAF Typhoon fighter jets will fly 'defensive counter air missions' to protect Saudi cities and infrastructure from Houthi drones and missiles.
- The jets will not attack the Houthis; Britain is also extending air-to-air refuelling support for Saudi operations.
- Türkiye has sent the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to parliament for ratification, parliamentary sources said.
- Pakistan says it is already giving Saudi Arabia military support, and Egypt's parliament votes on October 26 on allowing military help.
Saudi Arabia's allies are moving to defend the kingdom as Yemen's Houthis step up missile and drone attacks. Britain is sending RAF Typhoon fighter jets to help protect Saudi skies, and Türkiye has begun ratifying the Makkah defence pact it signed with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
Britain's deployment
| Announced | Tuesday, October 20, 2026, by the UK Ministry of Defence |
| Aircraft | RAF Typhoon fighter jets (number not disclosed) |
| Mission | "Defensive counter air missions" to protect Saudi cities, critical infrastructure and airspace |
| Targets | Incoming drones and missiles — the jets will not attack the Houthis |
| Extra support | Air-to-air refuelling for Saudi air operations |
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting called the Houthi attacks on "our ally Saudi Arabia" "absolutely despicable" and said the Typhoons "will fly defensive air missions to help protect Saudi airspace from drones and missiles". Rising energy prices were part of the reason for the decision. Britain and Saudi Arabia have deep military ties, and the Royal Saudi Air Force itself flies Typhoons bought from the UK.
Türkiye moves to ratify the Makkah pact
Three parliamentary sources said Türkiye sent the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement — the collective-defence pact with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed in August — to parliament on October 20. Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş is expected to refer it to the foreign affairs commission after returning from a trip abroad.
Pakistan's military spokesman said this week that under the pact, an attack on any of the three members would bring a "collective response", and that Pakistan is already providing Saudi Arabia with military support.
Who is backing Saudi Arabia
| Country | Support |
|---|---|
| Pakistan | Military support under the Makkah pact (details not disclosed) |
| Türkiye | Pact sent to parliament for ratification |
| United Kingdom | RAF Typhoons for defensive missions; air refuelling |
| Egypt | Parliament votes October 26 on authorising defence help |
The attacks
Houthi strikes on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport killed 13 people this month, and the group claims attacks on Saudi Aramco sites and other targets. Saudi Arabia has postponed its FII investment conference and major sporting events. A Saudi-led coalition is carrying out air strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen, where a Houthi missile strike killed dozens of recruits in Shabwa on Monday.
Why it matters
The growing list of countries committing forces risks widening the conflict, which is tied to the larger confrontation between Iran and the US and Israel. For Pakistan, the pact deepens its commitment to Saudi Arabia — home to millions of Pakistani workers — even as it mediates between Washington and Tehran.
What happens next
The Typhoons are expected to begin operations soon. Watch for Türkiye's parliamentary vote, Egypt's decision on October 26, and whether the Houthis respond by targeting the forces now defending Saudi Arabia.
Questions people are asking
Is the UK sending fighter jets to Saudi Arabia?
Yes. The UK said on October 20, 2026, that RAF Typhoon jets will fly defensive air missions to protect Saudi cities, infrastructure and airspace from Houthi drones and missiles. They will not carry out attacks on the Houthis.
Has Türkiye ratified the Makkah defence pact?
Not yet. Ankara sent the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to parliament for ratification on October 20, 2026; it is expected to go to the foreign affairs commission first.
Which countries are helping defend Saudi Arabia?
Pakistan and Türkiye under the Makkah pact, the UK with RAF Typhoon jets, and possibly Egypt, whose parliament votes on October 26 on authorising military support.
