British jets sent to Saudi Arabia after Houthi attacks, investment summit put off to 2027

Britain has announced it will deploy Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets to help defend Saudi Arabia after Yemen's Houthi rebels stepped up missile and drone attacks on the kingdom. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has approved the decision. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said in a statement on Tuesday that the jets would play a purely defensive role and would not be used to strike the Houthis.

The move follows attacks on Riyadh and on energy facilities in coastal areas. The Houthi rebels are fighting a civil war against the Saudi-backed, internationally recognized Yemeni government, having driven it out of the capital, Sanaa, in 2014.

Meanwhile, the Future Investment Initiative conference in Saudi Arabia has been postponed until next year. Known as the 'Davos in the Desert,' the conference has been held since 2017, and this edition was to mark its tenth anniversary. FII Institute CEO Dr Maha bint Mishari Al Saud said in a statement on Monday that new dates for 2027 would be announced soon. Senior executives from BlackRock, Alphabet and Goldman Sachs had been expected to attend.