UK to refuel Saudi jets amid conflict with Yemen's Houthis

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has agreed to give limited military support to Saudi Arabia as the Middle Eastern kingdom continues to face attacks from Yemen's Houthi rebels.

Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF) will provide "defensive" air-to-air refuelling for Saudi aircraft, Burham told reporters on Monday as he travelled to New York for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The prime minister said that the UK had "received a request" from Saudi Arabia for military support.

The British leader said he was "acting to secure the interests of Britain and the wider region, because of course Saudi Arabia has been experiencing attack, is looking at potential further disruption, and we need to keep those pathways [for oil] open."

Reports cited UK officials as saying that the agreement, which is likely to start within days, will be time-capped and could last for "weeks".

The mission would involve the use of the RAF's Voyager tanker and is in addition to the UK Sky Sabre air defence system which is already deployed in Saudi Arabia.

The UK mission will support Saudi jets in defending the country from drone and missile attacks rather than supporting strikes against the Iran -backed Houthis, the PA news agency reported.

Since 2015, Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition backing Yemen's internationally recognized government in its fight against the Houthis.