Saudi Arabia: Houthi Attacks
Monday, 12 October 2026
Contributions
Private Notice Question
Asked by
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the implications of attacks by the Houthis on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on (1) stability in the Middle East and (2) global energy security; and what support they are extending to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con)
My Lords, I draw attention to my interest in the register as an adviser to the Arab Ambassadors Council.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Lord Wood of Anfield) (Lab)
My Lords, we meet again. We strongly condemn the recent Houthi attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. These attacks threaten regional stability, risk further escalation of the conflict and endanger critical transport and energy infrastructure. The UK stands in solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and offers its condolences to those affected. We remain in close contact with Saudi partners and international allies to support de-escalation, regional security and freedom of navigation.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con)
My Lords, bearing in mind the current restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab, what measures are the Government taking to ensure that the supply of arms to the Houthis, which primarily came from Iran, is being curbed? The United Kingdom played a central and pivotal role in curbing the supply of arms to the Houthi rebels. What is the current situation in that regard?
Lord Wood of Anfield (Lab)
The noble Lord raises an important question about the supply of munitions and other materials that make Houthi attacks possible and so damaging. As he will know, UN interdiction measures are in place. The UK has played an important co-operative part in those efforts and will continue to do so.
Lord Purvis of Tweed (LD)
My Lords, at the end of July, the self-described US War Secretary, Pete Hegseth, claimed that the US efforts last March in the attacks on the Houthis had removed the Houthis’ ability to disrupt navigation. That clearly is not the case. Indeed, the strategic missteps of the United States in the region have created greater concerns, including for UK national interests. It is in the UK’s national security interests that Yemen is not a breeding ground for further Houthi terrorism. That is why, under the previous Administration, the UK signed a partnership development with the recognised authorities in Yemen. In coming to office, the Labour Government have cut the funding for that development programme from £134 million to £86 million. Why is that development cut not against our national security interests?
Lord Wood of Anfield (Lab)
The noble Lord raises the broad point of co-operation with the legitimate recognised Yemeni Government. We are continuing to support them by working with the coastguard and other Yemeni authorities to try to assess, and provide support for countering, the threat from Houthi rebels. As the noble Lord will know, ODA has had its budget reduced. I am pleased to say that the support we provide across the piece remains strong, including humanitarian support. We have provided over £100 million this year in humanitarian support for the victims of the conflict in Yemen. To be clear, the responsibility for what is happening lies squarely with the Houthis. There was a de facto truce for three or four years from 2022. It is the Houthi re-escalation of this conflict in the early part of the summer that fundamentally led to both the humanitarian crisis and, as the noble Lord rightly pointed out, the wider security and instability problems that are inimical to our national interests.
Lord Redwood (Con)
When will the UK Government help our energy security by giving an answer on the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields? We need to do more to look after our supplies.
Lord Wood of Anfield (Lab)
I am struggling to find the connection between the noble Lord’s question and the matter at hand, but due process is continuing and the matter will be resolved in that way.
Lord Polak (Con)
My Lords, once again, Iran is behind the destruction and devastation in the Middle East. I remind noble Lords of the sarkha, the political slogan of the Houthis: “God is great, death to America, death to Israel, curse on the Jews, victory to Islam”. Is that not enough for them to be proscribed as a terrorist organisation?
Lord Wood of Anfield (Lab)
The noble Lord is right that Iran is the fundamental aider and abettor of the carnage caused by the Houthi re-escalation. Not only are we continuing to be tough on sanctioning organisations around the Iranian regime but we are also co-operating with the United Nations, as I said earlier, in interdiction of supply materials that support the Houthis’ military efforts. That is also why, following a request from the Saudi Arabian Government, we provided a RAF Voyager air-to-air refuelling aircraft to support Saudi defensive activity in support of the legitimate Government of Yemen, which is in the interests not only of the legitimate Government of Yemen but of regional stability and, frankly, global economic stability.
Lord Callanan (Con)
My Lords, today the Saudi Energy Minister has vowed a serious response to these attacks. The UK Government have rightly already promised support to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the form of an RAF Voyager aircraft. However, in the light of the latest attacks, can the Minister confirm that that level of support is now being reviewed?
Lord Wood of Anfield (Lab)
I thank the noble Lord for the question. The level of support is constantly being reviewed. We increased our support, as I said, with an air-to-air refuelling Voyager plane, in direct response to a request from the Saudis. We continue to listen to the Saudis in the light of the changing situation. This support comes on the back of continuing military contributions to Saudi Arabia’s air defence, including the deployment of air defence equipment for some time, and UK personnel helping to protect against missile and drone attacks.
Baroness Stuart of Edgbaston (CB)
My Lords, is the Minister aware of whether we are considering strengthening the presence of the Royal Navy in the area in order to protect the shipping lines?
Lord Wood of Anfield (Lab)
I am not going to say anything on particular deployments, but our approach to the region concerns not just bilateral support for allies that face direct threats. I hope all noble Lords will agree with our approach of active diplomatic efforts to get collective support and maritime multinational solidarity. That approach continues; we will continue to lead thinking and preparation on that front. Our actions in the region in the name of regional and economic security will be bilateral with Governments who are allies, but also to ensure that maritime traffic can flow as quickly as possible.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con)
My Lords, I raised previously with the Minister, in think on his first outing, the assessment made of the Mecca agreement that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia signed with Türkiye and Pakistan. That has been invoked; indeed, countries are offering support. What is the current status of the agreement? If the Minister does not have the answer, I hope that I will get the response to that question.
Lord Wood of Anfield (Lab)
I can give the noble Lord a limited answer. As he says, the agreement has been invoked in recent times and defensive support is being provided. I am sorry that he has still not got a full answer to the original question; I shall make sure that he gets a fuller answer. With regard to the Yemeni conflict, the Mecca agreement has been activated and is in force.
← Previous
Moldovan Sovereignty: Russian Incursions
Next →
Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee Human Rights Committee
Source: UK Parliament Hansard API. Debate ID: 5413505.