Saudi Arabia has asked Britain to help in the war against the Houthis

Saudi Arabia has requested military assistance from London in the conflict with the Shiite "Ansar Allah" (Houthis) movement in Yemen, but British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has not yet made a final decision, Bloomberg reports, citing sources.

" The Prime Minister has received requests from Saudi Arabia for diplomatic and military support. The Saudis are asking for operational military support to repel the offensive of the Iranian—backed group, as well as to help protect themselves from attacks on their oil infrastructure, " the statement said.

According to the agency, it is not yet clear whether Burnham is ready to provide support. At the same time, the prime minister's advisers told him that the establishment of Houthi control over the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait would have a catastrophic impact on international shipping and would deal another blow to the global economy. However, at the moment Burnham has agreed to send only military advisers to Saudi Arabia, the agency notes.

The situation in Yemen escalated in mid-July, when pro-government forces attacked the Sanaa airport at the time of the landing of a plane from Iran with a delegation of the Houthi leadership on board. The Hussites blamed Saudi Arabia for this and declared war on it until the blockade around the territories under its control was lifted. Over the past week, they have made significant progress in the south-west and west of Yemen, capturing the Red Sea coast and settlements near the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, including the important port of El-Moha.