The Prime Minister of Britain announced that he has agreed to Saudi Arabia’s request to provide defensive support for air refueling to its fighter jets for a limited period of time and will send one refueling aircraft to the Middle East.

According to Andy Burnham, the decision was taken after the escalation of attacks by the Houthi insurgents on Saudi Arabia’s civilian infrastructure, to help stabilize the increasingly tense situation in the region.

He said that Britain received a request from Saudi Arabia for military support and, after receiving recommendations from the defense minister and the foreign affairs minister, agreed to the request.

To provide this support, Britain will send a “Voyager” refueling aircraft to the region in the coming days.

The UK prime minister emphasized that his country is “playing its part” in the Middle East and supports efforts to keep the Strait of Hormuz open.