LONDON — Former British Labour leader and MP Jeremy Corbyn has fiercely condemned the UK government’s decision to supply military support to Saudi Arabia, calling the move a “shameful” escalation that deepens London’s complicity in ongoing war crimes against the Yemeni people.
Taking to social media on Monday, Corbyn criticised the administration of British Prime Minister Andy Burnham for its continued alignment with imperialist agendas and regional wars in the Middle East.
“Helping the US to bomb Iran. Now, helping Saudi Arabia to bomb Yemen,” Corbyn stated. “This is a terrible and shameful decision, which drags Britain further into conflict, deepens its complicity in Saudi war crimes, and proves that no lessons have been learned whatsoever.”
The condemnation follows Burnham’s authorisation of military support for Riyadh as it escalates its brutal campaign against Yemen. Speaking to The Independent while en route to the UN General Assembly in New York—where he is scheduled to hold his first face-to-face meeting with US President Donald Trump—Burnham confirmed he had approved Saudi requests for air-to-air refuelling.
While the British government frames the deployment of a Royal Air Force tanker as a strictly “defensive” and time-limited measure that could include intercepting drones, critics argue it directly enables the Saudi war machine. Defending the move, Burnham claimed the arrangement is necessary to secure British interests and keep regional pathways open amid domestic cost-of-living pressures. The deployment is expected to last for weeks rather than months.
The UK’s renewed military collaboration with Riyadh comes at a pivotal moment for Yemen, as the Saudi-led coalition’s aggression continues to inflict devastating humanitarian consequences on a nation that has steadfastly resisted foreign subjugation.
Coinciding with the UK’s announcement, the leadership of Yemen’s Ansar Allah movement marked the 12th anniversary of the September 21 Revolution. In a powerful address, leader Sayyed Abdul Malik al-Houthi declared that the revolution successfully dismantled foreign guardianship and restored Yemen’s national dignity and independence.
Sayyed al-Houthi sharply condemned the US, UK, “Israel”, and Saudi Arabia for their relentless attempts to subvert Yemeni sovereignty through military, economic, and political warfare. Reaffirming Sanaa’s unwavering stance, he stressed that Yemen will continue its principled support for Palestine and resist all forms of foreign meddling, emphasising that the nation’s resolve cannot be broken by external military pressure.
Reference: Al-Mayadeen