UK protects Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks, says defense secretary

RIYADH: UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said Thursday that his country contributes to protecting Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks.
In an interview with Al Arabiya, Wallace blamed Iran for supporting terror through the Houthi militia in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon.  
He said Britain would grant Saudi Arabia “new defensive licences”, adding that his country contributes to the security of Saudi Arabia in the face of attacks from Yemen carried out by the Houthis. 
Wallace said the UK’s relations with Saudi Arabia are not restricted to selling weapons, but a strong defense partnership.
He also stressed that Britain is not interested in military cooperation with Iran or arms sales to Tehran.
The Houthi militia sparked the Yemen conflict in 2014 by driving the internationally recognized government from the capital Sanaa.
The group repeatedly fires ballistic missiles and exploding drones into Saudi Arabia, targeting civilian areas and infrastructure.