LONDON: Britain announced Tuesday that it is expanding military support for Saudi Arabia against the Houthis to include “defensive” air patrols by Royal Air Force jets, but stressed there is no military solution to the conflict. Defense Secretary Wes Streeting said Royal Air Force Typhoon jets will “conduct defensive counter-air operations over Saudi Arabia, helping to protect Saudi cities, civilian populations and critical national infrastructure” from missiles and drones fired by the Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen. That means the British planes would attack missiles or drones in the air, but Streeting said the British planes won’t strike Houthi targets on the ground. The UK will also send a military transport plane and an unspecified number of military advisers to Saudi Arabia, Streeting said. The announcement follows Britain’s decision last month to offer in-air refueling of Saudi planes operating against the Houthis. That mission is being extended by another 90 days, Streeting said. The conflict between the Houthis and Yemen’s legitimate government has reignited, with the Houthis aiming missile and drone strikes at Saudi Arabia. The country’s main international airport in Riyadh was struck several times earlier this month. Streeting called the attacks “despicable” and said targeting the airport showed “the lengths the Houthis are going to to escalate the situation in the region.”