Britain will deploy Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets on what it described as "defensive" missions to help Saudi Arabia protect itself against an escalating campaign of attacks by Yemen's Houthi movement, the UK Ministry of Defence announced on Tuesday.

In a statement, the ministry said the deployment was intended to "contribute to protecting Saudi civilians and critical national infrastructure from aerial attacks", stressing that the aircraft "will not carry out any offensive strikes against the Houthis". It framed the move as part of "additional defensive military support" for Riyadh.

The UK will also provide an RAF A400M strategic transport aircraft to help move defensive equipment within the kingdom, and will send British military advisers to support Saudi officers.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting called the continuing Houthi attacks on "our ally Saudi Arabia" deeply abhorrent, adding that the targeting of Riyadh's airport in particular showed how far the group was prepared to go in escalating tensions across the region.

The announcement came as the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said it had intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile fired by the Houthis towards the Saudi capital on Tuesday, later saying it had destroyed the launch platform. Hours afterwards, the coalition reported intercepting and destroying a drone over Riyadh.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group had launched a series of attacks on oil facilities, airports and military sites in Saudi Arabia over the previous 48 hours. Saudi authorities have not confirmed those attacks.

The humanitarian toll continues to mount. The UN refugee agency said more than 250,000 people have been displaced inside Yemen since August, shortly after hostilities resumed.