One tanker won't change the military math, so the real story is the precedent being set. Signing off on air-to-air refueling drops British personnel straight into the support chain of an active Middle East war, and first steps make second steps easier. Once Riyadh asks for more, the line drawn at refueling gets awfully hard to hold.
Saudi Arabia is under attack and a shipping lane the whole world depends on is under threat, so answering a request for defensive refueling is simply responsible leadership. The support is defensive, time-limited and kept under review, with allies being urged to share the load. Keeping the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Strait of Hormuz open protects British trade and regional stability.
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