Israel Provided Intelligence to Saudi Arabia Against Houthi Threats

Middle Eastern diplomatic sources report that Saudi Arabia and Israel have engaged in discussions, mediated by the U.S. Central Command, to bolster Saudi defenses against Houthi forces through intelligence sharing. This comes as the Houthi military has escalated attacks on Saudi Arabia in the past week, including drone strikes on oil pipelines that partially halted operations and assaults on civilians near the Yemen-Saudi border. The Houthis have also seized strategic Red Sea islands and imposed a blockade on Saudi shipping in the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, creating an economic and political siege.

Security officials express significant concern over this escalating security situation, particularly the possibility of the U.S. reaching understandings with Iran and the Houthis, potentially leaving Saudi Arabia and other regional players exposed to continuous attacks without immediate solutions. The diplomatic sources indicated that the intelligence cooperation between Israel and Saudi Arabia aims to provide the Saudis with a clearer picture of Houthi force locations and intentions, drawing on Israel's demonstrated intelligence and operational capabilities in maritime environments, such as its assistance to the U.S. in monitoring Iranian forces in the Strait of Hormuz.

Separately, Israeli security officials have voiced strong concerns regarding a U.S. decision, reportedly by then-President Donald Trump, to permit Saudi Arabia's development of civilian nuclear capabilities. This is a significant worry for Israel due to Saudi Arabia's proximity. Trump reportedly linked any progress on civilian nuclear development to the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. The Saudis, for their part, are reportedly seeking progress on a political process with Israel, contingent on resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Despite these complexities, Israel and Saudi Arabia share several security interests independent of normalization. There is optimism that a roadmap for a political agreement could be presented soon, seen as crucial given the increasing threats in the Middle East and the urgent need to address priorities.