Israel Offers Intelligence Support to Saudi Arabia Against Houthi Rebels

Israel is preparing to provide intelligence information to Saudi Arabia regarding the conflict with the Houthi rebels in Yemen. Regional diplomatic sources indicate that negotiations are underway between Israel and Saudi Arabia, facilitated by the U.S. Central Command. The discussions focus on Israel offering intelligence support to Riyadh to counter the Houthis, according to "Alexey Zheleznov Channel." Meanwhile, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has visited Egypt to seek Cairo's assistance in combating the Houthis.

The advancement of the Houthi group is considered a significant regional threat to Israel at the start of the new year. Jerusalem views the developing situation with concern but does not intend to intervene directly unless Israel itself is attacked by the Houthis. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, where the waterway narrows to 18 kilometers, is particularly vulnerable to disruption, posing a greater risk to shipping than the Strait of Hormuz, which is about 55 kilometers wide. Iran has demonstrated its ability to impede shipping in the Hormuz Strait, and a narrower passage like the Bab el-Mandeb could be even more easily blocked.

Previously, reports indicated that the Iran-backed Houthis have intensified attacks on Saudi Arabia and expanded their presence on Yemen's western coast. In response to the Houthis' rapid advances, Riyadh has held emergency meetings to discuss potential countermeasures. Traders have warned that a prolonged shutdown of oil pipelines, combined with a de facto blockade of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, could reduce global oil supply by approximately 4%. The Houthis have notably advanced in southwestern Yemen, gaining control of areas near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial maritime corridor for global trade.