Saudi Arabia Denies Israeli War Plan Against Houthis

A Saudi source familiar with the Kingdom's position has stated that expectations of Riyadh softening its stance on normalizing relations with Israel in exchange for Israeli assistance against the Houthis are unfounded. The source, cited by the "KAN" news portal, indicated that Saudi Arabia does not view a large-scale military operation against the Houthis as the optimal solution, preferring a strategic approach with international involvement.

According to the source, Saudi Arabia primarily links normalization with Israel to the resolution of the Palestinian issue, not to third-party mediation or current circumstances. This contradicts earlier assessments by former Israeli National Security Council head Eyal Hulata, who suggested that Jerusalem and Riyadh could significantly expand cooperation upon a full normalization agreement. Hulata had noted Saudi Arabia's likely interest in closer ties, especially given Israel's deepening cooperation with the UAE.

Previous reports from diplomatic sources indicated contacts between Israel and Saudi Arabia, mediated by the U.S. Central Command, focusing on potential intelligence support for Riyadh against the Houthis. Israel reportedly views the situation as concerning but does not plan to intervene unless directly attacked by the Houthi group. Israel is also considering supporting Saudi Arabia against the Houthis while aiming to leverage the situation to advance diplomatic agreements.