Netanyahu Seeks Saudi Alliance Against Houthis, Riyadh Rejects Military Role

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly seeking Saudi Arabia's approval for Israel to intervene in the conflict against the Houthi rebels in Yemen. This initiative, reportedly facilitated by the United States, aims to link potential cooperation against the Houthis with the development of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, potentially paving the way for normalization.

However, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is said to oppose any Israeli military involvement in Yemen. According to diplomatic sources cited by the newspaper Haaretz, bin Salman believes that cooperating with Israel would be poorly received by both Saudi and Islamic public opinion. He reportedly views Israeli military intervention in Yemen as "outside the scope of discussion."

The Israeli effort comes as normalization talks between Israel and Saudi Arabia have resurfaced. Former US President Donald Trump had previously spoken about Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords. Late US Senator Lindsey Graham, who passed away in July, had also worked in his final weeks to establish Israeli-Saudi normalization as a basis for regional political arrangements post-conflict with Iran.

Saudi Arabia's official stance remains that normalization with Israel is contingent on tangible progress toward establishing a Palestinian state. The reported Israeli move coincides with escalating tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis. In early September, the Houthis made significant advances along Yemen's Red Sea coast, capturing the strategic city of Al Hudaydah and several islands, thereby gaining control of the Yemeni side of the Bab el-Mandeb strait.

Following these advances, the Saudi-backed Yemeni government launched a counteroffensive, supported by Saudi-led coalition airstrikes, and recaptured Al Hudaydah. Concurrently, Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia have intensified, with some targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. A ballistic missile attack on Saturday killed at least 12 people and injured 309, while another attack on the airport on Sunday resulted in one death and 11 injuries. In response to the Saturday attack, Netanyahu condemned it as a "terrible terrorist attack" and offered condolences to Saudi Arabia, expressing Israel's desire for a strong Middle East united against threats.