Trump Urges Saudi Arabia to Accept Israeli Aid Against Houthis
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS Arabic by baba
Former U.S. President Donald Trump urged Saudi Arabia to accept Israeli assistance against the Houthis, suggesting Riyadh would agree. He also indicated the Abraham Accords could be revived with the Kingdom. Trump's comments follow a recent escalation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, including a deadly attack on Riyadh's airport. Saudi Arabia has reportedly engaged in direct security talks with Israel but insists it won't compromise on its political demands regarding a Palestinian state.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Donald Trump believes Saudi Arabia should accept Israeli help against the Houthis.
- Trump suggested the Abraham Accords could be revisited with Saudi Arabia.
- The Houthis recently ended a truce and imposed a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia.
- An attack on Riyadh's airport killed 13 people and injured hundreds.
- Saudi Arabia has reportedly discussed intelligence sharing with Israel.
- Saudi Arabia insists security cooperation won't replace demands for a Palestinian state.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Friday that Saudi Arabia should accept Israeli assistance to counter the Houthi threat, expressing his belief that Riyadh would likely do so. Responding to a journalist's question, Trump affirmed, "Yes, I think so. And I think they will. Israel has been a great help to Saudi Arabia, and certainly they will do that." He also suggested that the Abraham Accords might be revisited with Saudi Arabia, stating, "Yes, I think so. And maybe more than ever before," adding that "Saudi Arabia is very happy to have Israel's support and our support."
Trump's remarks come amid a significant escalation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis. In mid-July, the Houthis declared an end to a 2022 truce, accusing Saudi Arabia of an airstrike on Sanaa Airport, and subsequently announced a naval blockade against the Kingdom in the Red Sea. Fighting intensified last month when the Houthis seized control of the Yemeni coast along the Red Sea, a vital global trade route and a key corridor for Saudi oil exports. The conflict reached a peak with an attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which resulted in 13 deaths and hundreds of injuries, marking the deadliest assault on Saudi territory in over a decade. Trump condemned this attack as "unacceptable" and indicated that Washington would consider joining Saudi airstrikes.
Previous reports from last month revealed direct dialogue between Israel and Saudi Arabia, facilitated by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), concerning potential Israeli intelligence sharing with Riyadh. This intelligence was intended to cover Houthi military positions, weaponry, and operational plans. However, Saudi Arabia has sought to separate this security cooperation from normalization efforts. The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation "Kan" quoted a Saudi official stating that Israeli assistance would not lead the Kingdom to soften its normalization terms, and that limited security cooperation could not substitute for the political demand for a Palestinian state. Trump had previously linked any progress on Saudi Arabia's civilian nuclear program to the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
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