Saudi Crown Prince Sought Israeli Aid Against Houthis Via US

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, through American intermediaries, requested Israeli assistance against the Houthi rebels approximately two weeks before the Dubai incident. Then-US President Trump confirmed that Israel did indeed provide aid to Saudi Arabia. This revelation comes as the possibility of deepening operations in Yemen is being considered.

Israeli officials believe that if Israel becomes a key player in helping Saudi Arabia counter the Houthi threat, it could soften bin Salman's stance and bring normalization between the two countries back to the agenda. Prime Minister Netanyahu has reportedly been making renewed efforts to advance normalization with Riyadh, proposing Israeli assistance to the Kingdom via Washington.

Israeli security sources noted that Israel possesses significant advantages in intelligence gathering, precision strikes, and ballistic missile interception. However, Riyadh reportedly fears that overt cooperation with Israel could provoke a negative public reaction within Saudi Arabia. A senior Israeli diplomatic source told Al-Monitor that Saudi Arabia is currently showing less enthusiasm for such a move, despite the sensitive situation with the Houthis.

In parallel, Israel is exploring strategic security assets, with one defense official describing Somaliland as a valuable asset due to its proximity to hostile territory. This location, 100-200 kilometers from enemy states and approximately 2,500 kilometers from Israeli air force bases, could enable intelligence gathering, aerial operations, and pilot rescue missions. Such a forward base would significantly reduce response times and expand operational capabilities, transforming the Yemen theater from a distant threat into a more accessible area for Israeli intelligence and operations.