Saudi Arabia Seeks Israeli Intelligence on Houthis Via US

Saudi Arabia is reportedly seeking Israeli intelligence on Houthi activities in Yemen, leveraging the US Central Command (CENTCOM) as an intermediary. This move comes amid escalating threats from the Houthi movement against Saudi oil infrastructure and Red Sea shipping lanes. The Wall Street Journal, as cited by Israeli publication Maariv, suggests that Riyadh aims to access Israeli intelligence capabilities without establishing direct public cooperation, given the absence of formal diplomatic ties.

The increased Houthi pressure, particularly their control over strategic Red Sea coastal areas and threats to maritime trade, has prompted Saudi Arabia to explore new security partnerships. Recent agreements with Pakistan and Turkey have not yielded the desired support against the Houthis. Tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, whose interests in Yemen sometimes diverge, further complicate the situation.

In response to these regional security challenges, the US is considering enhanced security cooperation involving Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the UAE, with CENTCOM potentially coordinating intelligence sharing and counter-threat operations against Iran-backed groups.

For Israel, this potential intelligence exchange is primarily significant in the context of countering Iran. Both nations face threats from Houthi long-range missiles and drones. Israel's expertise in countering such attacks and its intelligence-gathering capabilities could benefit Saudi Arabia's assessment of threats to its energy facilities and shipping, while also expanding Israel's regional monitoring.

This potential security alignment occurs alongside other complex US-Saudi negotiations, including a nuclear cooperation deal that raises proliferation concerns and a $24.3 billion sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, which impacts Israel's qualitative military edge. The broader issue of normalizing Saudi-Israeli relations remains unresolved, with Saudi Arabia insisting on the establishment of a Palestinian state as a condition, while the US previously linked Saudi cooperation to the Abraham Accords.