Saudi Arabia has rejected an Israeli request for military cooperation against the Houthis in Yemen, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, which reported that Riyadh remains opposed to Israeli involvement in the confrontation despite diplomatic efforts involving the United States.
Citing a diplomatic source, Haaretz reported that Israel has been attempting, through American mediation, to persuade Saudi Arabia to permit Israeli intervention in the conflict with the Houthis.
However, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has reportedly rejected the proposal, partly because of concerns about the domestic political consequences of military cooperation with Israel.
Saudi Crown Prince Rules Out Israeli Military Involvement
According to the diplomatic source quoted by Haaretz, Mohammed bin Salman has shown no interest in receiving Israeli assistance in the campaign against the Houthis.
The source explained that an alliance with Israel could provoke a negative reaction among the Saudi public, making such cooperation politically sensitive for the kingdom.
The source further indicated that direct Israeli military intervention in Yemen was “completely ruled out” because of the Saudi crown prince’s firm opposition to the proposal.
The reported rejection comes despite Israel’s attempts to establish a framework for cooperation with Riyadh through American mediation.
The proposal appears to extend beyond immediate military coordination, with Israeli officials reportedly viewing cooperation against the Houthis as a potential opportunity to develop wider relations with Saudi Arabia.
Israel Sees Houthi Confrontation as a Path Towards Normalisation
A second source quoted by Haaretz outlined the broader diplomatic objectives behind Israel’s efforts.
“The objective is to unite efforts with the Saudis, develop relations with them and pave the way for a future normalisation agreement,” the source said.
The remarks suggest that Israel sees potential cooperation against the Houthis not only as a military initiative but also as an opportunity to advance its longstanding objective of establishing formal diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia.
However, the reported Saudi position indicates that Riyadh remains unwilling to permit Israeli military involvement in the Yemen confrontation, particularly given the potential public backlash associated with an alliance.
The disagreement illustrates the distance between Israel’s ambitions for closer cooperation and Saudi Arabia’s reported reluctance to enter into a military arrangement with Israel.
Netanyahu Condemns Reported Houthi Attack on Riyadh Airport
The diplomatic developments follow remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu concerning a reported Houthi attack targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the Saudi capital.
On Sunday, Netanyahu condemned the attack and expressed condolences to the families of those killed, while wishing those injured a speedy recovery.
His statement came as Israel was reportedly seeking to persuade Saudi Arabia to accept a more direct Israeli role in operations against the Houthis.
Despite the expression of solidarity over the airport attack, the diplomatic sources cited by Haaretz indicated that Saudi Arabia had not changed its position.
According to those accounts, the prospect of Israeli military intervention in Yemen remains firmly rejected by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, even as Israel seeks to use the confrontation with the Houthis to develop relations and open a possible path towards future normalisation.
