Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking Saudi Arabia’s approval for Israel to join the military campaign against Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, with the US mediating between the two sides, Israeli publication Haaretz reported, citing a diplomatic source.However, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is opposed to Israeli military involvement, fearing it could trigger a backlash among the kingdom’s public, the source said.Another source familiar with the matter said Netanyahu’s push was also aimed at strengthening ties with Riyadh and laying the groundwork for a future normalisation agreement between the two countries.US president Donald Trump has repeatedly advocated normalising Saudi-Israeli relations under the Abraham Accords. A potential agreement appeared close in 2023, before Hamas’s October 7 attack and the subsequent war in Gaza derailed regional diplomatic efforts.Saudi Arabia has maintained that it will not normalise ties with Israel without substantial progress towards establishing a Palestinian state. Netanyahu, meanwhile, has opposed Palestinian statehood, leaving a major obstacle to any agreement.
Houthis intensify attacks on Saudi Arabia
The diplomatic push comes as Saudi Arabia faces a series of Houthi attacks, including strikes on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport. A ballistic missile strike on Saturday killed at least 12 people and injured 309, while an attack on Sunday killed one person and wounded 1.Netanyahu condemned Saturday’s airport attack, calling it a “horrific terrorist attack” and expressing condolences to the victims’ families on behalf of Israel.The Houthis have targeted Saudi airports and oil installations in recent days amid an intensifying conflict in Yemen. The developments have raised concerns over regional security and the safety of key shipping routes, including the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, through which a significant share of global trade passes.Any Israeli intervention would risk complicating Saudi Arabia’s position in the conflict, particularly given domestic opposition to closer ties with Israel amid the unresolved Palestinian issue. Riyadh’s approval remains a key hurdle to Netanyahu’s reported effort to bring Israel into the campaign.
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