Reports suggest Netanyahu pushes for Israeli role in Houthi campaign;
A potential agreement appeared close in 2023, before Hamas’s October 7 attack and the subsequent war in Gaza derailed regional diplomatic efforts. 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.
Riyadh’s approval remains a key hurdle to Netanyahu’s reported effort to bring Israel into the campaign. 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.