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Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has rejected an Israeli offer for Saudi Arabia to join military operations against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, according to an Israeli media report.
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported on Monday, citing an unnamed diplomatic source, that Riyadh turned down the proposal despite US efforts to secure its consent.
The source said the crown prince showed little interest in military cooperation with Israel, partly due to concerns that such a move could trigger a strong negative reaction among the Saudi public.
Another source familiar with the matter said Israel had hoped military cooperation would strengthen bilateral ties and pave the way for a future normalisation agreement. Saudi authorities had not immediately commented on the report.
Saudi Arabia and Israel have no formal diplomatic relations. Riyadh has repeatedly said that normalising ties depends on a lasting resolution to the Palestinian issue, including the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
The report comes amid renewed Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, which have reportedly caused casualties and severely disrupted air travel. According to the report, an attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on Saturday killed 13 people and injured more than 300. Another attack on Sunday reportedly killed a Pakistani national and injured 11 others.
Tensions had eased after a UN-mediated truce between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis took effect in April 2022. However, regional tensions have reportedly risen again since July this year.
Yemen’s civil war began in 2014, when Houthi rebels seized the capital, Sanaa, and several provinces. A Saudi-led coalition intervened in March 2015 in support of Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
Source: Anadolu Agency
