Expert calls Israel-Saudi Arabia cooperation unlikely
In Saudi Arabia, the prospects for expanding cooperation with Israel in countering Yemen's Houthis currently appear unlikely, despite the shared threat posed by forces linked to Iran. Brandon Friedman, director of research at Tel Aviv University's Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies, gave this assessment in a comment to the Jerusalem Post.
According to him, the current security situation could open an opportunity for cooperation between Riyadh and Jerusalem. At the same time, Friedman considers this unlikely under current conditions, as foreign policy issues in Israel are, in his view, considered through the prism of elections.
Requests for military support
Reuters, citing three informed sources, reported that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had sought US military support to counter the Houthis. Israel Hayom also wrote that Israel had allegedly been indirectly asked through US Central Command to provide intelligence and other assistance.
Saudi media confirmed that bin Salman discussed the regional situation with US Central Command commander Admiral Brad Cooper in Jeddah. At the same time, it remains unclear to what extent Riyadh sought other types of military support.
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Friedman noted that any potential Israeli assistance would have to be provided privately in light of Saudi Arabia's domestic political needs. He also suggested that under the current political circumstances, such support could be considered in the context of the electoral interests of Israel's ruling coalition.
Regional constraints
Riyadh has stated that it will not normalize relations with Israel until a Palestinian state is established, while Israel and the United States have long sought to bring Saudi Arabia into the Abraham Accords.
In Friedman's view, Saudi Arabia has become increasingly dependent on Washington in the military sphere over the past 15 years and has limited capacity to act independently. He believes that seeking support from Israel or the United Arab Emirates is complicated by Riyadh's strained relations with both parties over the past year.
The expert also stated that the Houthis are seeking to strengthen control over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea with the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. In his assessment, attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure are intended to increase pressure on Riyadh regarding Iran's influence in the Strait of Hormuz.
