According to an Israeli newspaper, The National, on October 12, a diplomatic source revealed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to use U.S. mediation to secure Saudi Arabia's approval for Israel to participate in military operations against the Yemeni Houthi movement.
The source added that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman opposes any military intervention by Israel, as such actions are likely to trigger strong opposition among the Saudi public.
Another source familiar with the matter said that Israel hopes to strengthen bilateral relations with Saudi Arabia through military cooperation and to pave the way for a normalization of relations in the future.
The Saudi government has not immediately commented on this report.
Saudi Arabia and Israel have not established diplomatic relations yet. Saudi Arabia has always insisted that normalization of relations with Israel can only occur if the Palestinian issue is resolved, including the establishment of a Palestinian state.
This report was published at a time when the Houthi forces were continuously escalating their attacks against Saudi Arabia, including multiple attacks on airports, resulting in casualties and flight disruptions.
On Saturday, King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh was attacked, resulting in 13 deaths and over 300 injuries.
According to the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority, on Sunday, the airport was attacked again, resulting in the death of a Pakistani resident and injuries to 11 others.
Since the ceasefire agreement mediated by the United Nations took effect in April 2022, there was a period of relative calm. However, in July this year, the conflict once again escalated.
Since September 2014, when the Houla militant group seized the capital Sanaa and several provinces, Yemen has been continuously embroiled in war. In March 2015, a multinational coalition led by Saudi Arabia intervened in Yemen's conflict, supporting the country's internationally recognized government.
