Netanyahu seeks to join Saudi fight against Houthis, Crown Prince opposes move, Haaretz reports

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking a role in Saudi Arabia’s fight against the Houthis, while Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman opposes the move, according to a report by Haaretz.

Netanyahu is reportedly pursuing discreet contacts with Riyadh, hoping a breakthrough with Saudi Arabia could strengthen his position ahead of Israel’s October elections, Al-Monitor reported in September. It said Israel and Saudi Arabia have held US Central Command-mediated talks on possible Israeli intelligence assistance.

A senior Israeli security source told Al-Monitor the crown prince “knows our capabilities, knows what we can do and has also seen what we did to Hezbollah and Iran over the past three years.”

The Houthis seized Yemen’s entire Red Sea coast in September, imposed a blockade on Saudi energy exports and struck the kingdom several times, according to L’Orient Le Jour. Washington reportedly declined to strike the Houthis directly, offering intelligence and targeting support instead.