Saudi Crown Prince Rejects Israel's Request to Join Anti-Houthi Campaign in Yemen
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman turned down Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's U.S.-mediated proposal to involve Saudi forces in fighting Yemen's Houthi rebels.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with U.S. mediation, proposed that Saudi Arabia join the fight against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen to deepen bilateral relations. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman declined, citing concerns about public opposition within Saudi Arabia. The suggestion arrived as broader Saudi-Israeli normalization, previously championed by President Donald Trump, has stalled since the Gaza war began in October 2023.
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi called for a political rather than military approach and offered to facilitate dialogue, a sentiment echoed by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. Tensions rose after the Houthis claimed to have shot down a Saudi reconnaissance drone in Saada and after a deadly attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh that killed 13 people. Netanyahu condemned the airport attack on social media, underscoring the fraught security environment.
Why it matters
The refusal highlights growing limits on Saudi-Israeli cooperation and raises regional security concerns amid the Yemen conflict.
How this story developed
- Oct 6 Turkey and Pakistan Deploy Troops to Saudi Arabia under Mecca Defence Pact
- Oct 7 Pakistani Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmud was appointed the pact’s inaugural secretary‑general.
- Oct 9 Latest statements shift the focus from reported troop deployments to an assessment of defensive equipment assistance.
- Oct 10 An emergency session on Oct 5 invoked the collective‑defence clause, allowing Turkey and Pakistan to consider dispatching forces to Saudi Arabia.
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