Saudi Arabia has engaged in discussions with Israel, facilitated by the US Central Command, regarding strategies to bolster Riyadh’s capabilities in countering the Houthi military. This information was reported by Israeli media on Tuesday. The focus of the talks centers on enhancing intelligence support to address the ongoing threats posed by the Houthi forces.
The government later said the threat had passed, although strikes over roughly the past week have injured dozens of people. Earlier reporting noted: According to sources cited by JP, the Saudi request for assistance was likely focused on intelligence support to develop a broader picture of Houthi military deployments in the area and identify potential plans for future operations. Earlier reporting noted: The Israeli military has already demonstrated intelligence and operational capabilities in the maritime arena around the Strait of Hormuz, assisting the US in building intelligence on the locations of Iranian forces, the sources said. He said the pact’s collective-defence provisions could be activated in the event of an unprovoked attack on any member or if the conflict in Yemen spills over into Saudi Arabia.
Saudi authorities issued air alerts on Tuesday morning for Jeddah, Yanbu, Jazan and Al Ula, a medieval site that is central to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s efforts to expand tourism. Earlier reporting noted: Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif said on Wednesday that there should be no ambiguity over the commitment under the agreement.
The report said that Riyadh’s request was mainly centred on intelligence assistance. A spokesperson told the news agency that Britain would work with its partners to help maintain stability in the region, but did not provide further details. The aim was to gain a clearer understanding of Houthi military positions in the region and assess what operations the group could be planning next. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham is weighing whether Britain should provide support.
