by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly seeking Saudi Arabia’s approval to launch military strikes against Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen, a move that could open the door to unprecedented Israeli-Saudi military cooperation as the conflict threatens to engulf more of the Middle East.
According to a diplomatic source cited by Haaretz on Monday, Netanyahu is working through American mediators to secure Saudi permission for Israel to join military operations against the Houthis, who have intensified missile and drone attacks against the kingdom.
The Israeli initiative reportedly has two objectives: weakening the Iranian-backed terrorist threat in Yemen while laying the groundwork for a future normalization agreement between Jerusalem and Riyadh.
However, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman remains reluctant to approve Israeli involvement, reportedly fearing a domestic backlash over cooperation with Israel. Saudi Arabia has maintained that normalization requires progress toward establishing a Palestinian state, a condition Netanyahu continues to reject.
Deadly Houthi Attacks Raise Stakes
The diplomatic effort comes amid a dramatic escalation in Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, including repeated strikes on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
According to the Associated Press, attacks on the airport killed at least 13 people and wounded more than 300, prompting Saudi authorities to investigate how their sophisticated air-defense systems failed to intercept the incoming missiles and drones.
Initial findings suggest the Houthis used waves of drones to overwhelm Saudi defenses before launching cruise and ballistic missiles against the airport.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the attacks, which killed an American citizen, as a blatant disregard for civilian life.
Meanwhile, Reuters reported that Saudi-led forces have intensified airstrikes against Houthi positions in Yemen, destroying missile-launching platforms while attempting to reverse the group’s territorial advances near the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The waterway connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and serves as a critical passage for international commerce and energy shipments.
A Potential Strategic Realignment
Israeli participation in the Saudi campaign would represent a significant development in Middle Eastern security cooperation.
Although Israel and Saudi Arabia have no formal diplomatic relations, both countries view Iran and its regional proxies as major security threats.
For Netanyahu, cooperation against the Houthis could create an opportunity to strengthen ties with Riyadh through shared military interests, even as political disagreements over Palestinian statehood remain unresolved.
For Saudi Arabia, Israeli military capabilities could provide additional firepower against an increasingly aggressive Houthi movement.
However, any Israeli intervention risks provoking further Houthi retaliation against Israeli territory and expanding the confrontation with Iran.
President Donald Trump has also indicated that Washington is considering joining Saudi military operations against the Houthis, potentially bringing American, Israeli, and Saudi forces into a broader campaign against the Iranian-backed group.
With Saudi Arabia already under sustained missile attack and tensions surrounding Iran continuing to rise, the coming days could determine whether the Yemen conflict becomes another major front in the regional war.
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