RIYADH, October 17, 2026 — Saudi Arabia has accepted Israel’s offer to assist in combating Houthi rebels, with US President Donald Trump calling the support “very helpful” amid rising regional tensions.
Saudi Arabia Turns to Israel for Military Help Against Houthis
Saudi Arabia’s decision to accept Israeli military support marks a shift from its previous stance of denying any cooperation with Israel. According to Trump, Israel’s assistance is “very helpful” in countering Houthi attacks, and he suggested that Saudi Arabia could join the Abraham Accords framework, which normalised relations between Israel and several Arab countries in 2020. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview that “barely any Middle Eastern states aren’t asking us for help,” indicating growing regional reliance on Israeli expertise. Saudi Arabia had previously insisted that normalisation with Israel would require a clear path to Palestinian statehood, but the escalating threat from Houthi forces appears to be overriding that condition.
Iran’s Intelligence Sharing Fuels Houthi Attacks on Saudi Territory
Iran has been providing intelligence to the Houthis, enabling more precise attacks on Saudi targets, according to a report cited by The Times of India. This intelligence-sharing has allowed Houthi forces to launch missile strikes on Aden International Airport twice in less than ten days, with police blaming Iran-backed rebels for both attacks. The Houthis also struck a government palace complex in Aden on Thursday, killing at least five people and targeting a nearby military facility housing a command centre for Saudi-led forces and a weapons depot. Yemen’s internationally recognised government accused the Houthis of systematically targeting infrastructure, including a weapons depot near a civilian aircraft preparing for takeoff. The Houthis have used anti-tank missiles, MANPADS, and drone strikes to hit Saudi border outposts and military bases, forcing Saudi forces to retreat in some areas.
Human Cost and Humanitarian Toll of the Prolonged Conflict
The conflict between Saudi-led forces and the Houthis began in 2015 after a Saudi-led coalition launched airstrikes in Yemen following Houthi advances toward Aden. The coalition also imposed a naval and air blockade on Yemen, severely restricting food, fuel, and medicine, according to Human Rights Watch. In 2015, Human Rights Watch documented 12 coalition airstrikes in Saada that damaged or destroyed homes, five markets, a school, and a petrol station, killing 59 people, including at least 35 children. Saudi Arabia temporarily closed schools and airports after Houthi shelling in 2015, marking early escalations in the proxy war. The US Embassy in Saudi Arabia warned Americans of potential attacks on airports and airspace disruptions due to Houthi drone and missile strikes. Iran denies direct involvement in Houthi attacks, with its Foreign Ministry spokesperson stating the Houthis act in “their own interests,” while offering to mediate the conflict as a result of foreign intervention and blockades.
Regional Realignment and Risks of Wider Escalation
Trump revived talk of Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords, suggesting normalisation with Israel could accelerate amid the current hostilities. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is visiting Tehran on October 19 to discuss de-escalation in West Asia, reflecting broader international concern over the spillover of US-Iran tensions into Yemen. The Houthis have infiltrated Saudi Arabia with RPG-equipped teams and laid landmines along border routes, disrupting Saudi military operations. Despite multiple ceasefire attempts, the conflict has persisted for over a decade with no clear resolution. The growing alignment between Saudi Arabia and Israel, facilitated by US encouragement, risks deepening regional divisions while offering a potential counterweight to Iran’s influence through the Houthis.
Saudi-Israel Security Cooperation Amid Escalating Houthi Threats
Saudi Arabia’s acceptance of Israeli military assistance comes after years of publicly denying any security ties with Israel, despite longstanding regional speculation about behind-the-scenes coordination. According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an interview with Israeli media, “barely any Middle Eastern states aren’t asking us for help,” underscoring the growing demand for Israeli defense capabilities across the region. This shift reflects the urgency felt by Riyadh as Houthi attacks intensify, particularly following missile strikes on Aden International Airport and a government palace complex that killed at least five people and targeted a nearby Saudi-led command centre and weapons depot.
The cooperation aligns with broader U.S. efforts to strengthen regional alliances against Iran-backed forces, with President Donald Trump describing Israel’s support to Saudi Arabia as “very helpful” and suggesting the kingdom could join the Abraham Accords framework established in 2020. Trump noted that the prospect of Saudi normalisation with Israel was “maybe more than ever” amid current hostilities, though Saudi officials have historically insisted that such a step would require a clear path to Palestinian statehood—a condition now being tested by the severity of the Houthi threat.
Yemen’s Government Accuses Houthis of Systematic Infrastructure Targeting
Yemen’s internationally recognised government accused the Houthis of systematically targeting infrastructure, including a weapons depot near a civilian aircraft preparing for takeoff, according to the country’s Information Minister Moammar Al-Eryani. The transport ministry condemned the strike as part of a systematic escalation targeting vital infrastructure and endangering civilians, amid renewed fighting linked to the wider Iran conflict. Yemen’s information minister said the missiles landed about 500 metres from a Yemenia Airways aircraft preparing for take-off, prompting the evacuation of passengers. The Houthis have used anti-tank missiles, MANPADS, and drone strikes to hit Saudi border outposts and military bases, forcing Saudi forces to retreat in some areas.
Iran’s Denials and the Limits of Houthi Autonomy
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, has repeatedly denied direct involvement in Houthi operations, framing the group’s actions as independent and driven by “their own interests.” In a statement to Iranian state broadcaster IRIB, Baghaei emphasized that Tehran’s role was limited to mediation, not combat support. “The last 12 years have shown that foreign intervention and blockade are not the solution,” he argued, accusing Britain and America of orchestrating Yemen’s humanitarian crisis through sanctions and military actions. The spokesperson’s rhetoric aligns with Iran’s long-standing strategy of plausible deniability, avoiding explicit endorsements of Houthi attacks while leveraging the group’s anti-Saudi and anti-Western rhetoric to sustain regional influence.
Despite Iran’s denials, the Houthis’ operational sophistication—including precision missile strikes on Aden International Airport and the use of MANPADS to target Saudi military assets—suggests a level of coordination beyond mere “intelligence sharing.” A Houthi military official confirmed in October 2026 that the group had struck a Saudi-led command center and weapons depot near a government palace complex, operations that required real-time intelligence and logistical support. While Iran has not publicly acknowledged providing weapons or direct orders, the Houthis’ ability to execute such complex attacks aligns with past patterns where Iranian advisors and technical expertise have been embedded in Houthi ranks. The group’s denial of Iranian involvement, however, serves as a tactical shield, allowing Iran to maintain diplomatic cover while proxy forces escalate tensions.
The Houthis’ claim of autonomy is further complicated by their reliance on Iranian-backed supply chains. According to Yemen’s internationally recognized government, the group has systematically targeted infrastructure—including a weapons depot near a civilian aircraft—to disrupt Saudi operations and destabilize Yemen’s fragile administration. The Information Minister, Moammar Al-Eryani, described the October 2026 missile strikes as part of a “systematic escalation,” directly linking the attacks to Iran’s broader strategy of proxy warfare. While Iran’s Foreign Ministry insists the Houthis act independently, the group’s operational tactics—such as infiltrating Saudi border regions with RPG-equipped teams and laying landmines—mirror Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) training methods documented in past conflicts. The Houthis’ refusal to attribute their actions to external actors underscores a calculated ambiguity, one that allows Iran to deny complicity while the group benefits from its patron’s resources.
Sources
- US Iran War News Live Updates: Iran aiding Houthis with intelligence in attacks on Saudi Arabia, report says – The Times of India
- Houthi–Saudi conflict
- Saudi should Accept Israel's 'Helpful' Offer Against Houthis: Trump
Photo: Casey Coombs (Public domain)
