Saudi Arabia quietly seeks Israeli intelligence to counter Houthi threat

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has appealed to countries across the Middle East, including indirectly to Israel, for assistance in countering the Houthi threat to the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait, diplomatic officials in the region confirmed.

The requests were made directly to Gulf states and Egypt, while Israel was approached through the US Central Command (CENTCOM) for intelligence and other assistance aimed at preventing the Houthis from blocking the vital maritime route, Israel Hayom reports.

Mohammed bin Salman warned that a closure of Bab al-Mandeb could cause severe damage to the regional and global economy. The strait links the Gulf of Aden with the Red Sea and provides a key route to the Suez Canal, carrying cargo vessels as well as oil and liquefied natural gas tankers.

Egypt has also been warned that a blockade could severely affect shipping through the Suez Canal, one of its main sources of revenue. Cairo reportedly supports the Saudi position and has approached Washington over the request for assistance.

The United States, however, appears reluctant to intervene directly. CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper was dispatched to Saudi Arabia to assess the situation and strengthen existing US support. American officials said President Donald Trump remains wary of direct military involvement.

Nevertheless, Washington is considering airstrikes against Houthi positions overlooking Bab al-Mandeb. “The condition for that would be the deployment of radars and missile launchers in the captured positions,” an official familiar with the matter said.

The Houthis have recently captured the strategic port of Mokha and Zuqar Island, while Saudi-backed forces have suffered significant setbacks. The group has also targeted Saudi oil infrastructure and military facilities with missiles and drones.

Against this backdrop, Riyadh’s outreach to Israel could open the door to closer security coordination, while also creating new momentum for Saudi-Israeli rapprochement.

By Vafa Guliyeva