Netanyahu sought role in Saudi war on Houthis, Riyadh said no: report

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly asked, via Washington, to join Saudi Arabia’s military campaign against the Houthis, but Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was cool to the idea.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly approached Riyadh through the United States to let Israel join Saudi Arabia’s military campaign against Yemen’s Houthis. The claim was made in a Haaretz report citing a diplomatic source.

According to the report, Netanyahu aimed to warm ties with Saudi Arabia and lay the groundwork for a possible future normalization between the two countries. But Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was said to oppose Israel’s involvement, wary of a domestic backlash.

Riyadh and Israel silent

King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh (file photo)

Neither Saudi Arabia nor Israel has commented officially on the claim.

The Saudi-backed Yemeni government launched its “Dawn of Yemen” offensive against the Houthis on Oct. 4, and the Houthis struck Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on Oct. 10. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday condemned the attack, which killed 12 people, “in the strongest terms.” The U.S. is currently backing the campaign with intelligence, targeting and refueling.