Saudi crown prince rejects Israeli bid to join Houthi war
Riyadh refused the offer fearing public backlash, while Tehran urged political dialogue after a deadly strike on Riyadh airport killed 13 people.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman rejected an Israeli proposal to join military operations against Yemen’s Houthis. The refusal highlights Riyadh’s cautious stance amid rising regional tensions and complex diplomatic maneuvers involving several global powers currently engaged in the region.
A diplomatic source stated that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought collaboration through US mediation. The Israeli leader viewed this cooperation as a strategic way to strengthen ties with the kingdom while targeting an Iran-linked group operating in Yemen at present.
The Crown Prince opposed the initiative due to fears of negative public repercussions. This decision marks a shift from earlier normalization aspirations, which had gained momentum following similar agreements by other Arab states in 2020 before recent conflicts emerged.
The Gaza conflict starting in October 2023 severely damaged those diplomatic prospects. Reports indicated Israel saw renewed hostilities between the Houthis and Saudi-backed forces as an opportunity to revive relations, likely driven by a desire to confront Iran-supported groups.
Iran has urged Saudi Arabia to choose political dialogue over military solutions. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made this offer during a call with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, emphasizing that regional crises lack military resolutions entirely.
He warned that insisting on force would complicate matters further. Tehran expressed readiness to facilitate negotiations between Riyadh and Yemen to achieve a settlement. This diplomatic push followed a deadly attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday.
The General Authority of Civil Aviation reported the strike killed 12 people and injured 309. The death toll rose to 13 after an Indian national succumbed to injuries. Netanyahu condemned the incident on social media, offering condolences to victims' families and wishing recovery for the injured.
Meanwhile, Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for downing a Saudi drone. He stated the Wing Loong II aircraft was conducting hostile missions in Saada province when targeted. This incident adds to the escalating violence across the border regions recently.