World · Middle East · 2 hrs ago
Saudi crown prince rejects Israeli offer to join fight against Houthis
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman rejected an Israeli offer to join the fight against Yemen’s Houthis, according to Israeli media.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the offer through US mediation, partly in an effort to improve ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
The crown prince reportedly feared a public backlash in Saudi Arabia if the kingdom joined the fighting.
Plans for Israel and Saudi Arabia to normalise relations have stalled since the Gaza war began in October 2023.
The renewed fighting comes amid deadly attacks on Saudi Arabia; an airport strike in Riyadh killed 12 people, with the toll later reported to have risen to 13, and injured 309.
Iran has urged Saudi Arabia to seek a political solution and offered to help facilitate dialogue between Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman rejected an Israeli offer to help fight the Houthis in Yemen, according to Israeli media reports.
A diplomatic source told Haaretz that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the offer through US mediation.
The report said Netanyahu saw the offer partly as a way to strengthen ties with Saudi Arabia.
Mohammed bin Salman opposed the proposal because he feared a backlash among the Saudi public.
- Who
- Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman rejected the offer; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly made it.
- What
- Israel offered to help Saudi Arabia fight the Houthis in Yemen.
- When
- The report was published on 13 October 2026; the date of the offer and rejection was not stated.
- Where
- Yemen, where the Houthis are fighting the Saudi-backed government.
- Why
- Netanyahu reportedly hoped to strengthen ties with Saudi Arabia. Mohammed bin Salman feared a backlash among the Saudi public.
Israel
Saudi Arabia
Purpose of the proposal
Israel
Netanyahu reportedly offered help in fighting the Houthis partly to strengthen ties with the kingdom.
Saudi Arabia
Mohammed bin Salman opposed the offer, fearing a backlash among the Saudi public.
An attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh killed 12 people and injured 309, according to Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi offered to help facilitate dialogue during a telephone call with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.
The Houthis said they had shot down a Saudi Wing Loong II armed reconnaissance drone in northern Yemen’s Saada.
Middle East Eye published its report that Mohammed bin Salman had rejected Israel’s offer to help fight the Houthis.
- Saudi crown prince
- Mohammed bin Salman
- Israeli prime minister
- Benjamin Netanyahu
- Offer
- Help fight the Houthis in Yemen
- Reported publication date
- 13 October 2026
- Airport attack toll
- 12 killed and 309 injured, according to Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation
What people are saying
Insisting on a military approach and disregarding a political solution would only further complicate the situation.
I condemn in the strongest possible terms the horrific terrorist attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which claimed the lives of 12 innocent people and injured hundreds more.
Sources
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