Israel Supports Saudi Arabia with Intelligence Amid Houthi Threat
Israel has started sharing intelligence with Saudi Arabia, courtesy of the United States, as Riyadh confronts a growing offensive from the Houthis. This escalation has reached deep into Saudi territory and threatens the crucial Bab el-Mandeb Strait, according to multiple reports from Israeli sources on Tuesday.
In response to the Houthi threat, Saudi Arabia initially sought help from the United States, which then facilitated the intelligence transfer from Israel through U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). This was reported by Kan News, referencing insights from a regional diplomat.
The intelligence assistance requested by Saudi Arabia includes measures aimed at preventing the Iran-aligned Houthis from blocking Bab el-Mandeb, the vital link between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Israel Hayom mentioned that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman indirectly contacted Israel for help via CENTCOM, while also seeking support from other regional allies.
Cooperation has grown as the Houthis continue to escalate their actions against Saudi Arabia, firing missiles and deploying drones within the kingdom, while also advancing along the Red Sea coast of Yemen and near Bab el-Mandeb.
On Tuesday, warning sirens were heard in Mecca, Jeddah, and Taif as tensions rose. In conjunction, Saudi and Yemeni forces executed strikes against Houthi positions in Yemen. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree reported that Saudi airstrikes reached 52 in just 24 hours, promising that these actions “will not go unanswered.”
This burgeoning intelligence collaboration seems to be part of a larger effort led by the U.S. to coordinate regional responses to the Houthi threat.
During a meeting in Jeddah, CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper spoke with bin Salman about the latest developments amid the increasing Houthi offensive.
Additionally, CENTCOM’s involvement extended to Cairo where representatives took part in security discussions during bin Salman’s meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. They proposed setting up a joint regional mechanism to assist Saudi Arabia against the Houthis.
During their discussions, both Sisi and bin Salman emphasized the importance of securing navigation through the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb, with Sisi backing Saudi efforts to maintain the kingdom’s security and stability.
This regional coordination comes after a meeting last week in Germany, where Cooper gathered military leaders from Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and Egypt for the first time since the conflict with Iran escalated in February.
CENTCOM noted that it “hosted senior military leaders from eight nations during a scheduled conference in Germany,” where they explored “opportunities for enhancing security cooperation in the Middle East.”
Israel’s military chief, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, informed the commanders about Israeli operations across various fronts. Meanwhile, Cooper addressed the need to enhance commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, assuring attendees of the ongoing presence of U.S. forces in the region despite Iranian aggression against American bases. Discussions also touched upon potential Israeli support in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance for Saudi operations against the Houthis.
This cooperation is particularly noteworthy considering that Saudi Arabia and Israel do not have formal diplomatic relations, despite ongoing U.S. efforts to foster a normalization agreement.
For Saudi Arabia, the immediate focus is clearly military. The Houthis have taken control of territory along Yemen’s western coast, strengthening their hold near Bab el-Mandeb, while their attacks on Saudi land and energy sectors create pressure for the kingdom to respond and secure this strategic waterway.
The situation around Bab el-Mandeb intensifies as the U.S. boosts commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, following previous Iranian attempts to disrupt passage. U.S. officials reported an increase to about 40 ships per day moving through the strait under U.S. protection, transporting around 14 million barrels of oil daily, as Saudi Arabia ramped up its tanker operations amid the rising conflict around the Red Sea.
The clash over this crucial strait escalated further on Monday, when Iranian vessels attempted to capture a U.S. unmanned surface vessel in the region. CENTCOM confirmed that the attempt was thwarted, with the American vessel retaining control and responding forcefully, reportedly destroying two Iranian boats and resulting in casualties among their crew.
