There is increased discussion about how Israel might help Saudi Arabia against the Iranian-backed Houthis. If there is help, how might it take shape, and what might be most effective?
This also comes in the context of questions about whether Saudi Arabia will join the Abraham Accords. Questions about this have persisted since the Accords began in 2020. However, Riyadh has taken a wait-and-see approach, preferring that Israel make positive moves on the Palestinian issue.
US President Donald Trump has said that Saudi Arabia may be accepting help from Israel. Asked about whether he thought Saudi Arabia might normalize ties with Israel, he said, “I do, I think they will. Israel’s been very helpful to Saudi Arabia.” The comments come days after Saudi Arabia appeared to downplay whether Israel would support them.
This comes in the context of the Houthis increasing attacks on Saudi Arabia. The US has not joined the fighting but may be supporting the Saudis in various ways, such as via intelligence. The US has so far chosen not to join strikes on the Houthis. The Trump administration carried out strikes on the Houthis in March and April 2025. The administration eventually concluded that it was better to do a deal with the Houthis than continue strikes.
On October 18, Israel’s Walla had a piece by Amir Bohbot, asking whether Israeli aid to Saudi Arabia would be an opportunity or a potential powder keg. “Security sources confirmed to Walla that the quality of Israeli intelligence is improving, but at the same time the Houthis are causing heavy damage. The security establishment is aware that there is an opportunity to strengthen relations, but is not addressing the issue for fear of inflaming the situation.”
Anadolu, a Turkish pro-government media outlet, noted on October 13 that “Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has rejected an Israeli push to join the military campaign against Yemen's Houthi group, despite efforts to secure Riyadh's approval through US mediation.” Anadolu said it based this on a report in Israel’s Haaretz. “Another source familiar with the matter said Israel hoped military cooperation with Saudi Arabia would strengthen bilateral ties and pave the way for a future normalization agreement,” the report said. “There was no immediate comment from Saudi authorities on the report.”
Saudi Arabia needs Israeli aerial defense systems
Ynet noted on October 18, in a piece by Ron Ben Yishai, that “the Saudis urgently need early-warning radar systems and air-defense batteries capable of countering different types of aerial threats, including Iron Dome, David's Sling, and even Arrow 2 interceptors. The Houthis are attacking Saudi Arabia with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and explosive-laden drones, requiring a combination of defensive capabilities.”
The analysis also noted that “Trump sees a chance to revive Saudi-Israel normalization as the Houthis strike Riyadh; Israel is sharing intelligence, but Riyadh's demand for Palestinian statehood talks and Israel's need for its own defenses make a deal far from certain.” It also added that Trump may see an “opportunity for greater Israeli assistance, potentially generating enough goodwill in Riyadh to persuade the Saudis to abandon their longstanding condition for normalization: negotiations with the Palestinians toward a two-state solution. For now, however, there is considerable reason to doubt that Trump's comments signal a meaningful breakthrough in Israeli-Saudi relations.”
Walla noted that “security sources confirmed to Walla that as time goes by, the contribution of Israeli intelligence is increasing, with the Houthis in the background causing heavy damage to the Saudis throughout the country.”
The report went on to say that “as first published in Walla, the IDF is assisting Saudi Arabia on the intelligence front in the fight against the Houthis in aspects of warning, a target bank, and building a situational picture.” It added that “Israel sees this as a positive process that will intensify once the US decides how it will decide on the Iranian issue: If the US attacks Iran, the latter may attack the countries of the region, including Israel. If the Americans continue with the economic sanctions (there is a slim chance of a political agreement without further conflict), they could also lead to escalation in the region.”
Houthis targeted shipping they claimed was linked to Israel after Oct. 7
The overall story now points to potential increased Israeli involvement and support. It’s worth noting that the Houthis began attacks on Israel soon after the Hamas attack on October 7. The Houthis began by attacking ships they claimed were linked to Israel. The Iranian-backed group claimed that it was targeting Israeli ships and vessels linked to Israel, although many of the ships attacked had no direct Israeli ownership or operational connection.
One of the most prominent incidents occurred on November 19, 2023, when Houthi forces seized the Galaxy Leader, a vehicle carrier, in the Red Sea. Armed men boarded the ship from a helicopter and diverted it to Yemen. The vessel was operated by a Japanese company and linked through its ownership structure to Israeli businessman Abraham Ungar. None of its 25 crew members were Israeli nationals. They remained detained until January 2025, when the Houthis released them following the Gaza ceasefire agreement.
The seizure marked the beginning of a wider campaign against international shipping. The Houthis subsequently expanded their declared targets to include vessels traveling to Israeli ports and ships associated with American and British interests.
The Houthis also carried out ballistic missile attacks on Israel. Israel responded by striking dozens of Houthi targets in 2025. This illustrates how there has already been an Israeli campaign against the Houthis. The US has also carried out a campaign.
Saudi Arabia has also fought the Houthis since 2015. That means that all the players know the Houthi threat and capabilities. The Saudis have worked with Egypt, the UAE, and others in the past against the Houthis. It appears Riyadh will work with Egypt and the UAE again. Israel has ties with the UAE and Egypt via peace treaties. Israel also already works closely with US Central Command.
Any cooperation against the Houthis can increase the regional defense connections and defense infrastructure. This helps defend against Iranian-backed threats and Iran’s direct threats. For instance, when Iran carried out large missile attacks on Israel in 2024, many countries cooperated against the threat.