Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has turned down an Israeli offer to join the country’s military campaign against Yemen’s Houthi, despite efforts to obtain Riyadh’s approval through United States (US) mediation, an Israeli newspaper reported.
The newspaper cited an unnamed diplomatic source on Monday who said that the crown prince did not want Israeli military support over concerns that cooperation with Israel could trigger a negative public reaction in Saudi Arabia.
Another source familiar with the matter said that Israel viewed military cooperation as a way to strengthen ties with Saudi Arabia and potentially move towards future normalisation agreement.
Saudi authorities have not issued an immediate response to the report.
Saudi Arabia does not have diplomatic relations with Israel and has maintained that normalisation depends on resolving the Palestinian issue, including the establishment of a Palestinian state.
The reported Israeli offer comes as Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia have intensified, with strikes on airports causing casualties and disrupting flight operations.
An attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday killed 13 people and injured more than 300 others.
A separate attack on the same airport on Sunday killed a Pakistani resident and injured 11 others, according to Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation.
The latest escalation began in July, following a period of relative calm after a UN-brokered truce took effect in April 2022.
Yemen’s conflict began in September 2014 when the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa and several provinces. A Saudi-led coalition intervened in March 2015 to support the country’s internationally recognised government.
