Saudi Arabia Reportedly Seeks Israeli Intelligence Aid as Houthi Advance Threatens Bab el-Mandeb
Saudi Arabia has reportedly sought intelligence assistance from Israel as Riyadh scrambles to contain a rapid Houthi advance toward one of the world’s most important shipping routes, while the Trump administration weighs whether deteriorating conditions could eventually require direct U.S. military intervention. The kingdom’s claim drew condemnation from across the Middle East, but there was no immediate sign of military support as fears grew of a return to all-out war between the key parties.
The Iran-backed rebels have ramped up attacks on cities across the kingdom after also capturing a key Red Sea port city and island in their bid to gain control of the crucial Bab el-Mandeb strait. The Houthis’ rapid ground advance in Yemen and aerial attacks on Saudi Arabia have shut down a crucial oil pipeline, threatened energy supplies through a second major shipping route and left the kingdom struggling to respond. The strait has become especially important because the continuing U.S.-Iran war has already severely disrupted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz on the opposite side of the Arabian Peninsula. Egypt has a particularly strong interest in keeping the waterway open because ships passing through Bab al-Mandeb continue north through the Red Sea toward the Suez Canal, a major source of revenue for Cairo.
A senior Trump administration official told Reuters that Washington remained focused on “ensuring freedom of navigation in the Red Sea” while allowing regional partners to take the leading role in dealing with local security threats. ABC News similarly reported that two U.S. officials said there were no immediate plans for direct strikes but cautioned that the administration’s position could change if the threat to Red Sea shipping significantly worsens. Speaking with reporters during a visit to Dublin on Saturday, he said he also spoke with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and maintained that everything would “work out fine and dandy” in the region.
The request comes as Riyadh faces an increasingly difficult military situation in Yemen, with Houthi forces advancing around the Bab el-Mandeb while missiles and drones threaten Saudi cities and critical infrastructure. The reported intelligence outreach to Israel underscores the growing pressure on Saudi Arabia and the potential for broader regional cooperation to counter the Houthi threat.
Shimanta Das 
