Saudi seeks Israel's help amid attacks by Iran-backed Houthis? Report says Riyadh sought intel aid | World News - hindustantimes.com

**Saudi Arabia Turns to Israel for Intelligence Amid Houthi‑Driven Red Sea Crisis**

*Riyadh has reportedly opened discreet channels with Israel to obtain real‑time intelligence on the Iran‑backed Houthi rebels, whose missile and drone attacks on commercial vessels have intensified throughout the Red Sea. The move, first detailed by Indian and U.S. media outlets, comes as Saudi officials scramble to protect the kingdom’s maritime trade routes and its oil‑export infrastructure. According to *The Hindustan Times* and corroborated by *Axios* and *The Times of India*, the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, has also pressed former U.S. President Donald Trump to authorize a direct strike against the Houthi‑controlled areas of Yemen.*

*The outreach to Israel is being facilitated by Washington, which has taken on a mediating role between the two regional rivals. Sources cited by *The Times of Israel* indicate that senior Israeli defence officials have agreed to share satellite imagery, electronic‑signals intercepts, and threat assessments with Saudi counterparts, while simultaneously warning that direct Israeli involvement in combat could provoke a wider escalation. In parallel, the Israeli Defence Forces have publicly advised Saudi planners to avoid a direct military confrontation with the Houthis, preferring a coordinated intelligence‑driven response instead.*

*The development marks a notable shift in Saudi foreign‑policy calculations, especially after Pakistan announced it would not deploy troops to intervene in the Houthi conflict, leaving the kingdom with limited conventional partners. Analysts see the burgeoning Saudi‑Israeli intelligence collaboration as a possible catalyst for the long‑awaited normalisation talks that have been floated in recent years, albeit under the shadow of heightened U.S. involvement and regional rivalries. How the partnership will evolve, and whether it can curb the Houthi threat without dragging the Middle East into a broader war, remains to be seen.*