Report says Netanyahu seeks Saudi approval for Israel to join strikes on Houthis, but Riyadh refuses

According to a report by the Times of India on Tuesday October 13, 2026, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking Saudi Arabia’s approval for Israel to join military operations against Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, with the United States reportedly acting as an intermediary, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reveals.

The report, citing a diplomatic source, said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman opposes direct Israeli involvement, fearing it could provoke public anger in the kingdom and complicate Riyadh’s position in the conflict.

Another source familiar with the discussions said Netanyahu’s proposal was also intended to strengthen relations with Saudi Arabia and potentially pave the way for a future agreement to normalise diplomatic ties between the two countries.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly pushed for Saudi Arabia and Israel to establish formal relations under the Abraham Accords. A deal appeared within reach in 2023, but Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza disrupted the diplomatic process.

Saudi Arabia has consistently maintained that normalisation cannot proceed without meaningful progress towards the establishment of a Palestinian state. Netanyahu, however, opposes Palestinian statehood, leaving a major obstacle to any potential agreement.

The reported diplomatic efforts come as Saudi Arabia faces an intensifying wave of Houthi attacks. The rebels have targeted key infrastructure, including Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, amid escalating hostilities in the region.

According to the report, a ballistic missile strike on Saturday killed at least 12 people and injured 309, while a separate attack on Sunday left one person dead and another injured.

Netanyahu condemned Saturday’s airport attack, describing it as a “horrific terrorist attack” and offering condolences to the victims’ families on behalf of Israel.

The Houthis have also targeted Saudi oil facilities and airports in recent days, raising fresh concerns about the security of the kingdom and the wider region. The conflict has drawn particular attention to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategic maritime passage vital to international shipping.

For Riyadh, allowing Israeli forces to participate directly in the campaign could carry significant political risks, especially given public sensitivities surrounding the Palestinian issue. Saudi Arabia’s position therefore remains a key uncertainty in Netanyahu’s reported effort to bring Israel into the military operations against the Houthis.

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