Saudi Arabia, Israel hold talks to help Riyadh defend itself

Israel and Saudi Arabia held talks mediated by US Central Command aimed at helping Riyadh defend itself against the Houthi military through intelligence assistance, Walla reported on Tuesday, citing diplomatic sources in the Middle East.
The Houthi military has intensified its attacks against the Saudi regime over the past week, including a drone attack on oil pipelines and pumping facilities that led to a partial shutdown of activity along the main pipeline. The Houthis also carried out an attack against Saudi civilians who were inside a mosque and nearby buildings not far from the Yemen-Saudi Arabia border.

At the same time, the Houthi military seized several strategically located islands along the Red Sea and barred Saudi vessels from passing through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, imposing what the sources described as an economic and diplomatic blockade on Saudi Arabia.

The security situation has raised significant concerns not only among the Saudis but also among other countries in the region, according to security sources. The concern is based on a scenario in which the US reaches understandings with Iran and the Houthis, leaving Saudi Arabia and other countries to face unresolved threats in the foreseeable future while remaining exposed to continued attacks.

Notably, Bloomberg reported that Saudi Arabia also asked Britain for aid in both repelling the Houthis from the Bab al-Mandab Strait and helping defend against strikes on its oil infrastructure.
Burnham has agreed to send British military advisors to assist Saudi Arabia, Bloomberg reported, but had not yet committed to sending any additional aid.