Netanyahu seeks Saudi nod for Israel to join strikes on Houthis: Report

Reports suggest Netanyahu pushes for Israeli role in Houthi campaign; Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking Saudi Arabia’s approval for Israel to join the military campaign against Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, with the US mediating between the two sides, Israeli publication Haaretz reported, citing a diplomatic source.However, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is opposed to Israeli military involvement, fearing it could trigger a backlash among the kingdom’s public, the source said.Another source familiar with the matter said Netanyahu’s push was also aimed at strengthening ties with Riyadh and laying the groundwork for a future normalisation agreement between the two countries.US president Donald Trump has repeatedly advocated normalising Saudi-Israeli relations under the Abraham Accords. A potential agreement appeared close in 2023, before Hamas’s October 7 attack and the subsequent war in Gaza derailed regional diplomatic efforts.Saudi Arabia has maintained that it will not normalise ties with Israel without substantial progress towards establishing a Palestinian state. Netanyahu, meanwhile, has opposed Palestinian statehood, leaving a major obstacle to...