Saudi Arabia weighs Israeli help as Houthi threats outpace current alliances

Saudi Arabia may seek Israeli assistance against Houthi attacks as its current alliances prove insufficient, Israeli officials assess, amid escalating regional tensions. The confrontation has raised concerns of broader conflict, including potential Houthi attacks on Israel. The escalation follows a Houthi ballistic missile strike on Riyadh, intercepted by Saudi defenses, marking the first such attack in the current wave. Saudi Arabia is dividing efforts between defending territory, energy facilities, and Red Sea shipping, while seeking air-defense help from France, the UK, Pakistan, and Egypt. Washington has refrained from direct military intervention despite Riyadh's requests, and the US issued security warnings for citizens. Israeli officials believe their air defense and AI capabilities could gain weight in Saudi calculations, potentially boosting the Abraham Accords.