Saudi Arabia faces a growing security and economic crisis as Houthi forces expand their control along Yemen’s Red Sea coast. The Houthis seized large parts of the coastline and strategic areas around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait last week, putting Saudi Arabia’s maritime routes and oil exports under serious pressure. Riyadh has struggled to secure direct military support from its key allies. Pakistan, a major partner under the Mecca Defence Alliance, has reportedly refused to send troops to Yemen for combat operations. The United States and the United Kingdom have also ruled out direct strikes against Houthi positions. With its options narrowing, Saudi Arabia has now looked toward Israel for assistance despite having no formal diplomatic relations with the country.
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Pakistan Refuses Combat Role as Houthi Offensive Puts Saudi Oil Routes at Risk
Reports suggest Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has sought help from several regional countries to counter the Houthi offensive. Riyadh reportedly approached Israel indirectly through the US Central Command, or CENTCOM. Israeli media outlets, including The Jerusalem Post and Israel Hayom, reported that Saudi Arabia sought intelligence assistance related to threats around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The reported communication highlights the seriousness of the crisis facing Riyadh. Saudi Arabia does not recognise Israel as an independent state and does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Jerusalem. Yet the kingdom appears willing to explore even indirect cooperation with Israel as Houthi forces strengthen their position along a critical international shipping route.
The biggest concern for Saudi Arabia involves the potential impact on its oil exports and maritime trade. The Houthis had already launched drone and missile attacks against Saudi energy infrastructure, but their latest offensive marked a major escalation. The group pushed back Saudi-backed forces in Yemen and secured control over important parts of the Red Sea coastline and islands near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Houthi leaders have also said they will continue their blockade of Saudi shipping, which has remained in place since July, while allowing vessels from some other countries to pass. The Bab el-Mandeb serves as a crucial gateway for Saudi Arabia’s access to global markets through the Red Sea. Any prolonged disruption could therefore severely affect the kingdom’s ability to move oil and other goods.
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Saudi Arabia Seeks Israeli Intelligence Support Amid Growing Red Sea Threat
Pakistan’s position has further complicated Riyadh’s response. Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey form part of the Mecca Defence Alliance, but Islamabad has reportedly drawn a clear line against sending its forces to fight the Houthis on foreign soil. Pakistan has instead indicated that it could deploy troops to defend Saudi territory if necessary. However, it does not want its military to participate directly in combat operations inside Yemen. At the same time, Washington has ruled out direct strikes and offered intelligence support, while Britain has reportedly focused on providing military advisers. This limited assistance has left Saudi Arabia searching for additional partners and explains why Riyadh has explored possible cooperation with Israel despite the political sensitivity surrounding such a move.
Israel may also have reasons to avoid direct military involvement. The country has previously faced Houthi attacks linked to the Red Sea crisis, particularly after the Gaza war began, when the group targeted Israeli-linked shipping. Israeli officials reportedly fear that a direct campaign against the Houthis could trigger more missile attacks on Israeli cities and create further disruption in Red Sea trade. For that reason, any Israeli assistance to Saudi Arabia could remain limited to intelligence sharing rather than direct strikes. Israeli defence officials have reportedly favoured action through a broader international and regional coalition instead of allowing Israel to confront the Houthis alone. For Saudi Arabia, however, the immediate priority remains clear: protect its oil exports, secure vital shipping routes and contain the expanding Houthi threat before the crisis causes wider economic damage.
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