CENTCOM chief meets Saudi Arabia's MBS amid Houthi gains in Yemen

Israel appears unlikely to bolster relations with Saudi Arabia, despite Riyadh's pursuit of intelligence sharing and military aid in combating the Houthi threat, according to Dr. Brandon Friedman, a researcher at Tel Aviv University. Following reports suggesting that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is seeking US military assistance, Friedman said that the likelihood of Israel stepping in is "fairly unlikely" due to the current political climate, primarily influenced by the Israeli election.

Any support Israel might offer would be done discreetly to appease domestic political needs, Friedman added. Saudi Arabia, which has been reliant on Washington over the past 15 years, has become increasingly vulnerable and has limited military capabilities, making it less inclined to cooperate with Israel or the UAE. The Mecca Agreement between Saudi Arabia and Turkey/Pakistan, however, has failed to provide the necessary support to Riyadh.

As Iran seeks to influence the situation through its negotiations with the GCC states, Friedman believes that Saudi Arabia may now be considering appeasing Iran. With the Houthis targeting Saudi oil infrastructure and oil prices at stake, Riyadh remains hopeful that Washington will intervene, but Friedman doubts this outcome due to the upcoming US presidential elections and ongoing diplomatic tensions.