WorldPosted at: Sep 17 2026 5:07PM


Saudi seeks help from allies amid conflict with Houthi militants, refuses to normalise ties with Israel even if it agrees to provide aid

Riyadh, Sep 17 (UNI) Saudi Arabia is running low on missile interceptors and has sought help from regional and Western allies amid its intensifying conflict with Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen but is reluctant to normalise ties with Israel even if it agrees to provide military hardware to fight against the said militants, two regional officials told Kan on Wednesday.
The officials said Riyadh had asked France, Britain, Pakistan and Egypt to provide air-defence support to help protect the kingdom from missiles and drones launched by the Houthis and other Iran-backed groups, marking another front to emerge from the wider Iran war.
The requests were made as Saudi's biggest defence ally and arms supplier, the US, has also begun seeing its stocks of missile interceptors go to massive lows during its six-month war with Iran, though Saudi officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Despite its defence dilemma, Saudi has openly dismissed any suggestions that it would normalise ties with Israel should Jerusalem provide it with military support against the Houthis.
As per the Saudi source, Riyadh would not agree to establish relations with Israel until the Palestinian issue is not resolved. Riyadh has repeatedly said it requires an "irreversible pathway" towards Palestinian statehood, a position strongly opposed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.
"The assumption that… Riyadh will be flexible on the matter of normalization with Jerusalem is mistaken," the Saudi source told Kan.
It was not clear whether Saudi Arabia had actually asked Israel for military assistance.
On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia accused the Houthis of attempting to attack Mecca, Islam's holiest city, with a drone. The kingdom said its air defences intercepted the drone and described Mecca as a "red line".
The Houthis denied targeting the city, which is about 1,100 kilometres (680 miles) from Yemen's border.
The alleged incident drew global condemnation, but there was no immediate indication of additional military support being offered to Riyadh.
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Tags: #Saudi seeks help from allies amid conflict with Houthi militants# refuses to normalise ties with Israel even if it agrees to provide aid
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