US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he expects Saudi Arabia to accept Israeli assistance in its fight against Yemen’s Houthi movement, suggesting that growing security cooperation could also revive efforts to normalise relations between Riyadh and Israel.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on October 16, Trump expressed confidence that the kingdom would welcome Israel’s offer of support as Houthi attacks continue to threaten Saudi territory and critical infrastructure.
Asked whether Saudi Arabia should accept Israeli assistance against the Houthis, Trump replied: “Yeah, I do. I think they will.”
He also claimed that Israel had already provided valuable support to the kingdom, although he did not specify the nature or extent of that assistance.
“Israel has been very helpful to Saudi Arabia,” Trump said.
The US president also suggested that Saudi Arabia could be closer to joining the Abraham Accords, the US-backed agreements aimed at establishing diplomatic relations between Israel and Arab states.
Asked whether Saudi-Israeli normalisation was once again under consideration, Trump responded: “Yeah, I think so, maybe more than ever.”
He further claimed that Riyadh was pleased to receive support from both Israel and the United States.
The remarks come amid escalating hostilities between Saudi-backed forces and the Iran-aligned Houthis, whose recent missile and drone attacks have targeted Saudi airports, energy infrastructure and other strategic facilities.
The renewed fighting has intensified regional security concerns and raised questions about the possibility of direct Israeli involvement in operations against the Houthis.
However, Trump did not provide details of any formal military arrangement between Israel and Saudi Arabia, and there has been no publicly confirmed Saudi agreement to accept Israeli military assistance.
Saudi Arabia and Israel do not maintain formal diplomatic relations, despite years of US efforts to broker a normalisation agreement.
