SEPTEMBER 15, 2026
- Israel & Saudi held talks to help Riyadh defend against Houthis
- through intelligence assistance, Walla reported Tues
- Houthi attacked Saudi over past week
- drone attacked oil pipelines, pumping facilities led to partial shutdown
- Houthis attacked Saudi civilians inside mosque
- Houthi seized several strategic islands along Red Sea
- barred Saudi vessels from passing through Bab al-Mandab Strait
- imposing economic blockade on Saudi Arabia
- security situation raised significant concerns among Saudis, other countries
- fear scenario where US reaches separate understanding with Iran, Houthis
- leaving Saudi and other countries to face unresolved threats
- Saudi Arabia, Israel hold talks to help Riyadh defend itself
- Saudi and Israel held talks mediated by CENTCOM to help Saudis
- Israel already has intelligence and operational capabilities in Strait of Hormuz
- assisting US in building layers of intelligence on Iranian forces
- Saudi request to identify potential plans for future operations
- Israel and Saudi share several security interests regardless of normalization
- optimism for both sides to reach diplomatic agreement
- agreement is viewed as highly important
- amid growing threats in Middle East
- highlights urgent need to establish priorities
My Comments:
I just blogged about this possibility yesterday.
Operational matters: Will Israel send troops, airplanes, navy to help defend Saudi Arabia? I believe they may be doing that already. Mere intel assistance is not going to do anything for the Saudis. The Saudis simply cannot defend themselves. The Houthis are basic rag tag militia. Nothing the Israelis cannot handle. Plus this is not Gaza.
The Saudi Israeli talks will likely go like this:
Israel: We will do this, this, that and that. In return you Saudi Arabia must do this, this, that and that.
Saudi: Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.
There will also be a price tag. In US Dollars.
(Did you know that the Saudis recently paid gazillions of USD to the Houthis? As protection money. The Houthis took the money but there was no protection. Thus establishing the principle that the Saudis will pay cash to keep their head on their shoulders).
"identify potential plans for future operations" means the Houthis are going to get it.
"optimism for both sides to reach diplomatic agreement" means the Saudis will join the Abrahamic Accords and extend official recognition to the State of Israel. It will happen.
Lets talk some military sense ok - the Hamas, Hezbollah, Turkey, Iran, the Houthis, the Iraqi militia, Pakistan, Afghanistan stand no chance militarily. They can beat up and kill young women (Mahsa Amini), villagers and civilians, they can beat up on each other, but thats about it. And no, no US Navy ships were sunk or even hit by any Iranian missile.
Three years ago at the beginning of the Hamas attack I said they (Hamas, Hezbollah) have no chance against the most powerful military in the Middle East (Israel) and perhaps the most powerful airforce in the world (the IAF). Likewise militarily the Iranians have absolutely no chance against the United States or against Israel. Just like the Ukrainians have no chance against the Russians. Absolutely no chance.
But these are not their wars. These are proxy wars.
The people of Ukraine have nothing to do with the war in that country.
The people of Gaza have nothing to do with the war in their land.
The people of Yemen have nothing to do with the destruction that will be dropped on their heads. These are all proxy wars.
If Saudi Arabia signs a deal with Israel the Middle east will change forever.
There is just one itchy pimple on the camel's ass - Qatar.
