Zionist Media: Bin Salman Requests Israeli Aid to Save Bab al-Mandab

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) – International Service: According to the report, which cites regional diplomatic officials, the Saudi request to Israel entails "intelligence gathering and other forms of support" to counter the threat posed by Yemeni forces at Bab al-Mandab. *Israel Hayom* emphasized that Bin Salman simultaneously sent similar requests directly to Gulf states and Egypt. These requests come as Yemeni forces have launched a major operation along Yemen's western coast since September 3, 2026, seizing control of the strategic port of Mocha and islands overlooking the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

 

In his messages, Bin Salman warned that the closure of the Bab al-Mandab Strait would inflict "severe damage on the entire region and the global economy," stressing that "this is not merely a Saudi war, but a conflict that affects the whole world." He stated that the economic fallout from closing Bab al-Mandab could exceed the damage caused by a closure of the Strait of Hormuz. These warnings coincide with a crisis facing Saudi Arabia's oil exports in recent weeks, following the suspension of the country's "East-West" pipeline after a recent drone attack. In the continuation of its report, the *Israel Hayom* newspaper wrote that Israel is "in no rush to actively join the war," yet it may perceive this crisis as an "opportunity to steer Saudi Arabia back toward rapprochement with Israel" and provide a compelling justification for Bin Salman to counter domestic opposition to normalization. Israel itself has suffered from the blockade of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, with operations at the port of Eilat having virtually ground to a halt. Meanwhile, Pakistan and Turkey having signed a strategic defense agreement with Saudi Arabia roughly a month ago have refrained from entering the conflict, limiting their involvement to "mediation efforts" with the Yemeni forces.

 

There is also no appetite in Washington for direct military intervention. While Admiral Brad Cooper, the CENTCOM commander, has visited Saudi Arabia to assess the situation and dozens of U.S. troops have been deployed there, U.S. officials state that Donald Trump is unwilling to provide direct military assistance to Saudi Arabia at this stage. Bin Salman had previously twice requested via telephone that Trump order strikes on Yemeni force positions, but the request was rejected. A U.S. official stated that Washington is limiting its support to providing Saudi Arabia with intelligence and targeting data regarding the Yemeni forces. These developments underscore the severity of the crisis, which has compelled Riyadh to seek assistance from sources that, until recently, would have been considered unthinkable.