Israel wants to join fight against Houthis?

From Europe, let's shift our focus to Israel now, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to woo Saudi Arabia to join the strikes against the Houthis. According to an Israeli media outlet, Netanyahu is seeking Saudi Arabia's approval through U.S. mediation for Israel to join the campaign against the rebel group in Yemen. The report in Haaretz claims that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has opposed Israeli military's involvement. It says the MBS is hesitant because of the likely backlash among the kingdom's public. The report's quoting sources further claims that Netanyahu's efforts are also aimed at strengthening ties with Riyadh and paving the way for a future normalization agreement between the two countries. U.S. President Donald Trump, remember, has repeatedly promoted Saudi normalization with Israel through the Abraham Accords in the recent months. Reports say the prospect of a deal with Saudi Arabia that appeared closed in the fall of 2023 was one reason why Netanyahu avoided escalating the conflict with Hamas in the weeks before the group attacked on the 7th of October that year. Saudi Arabia's official position, however, is that normalization with Israel can take place only after substantial progress towards the establishment of a Palestinian state. In the recent days, the Houthis have attacked Saudi Arabia several times. including repeated strikes on Riyadh's international airport. At least 12 people were killed and over 300 were injured in a ballistic missile strike on the airport on Saturday. One person was killed and 11 were injured in an attack on the airport on Sunday. Prime Minister Netanyahu issued a statement of condolences to Saudi Arabia following Saturday's attack on the airport. Saudi Arabia faced fresh missile and drone attacks on Monday this week, even as the Riyadh airport remained shut for two days. After the attacks, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also pledged support to Saudi Arabia, citing its defence agreements with the Kingdom and Turkey. Shehbaz Sharif referred to the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, under which an attack against one country is considered an attack against all. Pakistan's military confirmed last week that Pakistani forces have been deployed to Saudi Arabia under the Trilateral Defense Agreement. It said the soldiers were carrying out duties in the kingdom in multiple capabilities and domains. Early in September, the Houthis advanced rapidly along Yemen's western coast on the Red Sea, capturing the strategic port city of Mukha and several Red Sea islands. The gains gave them control of the Yemen side of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital maritime choke point through which about 12% of global trade passes. Since then, forces loyal to Yemen's internationally recognized government have launched a major offensive against the Houthis along the Red Sea coast, backed by an intensified Saudi-led coalition air campaign and recaptured Mukha.