Regional officials say kingdom is asking allies for aid in defense against missile and drone attacks from Yemen as interceptors run low, though there have yet to be signs of military support.
Saudi Arabia is running low on missile interceptors and has turned to regional and Western allies for assistance as its standoff with Houthi rebels in Yemen drags on, two regional officials said Wednesday. An unnamed Saudi source speaking to Israel’s Kan public broadcaster, however, dismissed the idea that the path to Israel-Saudi normalization would be advanced if Israel were to provide assistance.
The regional officials said the Saudis have asked France, Britain, Pakistan and Egypt to deploy air-defense support to the region to help defend against missiles and drones fired by Houthis and other Iran-backed groups.
The outreach was initiated because Saudi Arabia’s main ally and arms supplier, the United States, has seen its own stock of interceptors dwindle over the course of a six-month war with Iran, one official said. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media. Saudi officials did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment.
A Saudi source quoted by Israel’s Kan said that even if Jerusalem were to provide assistance against the Houthis, Riyadh would not agree to normalize ties without a resolution of the Palestinian issue. The report didn’t clarify whether Saudi Arabia has asked Israel for help.
Saudi Arabia has repeatedly stressed that it will not agree to normalization without an “irreversible pathway” to Palestinian statehood, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government adamantly opposes. (Read More)
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To understand why Saudi Arabia banners the Palestinian plight, rather than normallize relations with Israel, watch the Dr. Bill Salus video teaching below entitled,
The Saudi - Palestinian Historic and Prophetic Connections