Saudi Arabia urged to form coalition with Israel, UAE against Houthis
Summary
Hussain Abdul-Hussain, a research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, has recommended that Saudi Arabia cannot solely rely on its air campaign to defeat the Iran-backed Houthis and should instead form a coalition with Israel and the United Arab Emirates. He emphasized that Israel has been effective in countering Iran's proxy militias and urged Riyadh to improve relations with the UAE and normalize ties with Israel. This call for coalition-building comes amidst ongoing discussions about regional security, highlighting the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing threats from Iran and the Houthis.
Analysis
Israel: Israel is a Middle Eastern state with advanced defense capabilities and a track record of operations against Iran-linked militant groups. In the news, it is positioned as a key potential partner for Saudi Arabia in countering the Houthis and the Iranian regime through intelligence and military cooperation. Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia is a Gulf kingdom led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, focused on economic diversification and regional security amid ongoing conflicts. In the news, it is advised to form a broader coalition including Israel and the UAE rather than relying solely on air operations against Iran-backed Houthis. Kambiz Tavana: Kambiz Tavana is a multimedia journalist at Iran International English, specializing in coverage of Iranian affairs and conducting interviews with policy experts. In the news, he interviews Hussain Abdul-Hussain on strategies for Saudi Arabia to address Houthi and Iranian threats. United Arab Emirates: The United Arab Emirates is a Gulf federation known for its economic success and pragmatic foreign policy, including normalized ties with Israel. In the news, it is urged to reconcile differences with Saudi Arabia to jointly address threats from the Houthis and Iran. Hussain Abdul-Hussain: Hussain Abdul-Hussain is a research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and author of The Arab Case for Israel, advocating Arab-Israeli normalization and peace. In the news, he argues in an Iran International interview that Saudi Arabia must build a coalition with Israel and the UAE to effectively counter Iran and its Houthi proxies. Foundation for Defense of Democracies: The Foundation for Defense of Democracies is a nonpartisan U.S. think tank specializing in national security and foreign policy analysis, with a focus on Iran and its regional proxies. In the news, its research fellow provides the core recommendations on forming anti-Iran and anti-Houthi alliances. Expert Recommendation: A Foundation for Defense of Democracies fellow recently called for Saudi Arabia to normalize ties with Israel and reconcile with the UAE to form a coalition against Iran and the Houthis. Media Interview Context: Iran International featured an exclusive interview urging Gulf states to pursue open alliances and sustained pressure on Iran rather than limited air campaigns. Regional Security Dynamics: Recent discussions highlight Israel's potential role in assisting Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks, amid ongoing coordination efforts between Saudi Arabia and the UAE on Yemen-related issues.
Categories
macropolitics
Related sources
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/yjriC6cvdWw
- https://x.com/StateDept_NEA/status/2112973672034324659
- https://www.fdd.org/issue/iran/
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- https://x.com/KambizTavanaUS/status/2113439108659900576
- https://reuters.com/world/middle-east/how-houthis-are-helping-iran-turn-saudi-arabia-into-pressure-point-2026-10-15/?outputType=chromeless
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- https://x.com/hahussain/status/2112672062237966713
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- https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-911780
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- https://x.com/hahussain/status/2112543957234176292
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- https://x.com/hahussain/status/2113394714913227127
- https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-912387
- https://x.com/hahussain/status/2113815736493748726
- https://x.com/KambizTavanaUS/status/2113367312174637352