Brief

Trump says Saudi Arabia may accept Israeli help against Houthis

Trump suggested Riyadh might welcome Israeli support and could move closer to the Abraham Accords.

By Felo News Desk · Published Sat, 17 Oct 2026 10:18:47 GMT

U.S. President Donald Trump told a reporter on Friday that Saudi Arabia may accept Israeli assistance in its fight against Yemen’s Houthi rebels, and that the kingdom could be nearer than ever to joining the Abraham Accords.

What happened

During a press interaction on October 16, 2026, Trump was asked whether Saudi Arabia should take Israel’s offer of help against the Houthis. He responded affirmatively, saying, “Yeah, I do. I think so.” He added that he believed Riyadh would agree, noting, “I think they will, sure. Israel has been very helpful to Saudi Arabia. And, yeah, they certainly would do that.” The president also said Saudi Arabia’s potential accession to the Abraham Accords was “maybe more than ever.”

What the reports add

The News18 article notes that Trump’s comments came as Houthi attacks on Saudi targets have intensified, including a missile strike on King Khalid International Airport that killed 13 people the previous week. It also references a report that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had approached Riyadh, via U.S. mediation, to seek Saudi approval for Israeli military involvement against the Houthis. According to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, a diplomatic source said Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman opposed the proposal over fears of public backlash, while a second source said Israel hoped cooperation could strengthen ties and aid normalisation.

What was said

“I think they will, sure. Israel has been very helpful to Saudi Arabia. And, yeah, they certainly would do that,” Trump told the reporter, as reported by News18.

How it came about

Trump’s remarks follow a series of recent Houthi attacks on Saudi infrastructure. On October 14, a Houthi ballistic missile was intercepted over Riyadh, injuring civilians and damaging homes, prompting Trump to say the United States was “considering joining attacks on the Houthis.” Earlier, on October 11, the Saudi Foreign Ministry issued an advisory after a deadly strike on King Khalid Airport killed at least 12 people and injured over 300. Felo’s earlier coverage of those attacks (Saudi Foreign Ministry advisory after airport attacks) provides context for the heightened security concerns that frame Trump’s statements.

Key facts

President Donald Trump said Saudi Arabia may accept Israeli assistance against the Houthis. (news18.com)
Trump suggested Saudi Arabia could be closer to joining the Abraham Accords. (news18.com)
Recent Houthi attacks have hit Saudi targets, including a missile strike on King Khalid Airport that killed 13 people. (news18.com)