Reported by:
Cherry Meigh Timbol
News Content Editor
Published October 17, 2026
U.S. President Donald Trump said Israel has been “very helpful” to Saudi Arabia in its fight against Yemen’s Houthi movement, while suggesting that Saudi Arabia’s potential normalization of relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords could be closer than ever.
Trump made the remarks on October 16 while speaking to reporters outside the White House. His comments came as Saudi Arabia faced renewed Houthi attacks and Washington sought to strengthen regional security cooperation.
Trump Signals Potential for Closer Saudi-Israeli Ties
Asked whether Saudi Arabia should accept Israeli assistance against the Houthis, Trump said he believed the kingdom would be willing to do so.
“Israel has been very helpful to Saudi Arabia,” Trump told reporters, adding that Saudi Arabia was pleased to have support from both Israel and the United States.
However, Trump did not explain what specific assistance Israel had provided. He did not clarify whether the support involved intelligence sharing, military coordination, air-defense expertise or other forms of cooperation.
The remarks suggest that security concerns could provide an opportunity to deepen contacts between Israel and Saudi Arabia, which do not have formal diplomatic relations.
Abraham Accords Could Gain Renewed Momentum
Trump also suggested that Saudi Arabia could join the Abraham Accords, describing the possibility as stronger than before.
“Maybe more than ever,” Trump said when asked whether normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia was back on the table. He called the accords one of his administration’s major achievements.
The Abraham Accords were negotiated during Trump’s first administration in 2020. They established formal diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Morocco also normalized relations with Israel that year.
Saudi Arabia, one of the region’s most influential countries, has not joined the agreements.
Riyadh has maintained that establishing diplomatic relations with Israel depends on progress toward Palestinian statehood. The issue remains a major obstacle to a normalization agreement.
Houthi Attacks Increase Regional Security Concerns
Trump’s remarks came amid renewed attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement against Saudi targets, including airports, oil facilities and other strategic infrastructure.
The Houthis have developed missile and drone capabilities that threaten Saudi security and commercial activity in the Red Sea region. Saudi Arabia has also accused Iran of supporting the group, a charge Tehran has denied.
On October 16, a Saudi-led military coalition reported intercepting drones and cruise missiles over Saudi territory and the Red Sea, as well as a ballistic missile over the coastal city of Yanbu.
Israel has previously carried out strikes against Houthi targets and has intercepted missiles launched from Yemen. Its experience defending against such attacks could provide an area for potential security cooperation, although Trump did not specify the assistance Israel had allegedly provided to Saudi Arabia.
No Normalization Agreement Announced
Despite Trump’s optimism, his comments did not establish that Saudi Arabia had agreed to join the Abraham Accords or that formal diplomatic negotiations had resumed.
The Saudi government’s position on Palestinian statehood remains a central consideration in any potential agreement. The extent of Israel’s assistance to Saudi Arabia also remains unclear based on Trump’s public remarks.
For now, the president’s statements indicate renewed U.S. interest in linking regional security cooperation with efforts to establish formal relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
