Saudi Arabia covertly coordinated military strikes against Iran with Israel during recent regional hostilities, according to sources cited by the Times of Israel. The operation marks an extraordinary level of military cooperation between two countries that maintain no formal diplomatic relations.
The strikes reportedly occurred during heightened tensions between Israel and Iran, with Riyadh participating in coordinated operations despite the absence of official ties with Jerusalem. Details of the specific targets and timing remain classified, but the coordination signals a significant deepening of covert security cooperation between Israeli and Saudi forces.
The revelation comes as Israel and Saudi Arabia have pursued gradual normalization behind closed doors, building on the Abraham Accords framework that saw Israel establish diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco in 2020. However, Saudi Arabia has publicly maintained that full normalization requires progress on Palestinian statehood.
Military cooperation of this nature suggests the security dimension of Israeli-Saudi relations has advanced far beyond the diplomatic track. Both countries view Iran as their primary regional threat, with Tehran's nuclear program, ballistic missile development, and support for proxy forces throughout the Middle East creating shared strategic concerns.
In Israel, as across contested regions, security concerns and aspirations for normalcy exist in constant tension. The operational coordination with Saudi Arabia represents a fundamental shift in regional security architecture, moving from tacit intelligence sharing to active military cooperation.
The timing of the disclosure raises questions about whether both governments are preparing public opinion for eventual formal normalization. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long championed closer ties with Saudi Arabia, viewing such a breakthrough as a legacy-defining achievement that would reshape Middle East geopolitics.
For Riyadh, the calculus involves balancing security imperatives against domestic and regional political constraints. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman faces pressure from conservative religious establishments and must navigate broader Arab sentiment regarding the Palestinian issue.
The joint strikes also reflect evolving Gulf security dynamics. As the United States reduces its direct military footprint in the region, Gulf states have pursued more independent security policies, including direct engagement with Israel on shared threats.
Analysts note that such cooperation likely extends beyond the specific strikes reported, potentially involving intelligence sharing, joint planning, and coordinated air defense arrangements. The Red Sea and Persian Gulf regions have seen increased Iranian naval activity and attacks on commercial shipping, creating additional incentives for Israeli-Saudi coordination.
The development may accelerate normalization efforts, though significant obstacles remain. Saudi Arabia continues to demand Israeli concessions on Palestinian statehood as the price for public diplomatic recognition. Whether covert military cooperation will translate into overt diplomatic relations depends on complex calculations involving regional stability, domestic politics, and the Palestinian question that has defined Arab-Israeli relations for decades.
Dennis Ross, former US Middle East peace negotiator, noted the significance: "When two countries without diplomatic relations coordinate military strikes, it reflects threat assessment that overrides traditional political constraints. The question is whether operational cooperation will compel diplomatic normalization or whether it will remain in the shadows."
