Saudi Arabia apparently intercepts missiles aimed at Israel
Saudi Arabia does not appear to be quite as neutral as it claims to be in the war between Israel and Hamas. According to a report, the kingdom's air defense intercepts missiles fired from Yemen.
According to a media report, Israel is receiving support from Saudi Arabia in the war. According to Der Spiegel, the kingdom's air force has already protected Israel with its air defense and intercepted missiles fired from Yemen several times since the Hamas attack on 7 October.
According to the report, analysts see this as an indication that Saudi Arabia is sticking to its long-term goal of normalizing relations with Israel - despite Israel's military operation against Hamas. Until now, Saudi Arabia's heir to the throne, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has remained neutral in the conflict. Saudi interests are affected in several places. On the one hand, Iran - the protecting power of the terrorist militia Hamas - is Saudi Arabia's arch-enemy. Secondly, solidarity with the Palestinians is part of the reason of state.
The kingdom itself remains silent about the activities of its air force. However, according to the report, the Saudi Arabian air force has already intercepted missiles fired towards Israel at least twice, once at the end of October over the Red Sea and once at the beginning of November over its own territory. The air force used either the ground-based Patriot system or Iris T missiles from Saudi Arabian Typhoon Eurofighters.
For bin Salman, Israel is a militarily potent adversary of their common arch-enemy Iran. The rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Israel is also supported by the USA. A few days after the Hamas massacre, bin Salman publicly condemned Israel and called for a ceasefire. He had invited all the heads of state in the region to a pompous summit in Riyadh. However, no tough measures were taken. One option would have been to cut oil production.
In recent days, Israeli government representatives had expressed their respect for the summit, which was tightly managed by bin Salman. This prevented a public channel of hatred against Israel. The German government is even hoping that Saudi Arabia will become involved in the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip after the end of the military operation against Hamas. Germany is also counting on the kingdom to help reform the autonomous authority.
- Despite Saudi Arabia's public stance of neutrality in the Israel-Hamas conflict, there have been reports suggesting that the kingdom's air defense systems have intercepted missiles aimed at Israel.
- Amidst the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, allegations have emerged that Iran, a staunch opponent of Saudi Arabia, is providing support to Hamas, further complicating Saudi Arabia's relationships in the region.
- The interception of missiles by Saudi Arabia's air defense systems, aimed at Israel, could be seen as a strategic move in its long-term goal of normalizing relations with Israel, despite Israel's military operation against Hamas.
Source: www.ntv.de
