Trump Urges Saudi Arabia to Accept Israel’s Offer of Help Against Houthis, Warns Iran Over Nuclear Site
WASHINGTON:US President Donald Trump has advised Saudi Arabia to accept Israel’s offer to assist in the fight against Yemen’s Houthi rebels, saying Israel has proved helpful to the kingdom.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump was asked whether Saudi Arabia should accept Israel’s offer of assistance against the Houthis.
“Yes, absolutely. I think they should,” the US president replied, adding that Israel had been very helpful to Saudi Arabia.
Earlier this week, a diplomatic source told an Israeli newspaper that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had offered to help Saudi Arabia counter the Houthis through US mediation. One of the objectives of the proposal was also to strengthen relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
However, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly opposed the initiative amid concerns that it could provoke a public backlash in Saudi Arabia.
### Trump Warns Iran Over Underground Nuclear Facility
Separately, President Trump said the United States might have to target an underground site known as “Pickaxe Mountain,” which he linked to Iran’s nuclear programme, as part of Washington’s efforts to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
In an interview on Thursday night, Trump ruled out the use of nuclear weapons in the ongoing war against Iran.
The US president said Washington wanted to ensure that Iran never obtained nuclear weapons, arguing that Tehran would inevitably use them if it acquired them.
Referring to Iran’s underground nuclear facilities, Trump said the country’s nuclear capabilities were buried beneath an enormous mountain.
“We’re looking at Pickaxe Mountain now. We may have to go there. We’ll hit it and destroy it very quickly,” Trump said.
His remarks signal the possibility of further US military action against Iranian nuclear infrastructure as Washington continues to pursue its stated objective of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
Clarify the Iran section’s timelineSeparate the two developments more clearly
