Saudi Arabia Reportedly Offers $1 Billion to Houthis to Halt Missile and Drone Attacks

RIYADH/TEHRAN:Saudi Arabia has reportedly offered $1 billion in a bid to persuade Yemen’s Houthi rebels to stop missile and drone attacks, while social media claims suggest that Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman transported the money to Tehran aboard a C-130 military aircraft.

However, neither the alleged transfer of the money nor a final ceasefire agreement with the Houthis has been independently verified.

Former US intelligence officer John Kiriakou, speaking on his programme “The Briefing Room” on social media, claimed that Saudi Arabia had attempted to reach an understanding with the Houthis through Iranian mediation. The reported initiative aims to prevent missile and drone attacks on Saudi territory and critical infrastructure.

A report attributed to Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom has also mentioned a possible financial package for an understanding between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis.

According to the reported proposal, the funds could be used to pay government employees in Houthi-controlled areas and help restore essential infrastructure. However, no independently verified evidence has emerged to support claims that $1 billion in cash was transported to Tehran.

Reports about Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman’s visit to Tehran suggest that discussions focused on regional security, reducing tensions and resolving disputes through diplomatic engagement.

Following the restoration of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran in 2023, the two countries have maintained contacts aimed at reducing regional tensions. Given Iran’s close ties with the Houthi movement, Tehran is considered a potentially important intermediary in any possible understanding between Riyadh and the rebels.

Preventing Houthi missile and drone attacks remains a major concern for Saudi Arabia, as such attacks could threaten oil facilities, airports and other critical infrastructure.

Reports about the proposed arrangement suggest that Saudi financial assistance could be offered in exchange for an end to attacks and the maintenance of a ceasefire.

However, the final terms of the proposed arrangement, the payment mechanism and the signing of any formal agreement by the parties have not been confirmed.

Saudi Arabia and the Houthis have made several attempts at negotiations and ceasefire arrangements in recent years, but the conflict in Yemen remains unresolved.

The most widely discussed aspect of the latest reports is the claim that the Saudi defence minister personally transported $1 billion in cash. Social media posts have specifically referred to a US-made C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft, but the claim remains unverified.

**Former CIA Officer Makes Claims About Israeli Election Scenario**

Meanwhile, former CIA officer John Kiriakou has also made claims regarding Israel’s political situation, suggesting that forming a government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could prove difficult.

He claimed that opposition leader and former Israeli military chief Gadi Eisenkot was changing his political position and could potentially secure support from Arab parties.

According to Kiriakou, if Eisenkot succeeds in bringing Arab parties into an alliance currently holding 48 seats, he could gain the support of another 19 lawmakers, taking the total to 67 seats and putting him in a position to form a government.

He further claimed that the alliance led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had secured a combined 53 seats.

Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, has 120 seats, and a minimum of 61 seats is required to form a government.

These political projections and claims have not been independently established.

Separate the unrelated Israel sectionReplace the unverified lead with cautious wording