Saudi Arabia Reportedly Offers $1 Billion to Yemen’s Houthis in Bid to Halt Attacks —Israel Hayom
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | October 27, 2026 | The Global Journal
Saudi Arabia has reportedly offered $1 billion in financial assistance as part of a proposed arrangement with Yemen’s Houthi group to secure a ceasefire and stop attacks against Saudi territory, according to Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom. The claim was highlighted in a report by NDTV. However, the proposed amount, the alleged agreement and claims that the money was physically transported to Tehran have not been independently verified.
Citing diplomatic sources in the Gulf region, the report says the initiative aims primarily to stop Houthi attacks targeting Saudi airports, oil facilities and other infrastructure. Iran is reportedly involved as a mediator.
Claim of Discussions During Visit to Tehran
According to the report, discussions about a possible arrangement with the Houthis took place during Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman’s visit to Tehran. Iran reportedly offered diplomatic mediation to help ease regional tensions.
Israel Hayom further claimed that the Saudi defence minister physically brought $1 billion to Tehran aboard a Hercules military transport aircraft. However, no independently verifiable evidence has been established to substantiate this unusual allegation. It should therefore not be treated as a confirmed fact.
Saudi Arabia’s Official Position
Citing a statement from the Saudi Foreign Ministry, the report says Prince Khalid bin Salman and representatives of countries involved in the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement visited Tehran to help reduce tensions, encourage dialogue and explore diplomatic solutions to the ongoing crisis. The statement also reportedly referred to support for mediation efforts by Qatar and Pakistan.
However, the official Saudi statement, as described in the report, did not confirm an offer to pay $1 billion directly to the Houthis or the alleged transportation of money to Tehran.
Claims of Pakistani, Turkish and Iranian Participation
The report says Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin participated in the discussions. It also names Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Supreme National Security Council secretary Mohsen Rezaei and officials from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as participants on the Iranian side.
Nevertheless, comprehensive and independently verified information about the participants, the discussions and the terms of any potential agreement remains unavailable.
Claims of Economic Damage from Houthi Attacks
According to the report, repeated Houthi attacks targeting Saudi airports and oil infrastructure have caused economic damage. It also claims that Riyadh airport had to remain closed for several days and that a major investment conference was postponed because of the attacks. These specific claims require independent verification.
The report also refers to disruptions to regional energy exports amid Iranian attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. The situation has reportedly heightened concerns over Gulf security and the stability of energy supplies.
What Could the Proposed Arrangement Involve?
According to Israel Hayom, the proposed arrangement could involve Saudi financial assistance for rebuilding civilian infrastructure in Houthi-controlled areas and paying public-sector employees’ salaries. In return, the Houthis would reportedly be expected to maintain a ceasefire and stop attacks against Saudi Arabia.
The report quotes a Saudi official as saying that the failure to implement agreements reached three years earlier was among the factors contributing to the conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis. The Houthis, meanwhile, reportedly accuse Saudi Arabia of abandoning previous understandings, a position that Iran is said to support.
Alleged Agreement Remains Unverified
The reported $1 billion offer, the claim that the money was transported to Tehran and the details of the proposed arrangement have not been independently confirmed. Without clear and comprehensive confirmation from Saudi Arabia, Iran and the Houthis, the claims should not be presented as an established agreement.
If such an arrangement were reached and implemented, it could have implications for the conflict in Yemen, Saudi Arabia’s security and the protection of energy infrastructure across the Gulf region. For now, however, the reported proposal should be treated as an unverified diplomatic claim, rather than a confirmed deal.
Sources: NDTV; Israel Hayom.
