Israel

Jérusalem, October 14, 2026. The Israeli press is following the escalation between Riyadh and the Houthis from the angle of its own exposure. The Jerusalem Post recalls that the deadly attacks of the week, on Riyadh's airport on Saturday, October 10 (13 dead, over 300 injured) and then on Sunday, October 11 (one dead), have put Riyadh under pressure. The newspaper notes, however, that the kingdom "seemed reluctant to respond massively" and wonders if Saudi Arabia really has no good options.

On Tuesday, October 13, Haaretz relayed the rare statement from the Saudi coalition calling on civilians to leave the site of the Yemeni Petroleum Company and its storage areas before a possible strike. According to the Houthi-controlled Ministry of Health, two people were killed in an attack on an oil company in the province of Hodeidah, and it holds Riyadh responsible. The Houthis, for their part, declare Aramco's facilities "legitimate targets" and urge employees and civilians to stay away.

The response is being closely followed. The Jerusalem Post cites Reuters: three missiles and two drones intercepted towards Riyadh and Aramco's headquarters in Dhahran, detonations heard, an evacuation order for the building. Haaretz on Wednesday, October 14, reported the statement from the Saudi Ministry of Energy: an Aramco administrative building was hit, with a "limited fire".

The common thread remains Washington. The Jerusalem Post notes that Donald Trump is leaving the media to guess whether he will do more, that the BBC mentions American support in intelligence and targeting, and that the Houthis promise a "rapid and painful" response against the United States in case of intervention. Arutz Sheva summarizes Trump's message: "I will never forget!", the president accusing the Houthis of attacking Saudi Arabia to drive up oil prices before the American elections.

But the essence of the Israeli treatment is security and national. According to defense officials cited by the Jerusalem Post, the Houthi threat has increased with the fighting against Saudi Arabia. Israel is on high alert for a surprise attack by land or sea. The IDF must create a fire coordination center within the Edom division, maintain reserve and rapid intervention troops in the Eilat region, and conduct joint exercises with the police and border police. These officials do not rule out a chain reaction if the Houthis strike deeper into Saudi territory.