Israel, echoing the British Arab Bureau’s Bernard Lewis’s Arc of Crisis perspective for permanent warfare in Southwest Asia, is shaping a narrative exploiting the Sunni-Shia divide and possibly preparing for its own intervention in the war between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi Ansarallah in Yemen. According to the narrative, IDF intelligence is providing the Saudis with “exceptional capabilities” to assist its military operations against the Houthis through US mediation. That assistance is being provided in accordance with Israel’s national interests and directives from the political leadership, an unnamed Israeli defense official told the Jerusalem Post on Thursday, emphasizing that the Shi’ite-Sunni confrontation “reflects developments taking place beneath the surface across the Middle East.”

“According to the official, Sunni countries are watching the escalation led by the Houthis against neighboring Saudi Arabia, with encouragement and support from Iran, and understand that they could be next,” the Post reported, without ever mentioning a number of those countries allowed the U.S. to use their territory as launching pads for strikes against Iran.

The British have also offered to “help” Saudi Arabia with aircraft and other capabilities.

The official cited by the Post further said that the pressure on Saudi Arabia is reshaping alliances and relationships across the Middle East, creating new opportunities. “The question here is who will intervene on Saudi Arabia’s behalf. There is apprehension among countries, but we assess that there will be intervention. Everything remains open, and it is not too late for that to happen.”