Moment Houthi and pro-Saudi forces fight 'Mad Max-style' desert battle as Kingdom 'rejects Israel's help' in war against Yemen's Iran-backed rebels
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This is the moment Houthi rebels fight pro-Saudi forces in a 'Mad Max-style' desert battle.
Footage shared on social media is believed to show the Iran-backed fighters chasing Yemen's pro-Saudi forces across the sand.
A Saudi convoy of armoured vehicles can be seen attempting to 'charge' Houthi positions in the desert.
In one clip, a body is seen cartwheeling through the air after the explosion before smashing into the ground.
Meanwhile armoured trucks, some with mounted machine guns, are flipped upside down after being struck by explosives – possibly from a rocket-propelled grenade or an air strike, although it is unclear.
In other footage, a pickup truck is seen racing across the sand at such speed that soldiers in the back are thrown violently up and down before one is flung from the vehicle and left behind by his comrades.
It comes amid reports that Saudi Arabia has rejected Israel's support in the fight against the Houthis.
It is understood that Tel Aviv had offered to join Riyadh's counter attack as Donald Trump hinted the US 'may' get involved.
Footage is believed to show Iran-backed fighters chasing Yemen's pro-Saudi forces across the desert in scenes that have been compared to Mad Max
Video showed a number of vehicles being struck with explosives. Pictured: A military vehicle burns in the sand after it is blown up
In one clip, a soldier is thrown from the back of a pickup truck as it races across the sand at high speed
However crown prince Mohammed bin Salman has turned down Israel's help due to fears of 'backlash' from the Saudi public, according to Haaretz.
The outlet cites a diplomatic source as saying prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had wanted to strengthen ties with the kingdom, which is waging war on the Iran-backed Houthis, as US-Israeli attacks continue against Tehran.
After Riyadh, the Saudi capital, suffered several missile attacks from the rebels over the weekend, Mr Trump hinted that Washington could join a possible counter offensive.
The US President last month described the Crown Prince as a 'good friend'.
When asked by reporters over the weekend about the momentum that Houthi fighters were gaining in Yemen, he said: 'Everything is gonna work out fine and dandy. It's gonna be very good.'
And when quizzed about US involvement in the conflict, the President said he is 'going to look at it'.
The Houthis launched several missile strikes on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, which left dozens killed and hundreds more injured.
The unrelenting attacks on the Saudi capital reportedly forced a terrified crown prince into hiding below ground.
Citing officials, the Wall Street Journal reported: 'The 41-year-old crown prince is shuttling between heavily guarded palaces equipped with bunkers and is guarded by a handpicked security team.'
The last time the crown prince was seen in public was last Tuesday, when he gave blood in a bid to support a national donation drive.
The 'Mad Max-style' scenes come just days after footage showed Saudi-led coalition soldiers mowing down Houthi fighters in armoured trucks.
Last week, video emerged appearing to show surrendering rebels being struck down as the soldiers inside the vehicles shouted 'Allahu Akbar'.
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