Saudi Arabia and Egypt press for secure Red Sea navigation amid Houthi attacks
Mohammed bin Salman and Abdel Fattah al-Sisi discussed the threat to the Bab al-Mandab Strait as Riyadh vowed to respond “firmly” to attacks by Yemen’s Houthis.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi have called for free and secure navigation through the Red Sea during talks in Cairo.
The meeting took place as Saudi Arabia vowed to respond “firmly” to attacks by Yemen’s Houthis, according to France 24 International. The material does not specify what action Riyadh is considering.
The leaders discussed the threat posed by what the source described as the Iran-backed group’s control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key maritime passage linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
For Egypt, the issue carries direct national-security implications. The Egyptian presidency has described the security of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states as integral to Egypt’s national security.
The talks also come amid reports of disruption affecting Red Sea shipping and the Suez Canal. Claims about Houthi territorial control and attacks on Saudi-linked vessels were not independently verified in the supplied material.
