The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia on Tuesday requested support from the President of Egypt. This request comes as Saudi Arabia faces an increase in attacks from Houthi rebels in Yemen on its fleet and infrastructure. These attacks have particularly had significant impacts on global oil prices in the Red Sea.
Increase in Houthi Attacks
Saudi Arabia has so far been confronting the Houthi rebels, who are supported by Iran, alone. Last week, the Houthis succeeded in capturing more areas in Yemen and strengthened their ability to block Saudi oil exports from the Red Sea. The vulnerability of Saudi oil production was further highlighted by an attack a few days ago on the country’s largest pipeline, which, according to regional officials, was carried out by Iran-affiliated militants in Iraq.
Read more: FAA did not respond to safety recommendations after the 2025 air crash
Meeting of the Saudi Crown Prince and the President of Egypt
Mohammed bin Salman met with Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the President of Egypt, in Cairo. The Saudi Crown Prince emphasized the joint commitment to ensure freedom and security of maritime navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait during this meeting. El-Sisi's office also released a statement declaring Egypt's strong support for Saudi Arabia. Although no specific details about future actions were provided, Egypt, as an influential country in the Arab world, can help gather the necessary support.
In recent days, the Houthis have made significant advances, capturing the strategic port of Mokha and three other islands near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. These advances have improved the Houthis' position to block the strait in their favor. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea to Saudi Arabia's largest oil customers in Asia.
So far, Saudi Arabia has refrained from launching a large military operation against the Houthis, as it is concerned about an increase in Houthi attacks on its oil infrastructure and being drawn into a full-scale civil war in Yemen. With the continued Houthi attacks, Saudi Arabia faces a decision on whether to escalate its military response or seek a diplomatic solution.
Saudi Arabia's main supporter, the United States, has been unclear and at times unreliable in this regard. The U.S. President seems reluctant to expand a war that is heavily criticized in the Middle East. The United Arab Emirates, which was previously Saudi Arabia's partner in the coalition against the Houthis, has exited the war and has had conflicts with its allies in Yemen.
The Houthi attacks on the Red Sea fleet during the Gaza war have led to a decrease in traffic through the Suez Canal and harmed Egypt's revenues. During the Iran war, Saudi Arabia directed its oil exports through the Red Sea, but the closure of the East-West pipeline may reduce these exports for several weeks.
Analysts believe that Saudi Arabia is seeking political support from Egypt among Arab countries. However, some countries are cautious about cooperating with Saudi Arabia due to past experiences in Yemen. The coalition that Mohammed bin Salman formed in 2015 to confront the Houthis has largely disintegrated due to conflicts and internal disputes. Meanwhile, the recent advances of the Houthis have resulted in heavy defeats for Saudi Arabia's allies in Yemen.
The World Health Organization has reported that in the past week, the conflict has left over 500 dead and displaced nearly 94,000 people. The charity organization "Save the Children" has stated that at least 117 civilians have been killed from early August to September 9, including 19 children. In the first week of September, 43 children were killed or injured, marking the highest weekly casualties in the past year.
Read more: The United Nations approved the Equal Earth map · Iran condemned the injustices of America and Israel; Houthi advances in Yemen
Source: abcnews.com
