Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi voiced his deep concern about
security in the Red Sea, following an attack by the Iranian-backed Houthi
rebels in Yemen, which targeted two Saudi oil tankers that forced Riyadh to
suspend crude shipments temporarily through the strait of Bab al-Mandab.
Speaking at a joint news conference with his Yemeni counterpart, President
al-Sisi also underscored Cairo’s commitment to help Yemen regain its
security after more than three years of war that has killed thousands of
people. “We categorically deny that Yemen would become a foothold for the
influence of non-Arab forces, or a platform for security and stability
threats against the brotherly Arab countries or freedom of navigation in the
Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait,” Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi
said.
While Saudi Arabia resumed oil shipments through the strait of Bab al-Mandab
several days after the Iranian-backed militia attacked its oil tankers, the
incident has highlighted the magnitude of the situation in the area, where
fighting between the Houthis and supporters of the internationally
recognized government of President Abd Rabu Mansour Hadi, has been raging
since 2015.