Saudi crown prince seeks Egypt’s backing as Houthi attacks rattle Red Sea oil routes

Live updates

1. 1h ago

   Saudi Crown Prince Seeks Egyptian Backing Over Red Sea Attacks

   Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has traveled to Egypt to meet with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in a bid to secure regional backing as ongoing Houthi attacks rattle vital Red Sea oil routes and global markets. Both leaders stressed the absolute need to protect maritime navigation in the strategic waterway. The high-level diplomatic push follows an intensification of the conflict with Houthi forces that threaten critical petroleum supply lines. Riyadh has vowed a strong response to the maritime strikes, while the diplomatic alignment underscores mounting regional urgency to secure the corridor.

   Why it matters

   Houthi assaults targeting Red Sea transit corridors have disrupted crucial maritime traffic and placed severe economic pressure on neighboring states, including Egypt. Saudi Arabia and Egypt share deep strategic interests in maintaining free movement through the waterway, which is a cornerstone of international shipping and petroleum commerce. The diplomatic engagement highlights the wider geopolitical reverberations of the ongoing conflict.

   What is confirmed

   • Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman traveled to Egypt to meet with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
   • Both leaders stressed the need for the security of Red Sea navigation.
   • Egypt backed the Saudi call for secure Red Sea navigation.
   • Riyadh has vowed a response to Houthi attacks.
   • Saudi airstrikes resulted in three deaths according to a Houthi official.

   Still unconfirmed

   • The State Department approved the potential sale of Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jets to Saudi Arabia.

   What to watch next

   • Specific military actions or countermeasures taken by Riyadh in response to the Houthi strikes.
   • Further joint security declarations or patrol initiatives between Egypt and Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea.
   Sources used for this update (11)

   1. ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos — Houthi official says Saudi airstrikes leave 3 dead, and other Mideast developments
   2. AP News — Saudi crown prince goes to Egypt for support amid Houthi strikes, and other Mideast developments
   3. Reuters — Egypt's Sisi and Saudi Crown Prince stress need for security of Red Sea navigation
   4. The Jerusalem Post — Saudi-Egyptian relations key focus as Crown Prince MBS visits Egypt amid Houthi attacks - analysis
   5. Al Jazeera — Egypt’s Sisi meets MBS, backs Saudi call for secure Red Sea navigation
   6. Yahoo — Saudi, Egypt demand open Red Sea as Riyadh vows response to Houthi attacks
   7. AP News — Saudi crown prince seeks Egypt’s backing as Houthi attacks rattle Red Sea oil routes
   8. dw.com — How the Houthis are also putting Egypt under pressure
   9. Financial Times — Saudi leader visits Egypt as war with Houthis intensifies
   10. www.huffpost.com — U.S. Clears Way For $24.3 Billion Fighter Jet Sale To Saudi Arabia
   11. ca.finance.yahoo.com — What to know after a week of Houthi attacks that threaten Saudi oil and have rattled world markets
   confidence 95%