Saudi crown prince seeks Egypt’s backing as Houthi attacks rattle Red Sea oil routes
Egypt said it supports Saudi measures to protect Red Sea navigation as Houthi gains threaten shipping routes and oil exports.
- On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia requested air-defense support from France, Britain, Pakistan, and Egypt as the kingdom faces critical shortages of missile interceptors amid its standoff with Houthi rebels in Yemen.
- The request stems from dwindling United States interceptor supplies following six months of war with Iran, depleting the arsenal of Saudi Arabia's main arms supplier and prompting the regional outreach.
- Saudi Arabia declared Mecca, birthplace of Prophet Muhammad, a "red line" after accusing Houthis of attempting a drone attack; the Houthis denied targeting the site 1,100 kilometers from Yemen's border.
- British Prime Minister's spokesman Tom Wells confirmed Tuesday a "close defense partnership" with Saudi Arabia but declined to confirm military assistance requests, while U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Monday Washington maintains "constant contact" with Saudis.
- Oman and Egypt are leading de-escalation efforts in Yemen after hosting U.S. and Houthi representatives last weekend, while oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz recovered to 5 million to 7 million barrels per day, below pre-war levels.
187 Articles
187 Articles
The Saudis have one of the highest defense budgets in the world, yet they have barely managed to make a dent in Yemen. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, already in trouble due to the Iran war, is now begging the US, European countries, and even impoverished Egypt for help in the fight against the Houthis. However, they are anything but eager to get involved in the conflict.
Saudi Arabia has billions in weapons — why are Yemen’s Houthis still so difficult to defeat?
RIYADH, Sept 22 — Saudi Arabia has deep pockets and cutting-edge weapons yet for more than a decade it has been unable to quash Yemen’s battle-hardened Houthis.The Iran-backed...
Radio France Internationale
Despite military might, Saudi struggles to crush the Houthis
The Iran-backed group has now attacked Riyadh with a missile strike, seized Yemen's entire Red Sea coast and is blockading Saudi oil exports, seemingly unimpeded. Experts say Saudi Arabia has struggled to rebuff the group in part due to its reliance on ineffective proxies on the ground, while rugged terrain and Iranian support have favoured the Houthis. Why has Saudi Arabia struggled? The kingdom has spent billions acquiring sophisticated weapon…
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