The circle of Arab solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is widening in the face of Houthi militia attacks, coinciding with escalating confrontations on multiple Yemeni fronts and growing concerns about the spillover of their repercussions on Gulf security and vital sea lanes, while attention turns to Cairo, which is exploring options to provide defensive support to the Kingdom, pending the completion of the House of Representatives' discussions regarding the authorization requested by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
The Egyptian position reflects an important development in the course of Arab coordination regarding threats targeting Saudi Arabia's security and stability, especially after President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced his country's readiness to take necessary measures to defend the Kingdom if requested, alongside Cairo's confirmation of continuing political and diplomatic efforts to contain the escalation and resolve regional crises through peaceful means.
Arab solidarity transcends political stances
The Egyptian National Defense Council, chaired by al-Sisi, announced in a statement published by the Egyptian Presidency today full solidarity with Saudi Arabia, affirming that Saudi national security is linked to Egyptian and Arab national security, and decided to provide the necessary and possible forms of support to the Kingdom to defend its security and stability and safeguard its territory and assets.
The Council stressed, at the same time, the continuation of political and diplomatic efforts in coordination with relevant regional and international parties, to contribute to de-escalation and resolving crises through peaceful means, in a stance that combines readiness to support Saudi Arabia with adherence to the diplomatic track to avoid widening the confrontation.
These decisions came after al-Sisi called on parliament to convene an emergency session to consider authorizing him to take necessary measures to support Saudi Arabia if Riyadh requests it, but the House of Representatives postponed its closed session today to Monday to complete discussions, keeping the nature of potential measures linked to the outcomes of parliamentary deliberations.
This step gains importance because Cairo is not speaking of a mere political stance, but is raising the issue of the necessary authorization to act if developments require it, while affirming that any potential support comes within the framework of defending Saudi Arabia's security, not as a move towards launching an attack on another party.
In this context, Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi welcomed the Egyptian position, considering that solidarity between Cairo and Riyadh constitutes a pillar for regional security and stability, and emphasizing the importance of supporting the Yemeni people in restoring state institutions.
Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jassem al-Buaidi also affirmed in a statement that the security of the Kingdom is an integral part of the Gulf security system, stressing that GCC countries stand by it in taking necessary measures, in accordance with international law, to protect its sovereignty, territory, and the safety of its citizens and residents.
In the context of supportive Gulf positions towards Saudi Arabia, Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdul Latif al-Zayani renewed his country's condemnation of Houthi militia attacks on the Kingdom during the 168th GCC Ministerial Meeting in Manama today, particularly targeting civilian objects, vital facilities, and civilian airports.
Al-Zayani stressed that regional security is not achieved through escalation, threats, or violating the sovereignty of states, but through adherence to international law and dialogue. He also condemned the disruption of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the targeting of commercial ships, emphasizing the importance of protecting sea lanes, in a stance linking Saudi Arabia's security, Gulf stability, and the safety of regional navigation.
This comes amid growing international condemnations of attacks targeting Saudi territory and vital infrastructure, and threats to navigation security and supply chains in the Red Sea, thereby enhancing the regional and international nature of the potential repercussions of the escalation.
Gulf and Red Sea security in Arab calculations
Attacks on Saudi Arabia are linked to broader concerns regarding the security of the Gulf, the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Suez Canal, waterways whose safety affects trade movement, energy supplies, and regional and international economies.
In this framework, Yemeni House of Representatives Chairman Sultan al-Brakani called on Egypt to support a common Arab position to protect the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab, and the Suez Canal from Houthi threats, considering that protecting strategic waterways is a shared Arab responsibility, and threatening them endangers the economic interests of regional states.
Government forces advance... with hints of Apache deployment
Political developments coincide with the continuation of military confrontations in Yemen, where government forces continue their advance on several fronts within the "Yemen Dawn" operation, aimed at reclaiming areas under Houthi militia control and re-establishing state authority.
Field reports indicated that government forces have reclaimed positions on the Shaqab front southeast of Taiz, coinciding with militia movements to create fortifications, trenches, and missile storage sites in the Uqqaqa area south of Hodeidah, according to military sources cited by Arab media.
In a development reflecting the escalation of military rhetoric, spokesperson for the coalition forces, Brigadier General Turki al-Maliki, hinted at deploying Apache helicopters to the battlefield soon, in a post responding to the Houthi militia's announcement of shooting down a helicopter near the Najran area.
The coalition had previously announced the crash of a Saudi AH-6i reconnaissance helicopter inside Saudi territory due to a technical malfunction, which resulted in the death of two officers from its crew, denying the Houthi narrative regarding the downing of an Apache helicopter.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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