Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have declared their support for Saudi Arabia amid rising tensions between Iran-backed Houthis and Riyadh. This announcement comes as the Houthis recently claimed to have shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet.
Houthi Claims and Saudi Response
On Wednesday (September 25), the Houthis announced that they had shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet during operations in Marib province. However, Saudi Arabia had not confirmed the incident by the time this news was published, and independent sources have also not verified the Houthi claims. Yahya Saree, the military spokesperson for the Houthis, has accused Saudi Arabia of conducting hundreds of airstrikes on various locations in Yemen in recent days.
Read more: Russian drone attack on a passenger bus in Ukraine leaves five dead
Security Situation in Mecca and Bab al-Mandab
This claim was made hours after the Saudi-led coalition announced that its air defense system had intercepted a Houthi drone in southern Mecca on Tuesday. Turki al-Maliki, the coalition spokesperson, described the security of Mecca, Medina, and pilgrims as a "red line" and stated that the coalition would take necessary measures to deter Houthi attacks. The Houthis have denied targeting Mecca or other holy sites, emphasizing that their attacks are aimed at Saudi oil facilities and military bases.
Qatar has also warned that if the Bab al-Mandab Strait is blocked, there will be serious consequences for global trade. The Qatari Foreign Ministry stated that the world cannot witness the closure of another important maritime route. The Houthi group currently controls several coastal and island areas in Yemen near this strait, raising concerns about the potential for attacks on commercial ships.
The Egyptian presidency has stated that Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the President of Egypt, and Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi Crown Prince, emphasized the need to maintain freedom and security of navigation in the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Red Sea during their recent discussions. El-Sisi also expressed his support for Saudi efforts to protect its security and stability and to achieve a comprehensive political solution to the crisis in Yemen.
Read more: Ali Al-Zaydi visited Germany · Yemen War: Displacement of thousands from their homeland due to conflicts
