Saudi Arabia seeks Egypt backing as Houthi attacks threaten oil routes

Jeddah: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Cairo on Tuesday as Saudi Arabia seeks political support amid an escalation of attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement.

The talks focused on regional security and maritime navigation, particularly the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key route linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the wider global shipping network. Both sides stressed the importance of maintaining freedom and security of navigation.

The meeting comes as the Houthis have expanded their presence along Yemen’s Red Sea coast and increased attacks connected to the wider regional conflict. Their reported capture of strategic locations near the Bab el-Mandeb has increased concerns over shipping and Saudi Arabia’s ability to move oil through the Red Sea.

Saudi Arabia is also dealing with damage to its East-West Pipeline, which runs from the kingdom’s oil-producing regions towards Yanbu on the Red Sea. The pipeline was shut after a drone attack that Saudi Arabia attributed to Iran-aligned militants operating from Iraq. The disruption has reduced an important alternative route for Saudi crude exports while shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains heavily affected.

The pipeline normally handles several million barrels of crude a day. Its closure has therefore added to concerns about global oil supplies and contributed to recent increases in crude prices.

What Saudi Arabia wants from Egypt

There was no announcement that Egypt would send troops to Yemen following the Cairo meeting.

Egypt’s potential role is more likely to involve diplomatic and political support. Cairo has influence among Arab states and has maintained channels with different sides in the region, including Iran and its allies.

Egypt also has a direct economic interest in keeping the Red Sea secure. Disruption to shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb can affect traffic towards the Suez Canal, an important source of revenue for Egypt.

The two countries therefore have overlapping interests in preventing the Red Sea from becoming a prolonged shipping chokepoint.

Houthi advances raise shipping concerns

The Houthis’ reported territorial gains along Yemen’s western coast have increased pressure on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

The waterway is particularly important for Saudi Arabia because it provides an alternative route for transporting oil towards Asian markets without relying entirely on the Strait of Hormuz. With both routes facing disruption, Riyadh’s options for moving crude have become more constrained.

The risks extend beyond Saudi Arabia. A prolonged disruption in the Red Sea could affect international shipping, insurance costs, delivery routes and energy markets.

Saudi Arabia faces a difficult choice

Riyadh has so far avoided launching a major new military campaign against the Houthis, after its previous intervention in Yemen began in 2015.

The latest escalation has revived the conflict after years of relative calm following the 2022 truce. Saudi Arabia now faces pressure to protect its territory and energy infrastructure while avoiding a wider conflict that could expose its cities and oil facilities to further attacks.

The Saudi-led coalition said its air defences intercepted a drone near Mecca on Tuesday. Houthi officials denied that the group had targeted the holy city. Reuters reported that the incident came amid a wider increase in Houthi attacks and Saudi military operations in Yemen.

Humanitarian toll rises in Yemen

The renewed fighting is also worsening the humanitarian situation.

According to the material cited in the report, the World Health Organization said more than 500 people were killed in the preceding week and nearly 94,000 were displaced. Save the Children separately reported at least 117 civilian deaths between August 1 and September 9, including 19 children.

The figures underline the wider consequences of the renewed fighting beyond the oil and shipping disruption.

Why the Red Sea matters for oil

The latest crisis is unfolding alongside disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, another major energy chokepoint.

Saudi Arabia had been relying more heavily on its East-West Pipeline to move crude towards the Red Sea while Hormuz traffic remained disrupted. The pipeline shutdown therefore creates an additional vulnerability for the kingdom’s oil exports.

The combined pressure on Hormuz, the Red Sea and Saudi infrastructure has heightened concerns about the resilience of global energy supplies. Oil prices have recently moved above $100 a barrel, although prices also remain sensitive to inventory data and expectations about how quickly disrupted supplies can return.