Sanaa: Saudi Arabia and Egypt on Tuesday called for freedom of navigation through the Red Sea and key regional waterways, as Riyadh vowed to respond firmly to attacks by Yemen's Houthis, who have seized control of the country's Red Sea coast and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

The renewed fighting comes after Yemen's civil war erupted again in July, with the Houthis battling Saudi-backed government forces. The group has also declared a maritime blockade targeting Saudi Arabia and begun attacking vessels linked to the kingdom in the Red Sea.

In a rapid offensive last week, the Houthis took control of Yemen's entire Red Sea coastline and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a strategically important waterway that has gained further significance for Saudi crude exports as the wider Middle East conflict disrupts traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

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Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto leader, met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo on Tuesday to discuss the escalating crisis.

The two leaders called for "ensuring the freedom and security of maritime navigation" through the Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab straits, Egypt's presidency said. Sisi also expressed support for measures taken by Saudi Arabia "to protect its security and stability".

The sudden return of major fighting in Yemen, after relative calm since 2022, has put pressure on Riyadh to respond. US media reported last week that Mohammed bin Salman had personally asked US President Donald Trump to intervene, but the request was turned down.

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The Houthis have said the Bab al-Mandab poses no threat to shipping apart from vessels linked to Saudi Arabia. However, any attacks in the waterway could discourage commercial shipping from using the route.

The disruption also threatens Egypt, as the Red Sea provides access to the Suez Canal, a major source of revenue for Cairo.

Suez Canal revenues are currently about half their level before the Houthis began attacking Red Sea shipping in 2023. The group had said the attacks were carried out in solidarity with Palestinians during Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza.

Qatar on Tuesday warned of severe consequences if the Bab al-Mandab Strait were closed, saying it would be "catastrophic for the entire world".

Saudi Arabia vows response

Saudi Arabia has also faced continued Houthi attacks on its territory.

Riyadh issued temporary attack alerts on Tuesday covering Mecca as well as the Jeddah and Taif governorates, among other areas, before lifting them shortly afterwards.

A Saudi-led anti-Houthi coalition said missile and drone attacks on three areas the previous day had wounded 13 civilians.

The Houthis have also attacked Saudi oil infrastructure. The disruptions have contributed to global crude prices rising above $100 a barrel, adding to pressure on the world's biggest oil exporter.

The Saudi-led coalition said it would respond "firmly to protect the sovereignty of the Kingdom", adding that it would take "all necessary operational measures to deter this... hostile and extremist approach".

The renewed conflict has further aggravated Yemen's already severe humanitarian crisis. The United Nations said Tuesday that around 100,000 people had been internally displaced by the latest fighting, while thousands more had crossed the sea to Djibouti.

Yemen's war began after the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa in 2014. Saudi Arabia subsequently led a coalition that intervened in 2015 in support of the internationally recognised government.

A Houthi attack in western Yemen on Monday killed eight government soldiers, according to two military sources.

The Houthis said Saudi Arabia responded with more than 50 air strikes, matching the number reported the previous day, but the attacks have so far failed to reverse the group's territorial gains.

The UN Security Council was scheduled to meet Tuesday to discuss the Houthi offensive, according to diplomatic sources.

Houthis vow escalation

Hazem al-Assad, a member of the Houthi politburo, said the "Yemeni response will continue and escalate as long as they (Saudi Arabia) persist in their aggression against our people".

The escalation in Yemen comes as the wider Middle East war remains deadlocked. US President Donald Trump said Monday that he was willing to hold talks with Iran, claiming Tehran "wants to make a deal, quickly and badly".

Iran's top security chief Mohsen Rezaei rejected the prospect of immediate negotiations, saying "there will be no negotiations until Iran's conditions are met. That is all there is to it."

A planned meeting between Gulf states and Iran on the future of the Strait of Hormuz was postponed Monday. Tehran accused Riyadh of using the Yemen conflict as a reason to delay the talks.

Iran has long supported the Houthis, who are part of its anti-Israel "axis of resistance", including through weapons and technology. Tehran has denied involvement in the latest fighting.