Saudi crown prince seeks Egypt’s backing as Houthi attacks rattle Red Sea oil routes

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sought Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi's support on Tuesday as attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels on Saudi shipping and infrastructure have caused oil prices to rise. Saudi Arabia has been fighting the Iranian-backed rebels without assistance, and the Houthis' latest gains have furthered their ability to block Saudi oil exports through the Red Sea.

The kingdom's oil infrastructure was recently damaged by an attack carried out by militias allied with Iran in Iraq, which is likely to halt oil production for weeks. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with el-Sissi in Cairo, where both confirmed their commitment to ensuring freedom and security of maritime navigation in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

While Egypt is unlikely to provide military aid, its influence in the Arab world could help rally support for Saudi Arabia. The Houthi advances have put Yemen back into civil war, with over 500 casualties in the past week and nearly 94,000 people displaced. Children are bearing the brunt of the violence, with Save the Children reporting that 117 civilians were killed, including 19 children, in the first week of September.