Cairo (South24)

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Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), Rashad Al-Alimi, on Tuesday met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, during which the two sides held discussions on restoring maritime security in the Bab al-Mandab area, the Egyptian presidential spokesman, Mohamed El-Shennawy, said.

He said in a statement: "The meeting addressed ways to restore security and stability in the Bab al-Mandab area, where the importance of stopping attacks targeting commercial ships in that area was emphasized, especially after Egypt lost more than seven billion dollars in revenues from the Suez Canal in 2024 as a result of those attacks”, in reference to the over-year-long Houthi attacks on ships. 

The meeting, held in the New Administrative Capital in Egypt on March 4, was on the sidelines of the extraordinary Arab Summit on the situation in the Palestinian Gaza Strip and reconstruction efforts.

The Egyptian side “affirmed Egypt's steadfast support for the unity and independence of the Yemeni state and the security of its territories, while emphasizing the link between the security and stability of Yemen with the Egyptian national security, the security of the Arab region and the Red Sea."

The Yemeni Saba News Agency said that the PLC Chairman praised Egypt for hosting thousands of Yemenis on its soil.

Egypt has been most affected by the Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea and Bab-al-Mandab Strait. Since October 7, 2023, the Houthis have attacked hundreds of ships using drones, before partially halting these attacks following the announcement of a ceasefire in Gaza in January.