WorldPosted at: Oct 19 2026 6:39PM


Arab states rally behind Saudi Arabia as Yemen conflict intensifies

Riyadh, Oct 19 (UNI) Arab governments on Monday rallied behind Saudi Arabia as Houthi attacks and fighting in Yemen intensify, with Egypt signalling its readiness to provide defensive assistance and regional officials warning that the escalation threatens Gulf security and vital maritime trade routes.
Egypt’s National Defense Council, chaired by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, declared its full solidarity with Saudi Arabia, saying the kingdom’s security is inseparable from Egypt and the wider Arab world.
The council pledged to provide all possible support to protect Saudi Arabia’s territory, resources and stability, while calling for diplomatic efforts with regional and international partners to de-escalate tensions and seek resolutions to regional crises.
Al-Sisi called for an emergency session of parliament to consider authorizing him to take necessary measures to support Saudi Arabia if Riyadh make requests to it. Parliamentary deliberations that began on Sunday and are expected to continue over several days.
Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi welcomed Egypt’s position, describing solidarity between Cairo and Riyadh as a cornerstone of regional security. He also called for support to help Yemen restore state institutions and re-establish government authority.
Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi said Saudi Arabia’s security is an integral part of the Gulf’s collective security system, adding that member states supported measures to protect the kingdom’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in accordance with international law.
The escalation has also revived scrutiny of Iran’s alleged military support for the Houthis, who have fought Yemen’s internationally recognised government since 2014 and have increasingly targeted Saudi territory.
Media reports have alleged that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has provided the Houthis with training, intelligence, tactical guidance and technology used in missile and drone attacks. Tehran and the Houthis have denied allegations of Iranian involvement.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Iranian Mahan Air flights transported IRGC personnel, drone components, missile guidance systems and other military equipment to Yemen. The report also said Iranian officers had helped direct Houthi operations on the ground.
Yemeni Parliament Speaker Sultan al-Barakani urged Egypt to support a common Arab position to protect the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Suez Canal, describing their security as a shared regional responsibility.
The waterways are critical to global trade and energy shipments, and any sustained disruption could affect shipping costs, supply chains and commercial traffic between Asia, Europe and the Middle East.UNI AAB
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