Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
Al-Araby Al-Jadeed newspaper reported on Tuesday, citing exclusive sources, that Egypt has conducted “undisclosed” consultations with the Houthi group in an effort to contain the escalation in the Red Sea, following the group’s missile attacks on Israeli targets, which pose a serious threat to maritime security in the region.
According to the sources, these talks were part of Cairo’s broader efforts to curb the Red Sea escalation, which directly impacts the Suez Canal—one of Egypt’s most vital sources of national income.
The sources revealed that Egyptian officials participating in the consultations expressed deep concern over the repercussions of continued Houthi attacks on global trade routes, particularly after the escalation in targeting ships linked to Israel and its supporting coalition.
However, the talks have so far failed to achieve their intended goals, as the Houthis have not provided any clear commitments to de-escalation. The sources noted that Egypt conducted these discussions in complete secrecy to avoid provoking its regional and international allies—particularly Saudi Arabia and the US, both of which take a hardline stance against any engagement with the Houthis outside internationally agreed-upon frameworks.
The sources added that Egypt had hoped to reach understandings that would ensure the safety of navigation in the Red Sea. However, it encountered Houthi intransigence, as the group linked any de-escalation to an end to the war in Gaza. The discussions reportedly included proposals for reducing tensions in exchange for diplomatic efforts to address some of the Houthis’ demands within broader political agreements involving international stakeholders. Nevertheless, these talks did not yield any tangible results.
The sources ruled out the possibility that Egypt’s consultations were directly coordinated with the US, describing them as an independent attempt to prevent further regional tensions. However, given the failure to make any breakthroughs, the risk to maritime traffic through the Suez Canal remains high. The continued Houthi operations have led to increased shipping and insurance costs, which could push global shipping companies to reroute away from the canal, potentially causing severe economic losses for Egypt.
