In discussions held on Thursday, Egypt and France addressed concerns surrounding maritime stability in the region amidst the ongoing Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. Egyptian Navy Commander Ashraf Ibrahim Attoua engaged in talks with visiting French Navy Admiral Emmanuel Salars, who commands the Indian Ocean and Red Sea maritime area, exploring avenues to bolster cooperation and ensure maritime security.
The meeting, which took place in Cairo on Thursday, saw the arrival of Salars and his accompanying delegation, as announced by the Egyptian Army in a statement. Various aspects aimed at fortifying efforts for maritime security were deliberated upon during the discussions, underscoring mutual interests shared by both nations.
Meanwhile, Yemen’s Houthi group declared on Thursday its intention to persist with attacks in the Red Sea until certain conditions are met. These conditions include an end to Israel’s war on Gaza, the lifting of the siege, and the unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid into all parts of the Palestinian enclave.
Expressing concern over the escalating situation, a joint statement issued on Wednesday by the embassies of the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Japan, and New Zealand urged the Houthis to cease their attacks. They emphasized that such actions only serve to destabilize the region and exacerbate the suffering of the Yemeni people.
The conflict between Israel and Gaza has been ongoing since Israel’s imposition of an air, land, and sea blockade on the Gaza Strip in 2007. The tensions escalated following a cross-border incursion on Oct. 7, 2023, leading to widespread casualties among Palestinians and pushing the region perilously close to famine.
