CAIRO: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Saturday that Egypt was ready to defend Saudi Arabia "if requested", as fighting flares between the kingdom and Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen.
Since Yemen's war reignited in July, the Houthis have repeatedly attacked Saudi targets, including energy facilities and Riyadh's international airport, where 13 people were killed in a single attack last week.
The Houthis have also blockaded the Bab al-Mandab Strait, piling pressure on energy exports as Iran presses its own blockade on the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking at a graduation ceremony at the Egyptian Military Academy, Sisi said Egypt was "not looking for a role to play" in regional conflicts, but added that it was "inconceivable" for Cairo to stand by while Saudi Arabia was "harmed or its security and stability threatened".
