Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE discuss regional de-escalation, with Turkiye-led mediation mechanism in focus - The Express Tribune
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Yahya Saree on Wednesday called for the immediate evacuation of Aden Airport, claiming a Saudi aircraft was transporting weapons intended to kill the Yemeni people, according to Press TV.
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson calls for the immediate evacuation of Aden Airport, saying a Saudi aircraft is transporting weapons intended to kill the Yemeni people. pic.twitter.com/RKY1Grver6
The warning comes amid China's reiteration of its opposition to attacks on civilian targets, including airports, amid attacks by Yemen’s Houthi group on Saudi Arabia, calling for dialogue and negotiation to resolve disputes.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters that Beijing is “deeply” concerned about the sustained regional tensions in the Middle East and opposes attacks on civilian targets such as civil aviation airports.
China called on “relevant” parties to resolve disputes through dialogue and negotiation to help restore peace and tranquillity in the Middle East “at an early date.”
The Houthis claimed on Tuesday that they had launched attacks on multiple targets in Saudi Arabia using ballistic missiles and drones, including the Saudi Defence Ministry and Abha International Airport.
Egypt discussed regional de-escalation efforts with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, emphasising coordination through a four-way ministerial mechanism involving Turkiye and Pakistan, according to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.
Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held separate phone calls on Tuesday with his Saudi counterpart, Faisal bin Farhan, and UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed, the ministry said in two separate statements on Wednesday.
During his call with bin Farhan, Abdelatty discussed regional developments and “efforts to contain the current crisis amid growing risks of escalation,” stressing the need to “advance political and peaceful solutions through dialogue.”
The two foreign ministers agreed to “continue close consultations and coordination bilaterally and through a four-way ministerial mechanism that also includes Türkiye and Pakistan.”
The mechanism brings together Egypt, Pakistan, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia to strengthen consultation and coordination on de-escalation and support political solutions to regional crises.
The call came a day after Egypt’s parliament approved, by a two-thirds majority, a mandate for President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to take necessary measures to support Saudi Arabia and defend its territory, sovereignty and holy sites, in coordination with the kingdom.
It also comes amid ongoing military escalation between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi group since July, including Houthi attacks on civil aviation facilities and energy infrastructure in the kingdom.
Saudi Arabia has led a coalition since March 2015 in support of Yemen’s internationally recognised government against the Houthis, who have controlled Sanaa and several provinces since September 2014.
In a separate statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said Abdelatty and his Emirati counterpart discussed the latest regional developments, particularly growing indications of possible escalation in the coming period.
Abdelatty stressed the need for regional countries to “unite their efforts to reach peaceful solutions and return all parties to a peaceful political track to prevent the region from sliding into a more dangerous phase of the current crisis.”
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said it intercepted and destroyed a Houthi ballistic missile fired toward the western Saudi city of Taif early on Wednesday as authorities issued emergency alerts in Jeddah and Yanbu.
Saudi Civil Defence later announced the all-clear in both areas. It did not specify the threat that had prompted the warnings.
The coalition’s statement provided no information about casualties or damage from the interception.
The developments followed damage in Riyadh from debris after air defences intercepted two Houthi ballistic missiles late on Tuesday.
Fragments damaged a building, a construction project and a vehicle, Civil Defence said, without reporting any casualties.
The coalition also announced earlier Tuesday that it intercepted four drones and three ballistic missiles launched by the Houthis toward the kingdom.
The interceptions came amid escalating hostilities between the Houthi group and the Saudi-led coalition, which supports Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition against the Houthis since March 2015 after the group seized the Yemeni capital Sanaa and other parts of the country in 2014.
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