Houthis, 'Egyptian support for Saudis is a declaration of war'

Egypt's military support for Saudi Arabia would be a 'declaration of war' for the Houthis: this was said by Mohammed Ali Al Houthi, member of the movement's Supreme Political Council, according to various media reports, including the Lebanese LBC and the Yemeni Al Mashad.

"Dragging the Egyptian forces into a new war would exhaust their capabilities and serve the designs of the Israeli enemy who aims to seize the Sinai," he said, calling on the member countries of the Mecca Pact (with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey) to withdraw from the coalition and not get involved in "aggressive alliances". Egypt, despite having participated in the preparatory meetings, did not join the Pact while maintaining close relations with Saudi Arabia.

Al-Houthi added that his movement "does not constitute a threat to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait; on the contrary - he argued - we protect it, just as we protect the Suez Canal and other parts of our Arab and Islamic homeland".