Abdelatty Calls Faisal bin Farhan and Condemns Attacks on Abha and Riyadh Airports

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty made a phone call to Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, in which he condemned the attacks on Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.

During the call, Abdelatty expressed Egypt's solidarity with Saudi Arabia in confronting these attacks, according to a report by the "Saudi Gazette" newspaper.

The two ministers stressed the importance of maintaining the security and safety of navigation in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab, two corridors through which a large portion of global trade passes, affecting ship traffic heading to the Suez Canal.

The two sides also discussed the Sudan file and bilateral relations between the two countries. The call comes a day after Saudi authorities announced the death of three civilians and the injury of 36 in the attacks on the two airports. This development concerns shipping and trade companies in the Arab region, as continued tension in the Red Sea raises insurance costs and maritime transport rates, directly impacting Suez Canal revenues.

What do these terms mean?

Bab al-Mandab: A narrow waterway at the southern entrance to the Red Sea, through which a large portion of oil and goods trade between Asia and Europe passes.

Freedom of Navigation: A principle ensuring the unimpeded passage of commercial ships through international waterways; any threat to it increases shipping insurance costs.

Suez Canal: An Egyptian shipping canal connecting the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, considered a major source of foreign currency for Egypt.