Egypt denies plans to strike Yemen amid Sinai military build-up
Egypt has denied any plans to strike the Houthis in Yemen, after Israeli media accused Cairo of preparing for military intervention.
According to MiddleEastMonitor on January 6th, Israeli media reports claimed that “Egypt is preparing to strike the Houthis after suffering significant economic losses due to the escalation of threats against the Suez Canal, which is a vital artery for global trade.”
Cairo said the accusations were “completely baseless”, despite having lost around $7bn in revenue from the Suez Canal due to Houthi blockade, according to BulgarianMilitary.com.
Israeli analyst Yehoshua Mery Lichter believes the signs are there, while other Israeli outlets such as the JewishNewSyndicate, who say Egypt’s military arsenal far exceeds its defensive needs, believe Egypt is preparing for war with Israel.
Indeed, a retired senior officer in the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) warned in March 2024 of Cairo’s military build-up on the Sinai Peninsula.
According to MiddleEastMonitor, Lieutenant Colonel Eli Dekel said: “The concept of peace with Egypt that has not been addressed.”
“Hostile relations are growing and Egypt is maintaining security cooperation with Israel, which is now prohibited from being publicised.”
Egypt’s activity in Sinai includes logistical preparations and the construction of cement obstacles, according to Israeli officials, with the JewishNewSyndicate reporting major construction efforts aimed at the creation of military tunnels.
Cairo has categorically refused to attack the Houthis already, and so far there have been no reports of Houthi missiles striking the North African country.
With fighter jets like the French Rafale and American F-16, Egypt would have no trouble appeasing the Israelis, who are frequently in military exchanges with the Houthis. However, something is stopping them.
If reports of cement obstacles are true, they are unlikely to be aimed at countering a lightly armed rebel group, with some advanced long range weapons, or for offensive operations into Israel, though aggressive they may seem.
As Egypt eyes the wreckage of Assad’s government in Syria, in part an Israeli and Turkish operation, their reaction has been to refrain from diplomacy.
According to the MiddleEastMonitor, Cairo has not sent a single official to Damascus, and seems to be reeling from shock.
Al-Sisi’s thoughts must surely have turned to his own government after he watched a 50-year-old dynasty come crashing down in a matter of weeks.
MiddleEastMonitor, BulgarianMilitary.com, JewishNewsSyndicate
