King Salman, President El-Sisi discuss regional developments

RIYADH: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman called Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to discuss relations between the two countries and emphasize the new integration strategy and strengthening of ties.
The two leaders discussed ways to increase mutual cooperation, areas of common concern and the latest regional and international developments.
The phone call comes after Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, second deputy premier and defense minister, visited Cairo last Thursday.
His meeting with the president for talks on bilateral relations, Yemen and Syrian was followed by an announcement of several military and economic deals between the two countries.
In Cairo, meanwhile, an official statement said Egypt was extending its participation in the Saudi-led coalition carrying out air strikes on Houthi terrorists for another six months.
“The National Defense Council agreed to prolong the participation of (Egyptian) troops engaged in a combat mission” in the Gulf, the Red Sea and the Bab Al-Mandab Strait,” it added.
At the beginning of May, the authorities renewed the mandate by three months, and Saturday’s statement said the current one will “last for six months, or until the end of the combat mission” if that happens first.
It said the purpose of the mission was to “defend Egyptian and Arab national security.”
President El-Sissi has previously said that Cairo’s objective is to secure navigation in the Red Sea and through the strategic strait, which gives access to the Suez Canal, a key source of revenue.
Egyptian air forces have been involved in the coalition since the first strikes were launched on March 26 against the Houthis.