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Arab World

Egypt, Cyprus Seek Coordination to Boost Stability in Eastern Mediterranean

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry (R) and Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulidis (L) during a meeting in Cairo, Egypt, 26 May 2022. (EPA)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry (R) and Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulidis (L) during a meeting in Cairo, Egypt, 26 May 2022. (EPA)
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Egypt, Cyprus Seek Coordination to Boost Stability in Eastern Mediterranean

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry (R) and Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulidis (L) during a meeting in Cairo, Egypt, 26 May 2022. (EPA)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry (R) and Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulidis (L) during a meeting in Cairo, Egypt, 26 May 2022. (EPA)

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Cypriot counterpart Ioannis Kasoulidis stressed the deep bilateral ties between their countries in various fields.

During a press conference in Cairo, Shoukry hailed the cooperation between Egypt and Cyprus as firm and based on transparency, friendship, and clarity.

Egypt and Cyprus are keen to boost stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and to tackle the challenges that the region faces, the top Egyptian diplomat said.

Shoukry added that Cyprus continues to deliver Egypt’s voice to members of the European Union regarding important issues linked to Egyptian national security and the efforts to bolster security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Shoukry and Kasoulidis held extensive talks earlier, where they discussed cooperation in many fields, starting with trade, energy, and investments.

The two ministers also reviewed the outcome of the past meetings of the Egypt-Cyprus joint committee and discussed preparations for future one.

They discussed regional issues, including the Palestinian cause, the situation in Libya, efforts to achieve stability in the East Mediterranean region, and the activation of the EastMed Gas Forum.

The Cypriot FM said his country seeks to boost the bilateral strategic relations with Egypt, expressing satisfaction with the progress recently achieved in these relations on all levels.

He also hailed Egypt’s role regarding climate issues as Egypt prepares to host the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in November.

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit on Thursday discussed with Cypriot FM the latest developments at the regional and international levels.

The Ukrainian crisis was also among their talking points.

Aboul-Gheit called for reaching a diplomatic solution to the conflict that leads to a ceasefire, so as to mitigate the crisis' impact on food security in the region.

They also discussed the latest developments of the Palestinian cause and the Syrian crisis, and ways of benefiting from the energy sources in the Eastern Mediterranean region.

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Arab World

Yemen's Houthis Signal that They've Stopped Attacks on Israel and Red Sea Shipping

Armed tribesmen participate in an anti-Israel gathering mobilizing more fighters, in Sana'a, Yemen, 05 November 2025. EPA/YAHYA ARHAB
Armed tribesmen participate in an anti-Israel gathering mobilizing more fighters, in Sana'a, Yemen, 05 November 2025. EPA/YAHYA ARHAB
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Yemen's Houthis Signal that They've Stopped Attacks on Israel and Red Sea Shipping

Armed tribesmen participate in an anti-Israel gathering mobilizing more fighters, in Sana'a, Yemen, 05 November 2025. EPA/YAHYA ARHAB
Armed tribesmen participate in an anti-Israel gathering mobilizing more fighters, in Sana'a, Yemen, 05 November 2025. EPA/YAHYA ARHAB

Yemen’s Houthis are signaling they’ve stopped their attacks against Israel and shipping in the Red Sea as a shaky ceasefire holds in the Gaza Strip.

In an undated letter to Hamas’ Qassam Brigades published online by the group, the Houthis offered their clearest signal that their attacks have halted, reported The Associated Press.

“We are closely monitoring developments and declare that if the enemy resumes its aggression against Gaza, we will return to our military operations deep inside the Zionist entity, and we will reinstate the ban on Israeli navigation in the Red and Arabian Seas,” the letter from Maj. Gen. Yusuf Hassan al-Madani, the Houthi military's chief of staff, reads.

The Houthis have not offered any formal acknowledgment their campaign in the region has halted. Israel's military, which has launched attacks killing senior Houthi leaders, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Houthis gained international prominence during the Israel-Hamas war with their attacks on shipping and Israel, which they said were aimed at forcing Israel to stop fighting. Since the ceasefire began on Oct. 10, no attacks have been claimed by the group.

The Houthi campaign against shipping has killed at least nine mariners and seen four ships sunk. It upended shipping in the Red Sea, through which about $1 trillion of goods passed each year before the war. The Houthis’ most recent attack hit the Dutch-flagged cargo ship Minervagracht on Sept. 29, killing one crew member on board and wounding another.

While insisting its campaign targeted Israel-affiliated vessels, the ships attacked at time had limited — if any — relationship to the Israel-Hamas war.

The US launched an intense bombing campaign targeting the group earlier this year that President Donald Trump halted just before his trip to the Mideast. The Biden administration also conducted strikes against the Houthis, including using America's B-2 bombers to target what it described as underground bunkers used by the Houthis.

The Houthis have taken dozens of workers at UN agencies and other aid groups as prisoners, alleging without evidence that they were spies — something fiercely denied by the UN and others.

Arab World

Large-Scale Israeli Exercise in West Bank Simulates October 7 Attack 

An Israeli soldier takes position during clashes with Palestinian farmers and international activists after they try to reach olive farms outside the village of Beit Led and close to an Israeli settler outpost, near the West Bank city of Qalqilya, 07 November 2025. (EPA)
An Israeli soldier takes position during clashes with Palestinian farmers and international activists after they try to reach olive farms outside the village of Beit Led and close to an Israeli settler outpost, near the West Bank city of Qalqilya, 07 November 2025. (EPA)
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Large-Scale Israeli Exercise in West Bank Simulates October 7 Attack 

An Israeli soldier takes position during clashes with Palestinian farmers and international activists after they try to reach olive farms outside the village of Beit Led and close to an Israeli settler outpost, near the West Bank city of Qalqilya, 07 November 2025. (EPA)
An Israeli soldier takes position during clashes with Palestinian farmers and international activists after they try to reach olive farms outside the village of Beit Led and close to an Israeli settler outpost, near the West Bank city of Qalqilya, 07 November 2025. (EPA)

The Israeli Army kicked off on Monday large-scale multi-branch military exercises across the West Bank and Jordan Valley to boost readiness and simulate events similar to the Oct. 7, 2023 in the Gaza Strip.

The three-day “Lion's Roar” exercise involves forces of the army’s Central Command, as well as “special units,” the air force, the army Technology and Logistics Directorate and other military branches and security forces, according to an army spokesperson.

A military statement said drones and various weapons will be used during the drill, and “increased movement of security forces and aircraft will be felt in the area.”

The drill is taking place as part of the Operations Directorate’s training schedule, aimed at training and implementing operational plans with a multi-arena perspective. This exercise was preplanned as part of the Army’s annual training program for 2025, the army statement said.

Renewed calls for annexation

The exercises come while Israeli transportation Minister Miri Regev said her ministry is already enforcing “de facto sovereignty” over the occupied West Bank through a network of state-funded infrastructure projects, effectively implementing annexation on the ground.

Speaking on Israel’s Channel 12 News, Regev described road construction and transportation development in the territory as practical acts of sovereignty, reflecting a broader governmental strategy to integrate settlements into Israel’s national infrastructure grid.

Her statements appear to challenge the decision of US President Donald Trump, who said last month he will now allow Israel to annex the West Bank.

Israel plans to annex 82% of the West Bank to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state.

The Oslo Accords have divided the West Bank into three areas: A, B, and C, each with a different level of Palestinian and Israeli control.

Area A (18% of the West Bank) is under full Palestinian Authority (PA) civil and security control.

Area B (21% of the West Bank) is under PA civilian control with Israeli security control while Area C (61% of the West Bank) is under full Israeli civil and military control.

Although Trump has said he will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank, Israel has pushed for large-scale settlement projects and has given settlers a free hand to control more areas of the West Bank.

According to Palestinian figures, there are 200 Israeli settlements, 243 settlement outposts and 129 farm outposts in the West Bank.

Arab World

Egypt, Russia Discuss Bolstering Ties, Achieving Regional Stability

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Secretary of Russia’s Security Council Sergei Shoigu meet in Cairo on Monday. (Egyptian presidency spokesman)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Secretary of Russia’s Security Council Sergei Shoigu meet in Cairo on Monday. (Egyptian presidency spokesman)
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Egypt, Russia Discuss Bolstering Ties, Achieving Regional Stability

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Secretary of Russia’s Security Council Sergei Shoigu meet in Cairo on Monday. (Egyptian presidency spokesman)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Secretary of Russia’s Security Council Sergei Shoigu meet in Cairo on Monday. (Egyptian presidency spokesman)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi expressed on Monday Cairo's appreciation of the “close” ties it enjoys with Moscow that were capped with the signing of a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement.

He met in Cairo with Secretary of Russia’s Security Council Sergei Shoigu, stressing the need to achieve stability in the Middle East and maintain the territorial integrity of its countries, said an Egyptian presidency statement.

The meeting tackled means to develop bilateral relations between Egypt and Russia in various fields.

They stressed the need to build on the agreements reached at a summit between Sisi and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in May.

They also discussed the Russian industrial zone project in the Suez Canal economic zone, Egypt's El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant that is being constructed by Russia and other files.

Sisi underscored the importance of boosting economic, tourism investment cooperation between Egypt and Russia.

For his part, Shoigu stressed Russia’s keenness on developing and elevating ties with Egypt.

He added that consultations will continue over issues of common interest, saying that Moscow appreciates Cairo’s role in the Middle East.

“History will remember the fundamental role the Egyptian president is playing to achieve regional stability,” he stated. Russia will continue to coordinate with Egypt to that end.

On regional developments, SIsi said it was necessary to fully implement the Gaza ceasefire agreement that was reached in Sharm El-Sheikh in October.

This will ensure the unimpeded delivery of aid to the Palestinian enclave, he went on to say.

He also stressed the need to implement the two-state solution and establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

This is the only way to achieve permanent and just peace and stability in the Middle East, declared Sisi.

Chairman of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs and former Egyptian Ambassador to Russia Ezzat Saad said Cairo and Moscow hold constant consultations and exchange views on various affairs.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat: “Egypt is Russia’s greatest partner in Africa on the economic and trade levels. Both sides are keen on cooperating and expanding their trade relations.”

The Russian delegation’s visit s part of the “advanced and multifaceted relations between Egypt and Russia that can be described as strategic and comprehensive,” he added.

Monday’s meeting was attended by Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, chief of intelligence Hassan Rashad and Presidential Adviser for National Security Affairs Faiza Abou el-Naga.