RIYADH: The presidents of Egypt and Yemen held talks on Thursday about ways to secure shipping lanes in the Red Sea. Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi and Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met on the sidelines of the Arab League Summit in Bahrain, according to Yemen’s state news agency Saba. Al-Alimi and El-Sisi emphasized the importance of security in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden for the region’s stability. Since November, the Houthis have launched hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones at international commercial and naval ships in the Red Sea, Bab Al-Mandab Strait and the Gulf of Aden. They have reportedly been acting in solidarity with the Palestinian people and want Israel to stop its war on Gaza. During the meeting, El-Sisi emphasized Egypt’s commitment to Yemen’s unity and stability, and added that Cairo would continue seeking a political solution to the crisis in that country. Al-Alimi thanked Egypt for its efforts to alleviate suffering in Yemen and for seeking to ensure stability in the region.