Egypt, Saudi foreign ministers discuss escalating regional tensions

CAIRO

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said Friday that Badr Abdelatty and his Saudi counterpart, Faisal bin Farhan, discussed the “dangerous” regional escalation following assassinations by Israel,

The ministers explored “avenues for enhancing cooperation between Egypt and Saudi Arabia across various domains,” in a telephone call.

They also discussed “the alarming regional tensions resulting from Israel’s extremist policies and the pattern of assassinations,” it said in a statement, in reference to the assassination Wednesday of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’ political bureau in the Iranian capital of Tehran.

Abdelatty emphasized the urgency of “halting the ongoing escalation and underscored the responsibility of major international powers, particularly the US, in curbing the escalation.”

Bin Farhan expressed anticipation for “continued bilateral relations to bolster coordination on regional issues.”

The Israeli military claimed Thursday to have “confirmed intelligence” regarding the killing of Mohammed Deif, the military wing leader of Hamas, al-Qassam Brigades. The airstrike occurred July 13 in the Mawasi area of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, despite prior denials by the Palestinian resistance group.

Israel’s confirmation followed Hamas and Iran’s declaration Wednesday regarding the assassination of Haniyeh.

An Israeli airstrike targeted Haniyeh’s residence in Tehran, following his participation in the inauguration ceremony of President Masoud Pezeshkian.

While Israel maintains silence on Haniyeh’s assassination, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indirectly alluded to Tel Aviv’s responsibility for the operation.

Additionally, the Israeli army explicitly claimed responsibility for the assassination of Fouad Shukr, Hezbollah’s top military commander, in an airstrike Tuesday on Beirut’s southern suburbs. Escalating tensions between the two sides have persisted since early October, stemming from the Israeli onslaught against Gaza.

-Sudan crisis

The two top diplomats also addressed efforts by Cairo and Riyadh to resolve the Sudanese crisis to maintain Sudan's unity and sovereignty by working together to achieve a cease-fire and facilitate humanitarian aid delivery.

Since April 2023, the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group have been engaged in fighting that has resulted in 18,800 deaths and 10 million displaced individuals, according to the UN.

*Witting by Mohammad Sio