The attacks on four ships off the coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and two oil pumping stations in Saudi Arabia have raised many questions over Iran's threats to the region, a matter that may cast a shadow over Egypt's navigation in the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. Meanwhile, these regional developments were the focus of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's recent meetings with Arab leaders.

On May 12, Sisi met Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to discuss the means of giving an extra boost to the joint Arab action, especially in light of the challenges facing the region at the present time. The meeting also dealt with confronting any attempt to intervene in the internal affairs of Arab countries.

On the same day, four commercial ships, including two Saudi oil tankers, were damaged in a sabotage attack in the UAE without casualties. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said the attack took place near its territorial waters, off the emirate of Fujairah. So far, the UAE has not specified who is responsible for the attack.

On May 14, Iranian-backed Houthi militants launched drone attacks on two of Saudi Aramco’s oil pumping stations, further ratcheting up tensions in the region.