Cairo, Sept. 14 -- Egypt has rejected a proposal from Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi militia for holding direct talks on coordinating maritime traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea, according to Qatari media outlet Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.
The proposal was reportedly conveyed by a Houthi official to the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) in London. The Houthis sought discussions with Egyptian authorities regarding new arrangements to protect commercial shipping and ensure the safety of vessels passing through the strategic waterway.
The ICS subsequently contacted Egypt's maritime chamber over the request, seeking to establish rules governing navigation and security in the Bab el-Mandeb.
A senior Egyptian source told Al-Ara...