UPDATE - US' Trump, Egypt's Sisi discuss Gaza, Houthis in phone call

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By Yasin Gungor and Mohammad Sio

ISTANBUL (AA) - US President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi discussed developments in the Gaza Strip and Yemen during a call on Tuesday.

Trump, on social media, praised the conversation, saying it “went very well.”

“We discussed numerous topics, among which was the tremendous Military progress we have made against the Ship destroying Houthis in Yemen,” he wrote.

The exchange comes weeks after Trump's March 15 threat to “completely annihilate” the Houthis, who have targeted Red Sea shipping since November 2023 in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

The Yemeni group resumed attacks after Israel blocked aid to Gaza, where Israel has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians since October 2023

The two leaders also addressed “Gaza, and possible solutions, Military preparedness,” Trump said.

The leaders' Gaza talks followed a March 4 Arab summit that proposed a $53 billion reconstruction plan that Israel and the US rejected.

The two countries instead support Trump's plan to relocate Gazans – a move opposed by Egypt, Jordan and international bodies and human rights groups.

The Egyptian Presidency said the two leaders explored ways to strengthen ties, emphasizing the “depth and strength” of the strategic relationship between their nations and their commitment to furthering cooperation for the mutual benefit of their peoples.

The talks dwelt on the evolving situation in the Middle East and mediation efforts to stabilize the region, a move they noted would positively affect Red Sea navigation and curb economic losses for all parties involved.

The discussion comes amid regional challenges affecting Egypt economically. In late December, the presidency reported that Suez Canal revenues dropped $7 billion in 2024 due to tensions in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, disrupting canal traffic and global trade sustainability.

While the revenue total was not specified, data pegged 2023 earnings at $10.25 billion.​​​​​​​