Egypt extends military tasks in Gulf, Red Sea regions for 6 months

The Egyptian National Defense Council led by President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi agreed on Saturday to extend military operations in the Arabian Gulf and Red Sea regions for six more months for national security reasons, state-run MENA news agency reported.

The council agreed to extend the participation of "the required elements of the Egyptian armed forces in a fighting mission outside the borders to defend the Egyptian and Arab national security in the region of the Arabian Gulf, the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait for additional six months," the report said.

Egypt is part of a Saudi-led military coalition against the anti-government Houthi fighters in Yemen in favor of fleeing Yemeni President Abd-Rabbo Mansour Hadi.

Egypt's Sisi has currently reaffirmed that the Gulf security is part of the Egyptian national security.

The Egyptian leader always showed gratitude to Gulf partners, excluding Qatar, for their moral and financial support for his leadership following the ouster of former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013.