Trump discusses Houthis and Gaza in call with Egypt's president El-Sisi

UPDATED: Apr 1, 2025 22:33 IST

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he called Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and they talked about issues including military advances against Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis and potential solutions in Gaza.

Trump stated that the call went very well.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, "My telephone call with President El-Sisi, of Egypt, went very well. We discussed numerous topics, among which was the tremendous Military progress we have made against the Ship destroying Houthis in Yemen — Also discussed was Gaza, and possible solutions, Military preparedness, etc."

Egypt is an important US ally in the area and was the only nation other than Israel to be granted an exemption from Trump's foreign aid freeze last month, despite the two leaders being at loggerheads with each other over their plans for the war-torn Gaza Strip.

After Trump's proposal earlier this year that the US should annex the Strip and relocate its approximately 2 million inhabitants. His plan included building it as a real estate development. Sissi made a counteroffer to reconstruct the Strip without relocating its people.

The US has been carrying out airstrikes in Yemen to counter the attacks by the Houthi rebels against Israel and interference with shipping lanes in the Red Sea.

Egypt, which relies heavily on income from the Suez Canal linking the Red Sea to the Mediterranean, has suffered economically due to the actions of the Houthis, resulting in ships skirting the area.

The Yemeni group has vowed to continue their military activities until Israel ends its Gaza offensive.