Egypt Urges De-Escalation of Conflict With Tehran

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Wednesday he is against military strikes on Iran or the Tehran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah, saying there was enough turmoil in the Middle East. In a meeting with a group of journalists, Sisi also pledged support for Saudi Arabia in its standoff with Iran, Reuters reported. Asked about the prospect of attacks on Iran and Hezbollah two days after Saudi Arabia accused Lebanon of declaring war because of Hezbollah's "aggressive actions", Sisi stressed the importance of de-escalating any conflict. "I am always against war," Sisi said, without spelling out who might be involved in military action. Saudi Arabia called for sanctions against Hezbollah this week and accused Iran of supplying Yemen's Houthis with missiles used to target it, a charge denied by Tehran.