CAIRO, Apr 15 (Aswat Masriya) - Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi agreed with Saudi Defence Minister Prince Mohammad bin Salman to form a joint military committee to look into carrying out a strategic manoeuvre with other Gulf countries.

Salman arrived in Cairo late Tuesday, on a visit where he was scheduled to meet with Egypt's president and defence minister to discuss the Saudi-led airstrikes carried by a coalition of 10 countries, including Egypt, against Houthi rebels in Yemen since late March.

Egypt's Defence Minister Sedki Sobhi visited his Saudi counterpart last Friday, when the pair discussed ways of enhancing joint military action within the coalition in order to achieve the goals of the military operation and fully restore legitimacy in Yemen.  

Sisi stressed to Salman, during their meeting late Tuesday, his belief that the Arab gulf's security is directly tied to Egypt's vital interests, especially the Red Sea and the strategic Bab al-Mandeb strait in Yemen, according to a presidential statement.

Egypt fears that Houthi control over Bab al-Mandeb, which lies between Yemen and the Horn of Africa, would affect navigation into the Suez Canal, where the state is investing in a mega project set to expand the canal and develop the area surrounding it. 

The Saudi-led coalition launched military operations against the Houthis in Yemen on March 26, after the Shia rebel movement made advances onto the Yemeni south.

Saudi Arabia says military operations by the coalition are in response to an appeal from Yemeni President President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

Sisi discussed in his meeting with Salman the latest developments regarding the military operations in Yemen, the presidential statement read.