Sisi Visits UAE, Deploys Rafale Jets in Solidarity Amid Iran Regional Conflict

President Sisi made a state visit to Abu Dhabi and inspected Egyptian Rafale fighters deployed in support of the UAE amid escalating Iranian attacks on Gulf targets. Sisi declared that 'what hurts the UAE hurts Egypt,' marking Cairo's most direct military posture in the Israel-Iran-Gulf conflict. The deployment — Egypt's first combat-readiness signal since the Libya intervention debate — sparked domestic debate about Egypt being drawn into a wider regional war despite Sisi's earlier declarations of neutrality. Sisi subsequently visited Muscat, meeting Sultan Haitham of Oman to discuss US-Iran tensions and diplomatic de-escalation.