Sisi Visits Qatar and Bahrain, Reaffirms Gulf Solidarity Amid Expanded Iran Strikes

President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi paid back-to-back visits to Qatar and Bahrain on July 14, 2026, declaring that Gulf security 'is an integral part of Egypt's national security.' The visit came as the United States expanded military operations against Iran with precision strikes on coastal defense systems and naval facilities, and announced a blockade on Iranian ports and maritime infrastructure. In Manama, Sisi condemned what he called 'unjustified' Iranian attacks against Bahraini territory as a flagrant violation of international law and a dangerous escalation threatening regional peace, echoing earlier Egyptian condemnations of Iranian strikes on Kuwait and Oman. He said Egypt was making intensive efforts to reduce regional tensions and stressed the importance of resolving the crisis through peaceful means. The trip followed the Egyptian presidency's earlier message of full solidarity with Qatar and continued Cairo's pattern of shuttle diplomacy among Gulf states since the US-Israel campaign against Iran ('Operation Epic Fury') began in late February 2026.