Egypt Moves to Defend Saudi Arabia as Iran War Threatens to Widen

By Editorial Dept - Oct 23, 2026, 6:30 AM CDT Saudi Arabia was already the most exposed country in the US-Iran war, and Iran has now explicitly listed Saudi refineries, data centers, and undersea communications cables as the next targets should Washington strike again. That day may be nearly upon us, with the New York Times reporting on Thursday that Washington and Israel have drawn up a short, intensive bombing campaign for post-November 3 (and post-October 27 elections for Israel), with exercises already running, more U.S. forces moving into the region, and a target list covering nuclear sites, missile and drone installations and energy infrastructure; though this latest target is a point of contention for those who would like to keep gasoline prices down. Riyadh is already struggling to keep Houthi missiles and drones off its energy infrastructure, and that is where Egypt now enters the fray.The offer is a defensive move by Egypt, which can’t afford to lose either the Saudi money that keeps its economy afloat or the Red Sea shipping that pays for its gas imports. A $5.3 billion Saudi deposit at Egypt's central bank falls due this month, and Houthi attacks on shipping have cost the Suez Canal dearly. While the Suez Canal has recovered from the Houthi attacks since the U.S.-Iran war began, the war has cost Egypt far more in other ways. Israel cut gas exports to Egypt when the war started, forcing Cairo to buy replacement LNG just as attacks on Qatar and the near-closure of Hormuz sent global… COMMUNITY MEMBERSHIP (FREE) GLOBAL ENERGY ALERT ($697 $279 PER YEAR) Breaking energy stories before they hit the mainstream media Top quality analysis from industry veterans Exclusive investment opportunities Digestible data breakdowns Geopolitical insights from our network of over 600 operatives Risk-free 30-day money back guarantee