Egypt Parliament Authorizes Military Support for Saudi Arabia Against Houthi Attacks

Egypt's parliament voted on Monday to grant President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi the authority to deploy military forces in defense of Saudi Arabia, following an escalation of Houthi attacks targeting the kingdom's airports and oil infrastructure. Al-Sisi had requested the urgent parliamentary authorization last week, pledging that Egypt would take "any measures requested by Saudi Arabia to protect and defend it."

The move follows a pledge by Egypt's National Defense Council, chaired by al-Sisi, to provide "all necessary and possible forms of support" to Riyadh. Al-Sisi has framed any potential deployment as strictly defensive and contingent on a formal request from Saudi Arabia. The Houthis, the Iran-backed militia based in northern Yemen, have been attacking Saudi Arabia in connection with the kingdom's support for Yemen's internationally recognized government.

The parliamentary approval gives al-Sisi the legal mandate to send Egyptian troops abroad, a significant step that raises the prospect of direct Egyptian military involvement in the Yemen conflict and risks broadening a regional confrontation between Saudi Arabia and Iran-aligned forces.