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The Egyptian presidency announced that Cairo would provide Saudi Arabia with all necessary and possible forms of support to defend its security and stability protect its resources territorial integrity and Islamic holy sites. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi chaired a meeting of the National Defence Council attended by the parliamentary speaker the prime minister and the army chief before the statement was released. Sisi requested an urgent parliament session to authorise the use of Egypt’s military in Saudi Arabia’s defence if the kingdom made such a request. Parliament was scheduled to hold the emergency session at 1 p.m. local time to consider the authorisation.
In a speech the previous day at a graduation ceremony for the Egyptian Military Academy Sisi said it was inconceivable that Egypt would allow Saudi Arabia its security or stability to be harmed. The president pledged that Egypt would act according to guidance from Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Sisi stressed that any Egyptian role would be strictly defensive and that Cairo was not seeking to attack anyone or become involved in broader conflict. He added that parliamentary approval would be required before any deployment could occur.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visited Sisi on September 15 to discuss security issues and navigation in the Red Sea after fighting resumed in Yemen. The collapse of a truce between the Houthis and Saudi-backed forces of the internationally recognised Yemeni government triggered the renewed clashes. Sisi referenced that meeting when outlining Egypt’s position on supporting its neighbour.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty had earlier told Bloomberg that his country would respond to any Saudi request and provide all kinds of support without reservation. Abdelatty made the comments on October 13 on the sidelines of International Monetary Fund meetings in Bangkok. He noted that Saudi national security is an integral part of Egypt’s national security and that of the Arab world as a whole.
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis have intensified attacks on Saudi targets in recent days striking Riyadh’s international airport and facilities of state oil producer Saudi Aramco. One assault on King Khalid International Airport left multiple people dead and hundreds injured according to reports cited by Reuters. These strikes have escalated tensions following the breakdown of the Yemen truce and raised concerns about further regional spillover.
Reuters described Egypt’s military as one of the region’s largest and most powerful potentially enabling it to play a substantial role in any defensive operation. Sisi’s request for legislative approval reflects the constitutional process for authorising overseas military activity. The developments occur against a backdrop of continued Houthi operations that have targeted key Saudi infrastructure.
