Egypt’s parliament has authorised the country’s military to provide support for Saudi Arabia’s defence, lawmakers and local media reported, potentially bringing Cairo closer to a regional conflict intensified by attacks from Yemen’s Houthi militia.
President Abdel Fattah el Sisi asked parliament last week to approve military assistance if Riyadh requests help defending itself against the Houthis, whose operations threaten Saudi territory and the strategic Bab al Mandab Strait, a vital shipping passage linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and access to Egypt’s Suez Canal.
The parliamentary authorisation comes as attacks on Saudi Arabia have disrupted aviation and oil exports, raising concerns over regional security and international trade routes.
Cairo draws a line around its military role
Egypt has repeatedly condemned Iranian and Iran-backed attacks on Gulf countries but has not publicly joined direct combat in the current conflict.
Sisi has indicated that any Egyptian support would be limited to defending Saudi territory and borders, rather than launching attacks inside Yemen.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and intelligence chief Hassan Rashad travelled to Riyadh last Wednesday to deliver a letter from Sisi to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Following the visit, Abdelatty said Cairo supported exploring “every opportunity” to resolve the Yemen conflict through diplomacy.
Egypt’s potential involvement would mark a significant development given its military capabilities and strategic position along the Red Sea.
The country has also been considering joining a mutual defence pact involving Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye, signed in August.
Abdelatty said earlier this month that Egyptian membership remained “under serious consideration.”
A history of involvement in Yemen
Egypt joined the Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government in March 2015, primarily as a naval partner tasked with protecting Red Sea shipping lanes.
Cairo sent warships, pledged air support and deployed around 800 ground troops, although its direct combat role remained limited.
The country has a difficult history of military intervention in Yemen, having suffered heavy costs during its involvement in the 1960s. It has not undertaken a large-scale foreign ground deployment since the 1991 Gulf War.
Saudi Arabia remains a key political and financial partner for Cairo, providing billions of dollars in assistance, central bank deposits and energy supplies during Sisi’s presidency.
Red Sea security raises regional stakes
The latest escalation has added another volatile front to the wider US-Israeli war on Iran. The Houthis, who control Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, have attacked targets including Riyadh’s international airport and Saudi oil giant Aramco, disrupting flights and oil exports.
The conflict also threatens maritime traffic through the Bab al Mandab Strait, a strategic chokepoint for shipping travelling between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Any sustained disruption could affect routes serving the Suez Canal, a major source of revenue for Egypt.
Saudi Arabia and Egypt have stepped up security discussions as the fighting intensifies. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visited Cairo on September 15 to discuss security and navigation in the Red Sea.
The extent of any Egyptian military support will depend on Saudi Arabia’s requests and how Cairo balances its security commitments with efforts to prevent further regional escalation.
