Egypt approves military support for Saudi Arabia after Houthi attacks escalate

Saudi Arabia is a major ‌political, financial partner of Cairo, providing billions of dollars in aid, energy supplies

Egypt's parliament authorised the military on Monday to provide support to help defend Saudi Arabia, parliamentarians said, and local media reported, a move that could push Cairo directly into the regional conflict ​that has expanded with intensified attacks by Yemen's Iran-allied Houthis on the Gulf kingdom.

President ‌Abdel Fattah al-Sisi had asked parliament last week to approve defending its Gulf Arab ally and the world's biggest oil exporter if Riyadh requests help against the Houthis, whose advances also threaten the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait — a gateway to Egypt's Suez ​Canal.

Egypt has frequently condemned Iranian and Iranian-backed attacks on Gulf countries but has not publicly ​engaged in direct combat or joined the Makkah mutual defence pact between Saudi Arabia, ⁠Pakistan and Turkiye that was signed in August.

The approval followed closed-door discussions on authorising military support to the kingdom, including the possible deployment of troops, amid escalating regional tensions.

Parliament said the two-thirds-majority authorisation allows Sisi to take measures, in coordination with Saudi Arabia, to defend the kingdom’s territory, sovereignty and holy sites.

The decision followed closed-door sessions held on Oct 18, 19 and 26 at the president’s request, the statement said.

Lawmakers discussed regional developments and their implications for Egyptian and Arab national security, with representatives from different political parties and independent lawmakers participating, it added.

Parliament said the authorisation was consistent with decisions taken by Egypt’s National Defence Council at its Oct 18 meeting.

The statement did not specify the measures to be taken or explicitly announce a deployment of Egyptian troops.

Earlier today, lawmakers resumed deliberations in a third closed-door session chaired by Parliament Speaker Hisham Badawi, following two meetings held last week at Sisi’s request.

البرلمان المصري يوافق على تفويض الرئيس السيسي بإرسال تعزيزات دفاعية إلى السعودية "إذا طلبت"

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🔴 مراسلة العربية: برلمان مصر يوافق على تفويض الرئيس السيسي بإرسال تعزيزات دفاعية للسعودية "إذا طلبت".

🔴 الرئيس المصري عبد الفتاح السيسي دعا البرلمان إلى عقد جلسة طارئة… pic.twitter.com/JDz0jc839K

— العربية عاجل (@AlArabiya_Brk) October 26, 2026

Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said this month that Egyptian membership in ​the pact remained "under serious consideration".

Read: Egypt's Sisi seeks parliament's backing to help defend Saudi Arabia if asked

Egypt, the Arab world's most populous state with one of the region's largest ​militaries, joined the Saudi-led coalition in an earlier phase of Yemen's war in March 2015 mainly as a naval partner, sending warships to secure Red Sea shipping lanes while pledging air support. It also deployed around 800 ground troops but ​played only a limited combat role.

Egypt was involved in a costly military intervention in Yemen in the ​1960s and has not undertaken a large-scale foreign ground deployment since the 1991 Gulf War.

Saudi Arabia is a major ‌political and ⁠financial partner of Cairo, providing billions of dollars in aid, deposits at the central bank and energy supplies under Sisi.

Fighting between the Saudi-led coalition backing Yemen's internationally recognised government and the Houthi militia, which controls the capital Sanaa, has escalated in recent weeks, becoming a volatile front in the US-Israeli war on Iran.

The ​Houthis have attacked Riyadh's international ​airport and the state ⁠oil giant Saudi Aramco, disrupting flights and oil exports, while aid agencies have warned of worsening conditions in Yemen, already suffering one of the world's worst humanitarian ​crises.

Abdelatty and Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad travelled to Riyadh on Wednesday ​to deliver a ⁠letter to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman from Sisi, who said Egypt's support would be limited to defending Saudi territory and borders rather than attacking Yemen. Abdelatty said after that visit that Cairo advocates exploring "every ⁠opportunity" to ​resolve the Yemen conflict diplomatically.

Read More: Egypt's Sisi says Saudi defence role would not include attack on Yemen

The Saudi crown prince visited Sisi in ​Cairo on September 15 to discuss security and navigation in the Red Sea after the fighting in Yemen reignited.