Egypt's Parliament Approves Military Aid for Saudi Arabia

Egyptian lawmakers voted on Monday to authorize the country's military to support Saudi Arabia in defending its borders. The decision marks a shift in Cairo's strategy, moving from a passive stance to an active role in the regional conflict fueled by attacks from Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis.

The vote follows a request made by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi last week. He sought legislative permission to assist his Gulf ally, the world's largest oil exporter, if Riyadh formally requested help against the Houthi militia. The Houthi advances pose a direct threat to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical waterway that serves as a gateway to Egypt's Suez Canal.

Egypt has previously condemned Iranian-backed strikes on Gulf states but had not engaged in direct combat or joined the Mecca mutual defense pact signed by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey in August. Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty stated this month that Egyptian membership in that pact remains under serious consideration.

Cairo has a history of involvement in Yemeni affairs. In March 2015, Egypt joined the Saudi-led coalition as a naval partner, sending warships to secure Red Sea shipping lanes and deploying approximately 800 ground troops. The country's last large-scale foreign ground deployment prior to this period occurred during the 1991 Gulf War.

The escalation in fighting has become a volatile front in the wider US-Israeli war on Iran. In recent weeks, Houthi forces targeted Riyadh's international airport and facilities owned by Saudi Aramco, disrupting air travel and oil exports. Aid agencies have warned that conditions in Yemen are worsening, adding to an already severe humanitarian crisis.

On Wednesday, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad traveled to Riyadh. They delivered a letter from Sisi to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, clarifying that Egyptian support would be limited to defending Saudi territory and borders rather than launching attacks into Yemen. Abdelatty noted that Cairo continues to explore every opportunity for a diplomatic resolution.

The diplomatic exchanges intensified in the lead-up to the vote. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visited Sisi in Cairo on September 15 to discuss security concerns and navigation in the Red Sea following the reignition of fighting in Yemen.