Egypt’s House of Representatives voted on Monday to grant President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi authority to undertake military measures in support of Saudi Arabia if requested by Riyadh. The parliamentary mandate authorizes the president to provide assistance as Yemen’s Houthi armed group escalates attacks against the kingdom.
The authorization follows a series of Houthi assaults targeting Saudi Arabia’s international airport and facilities operated by the state oil company Aramco, which have disrupted commercial flights and petroleum exports. These strikes have intensified an ongoing conflict in the region that involves the Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognized government against Houthi forces controlling the capital Sanaa.
El-Sisi indicated that any Egyptian military involvement would remain confined to defensive operations aimed at protecting Saudi territory and borders, without extending to offensive operations against Yemen. Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty stated that Cairo continues to pursue diplomatic solutions following a visit to Riyadh. The decision required approval from two-thirds of legislators under Egypt’s constitutional provisions for overseas military deployments.
Egypt maintains significant strategic interests in the region beyond supporting its economic partner. Houthi attacks near the Bab al-Mandeb strait have disrupted maritime traffic critical to the Suez Canal, affecting Egypt’s revenue from the waterway. Egypt previously participated in a Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen starting in 2015, primarily deploying naval assets to secure shipping routes.
The authorization followed closed parliamentary discussions and an earlier postponement of the measure. On Monday, el-Sisi also met United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to discuss regional tensions and peace initiatives. Guterres urged restraint and cautioned that further escalation could create uncontrollable consequences in the region.
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