Egypt considers military support for Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacks

On Sunday, October 18, 2026, the Egyptian Parliament held an emergency closed-door session to deliberate on a request by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to authorize potential military assistance to Saudi Arabia. This move follows an urgent meeting of the National Defense Council, which earlier declared its commitment to protecting Saudi security, territorial integrity, and infrastructure against increasing threats. While member of parliament Mostafa Bakry stated that the council had already approved the deployment of military forces, the official presidential statement remains more reserved, confirming only the provision of necessary support without explicitly confirming an immediate troop deployment.

The initiative comes in response to escalating hostilities by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, who recently intensified strikes against Saudi targets, including the Riyadh international airport and facilities belonging to Saudi Aramco. Last week, a Houthi strike at the airport in the Saudi capital resulted in the deaths of 13 people. Although President el-Sisi emphasized that Egypt does not seek to trigger broader regional conflicts, he maintained that the country is prepared to take necessary measures to defend its ally. The parliamentary vote serves as a constitutional requirement under Article 152 for deploying armed forces abroad, with the session chaired by Hisham Badawi.