Egypt grants army green light to defend Saudi Arabia against Houthi strikes

The Egyptian parliament authorized the country's military on Monday to provide direct support to Saudi Arabia in its defense against Yemen's Houthi militia. This decision grants Cairo the legal basis to enter the regional conflict if the Gulf kingdom formally requests assistance. The move responds to intensified Houthi attacks that have expanded the scope of fighting in the area.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi requested this parliamentary approval last week. He specified that the support would be limited to defending Saudi territory and borders rather than launching attacks inside Yemen. The Houthis' advances pose a threat to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical waterway leading to the Suez Canal, which is vital for Egypt's economy.

Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and intelligence chief Hassan Rashad delivered a formal letter from Sisi to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Wednesday. The letter confirmed Egypt's willingness to assist its Gulf ally. Abdelatty stated after the visit that Cairo is exploring every opportunity to resolve the conflict diplomatically while maintaining a defensive posture.

Egypt has maintained a cautious military presence in the region since joining a Saudi-led coalition in March 2015. At that time, Cairo primarily acted as a naval partner, sending warships to secure Red Sea shipping lanes. It also deployed approximately 800 ground troops but kept its combat role limited. This new authorization marks a shift from that earlier, more restrained involvement.

The decision comes as fighting between the Saudi-backed coalition and the Houthi militia has escalated in recent weeks. The Houthis have targeted Riyadh's international airport and facilities belonging to the state oil company Saudi Aramco. These strikes have disrupted flights and oil exports. Aid agencies have warned that the worsening fighting is deepening an already severe humanitarian crisis in Yemen.

Saudi Arabia serves as a major political and financial partner for Egypt, providing billions of dollars in aid, central bank deposits, and energy supplies under the Sisi administration. The two nations have increased their coordination on security matters following a visit by the Saudi crown prince to Cairo on September 15. That meeting focused on security and navigation in the Red Sea after the conflict reignited.

Egypt has historically avoided large-scale foreign ground deployments since the 1991 Gulf War, following a costly intervention in Yemen in the 1960s. The country has frequently condemned Iranian-backed attacks on Gulf states but has not previously joined the Mecca mutual defense pact signed by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey in August. Foreign Minister Abdelatty noted this month that Egyptian membership in that pact remains under serious consideration.