Lawmakers approve military support amid Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, but Cairo has ruled out attacks on Yemen. Published October 26, 2026 October 26, 2026 Egypt’s parliament authorized President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to provide military support to Saudi Arabia as attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis intensify. The House of Representatives, chaired by President Hisham Badawi, approved the mandate in a vote on Monday. Recommended Stories list of 3 articlesend of list A parliamentary statement shared with Reuters news agency said el-Sisi had been authorized to “take the necessary measures” to assist Saudi Arabia in its defense, should Riyadh request help. The move raises the possibility of Egypt becoming more directly involved in a conflict that has consumed the Gulf and Red Sea in recent weeks. It comes after Houthi attacks on Riyadh international airport and facilities belonging to Saudi Arabia’s state oil company Aramco, which disrupted flights and oil exports. The Houthi armed group that controls Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, is fighting the Saudi-led coalition, which backs the internationally recognized government. Fighting has intensified in recent weeks, deepening the humanitarian crisis that has already devastated Yemen. Cairo’s participation in the conflict would be limited to defensive action. “The decision taken today by the Egyptian parliament, of course, fully authorizes the president, in his capacity as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, to take whatever measures the situation requires to provide Saudi Arabia with everything it needs to defend its territory and its infrastructure against any external attack,” he told Al Jazeera. “The mission, from the Egyptian point of view, is purely defensive in the sense that it is not directed at any party in the region, either a So it is now a precautionary measure.” El-Sisi had also said on Wednesday that any Egyptian military action would be limited to protecting Saudi territory and borders, rather than launching attacks on Yemen. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said Cairo continued to favor a diplomatic agreement after visiting Riyadh on Wednesday. The constitution requires approval from two-thirds of lawmakers before troops can be sent abroad on combat missions. Egypt also has a direct interest in the security of the Red Sea. Houthi attacks near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the key route to and from the Suez Canal, have disrupted shipping and reduced canal revenues. Egypt joined an earlier Saudi-led campaign in Yemen in 2015, largely helping to secure sea routes with naval forces. Cairo has not undertaken a large-scale foreign land deployment since the 1991 Gulf War. El-Sisi also met with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Cairo on Monday to discuss regional tensions and peace. According to Egypt’s presidency, Guterres praised Cairo’s efforts to avoid escalation in the Gulf and said diplomacy could help address disputes over Iran’s nuclear program and shipping. In a post on X on Monday, Guterres urged “maximum restraint,” warning that new fighting could spiral out of control.
