Egyptian Lawmakers Approve Military Aid to Protect Saudi Arabia

Regional conflicts in the Middle East have intensified, placing pressure on neighboring nations to choose sides. On Monday, the Egyptian parliament voted to authorize the country's military to provide defensive support to Saudi Arabia. Local media and parliamentarians confirmed the decision, which grants Cairo direct involvement in the ongoing regional conflict. This move follows a request from President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi last week to approve military assistance for the Gulf ally. The authorization specifically applies if Riyadh requests help against attacks from Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis.

The decision addresses a growing threat to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This waterway serves as a critical gateway to Egypt's Suez Canal. The Houthis have increased their attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting key infrastructure. In recent weeks, the militant group struck Riyadh's international airport and the Saudi Aramco oil company. These strikes disrupted flights and oil exports. Aid agencies report that conditions in Yemen are worsening, adding to one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises.

Egypt has historically avoided direct combat in this conflict despite condemning Iranian-backed attacks. Cairo joined the Saudi-led coalition in March 2015, primarily acting as a naval partner to secure Red Sea shipping lanes. The country also deployed approximately 800 ground troops but kept its combat role limited. This was the last time Egypt undertook a large-scale foreign ground deployment outside of the 1991 Gulf War. The country previously engaged in a costly military intervention in Yemen during the 1960s.

Political ties between the two nations are strong. Saudi Arabia provides billions of dollars in aid and energy supplies to Egypt under the current administration. Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty stated this month that Egypt's membership in the Mecca mutual defense pact remains under serious consideration. The pact, signed in August, includes Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey. Egypt has not yet formally joined this specific agreement.

Egyptian officials clarified the scope of the new military mandate. Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and intelligence chief Hassan Rashad traveled to Riyadh on Wednesday. They delivered a letter from President Sisi to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The letter stated that Egyptian support would be limited to defending Saudi territory and borders. It explicitly excluded plans for offensive operations inside Yemen. Abdelatty added that Cairo advocates for exploring every opportunity to resolve the Yemen conflict through diplomatic means.

The diplomatic engagement preceded the parliamentary vote. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visited Sisi in Cairo on September 15. Their discussions focused on security and navigation in the Red Sea following the resurgence of fighting in Yemen. The current escalation has turned the conflict into a volatile front in the wider US-Israeli war on Iran.

The parliament's authorization marks a shift from diplomatic statements to legal military backing. The vote empowers the Egyptian armed forces to act if Saudi Arabia formally requests aid. This development occurs as the Houthis continue to target Saudi economic assets and transport hubs.