Egypt's Sisi asks parliament to authorise support for Saudi Arabia

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has requested that parliament authorize support for Saudi Arabia in defending against attacks by Yemen's Houthis. Saudi Arabia leads a military coalition backing Yemen's recognized government in a conflict with the Houthis. Egypt has been involved in the Saudi-led intervention since 2015, primarily focusing on securing Red Sea shipping routes.

In recent weeks, the Houthis have intensified their attacks on Saudi targets, including energy facilities and Riyadh's airport. Sisi emphasized that Egypt would not hesitate to take any necessary measures to protect Saudi Arabia, provided the directive comes from King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The parliament is expected to convene in an emergency session on Sunday to grant authorization for such a deployment.

This request follows a visit by de facto Saudi leader Mohammed bin Salman to Cairo, where both leaders discussed the importance of free and secure navigation in the Red Sea, a crucial trade route. The conflict with the Houthis affects not only Saudi Arabia's security and energy exports, but also Egypt, which could suffer further revenue losses from the Suez Canal if disruptions persist.

Egypt has not joined the Mecca agreement, a defense pact signed by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, but is considering the proposal and studying its terms in detail.