Egypt says ready to give Saudi Arabia necessary support amid Houthi conflict

The Egyptian presidency has declared that the nation is prepared to offer Saudi Arabia the necessary assistance to secure its security and stability amid the ongoing conflict involving the Houthi rebels. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi convened an emergency parliament session to authorize military support for Saudi Arabia, should the kingdom request it.

Although a parliamentary vote was anticipated on Sunday to authorize this request, discussions are scheduled to continue on Monday, according to two lawmakers and local media reports. The Houthis have recently intensified their attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting the country's international airport and the state oil giant, Saudi Aramco, in addition to the worsening fighting with the forces of the internationally recognized government following the breakdown of a truce.

In a statement released following a meeting of Egypt's National Defence Council, chaired by Sisi and attended by key officials, the presidency stated that Egypt would provide Saudi Arabia with all possible forms of support to safeguard its security, resources, territorial integrity, and Islamic holy sites. Sisi emphasized on Saturday that Egypt's actions would be guided by the wishes of Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, following their meeting on September 15, as the fighting in Yemen escalated once again.

Egypt and Saudi Arabia maintain a close strategic and economic partnership, with Saudi Arabia and other oil-rich Gulf states providing Egypt with substantial aid, central-bank deposits, and investments following the military ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in 2013. Egypt had previously participated in the Saudi-led coalition intervening in Yemen in 2015 to support the government against the Houthi rebels, although its combat role was minimal.