Egypt parliament authorises military support to Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacks

Egypt's parliament has authorized military support for Saudi Arabia in response to Houthi attacks, following President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's request. The House of Representatives voted with a two-thirds majority in favor of authorizing President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to take necessary measures to support Saudi Arabia. Egypt, known for having the Arab world's largest military, has the capability to provide defensive support, although the specifics remain unclear.

The Social Democratic Party abstained from the vote, requesting more information on the mission's scope and potential risks. Sisi emphasized that the support would be defensive and not involve attacking Yemen, focusing on defending Saudi's land and borders. Egypt aims to resolve the situation diplomatically. The Houthis' attacks on Saudi Arabia and a blockade on its oil threaten Egypt's key sources of foreign currency, including the Suez Canal and remittances.

Egypt joined Saudi Arabia in the Yemen coalition in 2015, but its approach has leaned towards diplomacy, positioning itself as a regional mediator. H.A. Hellyer, a senior fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, noted that Egypt's calculus has changed due to the perceived risk in Saudi Arabia and the Red Sea. The potential Egyptian deployment to Saudi Arabia is expected to remain limited.