The Egyptian Parliament approved the government to provide military support to Saudi Arabia, which has been heavily attacked by Yemen's Houthi rebel group, but emphasized that the mission is solely for self-defense.
On Monday, 26 Oct 2026 GMT+7, the Egyptian Parliament approved authorizing President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to take “all necessary measures” to help Saudi Arabia defend itself if requested, a move that may increase Egypt’s direct involvement in the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthi group.
The Egyptian Parliament held a secret ballot without officially releasing the vote count, but the parliamentary office stated that at least two-thirds of members voted in favor.
The statement did not specify how Egypt would assist Saudi Arabia but stressed that the mission is for “self-defense only,” limited to protecting Saudi territory, borders, sovereignty, and religious sites, with no extension to deploying forces to attack inside Yemen.
However, beyond protecting Saudi Arabia, Egypt’s recent move also aims to safeguard the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the southern gateway to the Red Sea and Egypt's Suez Canal, which is under threat from the Houthi group.
Opposition parties in Egypt and some political groups voted against or abstained, believing Egypt should focus on mediating rather than entering regional war, and also citing unclear mission goals, duration, and budget requirements.
Last week, Yahya Ali Al-Rai, chairman of Yemen’s Houthi-controlled House of Representatives, urged the Egyptian Parliament to reject the proposal, warning it would threaten Egypt’s own security, while Yemen’s internationally recognized government-backed Shura Council supported Egypt joining to defend Saudi Arabia.
The conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi group has intensified in recent weeks, with Houthis continuously firing weapons at Riyadh airport and southern Saudi areas, including the early October attack on King Khalid Airport that killed 13 and injured over 300.
Saudi Arabia recently signed the “Mecca Joint Defence Agreement” with Pakistan and Turkey in August, while the United Kingdom announced it would send Typhoon fighter jets to help protect Saudi airspace but emphasized it would not assist in attacking Houthi forces in Yemen.
Meanwhile, reports indicate Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman requested military help from the U.S., but President Donald Trump declined to initiate attacks on the Houthis, opting instead to provide intelligence and targeting support.
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Source:reuters