Houthis Attacks: Egypt’s Sisi Asks Parliament To Authorise Support For Saudi Arabia

Egypt’s parliament will hold an emergency session on Sunday after President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi asked lawmakers to authorise support for Saudi defences against attacks by Yemen’s Houthis, if requested by the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia leads a military coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government, at war with the Iran-backed Houthis.

Egypt joined the Saudi-led intervention in 2015, although its role has largely focused on securing Red Sea shipping routes rather than frontline combat operations.

Since Yemen’s war reignited in July, the Houthis have stepped up their attacks on Saudi targets, including energy facilities and Riyadh’s international airport, where 13 people were killed in an attack last week.

The Houthis have also blockaded the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a strategic maritime chokepoint whose importance has surged since Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, forcing Saudi Arabia to rely on Red Sea routes to export its oil.

Speaking at a graduation ceremony at the Egyptian military academy, Sisi said it was “inconceivable” for Cairo to stand by while Saudi Arabia was “harmed or its security and stability threatened”.

“Egypt, of course, with the directives of His Majesty King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will carry out any measure to protect you or defend you,” he said.

He added that any deployment would require parliamentary approval and said he asked lawmakers to convene in an emergency session to grant authorisation “if it is requested of us”.

“I’m not talking about fighting anyone or attacking anyone,” Sisi said. “We are speaking only about defence.”

Shortly after Sisi’s request, state-run Al-Ahram newspaper reported that parliament would convene in an emergency session on Sunday, but gave no further details.

Al-Akhbar, another state-run newspaper, said the session would be held at 1:00 pm (1000 GMT).

The remarks come a month after a visit to Cairo by de facto Saudi leader Mohammed bin Salman, during which Egypt reiterated its support for any measures taken by Riyadh to safeguard the kingdom’s security.

The two leaders also called for free and secure navigation in the Red Sea, a vital trade route.

The conflict with the Houthis poses risks not only to Saudi Arabia’s security and energy exports, but also to Egypt, where disruption to Red Sea shipping could further reduce revenues from the Suez Canal, a key source of foreign currency.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said last month that Egypt’s Suez Canal lost about $11 billion in revenues since the Houthis began attacking commercial vessels following Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

Despite its longstanding military ties with Gulf states, Egypt has not joined the Mecca agreement, a mutual defence pact signed by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan in August, with Cairo generally favouring diplomacy over participation in regional military alliances.

Turkey said in August that the regional defence pact was not directed against any specific country and remained open to additional members, including Egypt.

Cairo, however, said it was studying the agreement “in depth” and has yet to take a position on joining.

Saudi Arabia has long been a key backer of Egypt, providing financial support after the 2013 ouster of Islamist late president Mohammed Morsi and during subsequent economic crises.

AFP