Egypt has pledged to provide Saudi Arabia with any support needed to fight Houthi militants in Yemen, as renewed Houthi attacks on the kingdom’s airports and major cities intensify the conflict in Yemen.
- Egypt has pledged unwavering support to Saudi Arabia amidst escalating Houthi attacks on key Saudi cities and airports.
- Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty emphasised Egypt’s readiness to fulfill any Saudi request, though the specifics of this support remain unclear.
- Recent Houthi strikes targeted Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, Dammam's vital oil infrastructure, and other major sites, heightening security fears.
- Egypt is contemplating joining a newly signed regional defence pact with Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan to bolster collective security.
Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said Cairo was ready to respond to any request from Riyadh as Saudi Arabia steps up efforts to counter the Iran-aligned Houthi movement.
“Whatever is being asked by the Saudis, of course we will respond,” Abdelatty told Bloomberg Television during an interview.
He added that Egypt was prepared to provide all kinds of support without reservation, although he did not specify what form any assistance would take.
The latest attacks have raised concerns about the security of Saudi Arabia’s critical infrastructure. King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was reportedly targeted twice over the weekend, while Khamis Mushait was also targeted late Monday.
Dammam, in the kingdom’s Eastern Province, which hosts some of its largest oil fields, was also struck.
Saudi Arabia has been involved in the Yemen conflict since Houthi fighters seized the capital, Sanaa, in 2014 and forced the Saudi-backed government from power the following year. The war has killed tens of thousands of people, according to international aid organisations.
Fighting had eased in recent years before tensions flared again amid the Iran war. Hostilities intensified in July after Saudi aircraft struck the runway at Sanaa airport to prevent a Houthi delegation returning from Iran from landing. Saudi-led forces have since launched a fresh campaign to retake Houthi-held territory.
Egypt considers regional defence agreement
Egypt has historically been cautious about military interventions abroad. Its involvement in Yemen during the 1960s civil war became a costly, prolonged campaign.
Abdelatty also said Cairo was seriously considering joining a regional defence arrangement involving Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan. The three countries signed an accord in Mecca in August as regional security concerns grew.
Saudi Arabia’s economic ambitions face new risks
The escalation threatens Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s efforts to transform Saudi Arabia into a global hub for tourism, finance and business beyond oil.
Recent attacks have disrupted operations at Riyadh’s main airport and prompted the capital’s financial district to shift to remote work.
The insecurity is also affecting major international events. Some executives have reportedly declined to attend this week’s World Petroleum Congress in Riyadh, while organisers have cancelled next month’s Misk Global Forum.