Egypt Weighs Military Involvement in Saudi-Yemen Conflict Amid Houthi Attacks
Egypt's parliament votes on authorizing armed forces to defend Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks, risking direct military involvement in regional wars.
POLICY WIRE — Cairo, Egypt — Egypt’s parliament is slated to vote this week on whether to grant the armed forces authorization to assist in defending Saudi Arabia against assaults by Yemen’s Houthis if Riyadh formally asks for assistance.
This prospective step edges the most populous Arab nation significantly closer to active military engagement within the expanding conflicts triggered by the US-Israeli air assault on Iran in February.
The Egyptian presidency stated on Sunday that the regional military power stands prepared to deliver all necessary and possible support to Saudi Arabia to defend its safety and stability.
This stance could substantially raise the stakes across the Middle East as Yemen’s Iran-allied Houthi movement intensifies its campaign of attacks targeting the kingdom.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi initiated the process by requesting an urgent parliament session to secure official authorization for the military.
This development arrives on the heels of similar military assistance provided by Pakistan and Turkey, both of which have deployed personnel, equipment, and other resources to the region.
As a steadfast ally of Saudi Arabia, Egypt previously contributed both air and naval backing from the very beginning of the previous Saudi-led military intervention against the Houthis in Yemen, which commenced back in 2015.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
