Egypt’s President al-Sisi Limits Saudi Defense Pact, Rules Out Yemen Offensive
Egyptian President al-Sisi states military support for Saudi Arabia is restricted to border defense and excludes any attacks on Yemen amid Houthi strikes.
POLICY WIRE — Cairo, Egypt — Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced that his nation’s military assistance to Saudi Arabia will remain strictly restricted to safeguarding the kingdom’s borders and territory, excluding any offensive operations in Yemen.
The presidential office released a statement on Wednesday confirming the policy boundaries as Iran-allied Houthi forces continue escalating assaults against Saudi targets. Al-Sisi emphasized that while Egypt is prepared to protect Saudi territory if formally requested, any allied military operations will not extend past the frontiers of the country under protection.
Speaking during a panel titled Security of the Nation and Citizens on the third day of the Egypt Forum 2026, the Egyptian leader reiterated that the state’s armed forces are focused entirely on defense. Sisi stated directly that the Egyptian military effort is intended to defend the kingdom’s territory and does not include an attack on Yemen.
These developments unfold as regional friction intensifies due to ongoing cross-border strikes by Yemen’s Houthi movement targeting Saudi infrastructure, including vital energy facilities and the Riyadh international airport.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
