Egyptian Parliament Approves Military Support for Saudi Arabia

Egypt's parliament voted Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, to authorize President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi to provide military support to Saudi Arabia against attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels, as Cairo seeks to protect its ally without becoming directly involved in Yemen's conflict. The authorization follows repeated missile and drone attacks on Saudi territory and growing concerns about regional security and economic stability.

According to The Associated Press, a regional official familiar with the matter said Egypt would provide air defense systems and aircraft to help intercept incoming missiles and drones. The assistance would focus on protecting Saudi territory and would not include Egyptian ground troops deployed to Yemen.

Parliament did not disclose the details of its closed-door vote or specify the full scope of the mission. The decision had been postponed from the previous week to allow lawmakers additional time to consider the risks of military involvement.

Egypt's National Defense Council, chaired by el-Sissi, announced on Oct. 18 that the country was prepared to provide all necessary and possible support to Saudi Arabia while increasing diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.

El-Sissi has repeatedly emphasized that Egypt's assistance would remain defensive rather than constitute an offensive campaign against the Houthis. Speaking earlier this month, he said, "Egypt will carry out any measure to protect Saudi Arabia," while stressing that his government was not seeking to attack another country.

In separate remarks reported by The Associated Press, the president rejected suggestions that Egypt was preparing to launch an assault on Yemen. He also said Egypt had not participated in cooperation intended to conduct combat operations beyond the borders of partner countries, describing the mission as focused on defending Saudi territory and its borders.

Egypt's opposition Egyptian Social Democratic Party announced that its 11-member parliamentary bloc would abstain from the vote. The party cited insufficient information about the mission's objectives, scope, duration and costs, along with concerns about the risks to Egyptian personnel, and called for diplomacy to prevent an open-ended military commitment.

Saudi Arabia's financial relationship with Egypt is another significant factor in Cairo's decision. Riyadh has provided billions of dollars in aid and investments, particularly since el-Sissi came to power following the 2013 overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi. Remittances from Egyptians working in Saudi Arabia also represent an important source of foreign currency for Egypt.

Economic concerns extend to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, a major source of revenue for the Egyptian government. According to Al Jazeera, disruptions to shipping caused by regional conflict and Houthi attacks have threatened canal income, while further interference with maritime traffic could increase pressure on Egypt's economy and energy supplies.

The renewed military commitment has also revived memories of Egypt's costly intervention in Yemen during the 1960s. Then-President Gamal Abdel Nasser sent tens of thousands of troops to support republican forces against royalists backed by Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom. Egyptian forces suffered heavy losses before withdrawing following Egypt's defeat in the 1967 war with Israel.

Ahmad Dahshan, editor-in-chief of the Center of Arabic Eurasian Studies, described the historical experience as a source of concern about another deployment. He said, "There is the memory that [Egypt] went to Yemen and faced forces supported by Saudi Arabia, and Egyptian troops were killed there."

Dahshan also explained that the current debate involves the possibility of Egyptian forces protecting Saudi territory rather than fighting inside Yemen. He said, "These troops would only be deployed, if they are deployed at all, to contribute to the protection of Saudi territory."

Egypt previously supported the Saudi-led coalition against the Houthis in 2015, sending naval vessels to the Red Sea but not deploying ground troops. The current authorization follows an escalation in attacks on Saudi Arabia, including a strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh earlier in October that killed 13 people, including one Egyptian, according to Al Jazeera.

The Egyptian government has not publicly released a comprehensive operational plan detailing the deployment's duration, personnel numbers or financial costs. Parliament's authorization allows el-Sissi to take measures to support Saudi Arabia's defense, while Cairo continues to emphasize diplomatic efforts to resolve the wider conflict.