Egypt is urging diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict in Yemen, as its parliament prepares to vote on authorizing military support to Saudi Arabia in the ongoing conflict with the Houthi movement. The vote, initially scheduled to take place earlier this week, has been postponed until October 26 to allow for further discussion among lawmakers.
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called for an urgent parliamentary session last Saturday to consider approving the deployment of Egyptian forces in support of Saudi Arabia. Egypt’s foreign minister, Badr AbdelLatty, emphasized the importance of exploring all diplomatic avenues to achieve a political solution that would include a full Houthi withdrawal from areas seized near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This strategic maritime chokepoint at the southern entrance of the Red Sea is critical for global shipping and Egypt's own Suez Canal.
AbdelLatty, speaking at a press conference, stressed that Egypt’s potential military support would be limited to defending Saudi territory and borders, rather than taking offensive action inside Yemen. “So that we can move on the political path that we always emphasize, and also side by side in support of the defensive path for the kingdom,” he stated.
The move comes amid escalating clashes between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition backing Yemen’s internationally recognized government. The Houthis intensified their offensive in September by advancing toward Bab el-Mandeb, a development that has heightened regional tensions and further disrupted global oil supplies. The group has also launched attacks on Saudi airports and oil facilities. Saudi Arabia, as the world’s largest oil exporter and a key economic ally to Egypt, remains a critical partner, providing significant financial aid, central bank support, and energy resources under Sisi’s administration.
Egypt has been involved in the coalition since March 2015, primarily securing Red Sea shipping lanes through naval deployments and contributing approximately 800 ground troops with a limited combat role. A US-brokered ceasefire in 2022 had mostly paused hostilities, but fighting resumed, with Cairo so far avoiding direct combat involvement.
In recent days, Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad and Foreign Minister AbdelLatty traveled to Riyadh to deliver a letter from President Sisi to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, reiterating Egypt’s readiness to support Saudi Arabia defensively.
The nature and scale of Egypt’s military assistance remain unclear. While Egypt has expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia, it has not officially joined the Makkah mutual defense pact involving Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkiye, though discussions about membership are ongoing.
The United States, another key regional player, reportedly declined Saudi requests for direct strikes against Houthi targets, instead offering intelligence support and assistance with targeting, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Meanwhile, the Houthi-led parliament speaker Yahya Ali al-Raj has cautioned against Egyptian involvement, warning that participation in the conflict could endanger Egypt’s own national security and internal stability, urging lawmakers to reject the authorization proposal.