Egypt’s National Defense Council announced Sunday it will support Saudi Arabia amid a sharp escalation in the conflict between Riyadh and Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. Chaired by President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, the council committed to providing “all possible forms of support” to help Saudi Arabia defend its security, following increased attacks by Houthi forces against Saudi targets.
The announcement comes amid intensified hostilities that have disrupted travel and energy markets. The Houthis have launched multiple drone and missile strikes targeting airports and oil infrastructure within Saudi Arabia. These advanced projectiles, capable of altering their flight paths mid-air, have posed significant challenges for Saudi defense systems. The attacks have resulted in at least 19 deaths and caused widespread flight cancellations across the kingdom.
Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman met Sunday with United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed to discuss bolstering cooperation between the two Gulf nations, according to the UAE’s state news agency WAM. Though both countries are part of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, recent years have seen tensions due to their support for different factions in the Yemeni conflict.
Egypt’s pledge of military support follows a recent visit to Cairo by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and coincides with President el-Sissi’s request to parliament for authorization to deploy troops and military equipment abroad. Details about the nature or scale of Egypt’s support were not disclosed.
Fighting in Yemen has intensified in recent days. The interim capital of the internationally recognized Yemeni government, Aden, has suffered attacks on its airport and government facilities. On Sunday, an airstrike in the Houthi-controlled northern province of Saada killed at least nine people, including five children and two women, according to the Health Ministry run by the rebels. The strike struck a home in Sahar district, injuring 19 others, some critically. Houthis blamed Saudi forces for the attack, while Riyadh did not immediately respond.
Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree reported that Saudi-led coalition forces had carried out some 110 missile or airstrikes against civilian areas in Sanaa and other cities within the previous 24 hours. Independent verification of these claims was not available.
Across the Saudi border, a helicopter gunship crashed near Najran on Sunday, killing its two crew members due to a technical malfunction, according to a Saudi military spokesperson. Houthi forces previously claimed responsibility for downing the helicopter. Additionally, a Houthi projectile struck a residential area in Najran province, injuring six civilians, Saudi Civil Defense reported.
In separate developments, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty discussed the escalating regional conflict during a phone call Sunday, reflecting ongoing diplomatic engagement amid the crisis.
The conflict in Yemen represents a broader proxy struggle involving regional powers. As Saudi Arabia seeks allies to confront the Houthi insurgency, which it and others attribute to Iranian backing, the situation continues to pose humanitarian and security risks in the Arabian Peninsula.