Egyptian Parliament Authorizes Troop Deployment to Saudi Arabia

The Egyptian Parliament voted on Monday to grant President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi the power to send troops to Saudi Arabia. This move aims to assist the kingdom in defending against attacks from Houthi insurgents in Yemen, who are backed by Iran.

Sisi had asked for this authority last week, assuring that the troops’ role would strictly be defensive. Officials have made it clear that Egyptian forces would be stationed in Saudi Arabia and that they would not engage in any offensive operations against Houthi forces in Yemen.

On October 18, Sisi convened a meeting of his National Defense Council, comprised of top ministers and military officials. The Council expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia and committed to safeguarding its security and sovereignty.

According to the Egyptian Constitution, any military deployment outside the country’s borders requires parliamentary approval. In the recent vote, two-thirds of lawmakers supported the decision to back Saudi Arabia. However, the Social Democratic Party abstained, citing a lack of details regarding the mission’s costs and objectives.

As of now, the Saudi government has not formally requested Egyptian military assistance.

Egypt is part of a loose alliance with Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, sometimes referred to as the “Regional 4” or “R4.” Cairo is viewed as a close ally and a possible future member of the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, which was signed by the other three R4 nations in August 2026.

The Houthis reacted negatively to the Egyptian Parliament’s decision, with Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a member of the group’s politburo, stating that this move amounted to a declaration of war. He commented on the irony of discussing peace in the region while Egypt was apparently siding with Saudi Arabia against Yemen.

This Houthi official also described the parliamentary vote as an act of aggression against Iran and dismissed any threat from potential alliances that could be formed.