Egypt's parliament moves to authorise military support for Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacks

Right · 1Reuters, carried by The Straits Times, reported that Egypt's parliament authorised the military on 26 October to provide support to help defend Saudi Arabia, citing parliamentarians and local media. 1 Centre · 1Anadolu Agency, reporting on the same day, said parliament had resumed closed-door talks on authorising President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to provide military support, including possible troop deployment, and that no decision had yet been announced. 2 Centre · 1According to Anadolu, citing Al-Akhbar, the third session was chaired by Speaker Hisham Badawi after two closed-door meetings the previous week held at Sisi's request. Nearly 500 lawmakers had asked to speak, so more sessions were possible before a final vote. 2

Centre · 1Deputy Speaker Assem el-Gazzar said more than 100 lawmakers had spoken in the first two sessions, most supporting authorising Sisi to send troops to defend Saudi territory. He said Egypt remained committed to diplomacy, and that the sessions were closed because members needed access to sensitive strategic information. 2 Centre · 1Article 152 of Egypt's Constitution bars the president from deploying armed forces on combat missions abroad without consulting the National Defense Council and obtaining two-thirds approval from parliament. 2 Right · 1Sisi asked parliament last week to approve defending Saudi Arabia if Riyadh requests help against the Houthis. Reuters said the Houthis' advances also threaten the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a gateway to the Suez Canal. 1

Right · 1Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and intelligence chief Hassan Rashad took a letter from Sisi to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on 21 October. Sisi said Egyptian support would be limited to defending Saudi territory and borders rather than attacking Yemen, and Abdelatty said Cairo favours exploring every opportunity for a diplomatic solution. 1 Centre · 1Egypt's National Defense Council expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia on 19 October, and Sisi has said Egypt stands ready to take measures Saudi Arabia requests. 2 Mixed · 2Reuters said the fighting has escalated in recent weeks and become a volatile front in the US-Israeli war on Iran. It said the Houthis have attacked Riyadh's international airport and Saudi Aramco, disrupting flights and oil exports. Saudi authorities have reported repeated drone and missile attacks, including on Riyadh and southern areas near the Yemeni border. 1 2

Right · 1Egypt joined the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen in March 2015, mainly as a naval partner, and sent about 800 ground troops with a limited combat role. It has not joined the August Mecca mutual defence pact between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey, though Abdelatty said in October that membership is under serious consideration. 1 Right · 1Saudi Arabia is a major political and financial partner of Cairo, providing billions of dollars in aid, central bank deposits and energy supplies. 1