Egyptian Parliament Authorizes El-Sisi to Militarily Support Saudi Arabia Against the Houthis

The Egyptian House of Representatives agreed on Monday to authorize President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to provide military support to Saudi Arabia to defend its territory against attacks by Iran-backed Houthis, according to the Associated Press.

The parliament said in a statement that the vote grants el-Sisi authority to take necessary measures to support Saudi Arabia in defending its sovereignty and territory against external "aggression." The house did not disclose details of the vote, which took place in a closed session, but it is overwhelmingly dominated by pro-government lawmakers.

The government did not provide details regarding the nature of the support, prompting lawmakers to question the scope of the proposed assistance. The agency quoted a regional official familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity, as saying that Egypt will deploy air defense systems and aircraft to help repel missiles and drones fired at Saudi Arabia, confirming that the support is defensive and will not include ground forces in Yemen.

The vote had been scheduled for last week, but was postponed after two days of discussions due to growing Egyptian reservations regarding intervention in the years-long Yemeni war. The National Defense Council, chaired by el-Sisi, had pledged earlier in October to provide "all forms of necessary and possible support" to Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia provides Egypt with billions of dollars in aid and investments, ties that cast a shadow over the parliament's decision.

What Do These Terms Mean?

Military Mandate: An official decision granting the head of state authority to take specific military measures without returning to parliament at every step.

Air Defense Systems: Weapon systems tasked with intercepting missiles, aircraft, and drones before they reach their target.

The Houthis: An armed group controlling parts of Yemen, described by Saudi Arabia and other countries as backed by Iran.