Egyptian President Sisi Seeks Parliamentary Approval to Defend Saudi Arabia

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi announced that they will take all necessary measures to defend Saudi Arabia if requested in the face of escalating attacks by the Houthis in Yemen, and called parliament into an emergency session to obtain authorization.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi emphasized during a graduation ceremony at the Egyptian Military Academy that they would not allow Saudi Arabia's security and stability to be harmed. Stating that they have no intention of attacking anyone but are ready to act for defensive purposes, Sisi expressed that they would take their steps in accordance with the guidance of Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Following the collapse of the ceasefire in Yemen, Iran-backed Houthis have targeted Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport and state oil giant Saudi Aramco in recent days. Sisi had discussed security and navigation issues in the Red Sea with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who visited Egypt on September 15 following the resumption of conflicts between Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

Sisi stated that this step requires the approval of the Egyptian parliament and requested an emergency session to be held in order to grant authorization if requested. Following this call, the Egyptian parliament announced that it would hold a plenary session on Sunday at 13:00 without disclosing agenda details.

Egypt and Saudi Arabia are known as close strategic and economic partners. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries provided billions of dollars in financial aid, central bank deposits, and investments to Egypt following the overthrow of Mohamed Morsi in Egypt in 2013. Furthermore, Egypt joined the Saudi-led coalition formed in 2015 to support the Yemeni government against the Houthis.