Sisi Says Egypt Ready to Defend Saudi Arabia Against Houthi Attacks
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Egypt stood ready to defend Saudi Arabia “if requested” and asked parliament to convene in emergency session to authorise any deployment. “It is inconceivable that we would allow Saudi Arabia, its security or stability to be harmed,” he told a military academy graduation near Cairo. Egypt’s parliament will sit at 1pm on Sunday.
Since Yemen’s war reignited in July, the Houthis have struck Saudi energy facilities, Aramco’s headquarters and King Khalid International Airport, where 13 people were killed in a single attack last Saturday. They have also blockaded the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to Saudi-flagged tankers. Egypt has its own stake: the Suez Canal has lost about $11 billion in revenue since the Houthis began targeting shipping in 2023. Riyadh signed a mutual defence pact with Pakistan and Turkey in August, though the scope of either’s help is unclear. Sisi stressed Egypt’s role would be defensive and said he would not seek another term beyond 2030.