CAIRO (Web Desk) - Egypt’s parliament has approved providing military assistance to defend Saudi Arabia following an escalation in attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
According to Reuters, the decision raises the possibility of Egypt becoming directly involved in the regional conflict as the Iran-aligned Houthis intensify attacks on Saudi Arabia.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi had asked parliament last week to authorise support for the kingdom if Saudi Arabia requested assistance against the Houthis. The move would enable Egypt to defend its Gulf ally, the world’s largest oil exporter.
The Houthi advances have also raised concerns about the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a strategic maritime passage connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
The route is vital to Egypt’s access to the Suez Canal and plays a key role in global trade and oil shipments.
Egypt has previously condemned attacks by Iran and Iran-backed groups against Gulf countries but has so far refrained from direct military involvement in the fighting.
In August, Egypt also did not join a mutual defence agreement reached between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye.
Iran had earlier warned Egypt that any country joining the war in Yemen could cause the conflict to spread far beyond the region, with consequences that would benefit no one.
The Houthis have reportedly targeted Saudi oil facilities and airports in several cities, alongside imposing a naval blockade in the Bab al-Mandab Strait. More than a dozen people have been killed and around 20 injured in the attacks so far.