Sisi Asks Parliament to Authorize Defence of Saudi Arabia Against Houthi Attacks

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said on Saturday that Egypt is ready to defend Saudi Arabia if asked, amid renewed Houthi attacks on the kingdom. Speaking at a graduation ceremony at the Egyptian Military Academy, he stated it was inconceivable that Cairo would allow Saudi security or stability to be harmed. He asked parliament to convene an emergency session so that lawmakers could authorize such action if a request arrived from King Salman or Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Parliament announced it would meet at 1 p.m. local time on Sunday. Sisi emphasized that Egypt was not seeking to attack anyone and was speaking only of defence. The comments follow a visit by the Saudi crown prince to Cairo on September 15 to discuss Red Sea navigation and regional security after fighting in Yemen intensified. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty had earlier said Cairo would respond to any Saudi request, including with military support.

Houthi forces have struck Saudi airports, energy facilities, and infrastructure in recent weeks. One attack on Riyadh’s airport reportedly killed 13 people. Saudi-led coalition forces intercepted four drones over the Riyadh region, Eastern Province, and the south on Saturday. Egypt participated in the earlier Saudi-led campaign in Yemen with air and naval assets but did not send ground troops. Any new role would require a two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives under Article 152 of the Egyptian constitution, after consultation with the National Defence Council.

The statement places Egypt more explicitly on the Saudi side of the current escalation. It also signals that Cairo views threats to Gulf partners and Red Sea shipping as direct concerns. Whether parliament grants the authorization and whether Riyadh formally requests assistance will determine if Egyptian forces take any operational role. For now the offer remains conditional on a request and on domestic legislative approval.