Yemenupdated 1h ago2 min read
Egypt’s Parliament Delays Vote Authorizing Abdel Fattah El-Sisi To Support Saudi Arabia Until October 26
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Egyptian Parliament postponed vote on authorizing military support to Saudi Arabia to Oct 26. Deliberations extended after consecutive sessions failed to reach a decision.
16 outlets told this the same way.
Outlets did split on Saudi Warplanes Launch 110 Strikes on Sana’a, Yemen Monitor Says, Killing Over 30 →
Vote pushed to Oct 26
Egypt’s House of Representatives delayed a vote on authorising its armed forces to support Saudi Arabia, with the chamber adjourning the decision to October 26 as attacks from Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis continued. Egypt’s National Defense Council, chaired by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, approved “all forms of necessary and possible support” for Saudi Arabia to defend its security and stability, protect its assets, and safeguard its lands and Islamic holy sites. Egypt’s constitution required parliamentary approval for decisions by the National Defense Council related to military operations, and the council’s approval came before the vote was scheduled.
Saudi Arabia faced near-daily attacks by the Houthis, and Saudi authorities said 13 people were killed in the October 10 attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. El-Sisi told the parliament he would take “any measure” needed to protect Gulf allies, while he said, “We’re talking only about defence.”
Parties split inside parliament
Egypt’s parliament postponed the debate after an emergency session ended without a decision, and lawmakers said the chamber would resume on October 26. The Egyptian Social Democratic Party instructed its lawmakers to abstain, and the party said parliament had not been given enough information about the mission’s objectives, duration, cost, or the risks to Egyptian troops. The Al-Azhar Grand Imam urged Arab and Muslim leaders to mediate Egypt’s parliamentary decision and avert further bloodshed, as the conflict with the Houthis in Yemen remained a focus of regional security.
The Al-Azhar Grand Imam also called for urgent mediation efforts led by Arab and Muslim leaders to contain the conflict and prevent further bloodshed, while the House of Representatives continued to weigh possible military involvement. Egypt’s constitution required a two-thirds parliamentary majority to send troops on a combat mission abroad after approval from the National Defence Council, and the council gave its approval on Sunday.
Yemen conflict and regional stakes
Egypt’s debate over potential military support for Saudi Arabia unfolded as Yemen’s Houthis continued to target Saudi Arabia with missiles and drones, and the sources tied the escalation to the wider Yemeni conflict. A political analyst and Gulf studies expert, Thomas Bonnie James, told Al Jazeera that the Houthi security threat to Saudi Arabia also threatened the Suez Canal, which Egypt’s foreign minister said has lost about $11bn since the Houthis launched attacks in the Bab al-Mandeb strait in 2023. Saudi Arabia’s financing role for Egypt also remained part of the stakes, as Reuters coverage in the Al Jazeera-linked material said a $5.3bn deposit was due into Egypt’s central bank this month plus $267.39m in interest.
Egypt’s stock market reflected the uncertainty, with the EGX30 stock index falling early on Monday amid concerns about possible military involvement but recovering to close 0.4 percent higher. The sources also described how Egypt’s parliamentary decision intersected with regional efforts, including Turkiye and Pakistan pledges after activating the Mecca defence pact with Riyadh, signed in August, amid the deteriorating security situation.