Middle East
Egypt authorizes Sisi to give Saudi Arabia military support, potentially including troops
Egypt's parliament approved by a two-thirds majority President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's request to help Riyadh defend its territory, following a wave of Houthi attacks.
By ANN Newsroom · Newsroom
October 26, 2026, 15:00 · Updated 18:41 · 1 min read
In brief
- Egypt's parliament authorized President Sisi to take the measures needed to support Saudi Arabia.
- Lawmaker Mostafa Bakri wrote that the authorization allows Egyptian troops to be sent “if this is necessary.”
- It is still unknown whether Riyadh will request ground troops; no deployment decision has been made.
Egypt's parliament on Monday authorized President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to take the measures needed to support Saudi Arabia in defending its territory. The decision was approved by a two-thirds majority in a plenary session chaired by parliament speaker Hisham Badawi, after Sisi himself had requested the authorization, ATSH reported, citing DPA.
Egyptian lawmaker Mostafa Bakri wrote on X that the authorization allows the president to send Egyptian troops to Saudi Arabia “if this is necessary,” in coordination with the Saudi authorities. However, it is still unknown whether Riyadh will request ground troops, and no concrete decision on deploying forces has been announced.
Houthi attacks
Saudi Arabia has faced a rise in attacks in recent weeks from Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The kingdom has also been affected by the war the United States is waging against Iran.
Egypt and Saudi Arabia are close allies. Riyadh has given Cairo considerable financial support and investment, and the two countries share interests in regional security, including developments in Sudan and the Horn of Africa.
Cairo is also worried about new Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. Attacks in 2023 and 2024 pushed many shipping companies to avoid the Suez Canal, sharply cutting traffic on a route that is a major source of revenue for Egypt.
