Egyptian troops gain mandate to defend Saudi borders from Houthi strikes

For the first time since the 1991 Gulf War, Egypt’s military has received formal approval to engage directly in a foreign conflict on land or in the air. Parliament granted President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi authority on Monday to support Saudi Arabia against the Yemeni Houthis. This decision places Egyptian forces in a more active position within the escalating regional war, moving beyond the defensive naval posture Cairo maintained during the earlier phase of the Yemen conflict in 2015.

The authorization responds to a request Sisi made last week. He asked lawmakers to allow Egypt to defend its Gulf ally and the world’s largest oil exporter if Riyadh asked for help. The Houthis, backed by Iran, have intensified attacks that threaten the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This waterway serves as a critical gateway to the Suez Canal, a major source of revenue for the Egyptian state. By securing the strait, Cairo aims to protect its economic lifeline while supporting a key political partner.

Egypt’s foreign policy has historically balanced condemnation of Iranian-backed attacks with a reluctance to commit ground troops abroad. The country joined the Saudi-led coalition in March 2015 primarily as a naval partner, sending warships to secure Red Sea shipping lanes. It deployed approximately 800 ground troops but kept their combat role limited. Since a costly intervention in the 1960s, Cairo has avoided large-scale foreign ground deployments until this latest mandate.

Diplomatic efforts accompanied the military approval. Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and intelligence chief Hassan Rashad traveled to Riyadh on Wednesday. They delivered a letter from Sisi to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Sisi specified that Egyptian support would focus on defending Saudi territory and borders rather than launching attacks into Yemen. Abdelatty stated that Cairo continues to explore diplomatic opportunities to resolve the conflict.

Saudi Arabia remains a vital financial and political partner for Egypt. Under Sisi, Riyadh has provided billions of dollars in aid, central bank deposits, and energy supplies. The strategic importance of this relationship is underscored by the September 15 visit by the Saudi crown prince to Cairo, where the two leaders discussed security in the Red Sea. Recent Houthi strikes on Riyadh’s international airport and Saudi Aramco facilities have disrupted flights and oil exports, raising the stakes for regional stability.

The next step in this diplomatic and military process involves monitoring whether Riyadh formally requests the assistance now authorized by the Egyptian parliament. Foreign Minister Abdelatty indicated that Egypt’s membership in the Mecca mutual defense pact, signed in August with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey, remains under serious consideration. The current mandate allows for immediate defensive action without waiting for a formal treaty ratification.