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The National Defense Council chaired by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi approved the deployment of Egyptian military forces to Saudi Arabia on a defensive mission during a meeting on October 18. Member of Parliament Mostafa Bakry announced the decision on X and stated that the council had defined the specific parameters of the mission before referring it to parliament. The Egyptian presidency issued a statement pledging all necessary and possible forms of support to protect Saudi security, territorial integrity, resources and Islamic holy sites while pursuing diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, parliament speaker, defense minister and intelligence chiefs attended the council session.
Parliament convened an emergency closed session the same day to consider the authorization mandated by Article 152 of the constitution, which requires a two-thirds majority for sending forces on overseas combat missions. Lawmakers demanded more information on the mission’s scope, objectives and scale before proceeding with a vote, according to three participants who spoke to Mada Masr. The session was extended with deliberations set to resume on October 20 when the vote is now expected, two MPs told AFP. House Speaker Hesham Badawy presided over the proceedings that ran nearly three hours before the postponement.
President el-Sisi had requested the parliamentary approval in a speech at a military academy graduation ceremony on October 17. He said Egypt was prepared to carry out any defensive measures requested by Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to safeguard the kingdom’s stability. The president added that any involvement would focus solely on defense and would not constitute an offensive action against any party.
The move comes amid escalated Houthi attacks on Saudi airports, oil facilities and other infrastructure that have raised concerns over Red Sea shipping and energy supplies. Saudi authorities reported strikes on airports in Jazan and Najran that injured three people and caused limited damage, according to regional security assessments. Al Jazeera reported that analysts expect Egyptian support would likely center on air and missile defense, naval protection for shipping lanes and intelligence sharing rather than ground combat in Yemen.
Egypt and Saudi Arabia have maintained longstanding military cooperation with Cairo having joined the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen in 2015 to counter the same Houthi threat. A Mada Masr source with military background indicated that the deployment could involve air defense units, naval forces in the Red Sea and limited replacement of Saudi positions without direct frontline engagements. Such assistance would also carry strategic signaling value for Egypt in its broader regional relationships, the source added.
The constitutional requirement for parliamentary approval ensures legislative oversight before any forces are dispatched outside Egypt’s borders. Pro-government lawmakers who hold the majority are widely expected to back the authorization once debate concludes, according to reporting by The National. The National Defense Council statement reaffirmed Egypt’s view that Saudi national security is intertwined with broader Arab security interests, a position echoed in Sisi’s public remarks over the weekend.
