Egypt’s defence council approves troop deployment to Saudi Arabia

Egypt’s National Defence Council has approved the deployment of military personnel to Saudi Arabia for a defensive mission, with parliament scheduled to hold an emergency session on Sunday (October 18) to consider the decision, according to Gulf News.

Mustafa Bakri, a member of Egypt’s House of Representatives, said on social media platform X that the council, chaired by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, had approved the deployment of troops to Saudi Arabia and their proposed mission.

However, according to Gulf News, the Egyptian presidency did not formally announce the deployment in its statement following the meeting, although it pledged to provide all possible support for Saudi Arabia’s security.

The development comes as Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis have intensified attacks on Saudi Arabia.

In recent days, Riyadh’s international airport and Saudi oil company Aramco have also been targeted.

According to Reuters, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement on Sunday that Egypt would provide all necessary and possible assistance to protect Saudi Arabia’s security, stability, resources, territorial integrity and Islamic holy sites.

The statement followed a meeting of the National Defence Council chaired by President Sisi and attended by the speaker of parliament, the prime minister, the defence minister and senior military and intelligence officials.

The presidency said the council had described the escalating attacks on Saudi Arabia as unacceptable, linking the kingdom’s national security to that of Egypt and the wider Arab world.

The council also called for intensified diplomatic efforts to support Saudi Arabia, ease regional tensions and pursue peaceful solutions to conflicts.

According to Gulf News, the Egyptian parliament’s emergency session was scheduled for 1pm local time in Cairo on Sunday, under the chairmanship of Speaker Hisham Badawi, to consider the proposed deployment of troops.

On Saturday, President Sisi said in a speech at a ceremony at the Egyptian Military Academy that Egypt was prepared to take any necessary measures, at Saudi Arabia’s request, to defend the kingdom’s security and sovereignty.

He made clear that any action would be defensive in nature and undertaken at Saudi Arabia’s request, in accordance with the wishes of King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Under Article 152 of Egypt’s Constitution, according to Gulf News, deploying armed forces on a combat mission outside the country requires consultation with the National Defence Council and approval by a two-thirds majority of the House of Representatives.

Egypt and Saudi Arabia maintain close strategic and economic ties.

Egypt was also part of the Saudi-led military coalition established in 2015, which intervened in Yemen in support of the internationally recognised government against the Houthis. However, Egypt’s direct combat role in the conflict remained limited.

Following the military ouster of Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi in 2013, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries provided Egypt with billions of dollars in financial assistance and investments, Reuters reported.

The prospect of Egyptian military support for Saudi Arabia emerges as fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed forces has resumed following the end of a ceasefire in Yemen.