Egypt's Sisi says ready to defend Saudi Arabia if asked, seeks parliament vote

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Saturday 17 October 2026 that Egypt would take any measures necessary to defend Saudi Arabia if asked, amid escalating Houthi attacks on the kingdom. Parliament announced an emergency session for Sunday at 1 p.m. (1000 GMT) in response to Sisi's request.

The commitment, framed in defensive terms, comes as Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis have in recent days attacked Riyadh's international airport and the state oil giant Saudi Aramco, following the collapse of a truce. Saudi Arabia has accused Iran of encouraging the attacks, a claim Tehran denies.

Sisi explicitly tied any action to parliamentary authorisation and a formal request from Riyadh. "I know this requires the approval of the Egyptian parliament, and I ask that an emergency session be held so that it can give us that authorisation if we are asked," he said.

The parliamentary session on Sunday is expected to consider whether to authorise potentially assisting in Saudi Arabia's defence, though the agenda was not disclosed. Sisi said Egypt would act in accordance with guidance from Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who visited him on 15 September 2026.

Why Egypt matters to Saudi defence

Saudi Arabia and other oil-rich Gulf states provided Egypt with billions of dollars in aid, central-bank deposits and investments after the 2013 military ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi. Egypt joined the Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen in 2015, though its role has largely focused on securing Red Sea shipping routes rather than frontline combat.

Egypt has a direct economic stake in Red Sea security. Disruption from Houthi attacks has hit revenue from shipping traffic through the Suez Canal. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said last month that the canal had lost about $11 billion in revenue since the Houthis began attacking commercial vessels in 2023. Analysts say Riyadh is looking for help to protect the kingdom and Red Sea shipping, and Egypt is an obvious partner because its Suez Canal revenue depends on the same traffic.

On Sunday, Egypt's National Defence Council, chaired by Sisi, said Egypt "stands fully with" Saudi Arabia to defend its resources, territorial integrity and Islamic holy sites. Egypt said it is ready to provide "all necessary and possible support to Saudi Arabia to defend its safety and stability", and the president's office said Cairo would intensify diplomatic efforts for de-escalation. The Egyptian presidency had previously stated that the security of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states is an integral part of Egypt's national security.

What happens next

The Houthis have attacked Saudi Arabia repeatedly, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh; a week before the report one such attack killed 13 people, the deadliest in the country in over a decade. Separately, the Houthis announced the release of 159 pro-government fighters under an amnesty after their recent territorial gains; the International Committee of the Red Cross confirmed the release and said it helped with interviews, health checks, family contacts and transportation.