Egypt authorises possible troop deployment to defend Saudi Arabia

Egypt | 27-10-2026 - Egypt’s parliament has authorised President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to provide military support to Saudi Arabia, including potentially sending troops, according to The National and Saudi Gazette. The October 26 decision gives the president authority to act in co-ordination with Riyadh as the kingdom faces Houthi attacks.

The approval does not itself trigger a deployment. The National reported that El Sisi has made Egyptian action conditional on a Saudi request, and that no formal request had been announced. The timing, scale and composition of any mission remain unspecified.

Parliament grants military mandate

Both outlets reported that the House of Representatives approved the authorisation by a two-thirds majority after closed-door deliberations. The mandate covers measures to protect Saudi territory, sovereignty and holy sites against external attack, in consultation with the kingdom.

According to The National, the vote removes the remaining constitutional barrier to a possible deployment against the Houthis. Article 152 of Egypt’s constitution requires support from two-thirds of the 596-member chamber, equivalent to 398 MPs, before the army can undertake a combat mission abroad. Parliament did not release a precise vote count.

Saudi Gazette reported that lawmakers held three closed sessions on October 18, 19 and 26, with the final meeting chaired by parliamentary speaker Hisham Badawi. The authorisation followed decisions taken by the National Defence Council at its October 18 meeting.

El Sisi had sought parliamentary backing on October 17 during a graduation ceremony at the Egyptian Military Academy, The National reported. The defence council met the following day and committed to supporting Saudi Arabia, without setting out the nature, size or duration of that assistance.

Support accompanied by concerns over escalation

Most political parties supported the request, according to The National. The Wafd party linked Saudi security to Egypt’s own national security, the Justice Party instructed its lawmakers to support the mandate, and the Nour Party advocated defensive co-ordination with Riyadh.

However, the Egyptian Social Democratic Party directed its MPs to abstain, citing potential economic costs and the danger of a wider regional escalation. One of its lawmakers, Maha Abdel Nasser, criticised the mandate’s lack of clear limits and called for diplomacy, The National reported.

The deliberations lasted more than a week. According to The National, deputy speaker Assem El Gazzar said nearly 500 MPs had requested speaking time. Parliament said party representatives and independent lawmakers had been able to discuss the implications of regional developments for Egyptian and Arab security.

Attacks and economic stakes frame decision

Saudi Gazette placed the vote against a backdrop of intensifying hostilities between the Houthis and the coalition backing Yemen’s internationally recognised government. It reported that Saudi authorities had described repeated drone and missile attacks on locations including Riyadh and southern parts of the kingdom.

The National reported that a Houthi strike on Riyadh’s airport on October 10 killed 12 people, including Azza Ramzy, a 28-year-old Egyptian flight attendant from Beheira province. The outlet also reported that Yahya Al Raei, speaker of the Houthi-run parliament in Sanaa, warned his Egyptian counterpart that intervention would endanger Egypt’s national security.

Egypt also has significant economic interests at stake. According to The National, Saudi Arabia is among its largest financial supporters, while Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping have reduced Suez Canal revenue, an important source of foreign currency.

Egyptian officials have characterised any prospective mission as defensive, The National reported. They have not specified whether support would involve ground forces, air defence or naval assets, leaving the practical scope of the parliamentary mandate unresolved.

Sources: The National; Saudi Gazette.