Egypt is advocating for the exploration of all diplomatic avenues to resolve the conflict in Yemen, as its parliament prepares to vote on authorizing military support for Saudi Arabia against the Houthi rebels.
The potential direct involvement of Egypt's military, one of the region's most significant armed forces, could escalate the ongoing conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-aligned Houthis. This development occurs against the backdrop of increasing regional instability linked to broader geopolitical tensions.
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi convened an urgent parliamentary session to secure authorization for military involvement to support Saudi Arabia. Following an initial closed session, lawmakers postponed the vote, originally scheduled for October 26, to allow for further deliberation.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and intelligence chief Hassan Rashad recently visited Riyadh to deliver a letter from President Sisi to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. President Sisi indicated that Egypt's support would be confined to defending Saudi territory and borders, rather than engaging in offensive operations within Yemen.
Minister Abdelatty emphasized the necessity of pursuing political solutions that would ensure a complete withdrawal of Houthi forces from territories they have recently occupied, particularly near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical maritime chokepoint. He stated, "So that we can move on the political path that we always emphasize, and also side by side in support of the defensive path for the kingdom."
The Houthi speaker of the parliament, Yahya Ali al-Rai, has cautioned against Egyptian military intervention, urging the Egyptian parliament to reject the proposal. He warned that such involvement would pose a significant threat to Egypt's national security and internal stability.
