Politics
Egypt pledges military support to Saudi Arabia as Yemen fighting intensifies
Egypt’s National Defense Council has promised Saudi Arabia “all possible forms of support” as Houthi attacks and Saudi-led strikes escalate, but Cairo has not said what assistance it will provide. The announcement comes amid mounting civilian casualties and a request by President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi for parliament to authorize deployments abroad.
Egypt’s National Defense Council agreed Sunday to provide Saudi Arabia “all possible forms of support” to help defend the kingdom as fighting with Yemen’s Houthi rebels intensifies, according to a statement from President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi’s office.
The council, chaired by el-Sissi, did not specify whether the pledge would involve troops, military equipment or other assistance. On Saturday, el-Sissi asked parliament to authorize him to deploy troops and military equipment outside Egypt.
The move followed a visit to Egypt last month by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Saudi Arabia has been seeking military help from allies as the Houthis launch drones and missiles at targets including airports and oil infrastructure. The attacks have killed at least 19 people, disrupted thousands of flights and unsettled global markets, according to the reported figures.
The fighting has also brought renewed danger to civilians in Yemen, where a civil war has flared again. Yemen’s Houthi-run Health Ministry said a Sunday airstrike in the northern province of Saada killed at least nine people, including five children and two women, and wounded 19 others, among them 11 children. A Houthi spokesperson blamed Saudi Arabia; the kingdom had not immediately commented.
The Houthis also said Saudi-led forces had killed or injured more than 30 people in the preceding 24 hours. Their military spokesperson claimed 110 missiles or airstrikes had hit civilian sites in Sanaa and other cities. Those figures could not be independently verified.
In Saudi Arabia, a military spokesperson said a helicopter crashed near Najran because of a technical malfunction, killing its two crew members. The Houthis had claimed they shot it down. Saudi Civil Defense authorities separately reported that a Houthi-fired projectile struck a residential area in Najran province, injuring six people.
The regional diplomacy is unfolding alongside strains among countries that have backed opposing factions in Yemen. The United Arab Emirates’ state news agency reported that Saudi Arabia’s defense minister met Sunday with the UAE president to discuss closer cooperation. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also said he spoke by phone Sunday with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty about regional developments.
The latest escalation has put pressure on neighboring governments to choose how deeply to engage, while exposing civilians in Yemen and Saudi Arabia to continued attacks. Egypt’s pledge signals support for Riyadh, but the scope of any eventual military role remains unclear.