Egypt has approved military help for Saudi Arabia if requested as Houthi attacks threaten the kingdom and Red Sea shipping.
asserted
attacks → approve → kingdom
The vote comes as Saudi officials hold talks in Iran amid regional efforts to prevent a further escalation of the fighting.
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officials → come → fighting
Egypt’s parliament on Monday authorised President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to provide military assistance to defend Saudi Arabia if the kingdom requests help, following a wave of attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis.
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kingdom → authorise → Houthis
The House of Representatives said the decision passed with the required two-thirds majority.
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decision → say → majority
It allows el-Sisi, in coordination with Riyadh, to take measures to protect Saudi territory, sovereignty and holy sites against external attacks.
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Sisi → allow → attacks
Parliament’s statement did not specify what assistance Egypt would provide or announce that troops were being sent.
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troops → specify → assistance
On 17 October, Yahya al-Raei, speaker of the Houthi-controlled parliament in Sanaa, warned Egypt against military involvement, saying it would endanger Egypt’s own security and stability.
El-Sisi said last week that any Egyptian military role would be limited to defending Saudi territory and borders, ruling out attacks on Yemen.
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role → control → Yemen
The vote came as Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman joined Pakistani and Turkish officials for talks with Iranian leaders in Tehran.
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Salman → come → Tehran
The Saudi foreign ministry said the visit aimed to open channels for negotiations and prevent further military escalation.
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visit → say → escalation
Approval after three closed sessions
El-Sisi first sought parliament’s backing on 17 October.
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Sisi → close → October
MPs met behind closed doors on 18 and 19 October before postponing the decision until Monday.
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MPs → meet → Monday
Deputy Speaker Assem El-Gazzar said nearly 500 MPs had asked to speak during the discussions.
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MPs → say → discussions
Most parties supported the request, but some lawmakers questioned the terms of a possible military mission.
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lawmakers → support → mission
The Egyptian Social Democratic Party instructed its MPs ahead of the vote to abstain.
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Party → instruct → vote
It said parliament had not received enough information about what Egyptian troops would be asked to do, how long they would stay, what the operation would cost or the risks they would face.
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they → say → what
While supporting Saudi Arabia’s security, the party warned against an open-ended military commitment and urged Egypt to leave room for diplomacy.
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party → support → diplomacy
The National Defence Council, chaired by el-Sisi, had endorsed support for Saudi Arabia on 18 October.
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Council → chair → October
However, Egypt’s constitution also requires approval from two-thirds of MPs before its armed forces can be sent on combat missions abroad.
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forces → require → missions
Attacks continue as diplomats meet
Saudi, Pakistani and Turkish officials met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior officials in Tehran on Monday.
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officials → continue → Monday
Pakistan sent army chief Asim Munir, while Turkey sent intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin.
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Turkey → send → Kalin
Fighting continues between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition backing Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
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Fighting → continue → government
The Houthis said on Monday they had attacked pumping stations on Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
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they → say → Riyadh
The Saudi-led coalition separately said it had intercepted a missile heading towards Riyadh.
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it → lead → Riyadh
It also said it had destroyed Houthi missile launchers and storage facilities in Yemen.
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it → say → Yemen
The fighting threatens shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
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fighting → threaten → Strait
The waterway forms the southern entrance to the Red Sea and is part of the route to Egypt’s Suez Canal.
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waterway → form → Canal
Egypt’s main stock index closed 1.7% lower on Monday ahead of the parliamentary vote.
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index → close → vote
Trading had been halted for 30 minutes on Sunday after the broader EGX100 index fell 10%.
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index → halt → Sunday
It provides aid, energy supplies and deposits at Egypt’s central bank.
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It → provide → bank
Egypt joined the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen in 2015, mainly through naval operations.
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Egypt → join → operations
The Aporia
