Egypt Pledges Support to Saudi Arabia Against the Houthis, but Sisi Sets a Condition

On October 18, 2026, Egypt’s National Defense Council, chaired by Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, announced that Egypt would provide Saudi Arabia with all necessary support against Houthi attacks, specifying that assistance would be strictly defensive and provided only if Riyadh requested it. The Saudi-led coalition says repeated strikes on airports in the kingdom have killed more than 19 people and injured 364 this month, as fighting resumed in Yemen after a truce collapsed. Egypt’s statement did not mention sending troops; the constitution requires consultation with the council, and parliament was due to vote on an authorization whose result was not yet known. Cairo also pledged to intensify political and diplomatic efforts to calm the region.