Egypt's parliament is expected to vote next week on whether to authorize the armed forces to help defend Saudi Arabia against attacks by Yemen's Houthis if Riyadh requests its support. The move would bring the Arab world's most populous country closer to direct military involvement in the widening conflicts unleashed by the US-Israeli air assault on Iran in February.
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi requested the approval in a speech on Saturday, saying Egypt would "never, never forget our brothers in the Gulf" and telling Saudi Arabia's leaders that Cairo would "take any measure to protect you". Like the Gulf states that have come under attack from Tehran in the Iran war, Egypt is a longstanding partner in the US-led security order that is being tested by the conflict.
Sisi's comments marked a clear escalation from the more measured tone authorities have tended to adopt since the Iran war started. Though Egypt has repeatedly voiced strong support for its Gulf allies, Cairo has stopped short of publicly committing itself to a direct combat role in the conflict.
In May, the presence of Egyptian Rafale fighter jets in the United Arab Emirates was disclosed in Emirati state media coverage of an official visit by Sisi. Egyptian coverage of the visit did not mention the deployment, reflecting Cairo's previous caution in balancing its regional alliances and military commitments.
