Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the President of Egypt, announced on Saturday that his country is ready to defend Saudi Arabia if requested. He emphasized that Egypt is not seeking a role in regional conflicts, but cannot stand by while the security and stability of Saudi Arabia are threatened.
Tensions in the region and Houthi attacks
These statements come as Iranian-backed Houthis have increased their attacks on Saudi targets, including strikes on energy facilities and the main airport in Riyadh. El-Sisi stated at a graduation ceremony from the Egyptian Military Academy: "Egypt, under the orders of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will take any action to support and defend Saudi Arabia."
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He added: "I am not talking about war or attacking anyone, but only about defense." This statement comes after a week ago, one of the Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia left 13 dead, marking one of the deadliest attacks in the country in over a decade.
Legal steps to support Saudi Arabia
El-Sisi also referred to the need for approval from the Egyptian parliament and announced a request to hold an emergency session to obtain authorization if a defense of Saudi Arabia is requested. The emergency session of the Egyptian parliament is expected to be held on Sunday to decide on the possibility of aiding in the defense of Saudi Arabia.
Egypt and Saudi Arabia have strong strategic and economic ties, and Egypt is part of the coalition led by Saudi Arabia that entered the war in 2015 to support the Yemeni government against the Houthis. Tensions in the Red Sea due to Houthi attacks have impacted revenue from shipping traffic in the Suez Canal.
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