CAIRO — Egypt’s parliament on Monday approved a request from President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi authorizing military measures in coordination with Saudi Arabia, the legislature said, as Gulf-Yemen hostilities and strikes on Saudi territory have heightened regional concern.
What lawmakers approved
The House of Representatives granted the president authorization by a two-thirds majority vote after a series of closed-door sessions held at Sisi’s request on Oct. 18, 19 and 26. Lawmakers said the mandate permits the president to take measures in coordination with Saudi authorities to defend the kingdom’s territory, sovereignty and holy sites. The parliamentary statement did not list specific steps or explicitly announce the deployment of Egyptian troops.
- Vote margin: approved by a two-thirds majority, according to the House statement
- Consultations: the authorization followed meetings of Egypt’s National Defense Council on Oct. 18
- Scope: described as empowering Sisi to act in coordination with Saudi Arabia; no deployment was confirmed
Context and regional drivers
Egypt’s decision comes amid a surge in hostilities tied to the war in Yemen and stepped-up attacks by Houthi rebels on Saudi territory. Saudi authorities have reported drone and missile strikes striking areas including Riyadh and southern border provinces, prompting Riyadh and its partners to seek measures to protect civilian and strategic sites.
Parliament said representatives from political parties and independent lawmakers took part in the closed sessions. The House speaker, Hisham Badawi, chaired deliberations that preceded the Oct. 26 vote, the legislative statement said.
What officials said and what remains unsaid
Egyptian officials linked the authorization to prior decisions by the National Defense Council, a body that advised the president on national security matters during meetings earlier this month. The parliamentary release emphasized national and Arab security concerns as the rationale for the authorization but did not identify the military measures Egypt might take or timelines for any action.
Regional diplomats and officials have for weeks been engaged in consultations to prevent broader escalation after the pattern of strikes on Saudi soil prompted alarm across the Gulf and beyond. The parliamentary decision signals Cairo’s willingness to align more closely with Riyadh’s security posture while retaining executive discretion over how and when to act.
Next steps announced
Parliament said the vote empowers the president to proceed in coordination with Saudi authorities. The legislature did not announce follow-up votes or oversight arrangements tied to any future deployments or specific operations. Military or diplomatic steps that flow from the authorization would be announced by the presidency, the defense ministry or Saudi partners, the statement said.
Analysts note that Egypt’s authorization adds a diplomatic and political dimension to the regional response, but the text released by parliament leaves operational questions unresolved.
