Sisi's defensive pledge

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Saturday, 17 October, that Cairo was ready to help Saudi Arabia, and he limited the proposed support to defence. Egyptian state-linked media, citing his remarks, said the aim was to protect Saudi territory and that no attack on Yemen was foreseen. Al-Sisi also framed the stability of the Gulf states as part of Egypt's national security. Foreign minister Badr Abdelatty and the head of Egypt's intelligence service travelled to Riyadh, where they handed a letter from al-Sisi to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to the Saudi state news agency. The Al-Qahera News channel, which is closely linked to state intelligence services, was due to broadcast a speech by the president, though it had not aired when the reports were published.

Parliament postpones the vote

Al-Sisi asked the Egyptian parliament to authorise military support for Saudi Arabia against the Houthis. Lawmakers held a plenary session on Sunday, 18 October, debated for more than two hours, and then postponed the vote that had been expected that day. Reports differ on the new date: one says the vote moved to the following week, while another gives 26 October for the plenary session. The parliament is chaired by Hisham Badawi. Yahya Ali al-Raai, who heads the parliament controlled by the Houthis in Sanaa, sent an urgent letter warning Egypt against any military intervention in Yemen.

Iran's warning to Cairo

Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi warned against any intervention by Egypt or any other country in the Yemen conflict. In an interview with Iraq's state broadcaster Al-Iraqiya, recorded on Sunday and aired on Tuesday evening, 20 October, he said Egypt had enough experience to avoid getting drawn into such a complex conflict. He argued that any foreign presence or interference would only make the problem harder to resolve. Araghchi also said Egypt had declared it would not enter Yemen or wage war against it. Iran had offered to mediate, but the Yemeni government rejected that offer and Riyadh had not responded. Araghchi had also been in contact with his Egyptian counterpart earlier in the week.

The Yemen war behind the dispute

The war between the Houthis and a Saudi-led coalition backing Yemen's internationally recognised government has run for more than a decade. It resumed in July after years of relative calm. In September the pro-Iranian fighters seized much of the Red Sea coastline in Yemen, and since early October they have stepped up attacks on Saudi Arabia, including oil infrastructure and airports. Attacks on Saudi energy and civilian sites, including airports, have killed or wounded dozens of people in just a few weeks. Egypt's army took part in the Saudi-led coalition from 2015, a point the Houthi parliament has raised.

Position and next steps

Cairo presents itself as a regional mediator with open channels to Hamas, Israel and Iran. A military role would mark a break from the diplomatic caution Egypt has favoured in recent years, when it focused on protecting its own national security. Al-Sisi has so far described the mission as defensive only. The parliamentary vote remains pending, with its date disputed between the week after 18 October and 26 October.