Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi announced Saturday that his country is prepared to defend Saudi Arabia if requested by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, following a Houthi airport strike in Riyadh that killed 13 people and heightened fears of a wider regional war.
The announcement from the Egyptian leader came during a graduation ceremony at the Egyptian military academy, where he emphasized that Cairo is not seeking out regional conflicts but remains firmly committed to the kingdom’s security. It is inconceivable that we would allow Saudi Arabia, its security or stability to be harmed,
al-Sissi said. The regional tension has escalated sharply following a Houthi strike on Riyadh’s main airport that resulted in 13 deaths, marking the deadliest attack in the country in over a decade.
Emergency Parliamentary Authorization and Defense Posture
Al-Sissi stated that he would ask the legislature to convene immediately to review the authorization. I know this requires the approval of the Egyptian parliament, and I ask that an emergency session be held so that it can give us that authorization if we are asked,
the Egyptian leader said. An emergency parliamentary session is expected to convene on Sunday to consider authorizing military support for Riyadh.
Egypt’s Defensive Options to Protect Saudi Arabia: A Military Reading in Light of Sisi’s StatementsConfirming the Security Link Between Cairo and RiyadhEgyptian military experts described President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s statements on readiness to defend Saudi Arabia as a… pic.twitter.com/vGUY0O8Sji
At the same time, the Egyptian president sought to clarify the limits of any prospective deployment, stressing that the nation’s posture remains strictly defensive. I’m not talking about fighting anyone or attacking anyone,
al-Sissi said, adding, We are speaking only about defense.
Addressing Saudi leadership directly, he added that Egypt, with the directives of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will carry out any measure to protect or defend the kingdom.
Escalating Houthi Attacks and Regional Instability
The diplomatic overture follows a volatile chain of events across the Arabian Peninsula and the Red Sea. The conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthis dates back to 2014, when the rebel group seized Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and ousted former President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. Saudi Arabia subsequently led a coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognized government, with Egypt participating in that coalition when it intervened in 2015.
Although fighting slowed after a UN-brokered ceasefire in 2022, hostilities flared again in July. The Houthis have since imposed a blockade on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, choking Saudi oil exports, while continuous drone and missile strikes target Saudi infrastructure. Coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki reported on X that authorities intercepted and destroyed four drones over Riyadh, the Eastern Province, and the South. Furthermore, a strike hit the headquarters of Saudi state oil facility Aramco, causing building damage though no casualties were reported.
International Reactions and Economic Toll
The recent violence has rattled global powers and threatened critical trade corridors. The disruption in the Red Sea caused by Houthi operations has directly impacted revenue from shipping traffic passing through Egypt’s Suez Canal. Meanwhile, Washington has weighed its response following the airport bombing that killed 13 people, including an American. President Trump noted that the United States may come to Saudi Arabia’s aid, remarking to reporters that his administration was reviewing the situation after holding off on direct attacks since a May 2025 ceasefire with the group.