Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has pledged military assistance to Saudi Arabia if requested, following deadly Houthi attacks on the kingdom’s airports and energy infrastructure that have intensified regional tensions and pushed oil prices toward $110 a barrel.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi called for emergency parliamentary authorization Saturday, Oct. 17, to provide military assistance to Saudi Arabia if requested, raising the possibility of Egypt’s direct involvement in renewed fighting against Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement.
The announcement follows a series of drone and missile attacks on Saudi infrastructure, including a strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh that killed 13 people, among them an American citizen, and injured hundreds more.
Speaking at a graduation ceremony at the Egyptian Military Academy, Sisi emphasized his country’s commitment to Saudi security and said Cairo would consider military action at the kingdom’s request.
“It is inconceivable that we would allow Saudi Arabia, its security or stability to be harmed,” Sisi said, according to reports detailing Egypt’s proposed military response.
The Egyptian president stressed that his government was not seeking a confrontation but wanted the authority to act if Saudi Arabia required defensive assistance.
Sisi said any Egyptian response would be coordinated with Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who visited Cairo on September 15 for discussions concerning regional security and navigation through the Red Sea.
Egypt’s parliament subsequently scheduled an emergency session for Sunday, October 18, at 1 p.m. local time to consider the president’s request.
The proposed authorization would allow Cairo to respond more rapidly to a formal Saudi request for assistance. However, no immediate deployment of Egyptian combat forces was announced.
Sisi’s remarks followed an escalation in the conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa.
The movement seized Sanaa in 2014, prompting a Saudi-led military intervention the following year in support of Yemen’s internationally recognized government.
Although a United Nations-brokered ceasefire in 2022 reduced major fighting, hostilities intensified again in July 2026 amid the broader conflict involving Iran and its regional adversaries.
Houthi forces have subsequently expanded their attacks on Saudi territory, targeting airports, energy installations and transportation infrastructure.
The assault on Riyadh’s international airport was among the deadliest incidents in the recent escalation. Saudi authorities have also reported repeated attempts to strike other airports and civilian facilities using drones and ballistic missiles.
According to the Saudi-led coalition, Houthi forces carried out approximately 20 attacks against King Khalid International Airport during October, contributing to mounting casualties and disruptions to civilian aviation.
The Houthis have also targeted facilities associated with Saudi Aramco, the kingdom’s state-owned energy company, heightening concerns about the security of the country’s oil industry.
The attacks have increased pressure on Riyadh to protect both its population and critical infrastructure as fighting continues across the Saudi-Yemeni border.
Egypt’s announcement reflects the longstanding security relationship between Cairo and Riyadh. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries have provided Egypt with substantial financial assistance and investment, while Egypt previously participated in the Saudi-led coalition that entered Yemen in 2015.
The latest developments have also generated public discussion of Egypt’s potential military involvement.
The conflict has become particularly consequential for international energy markets because of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to redirect oil exports away from the Strait of Hormuz.
With maritime traffic through Hormuz disrupted by the broader confrontation involving Iran, Riyadh has increasingly relied on its east-west pipeline to transport crude oil to Yanbu, a major export terminal on the Red Sea.
The Houthis have launched attacks against infrastructure associated with that transportation network, including reported strikes involving drones and missiles near the pipeline and terminal facilities.
A Saudi-led coalition announced Friday that it intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile directed toward Yanbu. Initial assessments indicated that the port’s infrastructure had not been damaged.
The Houthis have also expanded their control over territory along Yemen’s Red Sea coastline and announced restrictions on Saudi maritime traffic.
Their presence near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, presents an additional concern for shipping between the Indian Ocean and the Suez Canal.
Any significant disruption to the narrow waterway could affect international trade, including energy shipments destined for Europe and other markets.
The maritime threat is also important to Egypt because revenue from the Suez Canal represents a major source of foreign currency for the country.
The military escalation has coincided with a substantial rise in global crude oil prices.
Brent crude briefly reached $110 a barrel Friday, its highest level since May 19, before settling at $109.86.
U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude finished at $101.41 a barrel, its highest closing level since September 17.
For the week, Brent gained 4.9%, while West Texas Intermediate climbed 10.4%, reflecting concerns about potential supply disruptions and continuing instability in the Middle East.
Research consultancy Energy Aspects attributed the market’s renewed gains partly to “escalation fears… amid rumours of attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure.”
The firm also warned that reports of unusual Iranian military activity could further unsettle energy markets, although the information had not been independently verified.
“Israeli reports suggest Iran may be preparing a pre-emptive strike following unusual military movements detected by Western intelligence. Although unverified, these developments reinforce our view that persistent escalation risks will keep flat prices supported,” Energy Aspects said.
The combination of threatened oil infrastructure, disrupted maritime routes and renewed fighting in Yemen has intensified concern about a broader regional confrontation.
Commentary concerning Houthi attacks and Red Sea shipping risks has highlighted the possibility that further disruptions could affect both energy exports and commercial shipping.
Egypt’s parliamentary session now represents the next significant development in the regional response.
Although Sisi has offered military assistance, any Egyptian intervention remains conditional on a formal Saudi request and domestic authorization.
The decision could determine whether Cairo expands its military role in the conflict as Saudi Arabia confronts continued Houthi attacks and growing pressure on its energy infrastructure.
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