The intervention aims to protect Saudi Arabia from intensifying strikes by Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who recently targeted Aramco facilities and airports in Riyadh. While Egypt is now the largest Arab state to commit personnel to the effort, geopolitical analysts warn the move could make the Suez Canal a target for retaliation. President el-Sisi stated that the operation is strictly defensive and intended to preserve the territorial integrity and stability of Saudi Arabia.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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Egypt Parliament Authorizes Troop Deployment to Defend Saudi Arabia
War2 days ago
Egypt's lawmakers have granted President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi a legal mandate to deploy military forces to Saudi Arabia after an emergency vote on Sunday. The authorization, which required a two-thirds majority to satisfy constitutional requirements for sending troops abroad, follows a decision by the National Defense Council and the landing of two C-130H cargo aircraft at King Fahd Air Base in Taif. The move officially transitions Cairo from political pledges to a formal military commitment to defend the kingdom.
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