Daijiworld Media Network - Cairo
Cairo, Oct 18: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has called on parliament to convene an emergency session to authorise him to intervene in defence of Saudi Arabia if requested by the kingdom, amid escalating attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
Speaking at a graduation ceremony for military academy and college cadets on Saturday, El Sisi said any intervention would require parliamentary approval, stressing that Egypt’s intention was to defend Saudi Arabia rather than launch an attack or wage war.
“I call on parliament to convene an emergency session to authorise us to take action to intervene in defence of Saudi Arabia, if we are asked to do so,” he said. Egypt’s House of Representatives, the lower house of parliament, announced that it would meet on Sunday.
“This move and this defence require approval from the Egyptian parliament. I hope parliament will convene an emergency session to grant this authorisation,” El Sisi said, adding that Egypt was not seeking to attack anyone but only to defend its ally.
The Egyptian president said Cairo stood firmly behind efforts to protect the territories of its Gulf allies and would take all necessary measures to safeguard Saudi Arabia. He said it was unacceptable for the kingdom to be targeted or for its security and stability to be undermined.
Egypt has traditionally maintained close ties with Gulf Arab states, several of which have provided financial assistance during periods of economic difficulty. El Sisi has repeatedly said that the security of Egypt’s Gulf allies is closely linked to his country’s own national security.
On Saturday, he praised the Gulf states for their economic assistance following Egypt’s 2011 uprising and called on military academy graduates and others attending the ceremony to salute the countries in recognition of their support.
The latest developments come amid escalating fighting in Yemen between the Houthis and the internationally recognised Yemeni government, which is backed by Saudi Arabia.
The Houthi rebels this week launched missile and drone attacks targeting the presidential palace in Aden, which has served as the seat of Yemen’s government since 2015. The strikes reportedly killed and injured security personnel. The group claimed that it was targeting a Saudi military command centre in the city.
Attacks on Aden’s airport have also raised concerns about the Yemeni government becoming increasingly isolated from its principal backer and supplier.
The conflict has extended beyond Yemen, with the Houthis also carrying out attacks on Riyadh’s main airport last week. The strikes reportedly killed 17 people, injured more than 300 and forced a complete shutdown of airport operations. Twenty strikes on the airport have been reported since the beginning of October.
The proposed authorisation would provide Egypt with parliamentary approval to take defensive action if Saudi Arabia formally requests assistance, as Cairo reiterates its commitment to the security of its Gulf allies.