# Egypt’s Parliament Backs Sisi on Deploying Troops to Support Saudi Arabia as Houthi Fighting Intensifies

*Wednesday, October 28, 2026 at 8:07 AM UTC — Hamer Intelligence Services Desk*

**Published**: 2026-10-28T08:07:19.161Z (2h ago)
**Category**: geopolitics | **Region**: Middle East
**Importance**: 8/10
**Sources**: OSINT
**Permalink**: https://hamerintel.com/data/articles/21774.md
**Source**: https://hamerintel.com/summaries

---

**Deck**: Egypt’s parliament has authorised President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to deploy forces in support of Saudi Arabia, with officials stressing a defensive mission as clashes with Yemen’s Houthi movement intensify.

Egypt has taken a formal step toward deeper military cooperation with Saudi Arabia, authorising the deployment of Egyptian troops to help defend the kingdom at a time of growing pressure from Houthi forces.

In a closed session on 26 October, Egypt’s parliament voted to allow President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to send forces in support of Saudi Arabia. According to Egyptian officials, 398 of 596 members of parliament backed the measure, meeting the threshold required to approve the use of troops. Officials described any potential mission as defensive.

The authorisation comes against a backdrop of intensifying fighting involving Yemen’s Houthi movement. Egyptian officials have linked the parliamentary decision to concern about that escalation, though the specific scenarios discussed in the session have not been detailed publicly.

At the same time, Cairo is sending 1,000 soldiers to Somalia, where they are to be deployed as part of efforts to support that country’s authorities. Taken together, the moves show Egypt positioning its armed forces in two sensitive theatres that affect Red Sea security and the approaches to the Suez Canal.

For Egypt, deploying forces abroad carries clear costs and risks. The economy faces sustained pressure, and sending troops overseas implies long rotations and the possibility of casualties outside the country, as well as additional strains on the budget. Officials have tried to frame the Saudi mission as focused on defending a partner and protecting key trade routes.

For Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, Egypt’s backing adds a significant regional military partner at a time when the security of nearby maritime routes is in question. Egypt controls the Suez Canal at the northern end of the Red Sea, while Saudi Arabia dominates the eastern shore, so closer coordination could shape how they respond to attacks and threats in the area.

How this shifts the regional balance will depend on the scale and type of Egyptian forces eventually deployed, the level of joint planning with Saudi Arabia, and how the Houthis react to the prospect of Egyptian troops entering the picture. Shipping patterns and insurance costs for vessels using the Bab el-Mandeb strait and Suez Canal will offer an early sign of whether commercial operators expect a wider confrontation.