Egyptian lawmakers postpone vote on troops for Saudi Arabia to October 26

Egypt’s parliament has delayed a vote on authorising its armed forces to support Saudi Arabia, which is under growing attack from Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen, Al Jazeera reports.

The House of Representatives said on Monday that the vote has been adjourned to October 26. The opposition Egyptian Social Democratic Party told its lawmakers to abstain, saying parliament had not been given enough information about the mission’s objectives, duration, cost or risks to Egyptian troops. The party said most of its lawmakers support the measure.

Parliament is meant to authorise President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to approve any Saudi request for defence help. The call followed Houthi attacks last week on Riyadh’s international airport and Saudi Aramco. Saudi authorities say 13 people were killed in the October 10 airport attack.

El-Sisi said on Saturday that Egypt would take “any measure” needed to protect its Gulf allies. “I’m not talking about confronting or attacking anyone,” he said. “We’re talking only about defence.”

Egypt’s constitution requires a two-thirds parliamentary majority to send troops on a combat mission abroad. The National Defence Council, chaired by el-Sisi, approved the request on Sunday. The Grand Imam of al-Azhar urged Arab and Muslim leaders on Sunday to mediate to avert further bloodshed.

Saudi Arabia is a key financier of Egypt’s economy and is due to deposit $5.3 billion into its central bank this month. Analysts also point to the Suez Canal, which Egypt’s foreign minister says has lost about $11 billion since the Houthis began attacks in the Bab al-Mandeb strait in 2023.