Egypt parliament delays debate on military support to Saudi to next week: Al-Akhbar

• Sessions held over the past two days were convened after President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi directed lawmakers to approve authorizing military assistance for Saudi Arabia should the Eastern Gateway respond.

Updated 27 sec ago

October 19, 2026 21:04

CAIRO: Parliament delayed Monday’s debate on President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s request to formalize military aid for Saudi Arabia following an emergency session the day prior that failed to reach a conclusion. The two‑day series of meetings commenced after the president called for legislative approval to provide support to the Yemeni kingdom facing repeated attacks from Iran‑backed Houthi forces.

“House Speaker Hisham Badawi has placed the second parliamentary session devoted to discussing the authorization needed to take necessary measures in support of the Kingdoms together, into recess,” the state outlet Al‑Akhbar reported.

Two members who spoke with AFP on Sunday explained that no decision was reached during the session so that every sitting legislator could have sufficient time to present their viewpoints; notably, the majority of parliamentarians expressed strong endorsement of the proposal.

The Egyptian Social Democratic Party, an opposition bloc holding close to twelve seats in the legislature, announced it has instructed its parliamentary group to abstain during the vote.

While affirming firm solidarity with Saudi Arabia, the party emphasized that any deployment of Egyptian forces abroad must be grounded in clearly defined strategic goals, transparent understanding of the mission’s scope and timeline, and precise danger assessments regarding troop safety. It further argued that any international militarization requires a thorough appraisal of costs, risks, and financial ramifications given Egypt’s contemporary economic challenges.

President El‑Sisi stated on Saturday that it would be “unthinkable” for Cairo to remain inert while the Kingdom experiences mounting security threats.

“The move to strengthen ties does not entail hostile actions,” the president clarified.
“We are addressing matters exclusively of defense.”

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