🔻Sisi: Egypt will step in to defend Saudi Arabia if Riyadh asks

Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the President of Egypt, says that if Riyadh requests it, his country will take any action necessary to defend Saudi Arabia.

These remarks come as Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia have intensified.

Speaking at a graduation ceremony for students of Egypt’s military academy, Mr. Sisi said: “It is unthinkable that we allow harm to be done to Saudi Arabia or to its security and stability.”

He emphasized that Egypt is not seeking to attack any country, but is prepared to take action to defend Saudi Arabia.

Yemeni Houthis, which are backed by Iran, have in recent days targeted the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Riyadh and Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil company Aramco.

The attacks follow the resumption of fighting between the Houthis and Yemen government forces that are backed by Saudi Arabia.

The Egyptian president said his country will act in accordance with the directives of King Salman, the ruler of Saudi Arabia, and Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince.

The two Saudi officials met with Mr. Sisi on September 15, after fighting flared up again in Yemen, to discuss security and navigation in the Red Sea and other issues.

In another part of his remarks, Mr. Sisi said: “I know that this action requires the approval of the Egyptian parliament. Therefore, I request that an emergency session be held so that, if Saudi Arabia requests it, the necessary authorization for action is provided to us.”

Shortly after these statements, Egypt’s parliament announced that, in response to the president’s request, it will hold a public session tomorrow, although the agenda for the session was not announced.

Egypt and Saudi Arabia are close strategic and economic partners.

Egypt also joined the Saudi Arabia-led coalition in 2015, with the aim of supporting the Yemeni government against the Houthis.

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