Sisi Seeks Parliament Approval for Possible Saudi Defense

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi called for an emergency parliamentary session to authorize possible Egyptian defensive action in support of Saudi Arabia, but said any action would depend on a request from the kingdom. No request, parliamentary vote or deployment was reported. Speaking at a military academy graduation ceremony on October 17, Sisi said Egypt was prepared to take measures to protect Saudi Arabia’s security and sovereignty if asked. He described the potential role as defensive, saying Egypt was not seeking to attack another country or enter a war. Parliamentary approval would be required before any action, according to his remarks. The proposal therefore remains conditional on two steps: a Saudi request for assistance and authorization from Egypt’s parliament. Sisi urged lawmakers to convene in an emergency session if a request came, but no operational details or timetable for such a session were announced. The remarks came amid regional tensions and attacks on Saudi targets. One account cited a Saudi-led coalition statement that Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport had been targeted 20 times that month, with 17 people killed and more than 300...