‎Egypt Draws a Line for Riyadh: Sisi Says Cairo Is Ready to Defend Saudi Arabia

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Saturday that Egypt stands ready to defend Saudi Arabia "if the need arises," as Houthi attacks on the kingdom continue. Since the war in Yemen reignited in July, the Iran-aligned group has repeatedly struck targets inside Saudi Arabia, especially energy facilities and Riyadh's airport.

According to RFI Hausa, one attack last week killed 13 people.

The president's words follow a week of firm signals from Cairo. Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said Egypt was ready to support Saudi Arabia, including militarily if requested, and Foreign Ministry spokesman Nader Zaki called Gulf security a "red line."

Abdelatty also said Egypt is seriously considering joining the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, signed on 7 August by Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan. On 5 October that alliance agreed to implement its collective defence commitments "immediately" and to prepare the rapid deployment of forces to the kingdom.

Why it matters
Egypt has been here before. In 2015 it backed the Saudi-led operation against the Houthis with political and military support. Sisi later said Egypt took part only with air and naval forces, not ground troops. That history suggests any new Egyptian role would likely be limited and calibrated, not a large deployment.

Cairo is also pursuing diplomacy. Abdelatty has pushed for de-escalation and urged Iran's foreign minister to halt the attacks on Saudi Arabia. That dual track shows Egypt wants to deter the Houthis without being pulled into an open-ended war. The risk is that every new partner and every new pledge widens a conflict that is already regional.

Mustapha Bature Sallama
Medical/Science communicator, Private Investigator, Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Analysis,United States Institute of Peace (USIP), [email protected] +233555275880

Sources
RFI Hausa report (rfi.my/D8j1.f)
Ahram Online, "Egypt calls for immediate halt to attacks on Saudi Arabia" (14 Oct 2026): english.ahram.org.eg/News/578935.aspx

Bernama-Anadolu, "Egypt Vows 'Any Kind' Of Support For Saudi Arabia After Houthi Attacks" (13 Oct 2026): bernama.com/en/news.php?id=2619749

Arab News Pakistan, "Egypt ready with any kind of support for Saudi Arabia to tackle Houthis": arabnews.pk/saudi-arabia/egypt-ready-with-any-kind-of-support-for-saudi-arabia-to-tackle-houthis-3004049

Ahram Online, "Egypt providing military support for Gulf Arab operation in Yemen" (2015): english.ahram.org.eg/News/126112.aspx

Middle East Eye, "Egypt's Sisi affirms no ground troops in Yemen"