Egyptian lawmakers have authorized President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to deploy troops to Saudi Arabia in a move aimed at supporting the kingdom’s defense against attacks by Iran-backed Houthi insurgents in Yemen.

The Egyptian Parliament approved the deployment by a two-thirds majority on Monday, following a request from Sisi last week. His administration has emphasized that the mission would be defensive, with Egyptian forces remaining on Saudi territory rather than participating directly in strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.

Sisi chaired a meeting of Egypt’s National Defense Council on October 18. The council, which includes senior government ministers and military officials, adopted a resolution expressing solidarity with Saudi Arabia and pledging support for the kingdom’s security and sovereignty.

Egypt’s constitution requires parliamentary approval for military deployments beyond the country’s borders. However, not all lawmakers supported the authorization. Members of Egypt’s Social Democratic Party abstained, arguing that the government had not provided sufficient details about the mission’s objectives and costs.

The Saudi government has not yet formally requested Egyptian military assistance, leaving the timing and scope of any deployment uncertain.

Egypt’s decision comes as regional governments strengthen security cooperation amid growing tensions involving Iran and its Houthi allies. Cairo is part of an informal grouping known as the “Regional 4,” or R4, alongside Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan. Egypt is also viewed as a potential future participant in the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, signed by the other three governments in August 2026.

The Houthis responded angrily to the Egyptian Parliament’s decision. Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a member of the insurgency’s political leadership, said Tuesday that the authorization amounted to a declaration of war against Yemen.

“It is truly remarkable that while these people go to discuss what they call ‘peace in the region,’ Egypt and its parliament declare support for the so-called defense of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and in doing so, declare war against the Republic of Yemen,” al-Houthi said.

He also characterized the vote as “a clear and blatant act of aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran” and declared that the Houthis were “not afraid of any alliance that may be formed.”

The parliamentary authorization gives Sisi the legal authority to send forces, but an actual deployment remains dependent on the circumstances and any further arrangements with Saudi Arabia. The decision nevertheless signals Cairo’s willingness to support the kingdom as regional tensions and threats from the Houthis continue.