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El-Sisi Ready to Defend Saudi Arabia as Egyptian Parliament Calls Emergency Session

Stateline MEDIA Newsroom•October 18, 2026•3 min read

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said his country was prepared to take any measures to defend Saudi Arabia if asked amid escalating Houthi attacks. Egypt's parliament holds an emergency session on Sunday (18/10/2026) to discuss military authorisation.

Key Facts

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said his country was prepared to take any measures necessary to defend Saudi Arabia if asked, amid escalating Houthi attacks on the kingdom.
Sisi made the statement at a graduation ceremony at the Egyptian Military Academy on Saturday (17/10/2026): "It is inconceivable that we would allow Saudi Arabia, its security or stability to be harmed." He stressed Egypt was not seeking to attack anyone, but was prepared to act in defence.
Sisi asked Egypt's parliament to hold an emergency session to grant military authorisation if Saudi Arabia requests help. Parliament announced an emergency plenary session on Sunday (18/10) at 1 p.m. Cairo time (1000 GMT / 5 p.m. WIB), though it did not disclose the agenda.
The trigger was a Houthi strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on October 10, 2026, which killed 13 people including an American, followed by attacks on Aramco oil facilities and a blockade of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Sisi said Egypt would act in accordance with guidance from King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who visited him on September 15, 2026 to discuss security and navigation in the Red Sea.
Egypt and Saudi Arabia are close strategic and economic partners; Egypt also joined the Saudi-led coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015 against the Houthis. A day earlier, Saudi Arabia announced it had intercepted four Houthi drones over Riyadh and other regions.

Ready to Take Any Measures If Asked

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said his country was prepared to take any measures necessary to defend Saudi Arabia if asked, amid escalating attacks by the Houthi group on the kingdom.

"It is inconceivable that we would allow Saudi Arabia, its security or stability to be harmed," Sisi said at a graduation ceremony at the Egyptian Military Academy on Saturday (17/10/2026). He stressed Egypt was not seeking to attack anyone, but was prepared to act in defence.

Sisi said Egypt would act in accordance with guidance from King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who visited him on September 15 to discuss security and navigation issues in the Red Sea.

Parliament Holds Emergency Session on Sunday

Since military deployment requires legislative approval, Sisi asked parliament to hold an emergency session to grant authorisation if Saudi Arabia requests help. Shortly after his statement, parliament announced an emergency plenary session on Sunday (18/10) at 1 p.m. Cairo time (5 p.m. WIB), though it did not disclose the agenda.

The trigger was a Houthi strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on October 10 that killed 13 people, including an American. The attacks continued against Aramco oil facilities, and the group also blockaded the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, disrupting Saudi oil exports.

Risk of a Wider Regional Conflict

Egypt and Saudi Arabia are close strategic and economic partners. Egypt also joined the Saudi-led coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015 against the Houthis.

A day before Sisi's statement, Saudi Arabia announced it had intercepted four Houthi drones over Riyadh and other regions. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has also opened the door to America assisting Saudi if asked. Arab leaders fear the conflict could erupt into a wider regional war.