Egypt's parliament authorizes military to defend Saudi Arabia

Egypt's parliament on Monday approved the military to provide armed support for Saudi Arabia's defense. According to reports, this decision was announced as the four-party Mecca Pact meeting between Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia commenced in Tehran.

At Monday's meeting in Tehran, Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir, and Turkish Intelligence Chief Ibrahim Kalın met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and National Security Council Secretary Mohsin Rezaei. This contact represents the highest-level talks between three members of the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement signed in August.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi had requested this approval from parliament last week. In a letter to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Sisi specified that Egypt's support would be limited to defending Saudi territory and borders, and would not include attacks on Yemen.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdellatty and Intelligence Chief Hassan Rashed traveled to Riyadh on Wednesday to personally deliver the letter to the Crown Prince. Following the visit, Abdellatty said Cairo is exploring every opportunity for a diplomatic resolution to the Yemen conflict.

At a time when Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia have intensified, Egypt joined the Saudi-led coalition in the early stages of the Yemen war in March 2015, deploying warships and committing air support. Houthi advances also threaten the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which opens to Egypt's Suez Canal.