Egypt signals support for Saudi Arabia as Houthi attacks intensify

The conflict in the Middle East has widened, and tensions have sharpened since the Houthis entered it. According to the source, the Saudi Arabian government, meaning Mohammed bin Salman, is responsible for this.

It is said that some Houthi leaders attended Khamenei's funeral in Iran. Afterwards, as the Houthi chief was landing at the airport in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, Saudi-backed people attacked them. Because of the attack, the aircraft did not land in Sanaa and was diverted elsewhere. The Houthis have been attacking Saudi Arabia since then.

Enraged by what they saw as a plot to kill their leaders, the Houthis began a blockade of Saudi Arabia. Despite the Saudi-backed Yemeni government and the United States being on its side, no solution to the Houthi threat has been found. Because of the midterm elections in the US, it cannot attack the Houthis at present, so Pakistan was put forward initially.

Pakistan has been put in a difficult position. The Mecca Pact has been signed, but a direct fight with the Houthis is no longer possible. The reason is that the Houthis are Shia Muslims and Shias make up about 35 per cent of Pakistan's population, so facing opposition from the public at home would be difficult. Israel's name has also come up as ready to help Saudi Arabia. But if Saudi Arabia accepted Israeli help, anger and embarrassment would follow from all Muslim countries, so taking Israel's help is never right for Riyadh. Egypt has now stepped in.

Egypt's National Defence Council has taken the position that it will give Saudi Arabia every possible help to maintain security and peace. It has been made clear that Egypt will cooperate to protect Saudi Arabia's sovereignty, territorial integrity and key sites. However, a decision on actual military help will be taken only when a request comes from Saudi Arabia and the necessary parliamentary approval is received. It is therefore not yet clear what role Egypt will play.

In recent days, Yemen's Houthi rebels have attacked Riyadh airport and facilities of the state-owned oil company Saudi Aramco. This showed the world how much the Houthis' strength has grown. Matters have worsened further since fighting resumed with the forces of the Saudi-backed Yemeni government. The attacks have posed a major challenge to Saudi Arabia's security arrangements.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has called for a special session of parliament over possible military help. He made it clear that Egypt is ready to defend Saudi Arabia but has no intention of attacking anyone. Egypt and Saudi Arabia already have strong diplomatic and economic ties. In 2015 too, Egypt joined the Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen, though its combat role then is understood to have been limited. What happens next will be important to watch.