Egypt parliament puts off Saudi troop vote until October 26

Egypt parliament lawmakers put off a vote on Monday that would let the army help defend Saudi Arabia, and they set the new date for October 26.

President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi asked for the approval on Saturday. He wants air defence forces and logistical help sent to the kingdom, which faces missiles and drones from Yemen’s Houthis.

A first session on Sunday ended without a result. Monday’s meeting ran long because many members asked to speak.

Why the Egypt parliament delayed the vote

Parties are split over the plan. The Wafd, Republican People’s and Justice parties back the request, and they say Saudi security is closely tied to Egypt’s own.

Others urge caution. The Constitution Party stands with Riyadh but wants clear goals, limits and conditions for any deployment. The Egyptian Social Democratic Party told its members to abstain, because it says officials have shared too little about the missions.

That party warns of risks to shipping through the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Suez Canal. Lawmaker Reda Abdel Salam proposed a narrow role. His plan limits any force to defending Saudi territory and key sites such as airports, water plants and power stations. It rules out fighting inside Yemen.

Meanwhile, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, called on Sunday for a halt to the fighting. He proposed a committee of respected Arab and Muslim figures to bring the sides together, and the Grand Mufti welcomed the idea.

What Sisi and the defence council said

Before the Egypt parliament met, the National Defense Council gathered under Sisi. It backed “all necessary and possible” support for Saudi Arabia.

In his speech, Sisi said Egypt would “never, never forget our brothers in the Gulf.” He told the Saudi leaders that Cairo would take any measure to protect them.

Gulf states have long stood by Cairo. Since the army removed President Mohamed Morsi in 2013, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and others have given tens of billions of dollars in aid, deposits and investment.

What Egypt could bring to the fight

Egypt fields a large army by Arab standards. Its air force flies F-16s, Rafales and MiG-29s. It also gets about $1.3 billion a year in US military aid.

Sisi has not said what forces he would send. Military analysts consider troops inside Yemen unlikely, because the threat comes from the air. Egypt has not sent a large ground force abroad since the 1991 Gulf War. Retired officer Samir Ragheb expects air defence and naval help, since missiles and drones need air defence and air power.

Egypt also has reasons of its own to act. Both countries want safe Red Sea shipping. In addition, Egypt collects billions of dollars a year in Suez Canal fees.

HA Hellyer, a scholar at the Royal United Services Institute, said Cairo cannot stay on the sidelines indefinitely. A drone strike hit two gas vessels at Damietta port in July, which showed the limits of staying apart.

For now, the Egypt parliament vote stays pending, and lawmakers will return on October 26 to decide.