Egypt Pledges Defensive Support to Saudi Arabia Amid Renewed Houthi Escalation, With Reported Troop Movements

Egypt's National Defense Council, chaired by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, approved providing 'all necessary and possible forms of support' to Saudi Arabia to defend its security, territorial integrity, and Islamic holy sites amid intensified Houthi attacks on Saudi infrastructure, including airports and energy facilities. Sisi requested an emergency parliamentary session to authorize potential military assistance, emphasizing that any action would be strictly defensive and only if Riyadh requested it. Multiple reports confirm at least two Egyptian Air Force C-130H transport aircraft landed at King Fahd Air Base in Taif, western Saudi Arabia, on October 18, 2026, signaling the start of logistical support or troop deployment. This development occurs against the backdrop of the activated Mecca Defence Alliance (signed August 2026 by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey), which has prompted force deployments from Pakistan and Turkey to aid Saudi defenses. Egyptian officials and analysts stress that involvement would focus on air and missile defense, naval escort, and intelligence sharing rather than combat operations inside Yemen, drawing lessons from Egypt's costly 1960s intervention there. Parliament discussed the authorization but postponed a full vote. The moves reflect deepening regional alignments as the Saudi-Houthi conflict reignites following a collapsed truce.