CAIRO — October 19, 2026. Egypt’s parliament on Sunday postponed a vote on President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s request to authorise military support for Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks, extending closed-door deliberations into this week after the country’s top security body pledged its full backing for the kingdom.
Vote put off after three-hour closed session
The House of Representatives adjourned a nearly three-hour emergency session on Sunday evening without putting the measure to a vote. Two lawmakers who attended told the AFP news agency that discussions would resume on Monday and could run into Tuesday, with parliamentarians given more time to speak on the proposal. MP Ibrahim Kholeif said most lawmakers supported the measure, while MP Maha Abdel Nasser said the extension would allow every member to be heard. Both lawmakers said the session had not discussed what form any Egyptian military assistance would take.
National Defence Council pledges “all necessary” support
Earlier on Sunday, Sisi chaired a meeting of the National Defence Council at Al Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo, which pledged “all necessary and possible forms of support” to protect Saudi Arabia’s security, territorial integrity and the Islamic holy sites, the presidency said in a statement. The council — attended by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, parliamentary speaker Hisham Badawy, Defence Minister Lt Gen Ashraf Zaher and the intelligence chiefs — also called for stronger diplomatic efforts to reduce regional tensions and resolve conflicts peacefully. MP and television host Mostafa Bakry wrote on X that the council had approved sending forces on “a defensive mission”, though the presidency’s own statement gave no details of a potential deployment.
Sisi had made the request on Saturday at a military academy graduation ceremony in the New Administrative Capital, saying it was “inconceivable” for Cairo to stand by while the kingdom’s security was threatened. “We do not want to fight or attack anyone. We will only defend Saudi Arabia,” he said, adding that any Egyptian action would depend on a formal request from Riyadh. Under Article 152 of Egypt’s constitution, the president cannot send the army on a combat mission abroad without consulting the council and securing the approval of two-thirds of MPs.
Deadly strikes on both sides of the border
The postponement came as Sunday brought some of the heaviest civilian casualties of the escalation in weeks. Houthi-run health authorities said an airstrike on a house in the Sahar district of Saada province in northern Yemen killed at least nine people, including five children and two women, and wounded 19 others, including 11 children, some of them critically. Health ministry spokesman Anees al-Asbahi blamed Saudi Arabia for the strike. There was no immediate comment from the kingdom. Houthi-run al-Masirah television aired footage of residents clearing debris by hand and pulling two young people from the rubble. Houthi military spokesman Brig Gen Yahya Saree said Saudi-led forces had carried out 110 missiles or airstrikes against civilian sites in Sanaa and other cities in 24 hours; the Associated Press said it could not independently verify the claim.
Across the border in Saudi Arabia, a Saudi military helicopter crashed near the southwestern city of Najran, killing its two-member crew, a Saudi military spokesman said, attributing the crash to a technical malfunction. The Houthis had earlier claimed to have shot the aircraft down. Later, Saudi Civil Defense authorities said a Houthi projectile landed in a residential area of Najran province, wounding six people.
Houthi chief negotiator Mohamed Abdulsalam blamed Saudi Arabia for the escalation, writing on social media that the rebels had warned the kingdom against striking the rebel-held Sanaa airport in mid-July. The Houthis have also warned Cairo against military intervention, state-linked media reported.
Diplomatic push continues
Diplomatic efforts to contain the fighting continued over the weekend. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot was due to arrive in Riyadh on Sunday evening ahead of a Gulf tour by President Emmanuel Macron, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was expected in Tehran on Monday. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he had spoken by phone with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty about the latest regional developments. Egypt’s foreign minister had separately called his Saudi counterpart to stress the need for de-escalation, state media reported.
Separately, the British navy-affiliated UKMTO said a tug sailing southbound northeast of Khor Fakkan in the United Arab Emirates reported being struck by two unknown projectiles. One minor injury was reported, and the tug sustained damage but continued on its route.
