Egypt’s Sisi says Saudi defence role would not include attack on Yemen

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Egypt’s military effort to ​defend Saudi Arabia would not include ‌an attack on Yemen and would be limited to defending the kingdom’s ​territory and borders, according to ​a statement by the Egyptian presidency ⁠spokesperson on Wednesday.

On Monday, Egypt’s parliament ​delayed until October 26 a vote ​on authorising the armed forces to support Saudi Arabia if requested, lawmakers said, extending ​deliberations over a potentially deeper ​Egyptian role following recent attacks by Yemen’s ‌Houthis.

Egypt ⁠would also defend the territory of any other Arab country if asked, while its military effort would not ​extend ​beyond Egypt ⁠or a fellow Arab state whose security and stability ​Cairo sought to protect, ​the ⁠statement said. Sisi added that Egypt’s support for Gulf states was an ⁠extension ​of shared Arab national ​security.