Houthis say Egypt’s military support for Saudi Arabia ‘declaration of war’

A Houthi official said on Tuesday that the Egyptian parliament’s decision to authorise military support for Saudi Arabia to defend against the Iran-backed group’s attacks was a declaration of war.

“Egypt and its parliament declared support for what is called the defence of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and in doing so, it declares war against the Republic of Yemen,” said Mohammed Ali Al Houthi, a member of the Houthis’ political bureau, in a Telegram post.

The Houthi decision came after Egypt’s parliament authorised the country’s military to provide support to help defend Saudi Arabia.

The move could push Cairo directly into the regional conflict ​that has expanded with intensified attacks by Yemen’s Houthis on the Gulf kingdom.

Egypt’s President ‌Abdel Fattah El Sisi had asked parliament last week to approve defending its Gulf Arab ally and the world’s biggest oil exporter if Riyadh requests help against the Houthis, whose advances also threaten the strategic Bab El Mandeb Strait — a gateway to Egypt’s Suez ​Canal.

Egypt has frequently condemned Iranian and Iranian-backed attacks on Gulf countries but has not publicly ​engaged in direct combat or joined the Makkah mutual defence pact between Saudi Arabia, ⁠Pakistan and Turkiye that was signed in August.