Sanaa: A senior Houthi official has accused Egypt of declaring war against Yemen after the Egyptian parliament authorised military support for Saudi Arabia in response to attacks by the Houthi movement, according to AFP.
Mohammed Ali al Houthi, a member of the movement's political bureau, criticised the parliamentary decision in a statement published on Telegram.
“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,” he said.
His remarks reflect the Houthi movement's interpretation of Egypt's decision. Parliamentary authorisation for military assistance does not, by itself, establish that Egypt has formally declared war or begun military operations against the group.
Egypt says military assistance would be defensive
Egypt's parliament approved the measure on Monday, October 26, giving President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi authority to provide military assistance if Saudi Arabia requests it. The decision followed Houthi attacks on Saudi infrastructure, including Riyadh's international airport and facilities operated by Saudi Aramco.
Sisi has said Egypt's involvement would be limited to protecting Saudi territory and borders, ruling out participation in attacks on Yemen. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has also called for a diplomatic settlement to the Yemen conflict.
The Egyptian parliament approved the authorisation by a two thirds majority following closed door discussions. However, the opposition Egyptian Social Democratic Party abstained, citing insufficient information about the proposed mission's objectives, duration, costs and risks to Egyptian personnel.
Egypt has previously participated in operations connected to Yemen. In 2015, Cairo deployed naval vessels to support the Saudi led coalition but did not send ground troops.
The latest decision also comes amid concerns over Red Sea shipping, where Houthi attacks near the Bab al Mandeb Strait have disrupted maritime traffic and affected revenue from Egypt's Suez Canal.
The Houthis control Yemen's capital, Sanaa, and parts of the country's north, while the internationally recognised Yemeni government is backed by Saudi Arabia. Egypt's parliamentary decision could increase Cairo's involvement in the conflict, although the scope and timing of any assistance remain uncertain.
No Egyptian military deployment under the new authorisation has been confirmed. The disagreement centres on whether Egypt's proposed support constitutes defensive assistance to Saudi Arabia or involvement in the conflict against the Houthis, as the movement alleges.
