Egypt's Ssisi says he'll defend Saudi Arabia, if asked

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi on Saturday said that his country stood ready to defend Saudi Arabia, if asked to so.

Sissi said that while Egypt was "not looking for a role to play" in regional conflicts, it was "inconceivable that we would allow Saudi Arabia, ⁠its security ⁠or stability to be harmed."

The comments came as Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis have ramped up attacks on Saudi targets, including strikes on energy facilities and Riyadh's main airport.

'We are speaking only about defense,' says Sisi

"Egypt, of course, with the directives of His Majesty King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will carry out any measure to protect you or defend you," Sissi said at a graduation ceremony at the Egyptian military academy.

"I'm not talking about fighting anyone or attacking anyone," Sissi said. "We are speaking only about defense."

"I know this ​requires the approval of the Egyptian parliament, and I ask that an emergency session be held so that it can give us that ⁠authorization ​if we are asked," the Egyptian leader said.

An emergency session in Egypt's parliament is expected to be held on Sunday to consider whether to authorise potentially assisting in Saudi Arabia's defence.

Saudi Arabia on the backfoot in the war against the Houthis

Houthi-Saudi conflict

The Houthis have clashed with Saudi Arabia since the kingdom stepped into Yemen's civil war to lead a military coalition against the Iran-backed fighters in 2015.

The Houthis have launched repeated attacks against Saudi Arabia, also attacking the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.

A week ago, one of those attacks killed 13 people in what was the deadliest in the country in over a decade.

Egypt and Saudi Arabia share strong strategic and economic ties. Egypt was part of the Saudi-led coalition that stepped in 2015 to support the Yemeni government against the Houthis.

Disruption in the Red Sea as a result of Houthi attacks has impacted the revenue coming from shipping traffic in the Suez Canal.

Edited by: Jenipher Camino Gonzalez

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