Houthis call Egypt’s approval of military support for Saudi Arabia a ‘declaration of war’

OTN Bangla Desk: Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement has described Egypt’s decision to authorise military support for Saudi Arabia as a “declaration of war,” following a parliamentary vote allowing Cairo to help defend the kingdom against attacks.

Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a member of the group’s political bureau, made the accusation in a Telegram statement on Tuesday, October 27. His remarks represented the Houthis’ response to the decision, rather than an announcement of a formal Egyptian declaration of war.

Egypt’s parliament approved the authorisation during a closed session on Monday. The decision permits President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi to provide military assistance to Saudi Arabia, although no formal Saudi request for Egyptian troops had been announced. Details of the proposed assistance were not publicly specified.

Al-Houthi criticised what he portrayed as a contradiction between regional peace initiatives and preparations for military support. He argued that Egypt’s approval of assistance under the banner of defending Saudi Arabia amounted to declaring war on Yemen. The Houthis control the capital, Sanaa, while Saudi Arabia supports Yemen’s internationally recognised government.

His statement followed talks in Tehran on Monday involving Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman, Pakistan’s army chief General Asim Munir and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin. The delegation met senior Iranian officials and President Masoud Pezeshkian as part of efforts to ease regional tensions.

Al-Houthi also criticised the recently signed Mecca defence pact between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey, which treats an attack on one member as an attack on all three. He said the Houthis would not be intimidated by such alliances.

Egypt has characterised its proposed assistance as defensive. El-Sissi said any military involvement would focus on protecting Saudi territory and borders, excluding attacks on Yemen. Cairo has also continued to advocate a diplomatic settlement.

The decision has prompted concern among Egyptian opposition politicians. The Egyptian Social Democratic Party’s parliamentary bloc abstained from the vote, citing insufficient information about the mission’s objectives, scope, duration and costs, alongside potential risks to Egyptian personnel. It urged the government to prioritise diplomacy and avoid an open-ended military commitment.

Saudi Arabia remains a major political and financial partner of Egypt. Cairo previously joined the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen in 2015, contributing mainly to maritime security operations in the Red Sea.

-timesofisrael.com