RismadarVoice Reporters
October 27, 2026
Yemen’s Houthi movement has accused Egypt of effectively declaring war on Yemen following a decision by the Egyptian parliament to authorise military assistance to Saudi Arabia amid escalating regional hostilities.
Senior Houthi official Mohammed Ali al-Houthi accused Egypt on Tuesday in a statement published on Telegram, condemning Cairo’s decision to support Riyadh against missile and drone attacks attributed to the Iran-aligned group.
The Egyptian parliament’s approval allows President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to provide defensive military assistance to Saudi Arabia, although the precise scope of the proposed deployment has not been publicly detailed.
Al-Houthi argued that the decision contradicted ongoing diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions across the Middle East.
His comments followed Monday’s high-level talks in Tehran involving Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin.
The delegation met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and senior security officials to discuss regional security and possible measures to prevent further escalation.
Al-Houthi criticised the diplomatic initiative, questioning why regional leaders were discussing peace while Egypt was preparing to support Saudi Arabia militarily.
He also urged members of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, comprising Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye, to reconsider their military cooperation.
The Houthi official maintained that his movement would not be intimidated by regional defence alliances.
However, Egypt has rejected suggestions that its proposed involvement constitutes an offensive operation against Yemen.
President el-Sisi has maintained that any Egyptian military assistance would be limited to defending Saudi territory against attacks.
According to reports, the proposed support could include air-defence equipment and aircraft intended to intercept missiles and drones, rather than the deployment of ground forces into Yemen.
The parliamentary decision nevertheless attracted domestic scrutiny, with some Egyptian opposition lawmakers questioning the potential financial costs, duration and risks of military involvement.
The controversy comes amid renewed fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, who control Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and significant areas of the country’s north.
The group has claimed responsibility for recent attacks targeting Saudi infrastructure, including energy facilities and airports, while Saudi forces have carried out strikes against Houthi-controlled areas.
Meanwhile, Monday’s Tehran discussions concluded with an agreement to continue diplomatic engagement aimed at reducing regional tensions.
The latest exchange highlights the growing diplomatic and security challenges facing Middle Eastern governments as they attempt to contain the conflict and prevent its expansion.
