Egyptian Defense Council approves all forms of support for Saudi Arabia

In active official and parliamentary moves in Cairo to support Saudi Arabia, Egypt’s National Defense Council decided on Sunday to provide all necessary and possible forms of support to the Kingdom to defend its security and stability, safeguard its resources, protect its territorial integrity, and preserve Islamic holy sites.

The decision came during a meeting chaired by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi at the State House in Cairo, to discuss regional developments and the escalation occurring in the region, particularly the attacks on Saudi Arabia.

Spokesman for the Presidency Mohamed El-Shenawy said in a statement that “the National Defense Council reviewed all current regional developments and the dangerous developments witnessed by the region, especially in light of the escalating unacceptable attacks against the fraternal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

According to the statement, the National Defense Council decided, based on that, “to stand fully and show complete solidarity with Saudi Arabia, stemming from the historical relations and strong ties between the peoples of the two fraternal countries, considered the heart of the Arab nation, and in recognition of the link between Saudi national security and Egyptian and Arab national security.”

It affirmed “the continuation and intensification of political and diplomatic efforts, in coordination with relevant regional and international parties, to contribute to de-escalation across the entire region and the peaceful resolution of crises affecting the region.”

The following day, Sisi requested parliamentary authorization to defend Saudi Arabia’s security. The Egyptian House of Representatives concluded its general session on Sunday evening, presided over by Speaker Hesham Badawi, with discussions to resume on Monday.

The session lasted more than two hours, at Sisi’s request, to authorize the deployment of troops abroad and support Saudi Arabia.

Article 152 of the Egyptian Constitution stipulates that “the President of the Republic is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and war is not declared, nor are the Armed Forces sent on a combat mission outside the state’s borders, except after obtaining the opinion of the National Defense Council and the approval of the House of Representatives by a two-thirds majority of its members. If the House of Representatives is not in session, the opinion of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces must be obtained, along with the approval of both the Cabinet and the National Defense Council.”

“In an urgent fraternal appeal to all brothers in the Arab and Islamic state,” Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed el-Tayeb called on Sunday evening for the formation of an “urgent mediation and de-escalation committee” aimed at ending conflicts and wars in the Arab region.

Al-Azhar clarified in a statement that the proposed mediation committee would include wise and prudent figures from various Arab and Islamic countries, tasked with taking urgent action to defuse crises, bring viewpoints closer, and work to end disputes between warring parties, thereby preserving the security and sovereignty of states and protecting civilian lives.

El-Tayeb explained that his call comes “stemming from his historical and legitimate responsibility toward the issues of the Arab and Islamic nations, and in light of the conflicts and bloody disputes witnessed by the region, which have shaken the security of homelands and destabilized the entire region.”

He warned that “division and infighting are the main causes of the nation’s weakness, the violation of its sanctities, the collapse of nations upon it, and the dissipation of its achievements and wealth, at a time when the nation most needs unity of ranks, consensus, the preservation of innocent lives, and the investment in its resources and the endowments and capabilities bestowed upon it by God, rather than dissipating them in wars and conflicts.”