Sisi: Egyptian military effort is for Saudi defense, not targeting Yemen
Sisi affirmed that the Egyptian military effort is limited to defending Saudi Arabia and does not target Yemen, while the House of Representatives postponed the vote on the authorization.
Translated by Qiyas from الراي — Original source
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi affirmed that “Egyptian military efforts are limited to defending Saudi Arabia’s territory and borders,” stressing that “this effort does not in any way involve launching any attack on Yemen.”
During a session of the Egypt Forum 2026 on Wednesday, al-Sisi clarified that Arab national security is indivisible, and that the stability of Gulf brotherly nations is linked to Egypt’s national security. He confirmed that Egypt would defend the territory of any other Arab state if requested to do so.
He noted that Egypt’s stance alongside Gulf states is a natural extension of the concept of shared Arab national security, emphasizing that “Egyptian military movements do not extend beyond the borders of Egypt or those of sister states that Cairo is keen to protect in terms of their security and stability.”
Al-Sisi stressed that the constants of Egypt’s foreign policy since 2014 are based on firm principles, including non-interference in the internal affairs of states and rejection of conspiratorial policies, which contribute to consolidating the foundations of stability and joint cooperation in the region.
The Egyptian Parliament had previously decided to postpone voting on authorizing al-Sisi to deploy military forces to defend the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia until next Monday, following two parliamentary sessions held on Sunday and Monday to discuss the request.
On another note, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said on Tuesday evening that the state continues to provide cash support through the “Takaful and Karama” program, and that “support will not be reduced or increased beyond what is due to its rightful recipients.” He confirmed that the objective of changing the form of support is to ensure that government assistance reaches eligible citizens, as part of efforts to strengthen social protection and address economic challenges.
During a session of the Egypt Forum 2026, he added that total support amounted to 32.8 billion Egyptian pounds in 2013, reaching 178 billion pounds during the current year.
For his part, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, during the same session, stated that “had it not been for the strength of state institutions and the wisdom of political leadership, Egypt’s foreign policy would not have achieved this level of appreciation and respect at both the regional and international levels, with Egypt and its President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi viewed as a fundamental pillar and builder of sustainable stability in a region rife with crises.”
He stressed that Egypt “pursues a balanced foreign policy, distant from the blocs and sharp polarization witnessed by the world today.”
He added, “The Egyptian administration is guided by a doctrine of strategic balance. This doctrine does not mean isolation or passive neutrality, but rather positive engagement with issues and taking decisive and clear positions.”
In a judicial development, the First Terrorist Crimes Chamber sentenced one defendant to life imprisonment, another to five years, and nine others to three years in the “Helwan Cell” case involving the “Ikhwan” terrorist group.
