Egypt’s House of Representatives has postponed until October 26 a vote on authorising military support for Saudi Arabia, extending deliberations over whether President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi could approve Saudi requests for defence assistance, Al Jazeera reported.
The vote was adjourned during its second parliamentary session. Under Egypt’s constitution, sending troops on a combat mission abroad requires approval by a two-thirds parliamentary majority after clearance from the National Defence Council, which is chaired by el-Sisi. The council had approved the move, according to Al Jazeera.
The opposition Egyptian Social Democratic Party told its lawmakers to abstain, saying parliament had not been given adequate information about the possible mission’s objectives, duration, cost or risks to Egyptian troops. The outlet, citing two members of parliament, reported that most lawmakers from the party nonetheless support the measure.
The parliamentary debate follows Cairo’s public pledge to provide Saudi Arabia with “all necessary and possible support” to defend its safety and stability. In earlier reporting on that pledge, Al Jazeera said Egypt’s National Defence Council also said Cairo would intensify diplomatic efforts for de-escalation.
The deliberations come after attacks on Riyadh’s international airport and Saudi Aramco attributed in the reports to Yemen’s Houthis. Saudi authorities said 13 people were killed in the October 10 airport attack, Al Jazeera reported. Saudi Arabia has accused Iran of encouraging Houthi attacks, an allegation Tehran denies.
The postponement does not authorise a deployment or establish that Saudi Arabia has made a specific request. It instead keeps open the parliamentary process that Egypt says is required for a potential overseas combat mission.