Middle East & North Africa
Houthis accuse Egypt of declaring war on Yemen after parliament backs Sisi’s support for Saudi Arabia
A member of the Houthi political bureau said Egypt “declares war” on Yemen with its parliament’s vote, a day after lawmakers authorised President Sisi to support Saudi Arabia. Cairo insists its role will be strictly defensive.
The Houthis answered Egypt’s decision to open the way for military support to Saudi Arabia with the accusation that Cairo is declaring war. Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a member of the political bureau of the movement that controls Sanaa, wrote on Telegram on Tuesday, October 27, that with its parliament’s vote Egypt “declares war on the Republic of Yemen”. He also accused Cairo of doing Israel an enormous favour with the move.
The reaction came a day after Egypt’s House of Representatives authorised President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to take the measures he deems necessary to support Saudi Arabia. The authorisation was given on Monday, October 26, with the two-thirds majority that Article 152 of Egypt’s constitution requires for sending troops on a combat mission outside the borders. It followed three secret sessions and the October 18 decision of the National Defence Council to provide the kingdom with “every necessary and possible form of support”.
The scope of Egypt’s involvement has not been officially announced. Sisi has said the support will be strictly defensive and will not include attacks on Yemen, while his country’s military effort will not go beyond Egyptian territory or the territory of an Arab state whose security Cairo seeks to protect. A regional official said Egypt will deploy air-defence systems to intercept missiles and drones aimed at Saudi Arabia and that no ground forces will be sent.
Cairo’s decision was taken while the Iran-backed Houthis carry out ballistic missile and drone attacks on Saudi territory. In recent days they have claimed drone strikes on pumping stations of the East-West pipeline and on Riyadh, as Geopolitiki reported. Saudi Arabia supports the forces of Yemen’s internationally recognised government, while the Houthis control Sanaa.
The Egyptian parliament’s authorisation has already raised concern that the war in the Arabian Peninsula could draw in other regional powers. With Mohammed Ali al-Houthi’s statement, the Sanaa movement accuses Cairo of declaring war, while Cairo for its part insists its role will be limited to the defence of Saudi territory.
