Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has requested an emergency parliamentary session to approve defensive military aid to Saudi Arabia, following intensified Houthi attacks on the kingdom, including its capital and oil facilities. Parliament is scheduled to convene on Sunday afternoon (10am GMT) to consider the proposal, as Egyptian law requires parliamentary approval for the president to declare war or deploy troops abroad. The National Defence Council, chaired by el-Sisi, has pledged “all necessary and possible support” to Saudi Arabia. Analysts suggest any Egyptian assistance would be “strictly defensive,” focusing on air and missile defence, naval escort, and intelligence sharing, rather than ground troops in Yemen. The move also aims to protect the Suez Canal, which Egypt's foreign minister said has lost approximately $11 billion since Houthi attacks began in 2023.