Egypt, Turkiye and France moved to bolster Saudi defences on Wednesday, as intensifying Houthi attacks on the Kingdom prompted a fresh round of diplomatic and military moves by Riyadh’s partners.
Allies move to bolster Saudi defences
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Egypt would defend Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries if requested, but ruled out military action against Yemen. His comments came as Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and intelligence chief Hassan Rashad met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh.
The Saudi moves also drew a surprise visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to Riyadh, and a plan by Turkiye to seek parliamentary approval to deploy military personnel to the Kingdom.
Egypt defines its role
According to Saudi state news agency SPA, Abdelatty delivered a written message from Sisi to King Salman during the Riyadh meetings. Sisi said Egypt’s military support would be confined to protecting Saudi territory and borders, or those of another Arab country whose security and stability Cairo sought to defend.
Sisi has earlier said Egypt would take “any measure” to defend Saudi Arabia, drawing a line that excludes offensive action in Yemen.
Turkiye readies deployment motion
Turkiye plans to seek parliamentary authorisation to deploy military personnel to Saudi Arabia under its joint defence agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, a ruling party lawmaker told Reuters.
The mandate would be submitted after parliament ratified the accord, signed by the three countries in August. The initial Turkish deployment would involve technical personnel and experts providing air-defence assistance, electronic warfare technology and other defensive support, the lawmaker said, adding that the Turkish personnel deployed under the pact would not take part in offensive operations.
The trilateral Makkah defence pact binds Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye for a decade, and a similar Badr defence pact signed in Doha has brought Qatar and Indonesia into a parallel arrangement.
Macron’s surprise Riyadh visit
French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Riyadh on a surprise visit intended to demonstrate solidarity with Saudi Arabia following weeks of Houthi attacks. His Gulf tour also aims to secure diesel and petrol supplies and diversify hydrocarbon sources amid rising energy prices and domestic unrest in France.
The visit underscores how the attacks have pulled in major Western powers. Britain has already moved to fly Typhoon jets on defensive missions for Saudi Arabia against Houthi threats.
Houthi attacks continue
The attacks continued on Wednesday. The Houthis claimed to have targeted a Saudi operations room at Badr camp in Aden with a ballistic missile. Security sources said the attack hit a site near the airport belonging to forces from the Saudi-led coalition.
The group also targeted a military base at Al Rayyan airport in Al Mukalla with missiles and drones, according to military officials. The Saudi-led coalition separately said it had intercepted and destroyed a Houthi-launched drone over Saudi Arabia’s southern region.
The escalation has opened another front in the wider Middle East conflict, which began with US and Israeli attacks on Iran in February and has threatened global energy supplies. Saudi Arabia and the internationally recognised Yemeni government have faced sustained Houthi attacks for weeks, including the Shaybah Aramco drone attack that killed two people and injured a Pakistani worker.
What happens next depends on whether the new layer of allied support deters further attacks or pulls the region deeper into confrontation. Turkiye’s parliamentary motion and Macron’s energy diplomacy suggest the coming days will bring more moves, not fewer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Sisi say about defending Saudi Arabia?
Sisi said Egypt would defend Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries if requested, but ruled out military action against Yemen. Egypt’s support would be confined to protecting Saudi territory and borders.
What is Turkiye planning under the defence pact?
Turkiye plans to seek parliamentary authorisation to deploy technical personnel and experts to Saudi Arabia under the joint defence agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, providing air-defence and electronic warfare support for defensive purposes only.
Why did Macron visit Riyadh?
Macron made a surprise visit to Riyadh to demonstrate solidarity with Saudi Arabia after weeks of Houthi attacks. His Gulf tour also aims to secure diesel and petrol supplies and diversify France’s hydrocarbon sources.
What attacks did the Houthis claim on Wednesday?
The Houthis claimed a ballistic missile attack on a Saudi operations room at Badr camp in Aden, and said they targeted a military base at Al Rayyan airport in Al Mukalla with missiles and drones.
