Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi is seeking parliamentary approval to deploy military support to Saudi Arabia, a move that could escalate the conflict in the Middle East as Yemen’s Iran-allied Houthis intensify their attacks on the kingdom. A parliamentary vote was expected on Sunday, October 18, 2026, but discussions are set to continue on Monday, according to two lawmakers and local media reports.The fighting between the Saudi-led coalition, which backs Yemen’s internationally recognised government, and the Houthis, who control the capital Sanaa and much of the north, has intensified in recent weeks. This conflict has become another front in the US-Israeli war on Iran, which began after the US and Israel attacked the Islamic Republic in late February.
Regional Tensions and Egypt’s Potential Role
Houthi rebels have recently attacked Riyadh’s international airport and the state oil company Saudi Aramco. Their advances threaten the strategic Bab el-Mandeb oil shipping route, following the collapse of a truce. This has disrupted global energy supplies and sent oil prices soaring.Egypt’s presidency stated that Egypt would provide Saudi Arabia with all necessary and possible forms of support to defend its security and stability, protect its resources, territorial integrity, and Islamic holy sites. This statement followed a meeting of Egypt’s National Defense Council, chaired by President Sisi and attended by the parliamentary speaker Hisham Badawi, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, and army chief Abdel Megid Saker.President Sisi said in a speech on Saturday that Egypt would act in accordance with guidance from Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who visited Sisi on September 15 after fighting in Yemen reignited. If Egypt intervenes, it could face attacks by the Houthis, whose missiles and drones threaten the region.Egypt previously joined the Saudi-led coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015 to support the government against the Houthis, but its role was then limited to securing Red Sea shipping routes.
Saudi Arabia’s Growing Regional and International Engagement
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has been increasing its presence on regional and international platforms. The Kingdom has ranked first globally in activating Resource Public Key Infrastructure Route Origin Validation (RPKI RoV) technology, with an activation rate of 99.8 percent, according to the latest measurements by APNIC on October 18, 2026. This technology helps verify that an internet router is sending network traffic through the correct and authorised networks.Additionally, Saudi Arabia has become the 16th member of the Arab Union of Administrative Judiciary. Ali Alohaydib, chairman of the Saudi Board of Grievances and Administrative Judicial Council chairman, signed the accession document at the Egyptian State Council headquarters in Cairo on Sunday, October 18, 2026, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). Alohaydib stated that this membership would strengthen Saudi Arabia’s regional and international standing in administrative judiciary and provide opportunities for the exchange of judicial expertise with other member states.
Impact on Nepali Citizens in the Middle East
The escalating tensions in the Middle East have raised concerns for the safety of Nepali citizens working in the region. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 384,865 Nepali citizens are legally employed in Saudi Arabia, while 500 are in Egypt. The Ministry has stated that the safety of Nepalis in the Middle East is a top government priority and preparations for emergency evacuations have begun.An ‘Emergency Evacuation Multi-Stakeholder Team’ has been formed under the coordination of the Chief Secretary, following instructions from the Foreign Secretary, and includes all relevant stakeholders. A dedicated WhatsApp group has been created for immediate information exchange with the heads of eight Nepali embassies and two consulates general in the Middle East, with updates being monitored 24 hours a day. For easy evacuation if an emergency arises, an online registration platform and app are being developed through the Consular Service Department, allowing Nepalis to fill in their details.Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty discussed regional developments and the importance of de-escalation with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan. Discussions in the Egyptian parliament regarding authorisation for military deployment are expected to continue on Monday.
