The Egyptian National Defense Council pledged to provide “all possible forms of support” to Saudi Arabia as the kingdom battles Ansar Allah, or the Houthis, in Yemen.

Egypt is “extending all necessary and possible forms of support to the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to defend its security and stability, and to safeguard its resources, territorial integrity, and Islamic holy sites,” the statement from the National Defense Council chaired by President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said. 

Saudi Arabia has received pledges of military support from Turkey and Pakistan, its partners in the Mecca Accords. The UK, France, and the US have also provided assistance to the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia has attempted to get military support from its allies as it is struggling to stem Ansar Allah’s advances in Yemen and Houthi missile and drone strikes on the kingdom’s cities and energy infrastructure. 

So far, Saudi Arabia has received pledges from its allies in the Mecca Accords, Turkey and Pakistan, to provide military support. Additionally, the UK, France, and the US have also provided assistance to the kingdom. 

However, President Donald Trump has refused multiple requests from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the US to begin direct attacks on Yemen. Trump has provided Saudi Arabia with intelligence and targeting support. 

In 2014, Ansar Allah seized the capital city and took control over most populated regions in Yemen. Initially, the US worked with Ansar Allah to target al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. However, Saudi Arabia viewed Ansar Allah’s control of Yemen as problematic. Riyadh backed a government-in-exile, which it attempted to install in power with a massive bombing campaign, a blockade, and by backing militias opposed to Ansar Allah. 

The Barack Obama administration elected to support Saudi’s war to alleviate Riyadh’s concerns over the Iran Nuclear Deal. The war killed hundreds of thousands of people, caused a cholera epidemic, and the blockade resulted in widespread malnutrition among children. 

During the war, Ansar Allah developed missile and drone capabilities that were able to cause significant damage to Saudi Arabia’s energy infrastructure. While Riyadh and Sanaa agreed to a ceasefire in 2022,  they have not reached an agreement to end the war. The fighting between Ansar Allah and Saudi Arabia reignited after the Saudis hit the Sanaa airport twice in July.