Yemen: Egypt moves to send troops abroad, heightening conflict risk for travellers

Egypt's National Defense Council has agreed to support Saudi Arabia as fighting between the kingdom and Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen escalates, the Egyptian presidency said. President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said on Saturday that his government would implement "any measure" to defend Saudi Arabia and asked parliament to authorise the deployment of troops and military equipment abroad.

Key facts

• Egypt's National Defense Council, chaired by el-Sissi, agreed to provide all possible forms of support to Saudi Arabia.
• The president has asked parliament to authorise sending troops and military equipment outside Egypt.
• Parliament convened on Sunday and is due to continue deliberations on Monday, according to the state-run MENA news agency.
• An airstrike in Yemen's northern province of Saada killed at least nine people and wounded 19.
• A Saudi helicopter gunship crashed near Najran, close to the Yemen border, killing its two-member crew.

What has Egypt agreed to do?

The National Defense Council, which handles high-level military and security matters, said it would give Saudi Arabia every possible form of support so the kingdom can defend its security and stability. The presidency did not give further details of what that support would involve.

The council also said it would keep pursuing diplomatic efforts with regional and international parties to de-escalate the conflict. El-Sissi separately asked parliament for authorisation to deploy troops and military equipment abroad; no decision on that request has been announced.

Where is the fighting happening?

The Houthi-run Health Ministry said an airstrike hit a house in Sahar district, in Yemen's northern province of Saada, killing at least nine people, among them five children and two women. Spokesperson Anees al-Asbahi said 19 people were wounded, including 11 children, and that some were in critical condition. He blamed Saudi Arabia for the strike; there was no immediate comment from the Saudi government.

The escalation has reignited Yemen's civil war after four years of ceasefire. The Houthis, a Shiite religious and political movement rooted in northern Yemen, are attacking Saudi Arabia because it supports Yemen's internationally recognised government.

In southwestern Saudi Arabia, a helicopter gunship crashed near the city of Najran, in an area caught up in fierce fighting, killing its two-member crew. Coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki attributed the crash to a technical malfunction, hours after the Houthis claimed to have downed the aircraft.

What this means for travellers

The reported incidents are concentrated in Yemen's northern province of Saada and in areas of southwestern Saudi Arabia near the border, including Najran. Travellers in those areas should monitor developments closely and follow instructions from local authorities.

Parliament continues its deliberations on Monday. The Egyptian presidency has not said what specific support measures will follow or when any troop deployment might begin.