Egyptian forces arrived in Yemen in the thousands, backing the country’s government in a civil war against rebels that threatened to overthrow it. But this is not today’s war – this is 1962, and the Egyptians were supporting republican forces in North Yemen against the country’s royalists. The intervention came after Yemenis who were friendlier to the Arab nationalist ideology propagated by Egypt under President Gamal Abdel Nasser led a revolution that overthrew Zaidi Imam Mohammad al-Badr – a theocratic monarch.
Although the republican side was ultimately successful in the war against the Saudi-backed royalists, Egyptian forces withdrew in the wake of their defeat in the 1967 war against Israel, and after also suffering heavy losses in Yemen. Suggestions of a new military intervention by Egypt in Yemen today, after comments by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, are therefore bringing back memories of that period for Egyptians. Following some backlash against the suggestion of direct military intervention, el-Sisi emphasised on Wednesday that any military deployment would be focused on defending Saudi Arabia, and would not involve any direct aggression against Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
And on Thursday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty called for a political solution to the conflict. After Saudi Arabia came under more intense attacks from the Houthis, including a strike on King Khalid international airport in Riyadh which killed 13 people, including one Egyptian, earlier this month, it appears that the kingdom expects support from its longtime allies, including Egypt. Some countries, including Turkiye, Pakistan, France and the United Kingdom, have already deployed forces to Saudi Arabia in defensive operations or have indicated they are willing to do so.
Saudi Arabia has faced repeated Houthi ballistic missile and drone attacks as the war in Yemen escalated over the past few months, particularly after a Saudi-backed Yemeni government counteroffensive against the Houthis began in early October. Saudi Arabia has supported a counteroffensive by forces allied to the internationally recognised government, with air raids against the Houthis. Egypt’s National Defence Council said on October 18 the country was ready to provide “all necessary and possible support to Saudi Arabia to defend its safety and stability”.
While much has been made of the possibility of an Egyptian deployment, Cairo has repeatedly made it clear that it has no intention of involving itself in direct attacks against the Houthis. But even a defensive combat mission would involve the deployment of Egyptian forces outside the country’s borders, so it requires approval from the Egyptian parliament. A vote is scheduled for Monday, after a weeklong delay to allow reticent lawmakers to deliberate on this move.
This apprehension over military involvement in Yemen is largely related to the Egyptian government’s desire to avoid foreign military entanglements and direct involvement in the US-Israel war on Iran and its allies. Active participation in attacks against the Houthis could open Egypt up to retaliation by the group or Iran. The Houthis have already shown they are capable of pinpoint attacks on vital civilian and military targets in Saudi Arabia.
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