# Egypt Pledges Military Support to Saudi Arabia Amid Escalating Yemen Conflict President el-Sissi seeks parliamentary approval for troop deployment as regional tensions intensify significantly. - **Source:** [Fortune | FORTUNE](https://brifing.si/source/769282ef-327a-4454-909a-3c7936216004) - **Published:** 2026-10-18 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/ae95e42a-c7f3-48aa-813e-913b82b9e890 ## Egypt Authorizes Military Support Egypt’s National Defense Council, chaired by President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, has formally agreed to provide all possible forms of support to Saudi Arabia. This decision follows a major escalation in fighting between the kingdom and Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. The council is currently seeking parliamentary authorization to deploy troops and military equipment abroad. ## Escalation in Yemen Conflict A recent airstrike in Yemen’s Saada province killed at least nine people, including five children and two women. Houthi-run Health Ministry spokesperson Anees al-Asbahi reported that 19 others were wounded in the Sahar district attack. This incident marks a significant intensification of the civil war following a four-year period of relative ceasefire. ## Saudi Helicopter Crash Incident A Saudi helicopter gunship crashed near the city of Najran, resulting in the deaths of its two-member crew. While the Houthi movement claimed to have downed the aircraft, a Saudi military spokesperson attributed the crash to a technical malfunction. The area remains a site of fierce fighting between coalition forces and militants. ## Journalist Assault in West Bank U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee condemned the violent attack on Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine by Israeli settlers. Levine suffered hand injuries, broken ribs, and lost her equipment during the assault in Abu Falah. Israeli police are investigating the incident, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has characterized the circumstances of the attack as unclear. ## Diplomatic Tensions and Violence Settler violence against Palestinians and international representatives has increased significantly ahead of the October 27 elections. Beyond the assault on Levine, Israeli police are investigating a separate attack on European diplomats in the West Bank. These events highlight the growing instability and the challenges facing international observers operating within the occupied territories. ## Iran Reviews U.S. Proposals Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Tehran is currently reviewing Washington’s response to proposals aimed at ending the eight-month war. Iran has conditioned the reopening of the strait on the lifting of port blockades, the release of frozen assets, and the waiver of sanctions on oil sales, pending further indirect diplomatic messaging. ## Leadership Changes in Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian has appointed Mehrdad Akhlaghi as the new defense minister following the death of his predecessor, Aziz Nasirzadeh, in February. During his confirmation, Akhlaghi warned that any miscalculation by Israel or the United States would trigger a surprising and extensive response, emphasizing Iran's commitment to maintaining its current defense posture. ## Regional Security Outlook The convergence of military mobilization in Egypt, ongoing conflict in Yemen, and diplomatic friction between Iran and the U.S. signals a volatile period for Middle Eastern stability. As parliaments deliberate on troop deployments and diplomatic channels remain strained, the region faces a complex landscape of shifting alliances and unresolved security threats. ## Sources covering this story - https://fortune.com/2026/10/18/egypt-saudi-arabia-defense-authorization-troops-houthis-escalation/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._