Egyptian parliament approves military aid to Saudi Arabia ... Overseas deployment for the first time in 35 years?

[Financial News] Egypt’s parliament has approved military aid for Saudi Arabia, which is engaged in clashes with Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen. If the move leads to an actual troop deployment, it would be Egypt’s first in 35 years, since the 1991 Gulf War.
According to the French news agency AFP, Egypt’s House of Representatives on the 26th (local time) passed a measure, requested by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, authorizing him to take the necessary steps to support Saudi Arabia.
The House reportedly held three closed-door meetings on the measure and approved it after postponing the vote twice. With this vote, the Egyptian government completed the constitutional approval process required to send troops abroad.
Saudi Arabia, which has faced long-range attacks by Houthi rebels from beyond its southern border since last July, began an operation on the 4th alongside Yemeni government forces to retake Yemeni territory held by the rebels. In response, the Houthi rebels used missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) to strike various infrastructure facilities, including the airport in the Saudi capital and oil refineries, causing heavy civilian casualties.
Saudi Crown Prince MbS visited Egypt on the 15th of last month and met with el-Sisi. AFP described Saudi Arabia as one of Egypt’s strongest allies. Saudi Arabia is said to have supported the Sisi government since el-Sisi ousted former President Mohamed Morsi, an Islamist, in 2013. AFP also noted that the Houthi rebels’ attacks on Saudi Arabia have put at risk Suez Canal revenues, a major source of foreign currency for Egypt, as well as remittances from Egyptian workers in Saudi Arabia.
It is unclear how Egypt will support Saudi Arabia. According to the U.S.-based private organization Global Firepower (GFP), Egypt ranked fourth in the Middle East, 19th in the world and first in Africa in military strength this year. In a statement on the 21st, el-Sisi said that overseas military support “is intended to defend Saudi territory and does not include an attack on Yemen.”
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