Egypt’s Abdel Aty says forces are in Saudi Arabia at Riyadh’s request

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aty said Egyptian forces have been in Saudi Arabia for months at Riyadh’s request, with a strictly defensive mission focused on air defense and protecting sensitive sites. Cairo is working to reinforce them.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aty said Egyptian forces have been in Saudi Arabia for “a few months” at the kingdom’s request, in the first public confirmation of an active Egyptian military deployment on Saudi territory.

In an interview with France 24 on the sidelines of the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Paris, Abdel Aty said the forces were deployed “following the attacks and assaults on Saudi Arabia during the escalation with Iran,” adding: “We do indeed have a military presence there at Saudi Arabia’s request, and we are working to reinforce it.”

جنود مصريون خلال تدريب في الصحراء (صورة أرشيفية)

The minister described the mission as “strictly defensive and limited to Saudi territory,” ruling out any cross-border operations toward Yemen. He said it focuses on air defense and protecting sensitive sites, “including, of course, the holy sites.” He stressed that the support should not be viewed as preparation for any attack, adding that “Saudi Arabia’s security is part of Egypt’s security.”

Abdel Aty did not disclose the number of troops, the participating units or their deployment locations, and neither Cairo nor Riyadh has released details on the matter. On October 26, the Egyptian House of Representatives approved authorizing President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to take “the necessary measures” to defend Saudi Arabia.

Since spring, Saudi Arabia has faced repeated drone and missile attacks by the Houthi group targeting airports and energy facilities, amid the escalation between the United States and Iran in the region.