Egypt's involvement in Yemen 'may weaken Cairo's regional role', expert says

Egypt's parliament on Monday, 20 October, put off until next week its debate on President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's request for authorisation to provide military support to Saudi Arabia, state media reported. An emergency session held a day earlier had ended without a decision. The question concerns a possible Egyptian involvement in Yemen and could affect Egypt's standing in the Middle East.

Expert: no objectives or exit strategy

The issue was discussed on the France 24 programme "A propos" by presenter Sharon Gaffney and Dr May Darwich, Associate Professor in International Relations of the Middle East at the University of Birmingham.

Darwich said that "this kind of military operation does not really have any objectives or exit strategy". In her view, at the moment it might actually weaken Egypt's regional role rather than strengthen it.

What comes next

Parliament has not yet made a decision. Lawmakers are due to return to the debate next week, and only then will it become clear whether Egypt grants the president the authorisation he has requested.

The source gives no details on what kind of support Cairo might provide, how large it would be or over what period. It also does not say why parliament postponed the debate.