Why is Egypt so wary of getting involved in Yemen’s conflict?

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that Egypt is weighing whether to offer military support to Saudi Arabia as Houthi attacks intensify in Yemen and against Saudi territory, but Cairo is trying to avoid being drawn into direct combat. Egyptian officials have said any deployment would be defensive, and Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has called for a political settlement. A parliamentary vote on the issue is expected after a delay, since any overseas deployment needs approval.

The article says the discussion has revived difficult memories of Egypt’s large intervention in Yemen in the 1960s, when Egyptian troops backed republican forces in North Yemen against royalists supported by Saudi Arabia. That campaign was costly and politically controversial, and Al Jazeera notes that many in Egypt still associate it with heavy losses and strategic overreach. The current debate is shaped by concern that a new mission could again lead to casualties without a clear payoff.

Egypt’s caution also reflects broader security and economic risks. According to the report, Cairo fears retaliation from the Houthis or Iran, as well as further disruption to Red Sea shipping and Suez Canal traffic, which are important to Egypt’s economy. The article adds that possible support to Saudi Arabia could involve air defence, naval assistance, or border security, rather than offensive strikes, but the exact role remains unsettled.