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Egyptian parliament. / AFP-Yonhap

Egypt's parliament approved military support for Saudi Arabia on Oct. 26 (local time) as the kingdom faces attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. The decision opens the possibility that Egypt, a major military power in the Middle East, could deploy ground troops overseas for the first time in 35 years since the 1991 Gulf War.

According to AFP and other news agencies, Egypt's House of Representatives approved a measure that day authorizing President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to take necessary steps to support Saudi Arabia. The lower house reportedly approved the measure after holding three closed-door sessions and postponing the vote twice.

Although the vote completed the constitutional procedures required for overseas troop deployment, no decision has yet been made on whether troops will actually be sent. Egypt has not deployed ground troops overseas in more than 30 years, raising the possibility that it may provide military equipment and other assistance instead of personnel.

El-Sisi also limited the scope of support to the defense of Saudi Arabia on Oct. 21. He said Egypt's assistance was "intended to defend Saudi territory and would not include attacks on Yemen."

Egypt, which possesses the largest military force in the Arab world, has hundreds of thousands of troops, fighter jets and an integrated air defense system. It has also acquired various types of military equipment from countries including the United States, China, France and Russia.

Attention is therefore focused on whether Egypt will actually deploy ground troops. Concerns have been raised that the current conflict could spread across the Middle East if Egypt sends troops or actively joins Saudi military operations. Within Egypt, there are also calls for caution over troop deployment amid concerns that the country could become embroiled in the conflict.

                                                                                                            Nam Mi-kyung