The key facts

  • Egypt, after a meeting of the National Defense Council, declared its readiness to defend Saudi Arabia; the parliamentary vote is due by October 20, requiring a two-thirds majority.
  • The Houthis are attacking Riyadh airport and Saudi Aramco; on October 10, 13 people were killed in the airport attack, including an Egyptian citizen; on October 18, at least nine people were killed in Saudi Arabia's retaliatory strikes on Yemen.
  • In France, more than half a million people took to protests on October 17; police detained 2,400 people, about 1,000 police officers were injured, and one demonstrator died in Paris.

Egypt declared its readiness to defend Saudi Arabia

The office of the President of Egypt announced on October 18 that the country is ready to provide Saudi Arabia with all necessary and possible assistance to protect its security, stability, resources, territorial integrity and the Islamic holy sites. The statement was made after a meeting of the National Defense Council chaired by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Reuters reports. Earlier, al-Sisi asked parliament to authorize the army to participate in defending Saudi Arabia if Riyadh requests it. According to the outlet, the parliamentary vote may be postponed until October 20: under the constitution, sending troops on a combat mission abroad requires the consent of two-thirds of deputies.

Escalation around Yemen

Egypt's move coincided with an intensification of Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia: in recent days they have attacked Riyadh international airport and the company Saudi Aramco. On October 10, 13 people were killed as a result of the attack on Riyadh airport, including a flight observer — an Egyptian citizen. Saudi Arabia, in turn, is striking Yemen: on October 18 it was reported that at least nine people were killed in such strikes. The Houthis called on Egypt not to intervene in the war: the speaker of the parliament they control, in a letter to the speaker of the Egyptian parliament, warned that such a step could pose a serious threat to Cairo's national security. According to the outlet's background information, the fighting in Yemen has become another front in the war against Iran launched by the US and Israel.

Protests in France escalated into riots

In France, nationwide protests against rising prices and declining quality of public services escalated into riots on October 17. More than half a million people took part in the marches; most of the processions were peaceful, however groups using violence clashed with police, looted shops and attacked government buildings. Police detained 2,400 people across the country, and about 1,000 police officers were injured. In Paris, one demonstrator died of cardiac arrest. In the city of Limoges, the old town hall was set on fire, and the Carrefour supermarket chain reported 50 stores damaged.