Official statement reveals Egyptian forces have been in Saudi Arabia to defend it for months before parliament’s authorization

The story in brief

Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said Egyptian forces had been in Saudi Arabia for several months, before the House of Representatives authorized President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to take necessary measures. In an interview with France 24 on Monday evening, he described the forces’ presence as defensive and said Egypt was in contact with Saudi Arabia to resolve the crisis.