Egypt extends military tasks in Gulf, Red Sea regions for one year

The Egyptian National Defense Council led by President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi agreed on Thursday to extend military operations in the Arabian Gulf and Red Sea regions for one more year for national security reasons, state-run MENA news agency reported.

"The National Defense Council agreed to extend the participation of the required elements of the Egyptian armed forces in a fighting mission outside the borders to defend the Egyptian and Arab national security in the region of the Arabian Gulf, the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait for an additional year," the report said.

The meeting was attended by the ministers of defense, interior and finance, military chief of staff, military and general intelligence chiefs, the newly-elected parliament speaker and other senior officials.

The council said its decision was based on Article 152 of the country's constitution, which states that the president is the armed forces chief and that he cannot declare a war or send troops abroad without the approval of the national defense council and the parliament.

Egypt is part of a Saudi-led military coalition against the anti-government Houthi fighters in Yemen in favor of fleeing Yemeni President Abd-Rabbo Mansour Hadi.

Sisi always reaffirmed that the Gulf security is part of the Egyptian national security, showing gratitude to Gulf partners, excluding Qatar, for their moral and financial support for his leadership following the ouster of former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013. Endit