Egypt's parliament has voted, after two postponements, to authorize President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi to take “necessary measures” to help defend Saudi Arabia against the Houthis, the Iran-aligned group that controls much of Yemen and has spent weeks firing missiles and drones at the kingdom’s airports and fossil fuel infrastructure.

It took weeks of debate in the halls of power for the parliament to ultimately give Sisi the greenlight. This is unusual given that the chamber is largely pro-government and normally gives the president what he asks for.

A handful of members abstained over concerns that relevant details — such as the length of the mission, the cost, how many troops would be sent — were never disclosed. Their complaints reflect deep unease in Egypt about being dragged into a foreign war.

To understand why Sisi has pushed to provide military support to Saudi Arabia, despite institutional reluctance, one must follow the money.