Egypt extends participation in Yemen conflict
Egypt's national defence council on Thursday extended its military's participation in a Saudi-led operation in Yemen for up to one year, the presidency said in a statement.
Egypt is part of a Saudi-led coalition that has been targeting Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen since March of last year. Nearly 6,000 people are known to have died in the conflict, about half of them civilians, according to U.N. figures.
"The national defence council agreed to extend the participation of the required elements from the Egyptian armed forces in a combat operation outside the nation's border to defend Egyptian and Arab national security in the Gulf, the Red Sea and the Strait of Mandeb," the statement said.
Egypt authorised a 40-day mandate in March for participation in the Yemen conflict, extended it for three months in May, for six months in August, and finally on Thursday for a year.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-yemen-security-egypt-idUKKCN0US1TV20160114?rpc=401
