As a key ally of Saudi Arabia and the owner of the Arab world's largest armed forces, Egypt is a core member of the coalition campaign fighting the Huthi rebels and loyalists to former Yemeni President Ali Abdallah Saleh. Egyptian planes and naval vessels have already played a key role in the aerial campaign and naval blockade. However, the conflict appears likely to drag on, raising the risk of deeper -- and higher-risk -- Egyptian involvement.
Ground involvement in Yemen would stir popular sensitivities about Egypt being regarded as a client of Gulf states.
Egypt's foreign policy will become increasingly aligned with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Intervention in Libya would be more acceptable to the Egyptian public, who view the conflict there as a more immediate threat.
Extended deployment would degrade the capabilities of the Egyptian military.
Egyptian participation provides vital pan-Arab legitimacy to the Saudi intervention in Yemen.
