CAIRO, Jan 14 (Aswat Masriya) - The National Defence Council approved Thursday extending the participation of Egyptian troops in missions in the Arab Gulf, Bab al-Mandab and the Red Sea regions.

The decision is in effect for a year or until the missions end whichever is sooner, as stipulated by article 152 of the constitution.

The constitution requires the approvals of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), the cabinet and the National Defence Council for sending troops to missions outside the Egyptian territory.

In its meeting headed by President Abel Fattah Al-Sisi Thursday, the National Defence Council reviewed local security developments and followed up on military operations taking place in the Sinai Peninsula.

The Council also discussed regional developments, with a focus on matters related to the Arab region.

The Parliament’s speaker, Ali Abdel Aal, Prime Minister Sherif Ismail, the Defence Minister, Minister of Finance, Interior Minister, Head of General Intelligence, the Armed Forces’ Chief of Staff and other military officials, attended the meeting.

Egypt is part of the Saudi-led coalition which launched military operations against the Houthis in Yemen, known as Operation Decisive Storm, against the Iran-backed Shiite Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The military operation was launched upon the request of Yemeni Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who called for Arab intervention in Yemen.

More than 4,500 people have been killed by fighting and air strikes since the beginning of the conflict, which has also unleashed disease and hunger in the impoverished country, Reuters reported in September.