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. "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. (Reuters)