Syria sends troops to support Saudi Arabia in Yemen fight
An initial force of 600 fighters is expected in Riyadh next week as Damascus deepens ties with the Gulf state.
By Rebecca Svoboda ·
Syrian soldiers are preparing to deploy to Saudi Arabia to help defend the kingdom’s border with Yemen. The move places ground troops on the front line for the first time in this escalation of regional conflict.
Three officials with knowledge of the plans told the Associated Press that the deployment is intended to support Saudi forces against the Houthi rebels. The Houthis have launched deadly attacks on Saudi territory while fighting government-backed forces in Yemen.
An initial group of approximately 600 Syrian special forces fighters is expected to arrive in Saudi Arabia in the coming week. A Syrian official stated that Riyadh insisted on using Syrian nationals for this unit. The kingdom requested Syrian troops rather than foreign fighters who joined various rebel factions during Syria’s civil war.
Military coordination has already begun. Khaled Khattab, commander of the 82nd Division, led a Syrian delegation on a two-week visit to Saudi Arabia. During that trip, 36 Syrian military officials toured a command and operations room in Jeddah. That facility is staffed by Saudi and Yemeni personnel. The officials received briefings on front lines and operational areas.
A regional official confirmed that a small number of Syrian advisers have already entered Saudi Arabia. These advisers are assisting in the training of Yemeni forces currently inside the kingdom. No fighters have yet been sent directly to Yemen, according to a regional official and two Syrian sources.
The deployment reflects a shift in Syrian policy. President Ahmad al-Sharaa has previously rejected proposals by U.S. President Donald Trump for Syria to intervene against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Al-Sharaa said his government focuses on rebuilding after the civil war and wishes to avoid new conflicts.
Saudi Arabia is the key to Syria’s reintegration into the Arab world. The kingdom had largely shunned Syria under former President Bashar Assad. Saudi officials provided funds to Syrian rebels during the war and have promised financial assistance for postwar reconstruction.
Last week, Syria and Saudi Arabia announced a military cooperation agreement. During a visit to Riyadh, the Saudi government agreed to lend Syria more than $400 million for the reconstruction of homes and basic infrastructure.
Syria is also discussing a formal role in the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement. That pact, signed in August by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, treats an attack on one member as an attack on all. Two Syrian officials said a decision to join the pact has already been made, though it has not been announced publicly. A regional official said talks on that matter were still ongoing.
An unnamed diplomatic official in Syria told the state-run news agency SANA on Saturday that the agreement with Saudi Arabia focuses on training and building military capabilities. The official dismissed reports that Syrian forces were headed to Yemen. One concern raised by a regional official is that Syria might use the pact to request support against Israel. Israeli forces have occupied a U.N.-patrolled buffer zone in southern Syria since ousting Bashar Assad in December 2024.
