Syria has denied any plans to deploy troops to Yemen, despite reports of potential involvement and an ongoing expansion of military cooperation with Saudi Arabia. A Syrian diplomatic source clarified that current military collaboration focuses on training and expertise exchange, not troop deployment.
The clarification comes in response to reports citing Syrian and US military sources, which suggested a limited number of Syrian military personnel had been sent to Saudi Arabia recently to offer advice and training amid escalating hostilities with Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis. Saudi Arabia has been seeking support from allies as the conflict in Yemen intensifies.
The Syrian diplomatic source indicated that future military cooperation could evolve. Plans are in place for coordination visits by Saudi officials to Syria next month, with potential developments including a mutual defense agreement or Syria's accession to the Mecca Pact, a defense agreement signed by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey.
This strategic alignment follows a defense cooperation deal signed between Syria and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday during Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's visit to Riyadh. This was his second meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in under a month. A senior Syrian diplomat described the agreement as establishing a broad framework for military cooperation.
Syria's increasing closeness with Saudi Arabia and the United States marks a significant shift, particularly since rebels led by al-Sharaa reportedly overthrew Bashar al-Assad, who is an ally of Iran.
