Syria is cautiously considering providing military assistance to Saudi Arabia as the war against the Iran-backed Houthi group in Yemen escalates, Reuters reported, citing a US official and a Syrian military official familiar with the matter. The options under discussion range from defensive support for the kingdom to deploying Syrian forces alongside Yemeni forces backed by Riyadh.
The two officials told Reuters the options include defensive assistance aimed at protecting Saudi Arabia from attacks, or deploying Syrian forces in an offensive role to help operations by Riyadh-backed Yemeni forces against the Houthis.
Reuters quoted the US official as saying Saudi Arabia asked Syria to deploy forces to join the fight against the Houthis. Riyadh is seeking military support from the United States and European and Middle Eastern countries, either to strengthen its defenses or to support offensive operations in the renewed war against the group.
Al-Sharaa Discussed the Matter in Riyadh
According to the US official, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa discussed the possibility of Syria providing military assistance to the kingdom with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman during his public visit to Riyadh on Tuesday, along with other issues covered in the talks.
Reuters noted that footage broadcast by Syrian state media showed Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman accompanying al-Sharaa back to his plane after the visit. The agency added that Khalid bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince’s brother, oversees the Yemen file.
The Saudi government’s media office and Yemen’s information minister did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment on the information about the talks over a possible Syrian role.
Damascus: Priority Is Domestic Issues
A Syrian diplomat, responding to a Reuters request for comment through the Syrian Foreign Ministry, said Damascus stands “firmly” with Saudi Arabia against the Houthi attacks. He stressed, however, that the Syrian government’s main priority at present is domestic issues and recovery from the effects of the war the country has been through.
The diplomat added that any Saudi request for military cooperation or an exchange of expertise would be handled exclusively through official channels and within the bilateral agreements governing relations between the two countries.
The official Syrian position therefore did not confirm any decision to send forces to Saudi Arabia or Yemen. The information Reuters relayed from the US and Syrian officials indicates the matter is still under study and that several options are being discussed.
Defensive and Offensive Options
According to Reuters, the discussions are not limited to the possible participation of Syrian forces in offensive operations. They also include the possibility of providing Saudi Arabia with defensive assistance to protect its territory from missile and drone attacks.
The talks come as Riyadh seeks, according to the agency, to rally defensive and offensive support from the United States, Europe and Middle Eastern countries, after weeks of Houthi missile and drone attacks on the kingdom.
Reuters explained that ground operations against the Houthis are being led by a group of Yemeni government forces with Saudi air support, adding that these forces have made limited progress since the campaign began on Monday.
The disclosure of the Syrian-Saudi talks places Damascus’s possible participation in the war among several scenarios still under consideration, including defensive support inside Saudi Arabia or more direct participation alongside Riyadh-backed Yemeni forces.
So far, neither Damascus nor Riyadh has officially announced an agreement on sending Syrian forces or on the nature and scale of any possible military assistance. According to Reuters, the Syrian side is studying the matter cautiously, while the Syrian diplomat said any such cooperation, if Saudi Arabia requested it, would pass through the official frameworks and channels between the two countries.
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
