Syria considers sending troops to Saudi Arabia to fight Houthis

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa meets Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Reuters)

Syria is considering sending troops to Saudi Arabia to help fight Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, Reuters reported, citing a US official and a Syrian military official familiar with the discussions.According to Reuters, Syria is looking at several options, from providing defensive support and expertise to help Saudi Arabia counter Houthi missile and drone attacks, to potentially sending Syrian troops to fight alongside Saudi-backed Yemeni forces.No final decision has been taken, and Damascus has not confirmed any plan to deploy combat troops.The US official told Reuters that Saudi Arabia had asked Syria to deploy forces to fight the Houthis.

However, the Syrian government has not publicly confirmed that it has agreed to send troops to Yemen.A Syrian diplomat told Reuters that Damascus “stood firmly with Saudi Arabia” against Houthi attacks but stressed that Syria's priority remained its domestic recovery after years of war. The diplomat said any military cooperation or exchange of expertise with Saudi Arabia would take place “exclusively through official channels” and under existing bilateral agreements.

The development comes as Saudi Arabia steps up its military campaign against the Houthis after the Iran-backed group intensified attacks on Saudi territory.Syria-Saudi relationsThe possible Syrian military support for Saudi Arabia comes as relations between Damascus and Riyadh have strengthened significantly since Ahmed al-Sharaa took power.Saudi Arabia has emerged as an important political and economic partner for Syria as the new government tries to rebuild the country after 14 years of civil war.In February, Syria and Saudi Arabia signed a multibillion-dollar investment package covering aviation, energy, real estate and telecommunications, underscoring Riyadh's role in Syria's economic recovery.Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on October 6. According to Syria's state news agency SANA, the two leaders discussed bilateral relations, regional developments and ways to expand cooperation between the two countries.The bigger pictureSince the fall of Bashar al-Assad, Damascus has largely tried to avoid getting pulled into regional wars while concentrating on rebuilding its institutions and integrating former rebel groups into a new Syrian army.Reuters reported that Syria had previously rejected a US request to help fight Hezbollah in Lebanon for similar reasons.A decision to help Saudi Arabia against the Houthis would therefore represent a major shift.

The Houthis are backed by Iran, while Saudi Arabia is now leading a renewed campaign against the group after weeks of missile and drone attacks on the kingdom.For Saudi Arabia, bringing Syria into the conflict could provide another Arab partner as Saudi-backed Yemeni forces attempt to push back the Houthis.For al-Sharaa, however, sending Syrian troops could expose his still-fragile military to a new conflict and risk worsening relations with Iran, Hezbollah and Iran-aligned Iraqi militias.