A Syrian diplomatic source denied that Syria had sent military forces to Yemen, responding to media reports about the possible involvement of Syrian troops there, including reports by Reuters and Agence France-Presse (AFP).

In remarks carried by the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) on Saturday, November 7, the source said claims that Syria was currently sending troops to Yemen were “unfounded.” The source said Damascus’s priorities for the coming period were consolidating domestic security, reconstruction and economic recovery.

Regarding military cooperation with Saudi Arabia, the source said existing agreements covered training, exchanges of expertise and military advice, serving the two countries’ shared interests.

The source added that the agreement with Riyadh focused on training Syrian military forces and building their capabilities. Coordination visits by the Saudi side to Syria would begin next month, the source said, without specifying the nature of those visits or details of the training programs.

The source also raised the possibility that military cooperation could eventually develop into a mutual defense agreement, or that Syria could join what the source called the “Mecca alliance,” depending on their shared interests. These options remain possibilities under consideration rather than announced agreements.

Thousands of Syrian Troops to Be Deployed in Saudi Arabia and Yemen, AFP Reports

The Syrian denial followed an AFP report that thousands of Syrian soldiers would be deployed in Saudi Arabia and Yemen, with some having already arrived, as Riyadh seeks to rally international support against Ansar Allah, commonly known as the Houthis.

On Saturday, November 7, AFP quoted three military sources and a Yemeni defense official, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, as saying hundreds of Syrian soldiers were already stationed on both sides of the Saudi-Yemeni border.

A source in Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council and another in the Yemeni Defense Ministry said thousands more would be deployed to help fight the Houthis.

The latest reports came a day after Reuters reported similar information, saying Syria had sent military advisers and training teams to Saudi Arabia to help the kingdom in its war against the Houthis in Yemen.

Citing unnamed Syrian and US sources on Friday, November 6, Reuters reported that Syria was providing military advice, training and small military teams to Saudi Arabia amid its war against the Houthis.

Two Syrian sources whom Reuters described as familiar with the matter said dozens of Syrian military personnel had traveled to Saudi Arabia in recent weeks. They said their duties centered on advice and training, although their roles could be broader.

A senior US official said Syrian advisers and training teams had traveled to Saudi Arabia to help train Saudi and Yemeni units inside the kingdom, aiming to improve their combat effectiveness.

The US official also said Washington had urged Damascus to exercise caution, warning that any deployment of Syrian troops to fight in Yemen could draw Syria into a broader regional conflict, something the country had long sought to avoid.

The Syrian Defense Ministry declined to comment in response to an Enab Baladi inquiry about Reuters’ report that Syrian military training and advisory teams had been sent to Saudi Arabia.

Days After al-Sharaa’s Visit

Reports that Syrian fighters had been sent to support Saudi Arabia came days after Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa visited the kingdom with a high-level delegation on November 4. The delegation included several ministers, among them Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra.

In al-Sharaa’s presence, the Syrian government signed several agreements, including military agreements alongside financial and public service agreements.

The Syrian diplomat told Reuters that the defense cooperation agreement between Syria and Saudi Arabia specifically covered advisory support, training and exchanges of expertise.

The agreement provides a “general framework for military cooperation” and forms part of a package of other agreements and memoranda of understanding covering various sectors, including finance and agriculture, according to the diplomat.