Saudi Arabia turns to Syria for help as fighting with Houthis escalates
[November 09, 2026]
By GHAITH ALSAYED and SAMY MAGDY
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syria is preparing to send fighters to Saudi
Arabia to deploy along its border and potentially help it fight
Iranian-backed rebels in neighboring Yemen, three officials with
knowledge of the plans told The Associated Press.
Syrian military advisers have already deployed to Saudi Arabia, but no
fighters have been sent to Yemen, according to a regional official and
two Syrian officials, all of whom spoke on condition of anonymity
because they were not authorized to comment publicly.
Officials in Saudi Arabia did not immediately respond to requests for
comment.
Fighting escalated this summer in Yemen between the Houthi rebels and
the government's Saudi-backed forces. The Houthis have also launched
direct and deadly attacks on Saudi Arabia in what is the latest front in
the regional conflict that began in February when the U.S. and Israel
attacked Iran.
Syria, which has a supply of battle-hardened fighters after a long civil
war, has so far stayed on the sidelines.
Saudi Arabia has an array of U.S.-supplied fighter jets and missile
defenses but has been unable to defeat the Houthis in past rounds of
conflict.
While Saudi Arabia's other allies have been reluctant to commit ground
forces to its fight with the Houthis, the Syrian government is beholden
to it. The Saudis provided funds to Syrian rebels during that country's
civil war and have promised much-needed financial assistance for Syria's
postwar reconstruction.
Syrian fighters set to deploy to Saudi-Yemen border
A Syrian official said that an initial force of about 600 Syrian special
forces fighters is expected to be deployed to Saudi Arabia in the coming
week. The official said Saudi Arabia insisted the fighters be Syrian
nationals, not foreigners who flocked to Syria during the civil war to
join different rebel factions.
The official said that a Syrian delegation led by Khaled Khattab,
commander of the 82nd Division, had recently made a two-week visit to
Saudi Arabia.
A second Syrian official said 36 Syrian military officials visited a
command and operations room in Jeddah staffed by Saudi and Yemeni
officials and received briefings on the different front lines and areas
of operation.
A regional official with knowledge of the discussions said Syria had
already deployed a “small number of advisers” to Saudi Arabia, where
they helped train Yemeni forces inside the kingdom.
Syria may enter defense agreement with Saudi Arabia, Turkey and
Pakistan
An unnamed diplomatic official in Syria dismissed reports that Syrian
forces were headed to Yemen, the country's state-run news agency, SANA,
reported on Saturday. The official said the agreement with Saudi Arabia
focuses on training its military forces and building its capabilities.
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In this photo provided by the Saudi Ministry of Media, Saudi Crown
Prince Mohammed bin Salman greets Syria's interim President Ahmad
al-Sharaa, left, during his arrival at the royal palace in Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia, Feb. 2, 2025. (Saudi Ministry of Media via AP, File)
Syrian officials have said publicly that the country is discussing
the possibility of joining a joint defense agreement recently signed
by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan.
The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, signed in August, commits the
three countries to regard an attack against one as an attack on all
three, and to deepen military cooperation in other ways.
The two Syrian officials said that a decision had already been made
— but not publicly announced — for Syria to join the Mecca pact,
while the regional official said talks were still ongoing.
One concern is that Syria might ask the other countries for their
support against Israel, the regional official said. Following the
ouster of Syria’s former President Bashar Assad in December 2024,
Israeli forces seized control of a U.N.-patrolled buffer zone in
southern Syria and have occupied it since.
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa says his government does not seek a
conflict with Israel and has called for Israeli forces to withdraw.
Syria and Saudi Arabia announced last week that they had signed a
military cooperation agreement, without providing details. During a
visit to Riyadh by al-Sharaa, the Saudi government agreed to lend
Syria more than $400 million for postwar reconstruction of homes and
basic infrastructure.
A change in Syria's stance on the regional war
Syria has turned down proposals by U.S. President Donald Trump for
its forces to intervene against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant
group in Lebanon. Al-Sharaa has said his focus is on rebuilding
Syria after its lengthy civil war and that he wants to avoid getting
embroiled in new conflicts.
But Saudi Arabia has been key to its reintegration into the Arab
world, which had largely shunned Syria under Assad’s rule.
Syrian involvement in the fighting against the Houthis in Yemen
could expose it to attacks by militias in neighboring Iraq that are
allied with the Houthis.
——
Magdy reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Abby Sewell
in Beirut contributed to this report.
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