Syria denies plans to send troops to Yemen; military cooperation with Saudi could expand

CAIRO: Syria has no plans to send military forces to Yemen, a Syrian diplomatic source told state news agency SANA, dismissing reports of a possible deployment as baseless.

The source was outlining the scope of military cooperation between Syria and Saudi Arabia, which currently focuses on training Syrian forces, building their capabilities and exchanging military expertise.

Coordination visits by Saudi officials to Syria are set to begin next month, with the cooperation potentially developing into a mutual defence agreement or Syria joining the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, depending on the shared interests of both countries, the source added.

Syria weighs joining Makkah defence pact

Syria has officially expressed interest in joining the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye on August 7, 2026.

On October 31, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani confirmed that discussions were underway to assess Syria’s entry into the alliance.

Speaking at the Manama Dialogue conference in Bahrain, he said: “Discussions are currently under way to evaluate Syria’s entry into the Makkah alliance,” AFP reported.

He also stressed that Gulf security was an integral part of Syria’s own regional security, according to Reuters.

The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement allows its three members to consider an armed attack on one of them an attack on all.

Al-Shaibani also expressed Damascus’s support for Gulf states against any aggression and condemned missile and drone attacks, state news agency SANA reported.

“Geography is destiny, and integration is a choice. We have chosen to make our territory a bridge for prosperity and the exchange of interests, and we stand as a bulwark against turning Syria into a platform for threatening neighbouring countries,” he was quoted as saying.

Support for Yemen stepped up

Saudi Arabia has been rallying support for Yemen amid escalating tensions with Houthi rebels, who control the capital Sanaa and large parts of northern and western Yemen.

Earlier, Saudi Arabia announced financial assistance worth more than $59.7 million to Yemen to support the internationally recognised government’s budget, public-sector salary payments and operational expenses.

The assistance, announced on November 3 through the Saudi Program for Development and Reconstruction of Yemen, was facilitated by Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Al-Jaber.

The move comes amid continued tensions with the Houthi movement, which has carried out missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia.

Saudi, Syria sign defence agreement

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and Syria signed a defence cooperation agreement on Wednesday during Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s visit to Riyadh, Saudi state news agency SPA reported.

The agreement was signed by the two countries’ defence ministries during a meeting between Sharaa and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

It was their second meeting in Saudi Arabia in less than a month.

The report did not provide details of the agreement, which comes as the two countries seek to expand military cooperation amid regional security concerns.