Syrian Troops Begin Deployment to Saudi Arabia for Houthi Defense
Damascus is sending military advisers and personnel to Riyadh under a new defense pact, with estimates of troop numbers ranging from dozens to thousands.
By Lorenzo Patterson ·
Syrian military personnel are moving to Saudi Arabia to assist the kingdom in its defense against the Iranian-backed Houthis. This deployment follows a defense cooperation agreement signed on November 4 during a visit by Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa to Riyadh. Al-Sharaa met with Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman during that trip to formalize the partnership.
Reuters reported that two Syrian military sources and a senior US official confirmed the move. The sources stated that Syria is providing military advice and training to Saudi forces. A limited number of troops have already arrived in the kingdom. These personnel are focused on small-unit warfare skills to support operations in Yemen.
Syrian media outlet Levant24 confirmed that dozens of soldiers traveled to Saudi Arabia in recent weeks. These individuals are currently providing advice and training. Their duties may expand beyond those initial tasks. The mission aims to improve the combat capabilities of both Saudi and Yemeni fighters. This effort relies on the experience Syrian troops gained while fighting Hezbollah between 2012 and the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024.
The scale of the deployment remains debated among officials and analysts. Syrian officials described the initial group as small and narrowly focused. However, other reports suggest a larger presence. AFP reported that thousands of Syrian troops are set to deploy to Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Yemeni officials claimed that as many as 3,000 troops would be sent, with potential totals reaching 10,000.
One military official stated that troops stationed near the Yemeni border are leading drone operations against the Houthis. This figure is higher than the advisory numbers previously reported. Charles Lister of the Middle East Institute noted that Syrian Ministry of Defense personnel are primarily in advisory and logistics roles. He specified that their work focuses on drones, transport, and intelligence rather than direct combat.
Levent Kemal, a conflict correspondent, argued that the sources cited by AFP may have exaggerated the numbers. He suggested the first team of approximately 1,000 personnel included drone and logistics staff. Aron Lund, an expert at the Swedish Defence Research Agency, observed that this development follows the signing of the Syrian-Saudi defense memorandum of understanding. It also follows the Turkish parliament's ratification of the Mecca Alliance, a partnership involving Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey.
Syrian state media SANA stated on November 7 that military cooperation with Saudi Arabia focuses on training and advisory services. A diplomatic source emphasized that the current agreement prioritizes the exchange of expertise. A Saudi source told Reuters that Riyadh is also helping Syria restructure its armed forces. This mutual support marks a shift in regional military dynamics as the Houthis prepare for a new campaign.
US Representative Joe Wilson expressed gratitude for Syria's leadership in providing military assistance to Yemen and Saudi Arabia. He described the move as part of an effort to counter Iran and its proxies in the region. The deployment represents a change in Syria's foreign policy, moving away from a non-alignment stance toward closer military cooperation with Saudi Arabia.
