Syriaupdated 1h ago2 min read
Syria Denies Considering Troops To Yemen, Rejects Saudi Request To Fight Houthis
Syria denies planning to deploy troops to Yemen and reaffirms support for Saudi Arabia. U.S. officials say Syria weighs providing defensive or offensive military aid to Saudi Arabia.
28 outlets told this the same way.
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Troops Study, Then Denial
Syria’s government denied reports that it was considering sending forces to Yemen to support the Saudi-led coalition, with the Syrian Ministry of Information saying Damascus’ policy is “based on stability, peace and cooperation, not on opening new fronts.”
Ahmed Muwafaq Zidan, the Syrian Presidency’s Media Advisor, denied the circulating news and said what some outlets promoted about a request to send Syrian troops to Saudi Arabia or Yemen is “a lie and false.”
Reuters reported that Syria was seriously considering offering military assistance to Saudi Arabia, with options under study including defensive aid to protect the kingdom or deploying troops on offensive missions to assist Yemen-based forces supported by Saudi Arabia in fighting the Houthis.
Axios also reported that Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman met Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara in Riyadh on the 6th and requested troop deployment, and a U.S. official told Axios that “Al-Shara is likely to accept Saudi Arabia’s request. He could send 10,000 to 20,000 troops.”
What Syria Says It Will Do
The Syrian Ministry of Information said Damascus’ absolute priority is Syria through rebuilding the country, strengthening its institutions, and working with partners on reconstruction efforts and improving living standards of Syrian citizens. The Syrian Presidency’s Media Advisor Ahmed Muwafaq Zidan confirmed that “Damascus stands with its people in the two holy cities with all its strength and resolve.”
The Syrian Foreign Media Directorate also reiterated that “Any military cooperation with partner countries will only take place through official channels and existing bilateral frameworks,” framing any potential military coordination as limited to official pathways. Reuters, through statements published about an American official and a Syrian military official, said Damascus was examining defensive assistance and a possible offensive deployment alongside Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces, while Syrian officials stressed that domestic reconstruction remained the priority.
Houthis Strike, Regional Stakes
Houthis escalated strikes against Saudi Arabia, and Reuters said the campaign tried to shut down the kingdom’s airspace and oil facilities with missile fire that killed three people this week and left a plane badly damaged. Reuters reported that the Houthis said they struck Riyadh airport and warned workers to stay away from energy plants, while Saudi Arabia said it was backing an offensive by Yemen’s UN-recognised government to take back territory from the Houthis.
The Syrian debate over Yemen unfolded alongside Saudi-led coalition claims that it destroyed two ballistic missiles launched toward Riyadh and another toward Khamis Mushayt, home to a major airbase. The Reuters report also placed Syria’s possible role in the context of wider regional risk, noting that the conflict is an overspill of the US-Iran war and that “Syria is now considering deploying troops to assist Saudi Arabia” as the fighting threatens to draw other states into the conflict.