Syria is preparing to send fighters to Saudi Arabia to deploy along its border and potentially help it fight Iranian-backed rebels in neighbouring Yemen, three officials with knowledge of the plans told The Associated Press .
Syria and Saudi Arabia announced last week that they had signed a military cooperation agreement, without providing details. 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.
During a visit to Riyadh by Mr. al-Sharaa, the Saudi government agreed to lend Syria more than $400 million for postwar reconstruction of homes and basic infrastructure. Because they were not authorised to comment publicly, 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.
Mr. 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.
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 US and Israel attacked Iran. Fighting escalated this summer in Yemen between the Houthi rebels and the government’s Saudi-backed forces. the Syrian government is beholden to it While Saudi Arabia’s other allies have been reluctant to commit ground forces to its fight with the Houthis. 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 President Ahmad al-Sharaa says his government does not seek a conflict with Israel and has called for Israeli forces to withdraw.
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. Following the ouster of Syria’s former President Bashar Assad in December 2024, Israeli forces seized control of a UN-patrolled buffer zone in southern Syria and have occupied it since.
One concern is that Syria might ask the other countries for their support against Israel, the regional official said.
