Syria denies plans to deploy troops to Yemen amid reports of military cooperation with Saudi Arabia
Damascus says its military agreement with Riyadh focuses on training, expertise exchange, and military consultations, dismissing reports of a Syrian deployment to Yemen as unfounded
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Syria has denied reports that it plans to send troops to Yemen, saying its military cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia is focused on training, military expertise exchange, and consultations, as Damascus prioritizes domestic security and economic recovery.
A Syrian diplomatic source told the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) on Saturday, that the agreements between Damascus and Riyadh were designed to strengthen cooperation in military training and capacity-building in ways that serve the national interests of both countries.
The source said the arrangements would include training for Syrian military personnel, with coordination visits from Saudi Arabia to Syria expected to begin next month.
The cooperation could expand in the future into a joint defense agreement or Syrian participation in the Mecca Alliance, should shared interests require such a development.
Regarding reports of a possible Syrian military deployment to Yemen, the source strongly rejected the claims, describing them as having no factual basis.
It said Syria's immediate priorities were consolidating domestic security, rebuilding the country, and achieving economic recovery.
However, the Syrian denial comes amid conflicting reports about the country's potential military involvement in Yemen. Earlier on Saturday, AFP reported, citing three Yemeni military sources and a senior defense official, that hundreds of Syrian soldiers had already been deployed on both sides of the Saudi-Yemeni border, with thousands more expected to follow.
Sources from Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council and Defense Ministry said the troops would support military operations against the Iran-backed Houthis. These claims have not been confirmed by Damascus or Riyadh.
The reports follow a Syrian-Saudi defense cooperation agreement signed on Wednesday during Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's visit to Riyadh, where he met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Separate reports indicated that dozens of Syrian military personnel had travelled to Saudi Arabia in recent weeks to provide military advice and training to Saudi and Yemeni units stationed inside the Kingdom.
A senior Syrian diplomat described the agreement as a framework for advisory support, training, and expertise exchange, while emphasizing that Damascus remained focused on domestic security, border protection, and reconstruction.
The developing military partnership reflects closer ties between Damascus and Riyadh following the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.
Saudi Arabia has emerged as an important regional partner in Syria's post-Assad transition, supporting efforts to rebuild the country's institutions and economy.
The possibility of expanding defense cooperation, including potential Syrian participation in the Saudi-led Mecca defense framework, could further reshape regional security arrangements, although no such expansion has yet been formally announced.