Syria Deploys Military Advisors to Saudi Arabia Amid Houthi Escalation
Syria has deployed military advisors to Saudi Arabia under a new defense pact to help counter Houthi attacks, alongside a multi-million-dollar Saudi financial aid package for Damascus.
Syria is providing Saudi Arabia with military consulting and training as the kingdom faces attacks from the Houthis in Yemen, deploying a limited number of military personnel to the country. According to Reuters, citing two Syrian military sources and a senior U.S. official, dozens of Syrian troops have traveled to Saudi Arabia in recent weeks to assist in training Saudi and Yemeni units.
The new Syrian military is composed of former rebels who spent years fighting against Bashar al-Assad and pro-Iranian militias. A senior U.S. official noted that Syrian advisory teams are arriving to improve combat readiness, while Washington has urged Damascus to proceed with caution to avoid being dragged into the broader regional conflict.
Defense Agreement and Financial Support
The military cooperation follows a defense agreement signed in Riyadh during a visit by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, marking his second meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in less than a month. A senior Saudi official stated that the partnership aims to rebuild Syrian forces while leveraging their combat experience against militias.
Simultaneously, the Saudi Fund for Development signed six preferential loan agreements totaling over 403 million dollars with the Syrian Ministry of Finance. This financial injection is crucial for Damascus as it navigates the immense costs of post-war national reconstruction following the fall of the Assad regime in 2024.
