Syria Considers Military Assistance for Saudi Arabia Amid Houthi Escalation
Syria's administration is reportedly considering providing military aid or deploying troops to Saudi Arabia to counter Houthi attacks, according to US and Syrian sources.
According to Reuters, an American official and a Syrian military source report that the administration of al-Julani is seriously considering providing military assistance to its key ally Saudi Arabia amid the escalating war against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. The options under consideration reportedly include defensive assistance to protect the kingdom from attacks or the deployment of forces in an offensive capacity to help Saudi-backed Yemeni forces combat the Houthis.
Surprisingly, the American official added that Saudi Arabia has actually requested Syria to deploy troops to fight the Houthis. A Syrian diplomat further stated that any request for military cooperation or expertise sharing would be conducted strictly through official channels and within the framework of bilateral agreements between the two sister nations.
Reuters notes that Syrian fighters from opposition factions who fought against former leader Bashar al-Assad have in recent years been recruited as mercenaries in other conflicts, notably in Libya and the war in Ukraine, even as al-Julani continues to stabilize the country and combat active terrorist organizations.
This potential move aims to strengthen ties between al-Julani and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, following Saudi Arabia and Qatar's assistance last year in clearing Syria's $15 million World Bank debt. If implemented, this would mark a significant shift, as Syria and Saudi Arabia currently lack a formal security alliance.
