Syria prepares to send special forces fighters to Saudi Arabia as Yemen border conflict intensifies

Syria is preparing to send an initial force of about 600 special forces fighters to Saudi Arabia in the coming week. Three officials with knowledge of the plans confirmed the deployment, which aims to support Saudi forces along their border and potentially help them fight Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Military Ties

Syrian military advisers have already arrived in Saudi Arabia, though no Syrian fighters have moved into Yemen yet. A Syrian delegation led by 82nd Division commander Khaled Khattab recently completed a two-week visit to the kingdom. During this visit, 36 Syrian military officials toured a joint Saudi-Yemeni command and operations room in Jeddah to receive operational briefings. An unnamed diplomatic official in Syria told state-run news agency SANA that the agreement focuses strictly on training military forces and building capabilities rather than sending troops to Yemen.

Regional Context

Fighting between Houthi rebels and Saudi-backed government forces escalated this summer, with Houthi attacks targeting Saudi Arabia. While Saudi allies have avoided committing ground troops, the Syrian government relies on Saudi financial support for postwar reconstruction after its lengthy civil war. Syria is also discussing joining the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement signed in August by Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Pakistan, which treats an attack on one member as an attack on all three. Meanwhile, Syria recently secured a $400 million loan from Saudi Arabia for infrastructure repairs and signed a bilateral military cooperation agreement during a visit to Riyadh by Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa.

Context

Saudi Arabia has spent months trying to counter Houthi attacks using advanced air defenses and fighter jets without achieving a decisive victory on the ground. Bringing in experienced troops from Syria offers Riyadh a new way to bolster its border security amid a wider regional conflict that spans several Middle Eastern nations.