Everything known about Syria reportedly sending forces to support Saudi Arabia

NOVEMBER 8, 2026 22:21Over the last two days, several reports have emerged that claim Syria is sending forces to Saudi Arabia. The reports differ on the number and type of forces involved. This is an important development. It is equally important that rumors or anonymous sources be subjected to skepticism.Here is what is known so far about the reports of Syria sending forces to support Saudi Arabia.In October, Reuters reported that Damascus was considering sending military support to Saudi Arabia. This came after Riyadh was increasingly coming under fire from the Iranian-backed Houthis. Iran has been prodding the Houthis since July to prepare for a new campaign. This came in the context of Iranian support that goes back at least to the 2015 Houthi offensive in Yemen and the Saudi intervention that year.The Houthis captured areas near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in September. Saudi Arabia has backed the Yemeni government against the Houthis. Saudi Arabia has also supported the new government in Syria. Syria’s new army has experience fighting Iranian-backed proxies because Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and other Syrian rebel groups fought Hezbollah and Iranian-backed militias in Syria between 2012 and the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024.The October report noted that Syria might help Riyadh defensively to protect the Kingdom. The Syrians could also use their skills in discretionary small-unit warfare to aid in operations in Yemen. The next reports at Reuters on November 6 reported more concrete evidence that the Syrians were aiding Riyadh. Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces ride in the back of a military truck at the Jabal Han front west of the city of Taiz following fierce battles earlier in the day, October 3, 2026. (credit: Ahmad AL-BASHA / AFP via Getty Images)"Syria is aiding Riyadh with military advice and training as Saudi Arabia comes under attack by Yemen's Houthis, and has sent a limited number of military personnel to the kingdom, two Syrian military sources and a senior US official said," Reuters reported.Syrian media site claims country sent military advisers, training teams to Saudi ArabiaLevant24, a Syrian media site, re-reported the Reuters report. "Syria has sent military advisers and training teams to Saudi Arabia as Riyadh confronts escalating attacks by Yemen’s Houthi group, Reuters reported Friday, citing Syrian and US sources. The reported deployment comes days after Damascus and Riyadh signed a defense cooperation agreement covering military training, advisory support and the exchange of expertise."Levant24 noted that two Syrian sources had said that "dozens of Syrian military personnel have traveled to Saudi Arabia in recent weeks. They said the personnel are providing advice and training, while suggesting their responsibilities could extend beyond those activities."This looks like an advise and assist mission, with training for the Saudis and Yemeni fighters as well. "The goal is to improve their combat capabilities, drawing on the experience Syrian fighters gained during years of conflict."Syria has said that the initial deployment was small and is narrowly focused. It is based on the defense agreement with Saudi Arabia, which includes "advisory support, training, and the exchange of expertise." A Saudi source told Reuters that Riyadh was also aiding Syria to restructure its armed forces. It also noted that the recent November 4 agreement "was signed during Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s visit to Riyadh, where he met Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman."Aron Lund, an expert on the region at FOI, the Swedish Defence Research Agency, noted in a post on X/Twitter that the report "comes right after the signing of a Syrian-Saudi defense MoU and, interestingly, the Turkish parliament’s ratification of the Mecca Alliance. All previous Syrian mercenary ops were organized by Turkey or Turkish security companies."Syrian State media SANA was quoted by Al-Arabiya on November 7, noting, "A Syrian diplomatic source told SANA: Military cooperation with Saudi Arabia focuses on training and advisory services." SANA had added that the current military agreement with Riyadh focuses on exchange of expertise and other discussions that would benefit both countries.Syrian-Saudi agreement focused on training military forces, building capabilitiesThe agreement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was focused on training military forces and building their capabilities, with coordination and visits forthcoming. The concept is to move toward a mutual defense agreement or Syria’s accession to the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, a partnership of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey.However, Syria appeared to reject reports that said military forces had been sent. The prominent X account Qalaat Al Mudiq, which focuses on Syria, added that "Damascus has finally issued a - carefully worded - statement on growing reports of Syrian military support for Saudi Arabia, while leaving the door open to joining the Mecca Pact."The report noted that "even sending advisers to Saudi Arabia would mark a significant shift from Sharaa's earlier non-alignment stance," noting that Saudi Arabia had provided Damascus with financial support and this could be seen as reciprocating that. "In return, Syria may be offering something Saudi Arabia needs: Experienced advisers - and this might well be where things are heading."The next major report on the deployment came from the AFP. It said that "thousands of Syrian troops are set to deploy to Saudi Arabia and Yemen, with some already on the ground, multiple Yemeni officials told AFP, as Riyadh rallies international help to repel the Houthis and bolster the government in Aden."This Saturday report claimed that "hundreds of Syrian troops have already been deployed to both sides of the border, according to three separate Yemeni military sources and a defense official, with more to come."A source with the Yemen government’s Presidential Leadership Council told AFP that Syria would send as many as 3,000 troops to help fend off the Houthis. The report also claimed that as many as 10,000 troops could be sent. That would be a lot more than advisors for training. "Those already stationed on the Yemeni side of the border at the moment are leading drone operations against the Houthis in the area, one of the military officials told AFP."Levent Kemal, a conflict and security correspondent, reacted by noting on X that "the sources cited to AFP have exaggerated the numbers. The first team deployed, between October 20 and 25, consisted of approximately 1000 personnel, including drone operators and logistics personnel. Sending thousands of soldiers would pose a serious problem for Syria."Charles Lister, the Director of the Syria program at the Middle East Institute, noted that "reporting from AFP has not accurately reported on #Syria, Saudi and Yemen. Syrian MOD personnel are in Saudi -- but they are providing advisory & logistics roles, primarily in drones, transport & ISR [Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance]. They are not combat troops -- that was the compromise."US Representative Joe Wilson, who has been a major supporter of Syria and the Syrian people, wrote that he is "deeply grateful to Syria for their courageous leadership in providing military assistance to the people of Yemen and Saudi Arabia in their fight against radical Houthi terrorists. Syria has been freed from Iran and will soon help to free Yemen from Iran. All of the peoples of the region must work against Iran and its puppets!"Follow us on Google