Turkey to send Mecca pact to parliament, opening path to Saudi deployment

Saudi Arabia and Syria are contemplating deploying Syrian troops to Yemen to aid in the counteroffensive against the Houthi rebels, according to discussions between U.S. officials. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is seriously considering the move, though he has not yet made a decision. The U.S. has been consulted by both nations, and is not opposed to the idea in principle.

However, the deployment of Syrian troops could complicate the Yemen conflict by introducing a religious dimension, as the troops may include foreign Sunni Muslim fighters who participated in the rebellion against the Assad regime. The Yemeni government, supported by Saudi Arabia, has recently launched a large-scale ground operation to reclaim territories controlled by the Houthis, including the capital Sanaa and the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman brought up the topic of sending Syrian troops during a meeting with al-Sharaa in Riyadh, and Saudi Arabia hopes to convince the Syrian leader to accept the request. While the U.S. does not oppose the idea, it could bolster the Saudi-backed Yemeni forces without the U.S. having to engage heavily.

The U.S. Central Command has been consulted on the potential deployment of Syrian troops, though the White House and CENTCOM have declined to comment. Spokespeople for the Saudi Embassy and the Syrian Foreign Ministry have not responded to requests for comment. According to a source familiar with the discussions, the Syrian military could contribute between 10,000 and 20,000 troops to Yemen, likely from the 90th division near Damascus and the 84th division based in southern Syria near Sweida.