Saudi Exports Authority delegation discusses cooperation with Syria

A Syrian official has firmly denied claims that Riyadh requested Damascus to send troops to assist the kingdom against Houthi rebels in Yemen. Ahmad Zaidan, media adviser to Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara, dismissed recent reports of plans to deploy Syrian forces in Saudi Arabia or Yemen as "lies". Mr Al Shara met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Tuesday, stating that the security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf is interconnected with Syria's security.

Zaidan's denial was echoed by Syrian Response, the official English-language account of Syria's Foreign Media Department on X, which emphasized Syria's commitment to stability and peace in the region and its focus on rebuilding the country and improving the lives of Syrians. The denial was also supported by Reuters, which reported that Syria was considering providing military assistance to Saudi Arabia, citing options such as defensive aid or deploying forces in an offensive capacity to aid Saudi-backed Yemeni troops against the Houthis.

The Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabian infrastructure have led to renewed discussions about the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between the kingdom, Pakistan, and Turkey, with Turkey and Pakistan agreeing to provide military forces and capabilities to Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Syria strongly condemned the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabian facilities and infrastructure, warning that such acts violate international law and pose a direct threat to the security of Saudi Arabia.