Saudi Arabia turns to Syria for help as fighting with Houthis escalates

Syria is set to send Syrian soldiers to assist Saudi Arabia in its conflict with Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen, according to multiple sources. The move comes as fighting has intensified between the Houthi rebels and Saudi-backed forces in the Yemeni conflict that began in February following U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran.

Syrian military advisers have already been present in Saudi Arabia, but no ground forces have been sent to Yemen yet. A Syrian official disclosed that a force of approximately 600 Syrian special forces is slated to deploy to Saudi Arabia within the coming week. This deployment is expected to be coordinated with a group of 36 Syrian military officials who recently visited Saudi Arabia to brief Saudi and Yemeni officials on the various front lines and areas of operation.

The Saudi government has not yet responded to the announcement. Saudi Arabia has fighter jets and missile defenses from the United States, yet they have been unable to overcome the Houthi rebels in past confrontations. While other allies of Saudi Arabia have been hesitant to commit ground forces to the fight, Syria is drawn into the conflict due to its historical ties with Saudi Arabia.

The Saudis have provided funding to Syrian rebels during the country's civil war and have pledged financial assistance for Syria's postwar reconstruction.

Syria may join a joint defense pact with Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan. The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, signed in August, commits the three countries to protect each other in the case of an attack, and to enhance military cooperation. Syria has been in talks to join the pact, though a formal decision has not been announced.

Some worry that Syria might request support from the other nations in the pact against Israel, following Israel's seizure of a U.N.-patrolled buffer zone in southern Syria and its occupation since Assad's removal in December 2024.