Syrian Government Denies Troop Deployment to Yemen

The Syrian government denied on Wednesday that it is contemplating a Saudi request to send ground forces into Yemen, which would be aimed against the Iran-backed Houthi insurgents. Nonetheless, Damascus expressed strong condemnation of recent Houthi attacks on Saudi airports.

Axios reported earlier that Saudi Arabia approached Syria with a request for assistance against the Houthis, suggesting that Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa was “seriously considering” this proposal. This development comes amid discussions involving the Trump administration, which, as per the report, is not opposed to the idea in principle. There’s speculation that U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) could even provide advice to Syria on troop deployment strategies in Yemen, according to two American officials.

A U.S. official indicated that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia mentioned the troop deployment during a recent meeting with Sharaa in Riyadh.

Axios also highlighted that Syrian involvement in Yemen could potentially add a religious element to the ongoing conflict. This is significant, given that many Syrian government forces are composed of Sunni Muslim fighters who played a role in overthrowing Iran-aligned dictator Bashar Assad after a lengthy civil war. Iran holds a dominant position in Shiite Islam, while Assad belongs to a smaller sect known as the Alawites.

Sharaa himself is noted as a former al-Qaeda lieutenant who led an offshoot known as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which was seen as a potent faction during the Syrian Civil War. His experience could be valuable in Yemen, possibly by training and guiding militia units linked to Saudi Arabia and the recognized Yemeni government.

Reuters, in a separate report, cited a Syrian military official and an American source, confirming that various options are on the table, including providing defensive support for Saudi Arabia or deploying forces to aid Yemeni troops in confronting the Houthis.

Sharaa’s media advisor, Ahmed Muwaffaq Zaidan, stated that although Syria views its security as closely tied to that of Saudi Arabia, claims about deploying troops to Yemen are “a lie and have no basis in truth.”

The Syrian Information Ministry reaffirmed their position, saying that Syria firmly supports Saudi Arabia against threats, emphasizing that their regional policy is focused on stability and cooperation, rather than creating new conflicts.

A Syrian diplomat added that any military assistance request from Saudi Arabia would need to be routed through official channels and within the existing framework of agreements between the two nations.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry denounced Houthi strikes against Saudi airports, labeling these actions as “a blatant violation of international law” and reiterated Syria’s backing for any legitimate measures Saudi Arabia takes to defend its sovereignty.

H.A. Hellyer, a senior fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, mentioned to Reuters that it’s unlikely Syria will deploy ground troops to Yemen, though sending a small number of personnel for defensive purposes could hold significant symbolic weight, especially regarding the protection of sacred sites in Islam.

He referenced a recent intercepted Houthi drone attack targeting the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, which drew widespread condemnation from many Muslim countries except Iran, although the Houthis have denied responsibility for the attack.