Syria’s denial that it has sent troops to Yemen contrasts with claims from Yemeni officials of a possible force deployment, putting focus on how far Damascus’ military cooperation with Riyadh may extend.
On Nov. 7, SANA cited a Syrian diplomatic source saying Damascus had not sent forces to Yemen “at this time.” The same source described military cooperation with Saudi Arabia as work focused on preparing troops and improving their capabilities. It said the relationship might eventually include a mutual-defense arrangement or Syria’s entry into the Mecca Alliance, which includes Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan.
An unnamed source from Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, the country’s top governing body, told AFP that a plan for as many as 3,000 Syrian troops was approved during President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s visit to Riyadh this week. A high-level Yemeni Defense Ministry source separately told AFP that a first phase could involve about 3,000 personnel, some already in place, with the total later reaching up to 10,000.
Yemen’s conflict dates to 2014, when Houthi forces captured the capital; a Saudi-led coalition joined the war the following year in support of the government. Fighting returned this summer after a four-year truce broke down. AFP has reported more intense Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including deadly strikes that led Riyadh airport to close for two weeks. The attacks have also threatened Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification plans, AFP reported. France and Britain have announced military support for Saudi Arabia, AFP reported.
The SANA-cited source said coordination visits to Syria were planned for December.
