Syria to deploy 600 troops to Saudi Arabia: Military buildup aims to counter Houthi offensive

An initial force of approximately 600 Syrian special forces fighters is expected to deploy to Saudi Arabia in the coming week. Three officials with knowledge of the plans told The Associated Press that these troops will be stationed along the border and may assist in fighting Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in neighboring Yemen. This move marks the first time Syria has committed ground troops to the Saudi-led campaign against the Houthis.

Syrian military advisers are already present in Saudi Arabia, helping train Yemeni forces within the kingdom. However, no combat troops have yet been sent to Yemen. The Saudi government has not publicly confirmed the deployment of fighters, though officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The agreement requires the deployed units to consist of Syrian nationals, excluding foreign fighters who joined various rebel factions during Syria's civil war.

Recent diplomatic activity includes a two-week visit to Saudi Arabia by Khaled Khattab, commander of the 82nd Division. During this trip, a delegation of 36 Syrian military officials toured a command and operations room in Jeddah. Staffed by Saudi and Yemeni personnel, the facility provided briefings on specific front lines and operational areas. A regional official described the current Syrian presence as a "small number of advisers" focused on capacity building.

The decision to send troops coincides with discussions about Syria joining the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement. Signed in August by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, this pact treats an attack on one member as an attack on all three. Two Syrian officials stated that a decision to join the pact had already been made but not announced, while a regional official said talks were still ongoing. Syria and Saudi Arabia recently signed a separate military cooperation agreement and announced a loan of more than $400 million for Syrian postwar reconstruction.

Syria has historically avoided direct intervention in regional conflicts since the ouster of President Bashar Assad in December 2024. President Ahmad al-Sharaa has stated his focus remains on rebuilding the country and avoiding new conflicts. He previously rejected proposals from U.S. President Donald Trump to send Syrian forces against Hezbollah in Lebanon. The Saudi connection is economically vital for Syria, which seeks to reintegrate into the Arab world after years of isolation under Assad.

A primary concern among regional officials is that Syria might request support against Israel, which has occupied a U.N.-patrolled buffer zone in southern Syria since late 2024. Al-Sharaa has called for Israeli forces to withdraw but says his government does not seek conflict. The escalation in Yemen began this summer, following a broader regional conflict triggered by U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran in February. Saudi Arabia, despite possessing U.S.-supplied fighter jets and missile defenses, has struggled to defeat the Houthis in previous rounds of fighting.