Syria Considers Military Assistance to Saudi Arabia in Yemen

A U.S. official and a Syrian military official said that Damascus is carefully considering offering military assistance to its key ally, Saudi Arabia, as the war intensifies against Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen.

A Syrian diplomat, responding to a request for comment addressed to the Foreign Ministry, stated that Damascus firmly stands with Saudi Arabia in confronting Houthi attacks, but the government’s focus remains primarily on domestic priorities, such as recovery from the civil war that has torn the country apart.

The diplomat added in a statement, “If Saudi Arabia requests any military cooperation or exchange of expertise, it will be conducted exclusively through official channels and within the framework of bilateral agreements governing relations between our two brotherly countries.”

The Saudi government communications center and the Yemeni minister of information did not respond to requests for comment.

The ground war against the Houthis is being led by a variety of Yemeni government forces, backed by Saudi air support. These forces have made limited progress since the campaign began on Monday.

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa made a public visit to Riyadh on Tuesday and met with Saudi Crown Prince Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The U.S. official said that the possibility of Syria providing military assistance to the kingdom was among the topics discussed during the visit.

Footage broadcast by Syrian state media showed Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, the crown prince’s brother and the official in charge of the Yemen file, escorting him to his plane as he prepared to return.