The Syria military aid to Saudi Arabia proposal is being considered as the Houthis intensify missile and drone attacks on the kingdom, with three people killed in strikes on Saudi airports this week.
Syria is considering whether to provide military support to Saudi Arabia as the Iran-aligned Houthi movement escalates attacks on Saudi territory and infrastructure, according to US and Syrian officials.
The possible involvement of Syrian forces would mark another significant development in the renewed Yemen conflict, which has increasingly drawn regional powers into a wider confrontation amid the continuing US-Iran conflict.
Syria weighs military support for Saudi Arabia
Syrian officials are considering different forms of assistance, including defensive support to help protect Saudi Arabia from Houthi attacks and potentially offensive military assistance to Saudi-backed Yemeni forces fighting the Houthis.
A Syrian defence official and a US official said Damascus was carefully considering the options as Saudi Arabia seeks additional assistance from regional allies.
The potential deployment of Syrian troops comes after a series of Houthi missile and drone attacks against Saudi cities and infrastructure, including airports.
Syrian support could be defensive or offensive
The Syrian government has not announced a decision to deploy troops to Yemen. A Syrian diplomat said Damascus remained firmly supportive of Saudi Arabia in the face of Houthi attacks but was primarily focused on its own domestic recovery.
“Should Saudi Arabia request any military cooperation or exchange of expertise, this would take place exclusively through official channels and within the framework of the bilateral agreements governing relations between our two brotherly countries,” the diplomat said.
That statement leaves open the possibility of military cooperation while stressing that any assistance would have to proceed through official government channels and existing bilateral agreements.
Houthi attacks kill three at Saudi airports
The latest Houthi attacks have increased pressure on Saudi Arabia to strengthen its defences and seek assistance from its allies.
Saudi Arabia said one person was killed in an attack on Riyadh airport, while two others died in a strike on Abha airport in the southwest on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Houthis said on Thursday that they had attacked King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh with a ballistic missile. Saudi authorities had not immediately commented on that claim.
Loud explosions were heard in Riyadh on Thursday morning, although Reuters could not immediately identify their source. Some diplomats said they had received warnings, while schools in the capital reportedly advised parents about shelter-in-place measures.
Saudi Arabia seeks support from allies
Saudi Arabia has been seeking military and logistical assistance from allied countries as Houthi attacks intensify.
Turkey and Pakistan are among the countries being approached for assistance, with Riyadh seeking support that could range from defensive capabilities and logistics to broader military cooperation.
Turkey said it was sending mainly defensive and technical assistance to Saudi Arabia, including military equipment, intelligence sharing and weapons systems.
Pakistan has also provided assistance. Sources said Islamabad had flown cargo planes carrying military equipment to Aden in southern Yemen and deployed troops inside Saudi Arabia to help defend the kingdom’s borders.
Yemen war reignites across the Red Sea
Yemen’s long-running civil war, which had largely paused following a 2022 ceasefire, has erupted again in recent weeks.
The Houthis seized stretches of Yemen’s Red Sea coast last month, including areas close to the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, one of the world’s important maritime routes.
The Houthis have said their actions came in response to attacks by Saudi-backed government forces, although Yemen’s internationally recognised government denies that justification.
The renewed fighting has raised concerns over shipping and regional security, particularly because the Bab el-Mandeb Strait has become increasingly important for Gulf oil exports following disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz.
Fighting continues on multiple fronts
Saudi-backed Yemeni forces launched a counterattack this week and retook areas around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait as they attempted to reverse recent Houthi gains.
However, the Houthis have also made advances in other parts of Yemen. Their forces have surrounded Taiz, the country’s third-largest city, after taking territory along the main mountain road leading toward Aden.
The conflict has created another humanitarian crisis in Yemen, already one of the world’s most severe humanitarian situations. The renewed fighting has displaced around 200,000 people since the conflict resumed, according to the Reuters report.
Turkey and Pakistan expand support
Turkey’s involvement adds another regional dimension to the conflict. Ankara is a close ally of Syria’s government and previously supported Syrian forces during the country’s civil war.
Turkey also previously deployed Syrian fighters to Libya in 2020 to support forces involved in that country’s civil war.
The current Turkish assistance to Saudi Arabia is expected to focus primarily on defensive and technical capabilities rather than direct participation in offensive operations.
Pakistan has also strengthened its involvement, with military equipment reportedly delivered to Aden and Pakistani troops deployed inside Saudi Arabia to assist with border defence.
Mecca pact creates wider security framework
Saudi Arabia’s request for assistance comes after it reached a defence agreement with Turkey and Pakistan earlier this summer.
Under the Mecca pact, the three countries committed to come to each other’s defence, although Turkey still needs to complete its internal ratification process.
The agreement could provide a broader framework for security cooperation as Saudi Arabia faces growing threats from the Houthis.
The escalating attacks have also raised concerns that Yemen could become another major front in a regional conflict already affected by tensions involving Iran, Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries.
Syria’s possible Yemen role
Syria’s potential involvement remains uncertain, and officials have not confirmed that Syrian troops will actually be deployed to Yemen.
Any direct Syrian military intervention would represent a significant development, particularly given Syria’s own efforts to recover from years of civil war and rebuild its institutions.
For Saudi Arabia, however, the renewed Houthi attacks have increased the urgency of strengthening air defences and securing critical infrastructure.
The possible Syrian assistance therefore comes as part of a broader effort by Riyadh to mobilise regional partners while Saudi-backed forces continue fighting the Houthis on the ground.
Regional conflict continues to widen
The renewed Yemen war is unfolding against the backdrop of wider tensions in the Middle East. Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and threats to shipping routes have added another layer of instability to the region.
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The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is particularly important because of its connection to global maritime trade and Gulf energy exports.
With Turkey and Pakistan already providing varying forms of support and Syria considering possible military cooperation, the conflict could increasingly involve regional states beyond the traditional Yemeni battlefield.
For now, Syria’s decision remains unresolved. But the discussions underline the growing regional consequences of the Houthi offensive and Saudi Arabia’s efforts to secure military support as attacks on its territory continue.
