Syria says it has sent advisers to Saudi Arabia amid Houthi fighting

Syrian officials say military advisers have already been sent to Saudi Arabia, with reports that 600 special forces could arrive next week. The claims come after Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa visited Riyadh last week and held talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The reported cooperation is linked to Saudi efforts against Houthi attacks and to a broader security understanding between the two countries.

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According to the supplied reports, Syria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates described defence ministry cooperation as the most notable element of the recent agreements, although it did not give details. Syrian officials also told one news agency that Damascus had sent advisers to the kingdom, while a Syrian government official told the state news agency that any deployment was for training, expertise exchange and military consultations. Other reports said Saudi Arabia had been targeted by hundreds of Houthi missile attacks, which prompted the kingdom to seek additional support.

The development is significant because it suggests a new security relationship between Damascus and Riyadh after years in which Syria was isolated by the wider regional conflict. It also links Syria more directly to the Yemen war, where the Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, have been a central adversary of Saudi Arabia. The reports do not confirm that Syrian troops are fighting in Yemen, and the distinction between training roles inside Saudi Arabia and direct combat remains important.

The reported cooperation also follows a financial pledge from Riyadh. The kingdom said it would provide $403m in loans to help Syria rebuild infrastructure damaged by 13 years of civil war. That pledge, together with the defence contacts, points to a broader effort to reset ties between the two states after a long period of hostility and regional realignment.

The Yemen conflict has shaped Saudi security policy for years, especially after Houthi fighters captured the capital, Sanaa, and later expanded their missile campaign. The supplied reports say Saudi cities were hit by repeated missile attacks, which is the immediate backdrop to the reported Syrian role. For Damascus, any security cooperation with Riyadh would also signal that the new Syrian leadership is seeking regional partnerships while still managing the political sensitivities of its own military involvement abroad.

Analysts quoted in the supplied material said the reported Syrian role may matter more politically than militarily. One analyst said it would show that the new Syria can share a partner's security burden, even if the role is limited to training and support. The same analysis noted that Damascus may have reasons to avoid openly acknowledging any deployment, including the risk of retaliation and the need to reassure Syrians that domestic rebuilding remains the priority.

What remains unclear is the exact size, mandate and location of any Syrian personnel in Saudi Arabia, and whether the reported 600 special forces will actually arrive as described. It is also not confirmed whether any Syrian personnel will be involved in direct operations related to Yemen or only in training and consultation. The next developments to watch are further official statements from Damascus and Riyadh, and whether either side clarifies the scope of the cooperation.

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