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Washington Warns Against Involvement in Yemen War After Syrian Military Personnel Arrive in Riyadh
Reuters, citing U.S., Saudi and Syrian sources, reported that dozens of Syrian military personnel had arrived in Saudi Arabia in recent weeks to take part in advisory and training missions. No official announcement has been made that Syrian forces will join the fighting in Yemen. A U.S. official warned, however, that any Syrian military involvement there could expand Damascus’s role in the conflict.
According to a senior U.S. official quoted by the agency, Syrian advisers and training teams travelled to Saudi Arabia to work with Saudi and Yemeni units. The report did not clarify the missions’ details or scope, and provided no information confirming that the involvement extends beyond training and advisory work.
The U.S. official said Washington was urging Damascus to exercise caution over any potential involvement in the war in Yemen, warning that sending Syrian forces to support Saudi Arabia could draw the country into a broader regional conflict.
### Damascus: No announced decision on military deployment
A senior Syrian diplomat told Reuters that talk of a Syrian military deployment in Saudi Arabia was “premature.” He said the defence cooperation covers advisory support, training and the exchange of expertise. Cooperation could expand in the future, he added, but no specific arrangements or timeline have been announced.
The diplomat said Damascus’s current priorities are strengthening internal security, protecting the borders and reconstruction.
### Riyadh cites training and exchange of expertise
A senior Saudi official told the agency that military cooperation focuses on exchanging expertise and contributing to the restructuring of Syria’s armed forces. He said joint exercises in security and defence are under way, with further exercises planned, but did not disclose the size of the forces involved or details of future plans.
The official said Syrian military personnel’s combat experience could be useful to Saudi Arabia in confronting militias. This, however, does not in itself amount to an announcement that Syrian forces will take part in combat operations in Yemen.
### Agreement announced, details not disclosed
The statements follow the signing of a defence cooperation agreement between Syria and Saudi Arabia on November 4, during Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s visit to Riyadh and his meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Official statements did not specify the scale of cooperation or the nature of the missions covered by the agreement.
Reuters reported on October 8 that Damascus was considering options for providing military assistance to Saudi Arabia, including defensive support and the possibility of sending forces to support Riyadh-backed Yemeni units against the Houthis. At the time, however, Syrian presidential communications adviser Ahmad Mowaffaq Zaidan denied that Saudi Arabia had asked Syria to send troops to fight in Yemen.
Taken together, the reports and statements point to training, advisory work and an exchange of expertise. The possibility of expanding these missions or sending forces to fight in Yemen remains an option that has not been officially announced. To date, there has been no official announcement that Syrian forces are participating in combat operations inside Yemen.
